I have a 1990 740 GLE wagon with an automatic transmission. It has started having a problem shifting out of 1st gear when the shifter is in drive. It is only when it has been sitting for a while. It appears that it is when the car is cold. If you drive it for a few minutes in drive, eventually it shifts. Once it makes the first shift, then it is fine and it will always shift normally until the next time you stop for a while. The transmission does not slip or anything else abnormal. Fluid is at the full mark. I have bought a transmission filter and a gasket and will be changing them this weekend. Any other ideas would be appreciated.

Fluid colour?

Anyway, moved to the 740 Forum for better response.

Cheers,and Good Luck!
:)

is it exactly at the full mark or is it over? i had no end of problems with mine, and it was over full, so i drained some out so it was just under and it was fine and behaved.

+1 with the colour, if its dark and brown then its burnt, you will need to replace it, if its pinky coloured then it should be fine.

Matt

I pulled the pan off of the transmission and replaced the filter (did not look plugged). Filter is probably a generous statement, it is really just a screen.The fluid that I drained out did not look or smell burned. I replaced the fluid and installed a pint of Sea Foam Transmission Cure. I've run the car about 100 miles since then, and I still have the same problem. Fluid is not over filled. It seems to be more of a problem when the car is cold. It is just refuses to make that first shift after the car has set awhile. Once it is driven around a bit and warms up? and makes the first 1 - 2 shift, it shifts just fine. There is no slippage and everything else seems to be just fine in the transmissions actions.
Any other ideas?

Thanks