New questions for Sunny:

I wondered idly how many posts had been made in this thread, so I looked up your posting history. Practically all posts are on this topic, but you did post that you had a valve body failure in your 2000 X5. Sorry to hear, it sounds like it was expensive, and it was out of warranty. Valve bodies don't typically fail in normal use, unless they get clogged. So here are the questions:

Had you or your mechanic changed your transmission fluid at any time prior to that transmission valve body failure?

If so, do you think the fluid change could have contributed to that early failure? If not, do you think that changing the transmission fluid would have extended the life of the valve body?

Just wondering.

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2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue