BMW 2 Series Transmission Warning: Real Fix or Sensor Issue?

Hey there! I had almost identical issues with my 2011 BMW 1 Series. That transmission warning light and rough shifting really had me worried. When I took it to the garage last month, they found the gearbox oil level was critically low, which was causing all those symptoms you described. In my case, they discovered a small leak from the transmission seal that had gradually depleted the oil level. The grinding noise was actually the gears not getting proper lubrication. It was quite serious, if I had kept driving it, I could have ended up with complete transmission failure. The fix involved replacing the faulty seal, topping up with the correct BMW transmission fluid, and resetting the transmission control module. The transmission returned to normal shifting after that. I'd strongly recommend getting it checked soon, these symptoms shouldn't be ignored as they can lead to much bigger problems. Just make sure they use the proper BMW-spec transmission fluid. Some garages try to use generic alternatives which isn't great for these transmissions. Hope this helps with your decision.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's super helpful as it sounds really similar to what I'm dealing with. Glad you got it sorted out. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other transmission quirks? Just trying to get an idea of what I might be looking at cost-wise and whether fixing the seal and fluid really takes care of the whole problem. Thanks!

Hey again! Just wanted to update you, you'll be relieved to hear it wasn't as complex as my initial repair. Took it to the mechanic last week, and they diagnosed a faulty transmission oil temperature sensor, just like you suspected! They also found the gearbox oil level was a bit low, but thankfully there wasn't any major seal damage like I had before. Total bill came to 365 € for the whole job, sensor replacement, oil top-up, and labor. Much better than what I paid for my previous transmission seal issue! Since the repair, it's been running like a dream, no more warning lights, smooth shifting, and all those grinding noises have completely disappeared. Been driving it daily for the past week and honestly, it feels just like new. The mechanic mentioned these sensors can sometimes act up on these models, but once replaced, they usually stay problem-free. If your symptoms are similar to what I experienced, hopefully you're looking at a relatively straightforward fix too. Definitely worth getting it sorted sooner rather than later though, saves you from potentially bigger issues down the road.

Thanks so much for the follow-up! I actually just got back from the mechanic today and you won't believe it, it was exactly what you described! My sensor was shot and they found the oil level was a bit low too. Cost me around 400 for everything, which honestly feels like a relief considering how worried I was about needing a full transmission repair. They topped up the fluid, replaced the sensor, and did a quick diagnostic check just to be safe. The best part? The car's driving perfectly now, no more warning lights or weird shifting. Those scary grinding noises are completely gone too. Really glad I didn't put this off any longer. Can't thank you enough for sharing your experience, definitely helped me feel more confident about getting it fixed! Guess we can chalk this up as another case of BMW transmission sensors being a bit finicky! At least it's sorted now and I can stop worrying about every little sound the car makes.