As you are finding, it will go to Park automatically on shut down. You can put it in Park ahead of engine off. Either is fine. Key thing to remember if you engage it manually, only use Park when stationary.
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Why does my BMW go into park?

How do I get my BMW out of park automatic?

Why does my BMW keep going into neutral?
The defect is caused by mistakes in the setup of insulation material for the harness, routing, and some of the fastening points of the harness to the transmission housing. A short circuit could cause the vehicle to unexpectedly shift into neutral while driving. The rapid loss of propulsion may cause a crash.
Why is my car saying shift to park when it’s already in park?
Apparently, the shift to park message displayed is a result of material buildup on the park switch contacts when it activates on the shifter assembly.
How do I fix shift to park?
How Do I Get Rid Of Shift To Park Message? What is this? One quick fix that may eliminate the ‘Shift to Park’ error message is to fiddle with the shift release button at the side of the gear shift stick until the text on the dashboard display goes away. Take note that this is often a temporary fix.
How do you get a 2008 BMW out of park?

Why won’t my BMW get out of park?
You typically need to press the brake pedal to get it out of park. Do the brake lights work? It sounds like it’s not seeing the brake pedal input, hence the warning and locked in park issue. You typically need to press the brake pedal to get it out of park.
How do I get my BMW 5 Series out of park?

How do you put an automatic BMW in park?

Why can’t I get my car out of park?
You most likely have a faulty brake light switch. While it seems like your transmission and brake lights aren’t related, they are; there’s a switch attached to the brake pedal which activates your lights when depressed, and the same switch activates a solenoid on your shifter to allow you to shift out of park.
Can you drive a car with a broken shifter cable?
โน๏ธIf the cable is broken, you’ll be able to move the. shifter into any position, but the transmission will stay. in the same gear.
What causes transmission to go into neutral while driving?
A low transmission fluid level could cause the symptom of feeling like the transmission slips into neutral. The low transmission fluid level would allow the vehicle to move a short distance, until the filter could no longer pick up fluid.
What happens if your car goes into neutral while driving?
What happens if I shift my car into neutral while driving on the freeway? In neutral, your car will slow until you come to a stop or you put it back in a gear and start to accelerate again. On an automatic transmission, simply put the gearshift back into D for Drive and accelerate again.
Why can I put my car in neutral while driving?
Is it bad to put a manual car in neutral while driving? Shifting a manual to neutral while driving won’t hurt the car. However, it will hurt your fuel economy as most modern engines turn off the fuel injectors while coasting. If you are in neutral then your engine must idle instead of using 0 fuel.
Is there a recall for shift to park?
General Motors (GM) is under scrutiny for continued issues with the “Shift to Park” defect that prevents drivers from shutting off and locking their vehicles. This issue affects owners and lessees of many GMC and Chevrolet model vehicles.
Why does my BMW say transmission not in park?
Many transmissions get stuck in park because the interlock that prevents the shifter from moving out of park when the brake is pressed becomes stuck in place with sticky soda or coffee. … Lift the cam, press the brake and move the shifter to neutral.
Where is the shifter cable located?
The shift selector cable connects the gear shifter, located on the steering column or on a floor mounted console, to the automatic transmission. The cable is typically steel and is protected from the elements by a plastic outer sheath.
How much does it cost to replace a shifter cable?
The average cost for automatic trans shift cable replacement is between $305 and $349. Labor costs are estimated between $169 and $213 while parts are priced at $136. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your specific vehicle or unique location.
How do I know if my shifter cable is broken?
If the shift cable breaks, your shifter handle won’t return to its neutral position on its own. If the horizontal cable breaks, you won’t be able to shift. If the vertical cable breaks, you will only be able to shift to third or fourth gear.
Where is the shift lock solenoid located?
The shift interlock solenoid is a member of the shifter assembly in the center console or the steering column. It locks the shifter in PARK until the brake pedal has been depressed.
How do you unlock BMW shifter?

How do you unlock a locked transmission?
Get a key, small screwdriver, nail file, or any object with a similar shape. Insert it into the override slot, then push it down and hold it in place. While holding the shift override mechanism, depress the brake pedal. Hold the shifter, then push the button on the shifter as you’d normally do.
How do you put a BMW 528i in neutral?

What do you do when your gear shift is stuck?
Check around your automatic shifter for a plug, a button, or a small key slot. You can usually remove the cover by inserting a key or other small object into the slot. Pushing the button should allow you to shift out of park โ just make sure you apply the brakes first as you might start rolling away.