2004 X5 4.4 Gear shift lever hard to move-after trans oil change and fill

[apocalapsi]

I had a trans failsafe program which i dealt with by draining the oil, changing the filter and gasket. It wouldn't engage reverse or first gear. The oil was low and pretty black. I did a thorough cleaning and put the right ZF fluid in albeit pretty expensive. I got about 5.5 liters back into the transmission. Transmission now shifts nicely through all the gears including manual mode. The only issue I have is that the gear lever moves through the gears with difficulty. Is this related with the oil change or is it something mechanical? To go from park to reverse to neutral to drive requires great effort although the manual mode switching of gears is effortless. Any thoughts?

[Junkycosmos]

Not sure if this really helps but did you check condition of the linkage? If I recall the linkage and then metronics seal (big round plug going into the trans) are right near each other. If you had lots a lot of fluid from the seal (it's a common slow leaker) then maybe somehow it gummed up the linkage ?

Did you drop the valve body when you cleaned your fluid? If so then there maybe other possibilities of the shift linkage pin alignment (see step 8 in the pdf).

Again, both of these are pure guesses, perhaps someone who has experienced or more knowledgable will chime in.

http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...eplacement.pdf

[apocalapsi]

Thanks for your response. no i did not change the mechtronic sleeve. In hindsight I should have done so. Dont know if this is the issue or its within the shift linkage itself as the car was sitting for a while. Any thoughts?

[David.X5]

The shifter cable runs right along the edge of the transmission pan. Perhaps it got kinked or pinched when you dropped the pan to change the filter. Needs a good look-see...

[apocalapsi]

I just checked and no pinching. I actually just sprayed it at the linkage underneath with penetrating 3 in one oil and it seems a bit better. Should i try spraying the shifter inside the cabin too or would possibly it mess up any electronics?

[David.X5]

There are some electronics in the shifter assembly. You would have to open it all up to make sure the spray goes just into the cable.

The bicycle industry sells clamp on tools that let you spray lube down a cable - the sizes are slightly different but that might work to get lube further onto your cable from underneath. Amazon has several. Bike shops probably stock them.

[apocalapsi]

Well i tried lubing it again and sure enough its now shifting like new. It was the shift linkage needed lubrication under rhe car. Thanks for the help