Transmission Problems

[roxinator]

Had an '02 4.4 - kinda sorta my fault - i always jam it in gear, both forward reverse coming out of parking spots. Then lost reverse one day. Had to r&r whole tranny. BMW did it 2x as the replacement was a dud also! Warranty covered both.
Now have an '04 4.8is and it granny-shifts as soft as a puffy pillow. Hate it. Does anybody know if Dinan tranny software helps this?????? Otherwise runs awesome!!

[MC330CI]

Hey guys - I just joined the club and purchased a '05 4.4i, but I'm getting second thoughts about it now. I've had the car for almost two weeks and I'm starting experiencing the below transmission problems:

1. From Cold start place car in drive and ease on the accelerator - X will hesitate slightly as you accelerate. As you increase in rpms car will shift HARD into second gear. This only occurs from cold start and the problem becomes less apparent as the transmission warms up.

2. From a full stop - release brake and accelerate. X will intermitantly produce a violent jolt comparable to being rear ended almost.

Has anyone experienced these issues?
And if so what was done to repair them and did the repairs resolve the issue.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[trooper]

I have a 2001 x5 and had to replace the transmission at 102,000 miles - 2K over the extended warranty. I finally "bargained" with the dealer and BMW North America and they gave me a 50% discount on the parts. Overall, the job cost me a little over $3,000.

More recently, at 126,000 miles, it appears that the head gasket blew and I not have a major oil/engine problem. It's at the stealer right now being diagnosed. I will NEVER buy another BMW product. Not even a T-shirt with their logo on it. Ummm, hello, that's a $50,000 vehicle that's not engineered for crap. Sorry to be so negative, but to have to put another $4,000 into getting that fixed is RIDICULOUS.

[roxinator]

I had a Ford truck when I was younger - Flareside and I took it out all the time and beat on that thing... with the throttle floored forward - reverse - forward - reverse smoke show, donuts and that thing was indestructable... but each-to-his-own. I'll never go back from BMW or MB to anything less!

[roxinator]

ZF transmissions are used in millions of vehicles - all manufacturers in all kinds of vehicles

[cavx5]

Hey guys - i have '05 4.4i with 17k miles and this happens to me also like mc330i as posted above
From Cold start place car in drive and ease on the accelerator - X will buck slightly as you accelerate..if i ease up it stops and i increase pressure on gas it smooths out..as you increase in rpms car will shift HARD into second gear. This only occurs from cold start and goes away as the transmission warms up. i also hear a slight bang from 1st to 2nd only and when warm works ok...any opinions...thanks rob

[chilliwilli]

Originally Posted by cavx5

Hey guys - i have '05 4.4i with 17k miles and this happens to me also like mc330i as posted above
From Cold start place car in drive and ease on the accelerator - X will buck slightly as you accelerate..if i ease up it stops and i increase pressure on gas it smooths out..as you increase in rpms car will shift HARD into second gear. This only occurs from cold start and goes away as the transmission warms up. i also hear a slight bang from 1st to 2nd only and when warm works ok...any opinions...thanks rob

Has she been diagnosed?

Edit: Bump

[BimmerDude]

Look, its not the zf tranny that's the problem. I believe its got to do with the driver of the car. How does he/she drive? Is there a constant abuse? Understand that if someone where to beat on any tranny, that tranny over time will begin to brake down. Now the only complaint that I have with all these new tranny's is the famous "Life time fluid". I just don't get it, and I think I never will. But so far Lexus, Infiniti, MB, Bmw and now Cadillac (which is using ZF tranny also) are many of auto manufacturers that are life time fluid. So far, if you do some research, you will find that a really small amount of people are having problems with there tranny. So, I'm just going to drive the X till it dies. If the tranny goes, well I've got my indy ready to jump on it. It will cost me 3k total to r and r. I've thought about getting rid of the X, but when I wash it up, every other SUV looks like crap compared to the X.

[airforcenav]

I would like to list the problems that I have encountered with my X5 in the past month. After reading these problems, I would welcome any input that you may have.
I have a 2002 X5 4.6is automatic with 59K miles.

1. Front left drive axle failed. BMW dealer recommended replacing both axles due to the fact that when one fails, the other may follow soon. Both axles replaced.
2. While dealer had my X5 to repair the axles, they found a small oil leak on the head gasket (left side of the engine). They replaced gaskets on both sides of engine.
3. Dealer then performed 60,000 mile inspection. They flushed the radiator and brake system.
4. During the test drive to determine of there were any problems after the inspection and engine work, the starter failed. Replaced starter.
5. Picked up the truck on Friday afternoon from dealership. Drove it approximately 200 miles the next day.
6. After approximately 200 mile drive listed above, the transmission failed. X5 was in drive, going approximately 50 MPH. Engine revved to about 6000 RPM, transmission message came on and truck had no forward power. Coasted to the side of the road and called tow truck.
7. The X5 is currently at the BMW dealer. I am waiting on their diagnosis.
8. There were no known failures of the starter or tranny before it went to the dealer.

Questions...Is there a known failure when the dealer adds the wrong ATF fluid to the tranny?
Not sure if the dealer drained the tranny fluid when they changed the front axles. Is this required?
Do any of you know if these problems might still be covered under warranty?

Thanks for the help.

[BimmerDude]

First, I must tell you, coming from my end of repair work on my X, I understand your stress. I just feel that you had all these things happen all at once. It does seem that when there is one problem there ends up being many more that follow. Well, this is just from my experience of course. Either way, the ZF Tranny I been told, either will give you problems from an earlier stage or won't give you any but die after 100k. Now, which one is right, I really don't know. I have 104k on mine right now, it still shifts nice and smooth, but you never know what can happen. Good Luck with your problem. Hope everything turns out fine.