CleanIsFast Journal: BMW X5 4.6iS

[bcredliner]

Murphy's law of DIY: What you drop will delay the completion of the project. It will be a specialty item, cost will be shocking, something that has to be ordered, parts stores are closed or will require a search and drive that takes a minimum of four hours. You will not find the item or it will magically appear where you are positive you looked three to five times, that will be at least one day after the vehicle is back on the road. Footnote--Just before you drop the item you will say to yourself that you have to be very careful not to do so. And, if you buy only one replacement it is likely you will drop it again. If you buy more than one you will not drop it and never need the item again.

[CleanIsFast]

Well I ordered (3) airbox lid clips and (1) airbox mount. Looks like the airbox comes with two rubber mounts, mine was missing one. There is a lot of play/wiggle-room when the airbox is bolted down. Probably due to the missing mount. Another trip to the dealer, and another $12

[OptimusPriM5]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Murphy's law of DIY: What you drop will delay the completion of the project. It will be a specialty item, something that has to be ordered, parts stores are closed or will require a search and drive that takes a minimum of four hours. You will not find the item or it will magically appear where you are positive you looked three to five times, that will be at least one day after the vehicle is back on the road. Footnote--Just before you drop the item you will say to yourself that you have to be very careful not to do so. And, if you buy only one replacement it is likely you will drop it again. If you buy more than one you will not drop it and never need the item again.

Sounds like words of wisdom and experience

[dannyzabolotny]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

Well I ordered (3) airbox lid clips and (1) airbox mount. Looks like the airbox comes with two rubber mounts, mine was missing one. There is a lot of play/wiggle-room when the airbox is bolted down. Probably due to the missing mount. Another trip to the dealer, and another $12

You're lucky that your dealer actually stocks that stuff. Neither of the 2 BMW dealers in the Phoenix area stock anything for my old BMWs— everything has to be shipped to the dealership. And if I have to wait multiple days for shipping I may as well order from an online store like FCP Euro and pay less.

[CleanIsFast]

SES keeps coming on for torque convertor stuck open....What's weird is, whenever I drive the vehicle, it never comes on. When the wife drives it, it's been coming on more frequently. I really can't afford to drop $$$ for a new transmission. I'll continue to monitor but this may be the last straw.

- At a stand-still if I let off the gas, the vehicle moves/pulls away
- At rolling speed, if I take my foot off the gas pedal, the revs hold (slightly drop after a second)
- Transmission shifts fine, no slipping
- 2-1 downshift is much better since new fluid/filter and software. Still present but not as bad

I've read that I should address the TC sooner rather than later to not destroy the rest of the transmission? Most people buy re-man TC or new TC's, and others just buy a completely new transmission. Almost 130k on this transmission.

[smokeyyank]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

SES keeps coming on for torque convertor stuck open....What's weird is, whenever I drive the vehicle, it never comes on. When the wife drives it, it's been coming on more frequently. I really can't afford to drop $$$ for a new transmission. I'll continue to monitor but this may be the last straw.

- At a stand-still if I let off the gas, the vehicle moves/pulls away
- At rolling speed, if I take my foot off the gas pedal, the revs hold (slightly drop after a second)
- Transmission shifts fine, no slipping
- 2-1 downshift is much better since new fluid/filter and software. Still present but not as bad

I've read that I should address the TC sooner rather than later to not destroy the rest of the transmission? Most people buy re-man TC or new TC's, and others just buy a completely new transmission. Almost 130k on this transmission.

If she drives like mine, going with operator error, lol!

I feel your pain on this one. I know I will eventually have to come to the decision on the tranny. Mine isn't bad but it just doesn't feel 100% at times. I hope a flush helps some symptoms but I know it won't go forever. Love the X but just wish there was simple way to get a better tranny and have RWD only.

For the TC I know you can get remans or have yours rebuilt, but few shops are able to effectively do it. The 4.6is has a bigger TC and they are harder to source. The TC would be easier than a whole tranny so may be worth a shot to get a refresh one and see if it helps.

[CleanIsFast]

Originally Posted by smokeyyank

If she drives like mine, going with operator error, lol!

I feel your pain on this one. I know I will eventually have to come to the decision on the tranny. Mine isn't bad but it just doesn't feel 100% at times. I hope a flush helps some symptoms but I know it won't go forever. Love the X but just wish there was simple way to get a better tranny and have RWD only.

For the TC I know you can get remans or have yours rebuilt, but few shops are able to effectively do it. The 4.6is has a bigger TC and they are harder to source. The TC would be easier than a whole tranny so may be worth a shot to get a refresh one and see if it helps.

Yea I need to figure out what she is doing for the light to keep coming back on I literally drove it 40 miles over the weekend with her in the vehicle and it never came on. I drove it all last week when she was away for work and it never came on. Past 2 days, it's come on twice for her. Only time it ever came on for me was going up an incline and I let off the gas to coast to a red light. So, I normally just stay lightly on the gas now on hills.

I do not feel the transmission slipping at all. No hard shifts into any gears. No clunking P-R-D/S.

Making the 4.6 RWD isn't as easy as the 4.8. I think you would need a modified driveshaft, possibly some coding?

I have not called around to see how much it is to rebuild the TC, but I'm not sure how I even feel about that. If it's going to cost $2-3k for new TC, you might as well spend the extra $1-2k for transmission as well? Either way, I am in no position to spend that. I am being pessimistic because I rather be surprised with it only being the TC and it being fairly cheap (relatively speaking).

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

SES keeps coming on for torque convertor stuck open....What's weird is, whenever I drive the vehicle, it never comes on. When the wife drives it, it's been coming on more frequently. I really can't afford to drop $$$ for a new transmission. I'll continue to monitor but this may be the last straw.

- At a stand-still if I let off the gas, the vehicle moves/pulls away
- At rolling speed, if I take my foot off the gas pedal, the revs hold (slightly drop after a second)
- Transmission shifts fine, no slipping
- 2-1 downshift is much better since new fluid/filter and software. Still present but not as bad

I've read that I should address the TC sooner rather than later to not destroy the rest of the transmission? Most people buy re-man TC or new TC's, and others just buy a completely new transmission. Almost 130k on this transmission.

I would do a remanufactured ZF5hp from ZF. You could change the TC but you will already have the trans out might as well do the reman Trans and keep rolling.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

Yea I need to figure out what she is doing for the light to keep coming back on I literally drove it 40 miles over the weekend with her in the vehicle and it never came on. I drove it all last week when she was away for work and it never came on. Past 2 days, it's come on twice for her. Only time it ever came on for me was going up an incline and I let off the gas to coast to a red light. So, I normally just stay lightly on the gas now on hills.

I do not feel the transmission slipping at all. No hard shifts into any gears. No clunking P-R-D/S.

Making the 4.6 RWD isn't as easy as the 4.8. I think you would need a modified driveshaft, possibly some coding?

I have not called around to see how much it is to rebuild the TC, but I'm not sure how I even feel about that. If it's going to cost $2-3k for new TC, you might as well spend the extra $1-2k for transmission as well? Either way, I am in no position to spend that. I am being pessimistic because I rather be surprised with it only being the TC and it being fairly cheap (relatively speaking).

You can get a remanufactured Trans from ZF for about $3k which includes the rebuilt TC.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by CleanIsFast

SES keeps coming on for torque convertor stuck open....What's weird is, whenever I drive the vehicle, it never comes on. When the wife drives it, it's been coming on more frequently. I really can't afford to drop $$$ for a new transmission. I'll continue to monitor but this may be the last straw.

- At a stand-still if I let off the gas, the vehicle moves/pulls away
- At rolling speed, if I take my foot off the gas pedal, the revs hold (slightly drop after a second)
- Transmission shifts fine, no slipping
- 2-1 downshift is much better since new fluid/filter and software. Still present but not as bad

I've read that I should address the TC sooner rather than later to not destroy the rest of the transmission? Most people buy re-man TC or new TC's, and others just buy a completely new transmission. Almost 130k on this transmission.

Have you had a diagnosis done by a local independent transmission shop that is familiar with the ZF5HP24 transmission?