BMW X7 Trans Park Lock Failure Symptoms and Fix

Hey there! Had a similar issue with my 2019 BMW X5 40i last year. The symptoms matched yours exactly, starting problems, transmission acting up, and those annoying warning lights. Took it to the garage and it turned out to be the transmission control module that was failing. The module was misreading the park position sensor, causing all those symptoms. It was definitely a serious issue that needed immediate attention to prevent potential transmission damage. In my case, they had to replace the entire control unit and reprogram it to sync with the car's systems. The whole repair took about three days because they needed to order the specific part. Since then, the car's been running perfectly with no transmission issues. For BMWs, I'd strongly suggest going to a certified dealership or a specialist who really knows these transmissions, they're pretty complex systems and you don't want someone learning on your car. Hope this helps with your decision.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Really helpful to hear about a similar case. Wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything stayed smooth since then, or have you noticed any other quirks with the transmission?

Hey again! Happy to give you the update. The repair cost me exactly 1000 € to fix the control unit issue, but it was totally worth it. Since getting it sorted at the mechanic's, my X5 has been running like a dream, absolutely no more problems with the parking position or any other transmission quirks. Just checked my service records, it's been about 15 months now since the repair, and I haven't had a single problem with the transmission. Starting is normal, shifting is butter-smooth, and those annoying warning lights are long gone. The car feels just like new again. I know you were worried about finding a good mechanic, and believe me, I get it! But sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and get it fixed properly. The peace of mind knowing everything's working as it should is definitely worth the investment. Let me know if you end up getting yours fixed, would be interested to hear if it's the same issue!

Thanks for all the details! I actually went ahead and got mine checked out at a certified BMW shop yesterday. Turns out it was also the transmission control module, just like yours! The mechanic was super thorough and showed me exactly what was wrong. I ended up paying 1200 € for the whole thing, a bit more than yours but they also did a software update while they had it. The best part? They fixed it in just two days, and I just picked it up this morning. The difference is incredible, starts perfectly, shifts smoothly, and all those warning lights are gone. Really glad I didn't wait any longer to get it fixed. The mechanic said it could've gotten much worse (and more expensive) if I'd kept driving it with the issue. They also gave me a full report of everything they checked, which was reassuring after my previous bad experience with mechanics. Thanks again for pushing me in the right direction with this! Really appreciate all your help.