2004 X3 3.0i Sport Auto - Holding gears too long

[trapdoor]

Am having a couple of issues with my 2004 X3 - bought as BMW Approved Used about 2 months ago, but haven't done much mileage in it as I work from home most of the time.

Have noticed that it seems to hang onto gears for what seems too long a time. As an example, you can be motoring along, and the X is in 5th - approach a hill and it won't change down for an age - in fact the car will noticeably slow and the revs will drop requiring a huge gas pedal input and then it will suddenly change (maybe two gears even). Same happens the other way so when you have got to the top of the hill, it will hold that gear and take ages to change up so the car seems to be revving.

Took it to the dealers for that and another issue (slight steering judder when turning the steering wheel) and the dealer just tells me that is how it is.... they reckon it's a heavy car and therefore will hold gears. I went out for a 30 minute drive with the senior tech who claimed he coud see nothing wrong with the cars behavior.

Now, my E46 did this when I first got it (though no where near as bad) and they did a software upgrade. That fixed it and it was much quicker and smoother through the gears.

I wonder if anyone else has had the issue and got it sorted, or whether anyone (everyone) has this and it IS normal. Or possibly someone may have access to the service bulletins that can tell me if there is a known issue and that I'm just being mucked around (won't be the 1st time).

Thanks in advance.