4.8is cold shifting = very jerky

[brucemillar]

Folks

Apologies if this has been asked, but I didn't find it.

My 4.8is (2006 e53) is very jerky when pulling away from a standstill in these colder mornings (>3.0c)

Is this just how it is when it is cold? It is noticeably jerkier (is that word) when in Manual/Sport mode and does seem to want to make a hell of a lot of shifts. Once the car has warmed up it is not so bad, although the box does still seem very random in its approach to shifting at times.

So, if in Sport Mode, but NOT using the sequential shift and just letting it do its own thing, it will hang on to 1st gear for way too long, meaning the engine really revs. This has the effect of others thinking I am showing off (I'm not honest) as it revs the hell out of itself between traffic lights. If I leave it in Normal 'D' then it is fine.

I am assuming that there is no dipstick for the trans, so I would need to check the level by climbing underneath and undoing the filler and seeing it if spills any ATF?

The car is a low mileage = 87k Miles (checked out) and full BMW Dealer Service History. I see no record of any ATF or filter change.

I know that BMW often say "sealed for life" and that this often proven to be not correct or smart to adhere to?

Is there any software that I should be looking at for the shifting? or is it purely fluid and levels that I should look at?

Many Thanks

Bruce