Over the last few months, I was noticing the following issues on a 2006 X5 4.8is with 43,000mi (I took ownership at 18kmi):

-Cold shifts to 3rd were abrupt - ie hard (not present when fluid warmed up)
-Tranny would have a difficult time shifting into 1st after a brief stop (not a California stop where you coast thru the stop sign)
- If I stepped on the accelerator a bit more due to being annoyed (say 1/4 to 1/2 throttle) the tranny would bang into 1st gear.
- Much hunting when going up a 30mph steep hill. It would shift from 5th to a slipping tq converter 4th, then slipping tq converter 3rd then the tq converter would lock after 3secs or so (kind of like a lazy or dumb tranny when it encountered a hill).

Otherwise the tranny was fine. Well the other day I was getting annoyed at the fact it would stick in second after a brief stop. Sure, if I waited 5secs it would go into 1st, but that was annoying me. So I did a bit more throttle (1/2 throttle) and the thing went bluurp bluurp bluurp and noted the trans failsafe. To be sure, I shut it off and it reset and repeated the same thing. This time the trans failsafe light came on with a subsequent Service engine soon light which made me call the dealer. After a brief discussion, they called me back and said keep the loaner, she needs a new tranny.

Driving style is normal. I have done a few hard launches (maybe three to five of them) and I mix between D, sport, and Steptronic for fun. It's lived a pretty tame life really.

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'11 X5d
'03 M5
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