Originally Posted by Jordo

My X5 had absolutely no questions about it 100% identical issue as the OP. To a "T". As some others have said there is no way we all have the same issue EVEN THO WE ALL HAVE IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS.

I disagree. I think that the odds that we have a "shutter", "shimmy" or "jerking" at 25 to 30 mph is more then chance. I 100% believe there is a common link here.

I was a motorcycle mechanic for 12 years. Granted we don't have auto tranys in bikes, I do have enough diag experience to know that these symptoms are too exact to be just chance. AND it is VERY realistic to count on that if most of our symptoms are the same...... I would bet a pay check that the same parts are failing in the same manor.

Now, I tried the oil and filter change. And like some have said it may speed up the failure. In my case it did. The shutter increased in intensity. It also developed some new issues. It started to temporarily hit a false neutral and slam back I to gear.

So after.... Basically interviewing 4 trans shops in my area for there knowledge in ZF transmissions I selected one that had the most experience, and what my gut was telling me.

The deal was, if I didn't get back every clutch plate, every check valve, and every gear, they would not be paid. Simple as that. Well two weeks later after all was done they did give me every single part that was replace AND they even saved the oil for me to inspect.

WHAT I FOUND.

With my experience as a mechanic, I know that the clutch basically works with the same principles. The clutch plates looked... Ok. The planetary gears, decent. The valve body.... Not so good. There was clear evidence of scaring where the valves operate. I feel that this is the cause of most of our "shuttering" complaints.

I did not get to see the torque converter because they said they had to exchange it as a core charge for the new one that I got. (kind of pissed me off, they didn't say that when I said I needed all of my parts back)

So after all that, I spent $3400 to have all clutches, gears, valve body, torque converter, and control module replaced and my X5 has 1800 miles on it since with 100% perfect operation since.

WHAT I'M BABBLING ABOUT.

If I could go back in time and do it over... I would start by replacing the valve body. It can be swapped out, with out removing the transmission. (it's located just under the oil pan and needs no special tools)

And if that doesn't solve the issue, it would have been replace anyway if you got a complete rebuild.

Do you think you will attempt this or any other diag issues?