This thread just saved me thousands of dollars =) Im out of warranty 03 X5 4.4 108k miles. I've had the exact problem HSV2006 described for about 2 or 3 months. I didnt want to take it in because I didnt want to consider paying $5k or $6k for a new tranny.

Anyway after reading the thread I printed it and took it to the shop. I was 90% sure it was my problem but I caught h*ll getting someone to do the job with out giving me all the "rickamorero". 1 shop wouldnt touch it, even after telling another shop this is the exact repair I wanted and wouldnt fault them if it wasnt fixed, they still wouldnt do it( I couldnt get them to hook it up to the computer with out doing "pin testing" and other cr*p I didnt think I needed). Apparently auto shops dont like customers to come in and tell them what they want done?

Any way I finally convinced my local dealer Moritz BMW to hook it up to the computer. Sure enough it was the temp sensor on the wire harness. Paid $215 for the harness it'll be here Monday and I should be good to go. Total repairs will come out to be about $700 =) The only difference in mine is that the seals werent broken so oil wasnt in the compartment, the harness was just shorting out. Long stort short if you're having similar issues check the wiring harness.

Thanks a bunch HSV2006 =)