I'm wondering when some of you got your X3's. Or more accurately when they were built.

I picked mine up in July (mid July), I ordered it the first part of May.
Could there have been some changes in the time this problem was first noticed and when my car was built?

My car shifts fine in "D" though maybe a little more "stiff" than my 06 did.
In Sport Drive the shifts are at a much higher RPM (that what it supposed to do) and much more firm. The down shifts in SD are also "quicker" and more firm, but for the most part I like that. I tend to drive the car pretty hard.

In manual mode, I agree that 1st gear is all but useless except that it gets you moving very quickly ( which is what it's supposed to do ), but you need to be quick to shift to second.

But in general I think driven properly when driving somewhat aggressively the transmission seems to get the engine in the upper RPM band quickly.
Which it should since this is a somewhat higher revving engine; and keep it there.

I have noticed that you need to be somewhat light on the throttle when in Drive or Sport Drive if you want to drive the car away from a stop "easy" or you'll get the usual g force and "head snap" feeling.

My car has never had a hesitation when starting out or when accelerating at speed, in fact it pretty much the opposite. I need to be easy on the gas if I want a "smooth" start.

In general I like the way the car drives, though the down shifts in SD are a little aggressive at times. I'm wondering if some of the transmission problems aren't more a result of the increased performance this engine and transmission package provide, performance which may not be expected from this type of car. Or did I just get lucky???

When I picked up my car I took along the service bulletins on the transmission that I got from here and a couple of other sites. The service manager at the dealership told me those bulletins were done because of customer "complaints" not necessarily because of a "problem". He said if they did them I would notice a difference in the car and a degradation in the performance. His suggestion was to drive the car and if I wanted them done bring it back. I have to say so far I don't have any problems.

Now, as for the navigation system.... that's another story