1st X5, 1st problem - Gearbox slipping

[stuartwaite]

I have recently purchased my 1st BMW X5 4.4i Sport (E53) with the 5 Speed ZF5HP24 transmission. It has developed a fault similar to those others have documented on this and other forums. The primary symptom is loosing drive in 1st gear if anything other than light throttle is applied. It goes into neutral then either bangs into 2nd or throws a TRANS FAILURE error and goes into limp mode. The box seems to shift sweet enough between all ratios once on the move with the exeption of occasional hard downshift between 3rd and 2nd whilst braking downhill. I have pulled the codes from the EGS and get a 31/A1 - Symptom gear check.
The poblem appears worse when the box is cold

In your experience is this likely to be a sensor error or a physical fault in the heart of the beast?


Thanks in advance
Stuart Waite
Ludlow
Shropshire