RRPhil, I have just found your excellent posts on gearboxes, both here and on range rovers.net.

Are you willing to help with random gearbox questions? I wasn't sure if you are happy to be PM'd by new members, and I guess you get lots of requests... but I have searched the forum but can't find quite my symptoms described anywhere.

I have just bought a 2001 X5 diesel, so the GM auto box. 143K miles. Had a gearbox rebuild a few years ago, but no record of exactly what was done. It now has the following symptoms:

1. When cold, takes a couple of minutes (to build pressure?) before it will creep or drive either in D or R.

2. Once warm, drives fine all day with only a slight hesitation (1-2 seconds) when engaging D or R, and this only occasionally.

3. Absolutely no clonks, bangs, judders, or slipping while driving. No error codes on dash. Everything is smooth and normal once warm.

4. Went to local garage for transmission fluid top-up or flush/replacement but they stated the fluid was not low and was perfectly clean - so I assume it is either ok from the rebuild a few years ago or has been recently replaced to try and cure the issue before now. They said there is no sign of metal sludge, which I hope from reading your posts is a good thing...

I love the car and am happy to fix this, bought it at a good price knowing there would be jobs to do!

Can you offer any advice on my next steps? I am thinking a dodgy valve block giving low pressure, which would explain the slow start when cold. I want to sort this ASAP before things get worse, but to get to a proper diagnosis first. Maybe I might get away with just replacing the valve block...

Thanks in advance if you are able to help at all.