Yeah - it if it says "trans fail safe" or something like that could be battery. Same thing happened to me. Ended up being the altenator (electric power related like battery). Turned out i had a battery drain, after they replaced the alternator i was still getting a dead batt (no trans fail safe msg tho). So i can't be 100% that it was alternator - but I know i had an issue with battery because of the drain.

FYI my drain was the AC blower motor.. my indie mechanic found it in a few minutes - apparently its a common issue on BMW. He guesed it before he even looked at the car. Good luck - hope the family is ok.

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