Xmas pressie from BMW........another failed transmission on an X5

[X5Sport]

2005 E53 Sport Auto 3.0D with a 6-speed box and less than 42k on the clock and now the transmission side has gone down with no warning.

We were out this afternoon and all was well for 45 minutes and then with no warning or fault lights the gearbox suddenly starts behaving very strangely. It needs much higher revs before the car will even move, won't select gears at lower rpm - almost like it's gone into 'Sport' mode but it isn't. Then it appears to have gone back to behaving normally except that when pulling to a stop the box has not downshifted correctly so I have to really stand on the brakes to hold the car still. As soon as I lift off the brakes it's as if the car is in 3rd gear rather than 1st or 2nd and it just takes off. Now there's also a strange noise from underneath which to be honest sounds like loose exhaust baffles but isn't as it's coming from the transmission. I switch it off at the next set of lights, wait until they change, restart and proceeed. We finally pull into the local supermarket and there's no reverse gear!! Oh oh I think, seen this on the Xoutpost site and it usually means very bad news. Almost immediately I get the "Trans Failsafe Prog" warning.

I immediately place the transmission in Park and switch off. Wait for the car to go to sleep and restart. No more warning and check control reports as OK. We drive home very carefully again with no more warnings appearing and all the gears selecting but the gearshifts are very 'sharp' in first second and third and there's a very slight smell of hot gear oil - although there is no trace of a leak that I can see, so it might be from a breather (assuming there is one).

Contact BMW dealer who does a sharp intake of breath and says drive it no further and we'll need to see it. Also checked with an Indy specialist who did the same intake of breath and then said - take it to a main dealer and create merry hell becuase you should not be seeing that kind of gearbox failure at that age (4Y9M) and only 41900 miles on it.

Talk to the warranty company who said the same thing - there is no way it should have got problems this early, get it to a main dealer and we'll see what they identify and will then ask BMW to replace the components on goodwill. I will also be contacting BMW in the UK to ask them what they are going to do about this.

So my truck gets recovered tomorrow and will sit with the dealer until January (the UK is nearly closed now!!) and then the fights begin. At present I have no idea whether the torque converter has gone, a gear set has got a fault, there are bits in the box, and oil pump has failed, the 'X' drive has failed or what. It sounds mechanical rather then electrical/hydraulic and will in no doubt be VERY expensive to fix.

I can manually select all 6 speeds and reverse, but the Auto programme is definitely acting up at low speeds coupled with this strange whirring noise. All I can say is that for the alleged 'Ultimate Driving Machine' it may handle well but its reliability sucks! My wife's E46 has now had 2 new rear springs and new fron suspension bushings at a similar mileage - all apparently known failures on that type too.

............and all this just as the weather turns foul and we need a 4x4 to get about. Thanks BMW!!

Happy Xmas every one....................

Deep sigh....................

[Halston Pitman]

It seems to be hit or miss honestly on BMW transmissions. I know 200K and even 300K auto trans in BMWs. I also know of some that are failing sub 50,000 miles. Why? Who knows.

Good luck!

[X5Sport]

Looks like the gearbox itself has failed. The Dealer reports that they have now drained the oil and found metal in it and that the oil also smells 'burnt'.

One newAuto Gearbox coming up by the sounds of it. Approx £4,000GBP +fitting @£100 per hour plus VAT. Call it £6k.

I don't suppose I'll ever find out what really happened as I believe these broken boxes are recovered to the OEM and stripped to uncover the failure mode.

I'm now waiting to see if BMW GB will provide a replacement under 'goodwill', or this is going to be very expensive.

I'm also wondering if the odd noise the box has made from new changing between 3rd and 4th ratios is the actual failure as these two gears were in use when the trouble started and are exactly what I reported within months of getting the car. No sensor warnings then or now, just metal filings and burnt oil. Broken clutch/brake band? Anyone know what can cause filings and 'burnt' oil in these transmissions?

No idea when I'll get it back so far. Probably some time in the New Year.

Speaking of which - I wish all of the membership a Peaceful 2010 and that it's a better year than 2009.

[X5Sport]

Well BMW GB refused all goodwill requests as according to them I had not shown them any goodwill by buying their extended warranty. I did point out to them that as far as I am aware they never offered me one - their response being that I should have asked for one!! The original dealer has changed ownership three times so I'm not surprised, but I am annoyed about BMW's attitude.

So the car has been recovered to a transmission specialist who is now rebuilding the gearbox. BMW simply replace the whole thing at a cost of $10,150USD as their dealers are not allowed to do repairs!! The transmission rebuilder is doing the job for somewhere in the region of $2,500USD. These prices are converted from the UK prices of around £6,700 and £1,500 respectively.

The failures all seem to have stemmed from a failed torque converter and main transmission oil pump causing a drop in pressure within the system and burnt clutches etc. There is no indication as to why the TC broke up, but at <42k miles it shouldn't have.

For those owners in the UK, you should seriously consider getting some form of extended warranty - mine is with Warranty Direct and costs £550 for Luxury Car Cover (less than half the cost of the BMW UK one so I am told, but I have no actual figures) - if you want to avoid some nasty unexpected bills with the added risk that BMW UK may not provide any support in the event of a premature failure.

[Hit Redline]

I had the same issue with the TC failure being the cause of destroying my tranny. My TC was not rebuildable, so I had to buy a rebuildable core. Total cost was $3,300, but I had a mechanic friend get me his price at a shop he uses. Man just over 42K, mine was at about 70k.

Do you tow anything with the X?

Hope it all goes well with the rebuild.