Men
The odd one of you might not know about this possible problem, but the following happened to me the other day and knowing about it might save you some grief.

Went for my MOT the other day and as with most of us I had not run the car that much lately, the car was parked half on the garage ramp, half off with him testing the lights ect, when he finished he tried to put the auto box into drive or reverse, all the box would do was self revert to park and no movement.

Luckily the problem was soon solved by the machanic who knew that when the battery voltage drops below it's cut off point it will not let the gearbox select a gear, 20 mins on the quick charge and all was well and it went into drive as it should do.

My car is a BMW 520 DMS, although he said he had had this same problem with a 3 series in the past, so I guess maybe some other BMW auto's might do the same.

 

new battery ? and see how it goes

 

Drivers door open takes some BMW out of drive. Brake light switch could be another Avenue of investigation?

 

and the bonnet. DSG gearboxes and most modern BMW auto boxes will select drive or reverse and instantly drop back to park if the bonnet is not latched properly.

if the engine is running, car is over 12v, voltage not an issue. I think the mechanic did not realise, assumes battery and charges it, then disconnects charger, closed bonnet to move into workshop and assumes battery was the problem

 

Cars try to be too clever now. Or the manufacturer regards the drivers as so fucking stupid they add these features. 😂