BMW’s automatic transmission goes into emergency mode when it warms up

BMW driver question

In my car with automatic transmission, after warming up, the third gear does not enter and the transmission goes into emergency mode. On a cold engine/transmission it runs normally. What could this mean?

The problem affected a BMW 330ci E46, but it also happens in other models with automatic transmission.

BMW 3 E46 | By OSX (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Response from BM Cars service

This behavior of the gearbox suggests that the oil in the gearbox is excessively worn and its viscosity is significantly reduced after warming up. If this is the case, an oil change complete with filter and sump seal may solve the problem.

For a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to perform a full diagnosis of the transmission on the computer and check the quantity and quality of the oil.

BMW 318i E46 | By OSX (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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Automatic transmission from ZF used in BMW | By Ritchyblack – Stefan Krause[FAL] via Wikimedia Commons

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