BMW Repair: 1997 BMW 540 Auto stuck in 2 gear, 1997 bmw 540, lever moves

Question
I have a 1997 540 automatic.  I was reversing to park and R didn't light up on the dash as it did on the gear selector.  The car shutoff, and now on the dash it is on S an 2 gear, but at the gear selector I can move it through all of the gears.  It is moving through the gear selector to easy.  I believe somehow it is stuck in gear.  Car won't start.
Help!!

Answer
Hi Tony,
My first impulse is to tell you to have the car towed to a dealer so that fault codes for the EGS (transmission computer) can be read. But of course that is not what is expected of me in this forum.
So let us get down to basics:a) the gear shifter has a gear selector switch with a lighted dial showing where it is supposed to be. b) the instrument cluster connects to the EGS which tells it what gear location it should show in its display c) the  EGS collects various info from the transmission thru sensors --including actual gear position d)the DME (engine computer) will not allow the engine to start if the EGS tells it that the trans is in gear
e)the gear shifter has a steel cable that goes down
to the left side of the transmission where it connects to a lever which mechanically moves the internal shifters.
My actual initial recommendation is this: check the lower end of the gear shifter cable where it attaches to the transmission, see if it is firmly attached, then have somebody move the gear shifter while you look below to see if the cable and lever moves. If it has simply detached or loosened then it is an easy matter. But if it moves and there is no mechanically apparent defect, then there is a need for diagnostic equipment which you do not have so you are obliged to bring it to a dealer. It does not mean that you will have to have the repairs done by the dealer (diagnosis is the key word...).
An option that you may try before bringing it to a dealer is to replace the gear selector switch (after making sure that the tranny has enough oil and that the oil does not look burnt or smell burnt). But this can be a waste of time and money if it does not fix the problem and you still have to replace the tranny or have it repaired.
I hope that I have been of help by explaining your options.
Regards,