BMW Repair: Trans..Failsafe Prog Error, bmw 520i, failsafe mode

Question
this happened recently..My BMW 520i is displaying a Fault message "Trans. Failsafe Prog" Sometimes the ABS & ASC lamps would illuminate and stay on. At the same time the speedo and economy gauge would drop to zero and the 'D' tally lamp on the cluster would disappear. With the vehicle stationary no tally lamps would illuminate at all. The car would engage forward gear but as if its on gear 3 only because it only moves when you press hard on accelerator. No P, R, N or D lights at any time.If u push the gear lever to Manual it wont show the gear numbers on the dash and when changing gears on manual nothing happens though the car moves at gear 3 i guess...it cant go up-hill forward but reverse seem to work just fine...usually when u start it in the every morning it behaves just fine and moves with every thing okay but the moment you stop and kill the engine n try to start again, then the worst starts and message re-appear the whole day...till you park it for more than 6 hours..I need Help...BMW dealer is almost 800km away n im scared to drive the car that far..!

Answer
Hello, hope I can help.

Having had these symptoms a few times, here is what You do first.
Get someone to raise the car and find the round connector that comes from the transmission. Its the only one there and it untwists to come apart and go back together.separate them, clean the connectors if corroded, spray them with an electrical cleaner or wd40 if nothing else available.Then seal the connector with silicone to stop moisture getting in.

May sound complicated, find the connector, unscrew it , clean it, seal it and screw it back together.

This cures 75% of cars with these symptoms.
You can drive it indefinitely in the failsafe mode. but 800km seems a long way, this whole country isnt that long.
Best of luck

Tony