Hello Ed, and all fellow bmw’ists! This is my very first post/comment in this forum, but would like to share my experience with transmission service:
Bought my X5 4.8i last year, right away decided to do trans fluid change, randomly found a German auto repair shop who quoted $500 for the job. I didn’t ask details as to how and what they’re going to do... I should have. They just dropped the pan, put on a new one and refilled the fluid. That’s it, took them 30-40 minutes! I thought since he’s a German auto specialist, he’ll do it the proper way. Anyhow, I left that shop and will never go back. About 2-3 months later I had a small leak from the connector sleeve and from the pan. Recently found a good mechanic who specializes only on Bimmers. Recently replaced spark plugs, ccv hose, alternator, lower control arms, and redid the transmission service, this time the proper way, which includes replacing those bridge seal, mech seals and connector sleeves, replaced with proper zf fluid. My point is, if you’re going to do it, do it the right way the first time. Otherwise you’d be a fool who paid twice, like I did. Peace!