Official X5 4.6is & 4.8is Thread

[Squiggy]

One thing I've noticed on my 4.6 is that downshifting in Sport Mode is harsh, so I only put it in Sport Mode if I am accelerating. If I'm about to hit the brakes or let off the gas I will jump out of Sport Mode first. Not sure if this will 'prolong' the life of the transmission but the car seems to complain a lot less. just fyi

[aaalbedo]

Sorry to ghost y'all for a month, especially after all that excellent information and advice. This is a fourth vehicle for me and I'm waffling a lot; hate to see another Estoril 4.6is parted out, but choking on the $9K quote to install a rebuilt (and also doubting that the shop can actually find one). There were two silver 4.6is's posted for sale here in Denver in the last month for $2,000 and $1,200 but I missed them both.
Anyway, here is more information.

Transmission was serviced (flush and filter) by PO at 140K miles, now at 170K. I bought it at 160K and asked a local indie if I should service again, and they said no, they have never seen a 4.6 transmission last to 160.

At about 165 I noticed symptoms; after braking it seemed to slip out of gear as there was a very mild lurch as I opened the throttle; most noticeable after a sharp right turn. It also seemed to fight me when braking; it was still trying to pull as I came to a stop. Took it to a different, less specialty shop (tech claims to be a 540 fanatic). They said it was overfilled (which is a red flag since that's nearly impossible) and the fluid smells burnt, needs rebuild and estimated $6K.

About a month later I was on the highway at ~70 mph and the trifecta lit, but it did not seem to go into failsafe, shifting normally for the rest of the 4 miles home. Only short drives for the next couple of months with no change, and eventually the trifecta went away. Then I drove it ~20 miles to work, and trifecta returned at the very last stoplight. Still shifted normally for the drive home with trifecta on.

I bought a reader based on forum advice (I've used OBD fusion heavily for my 330, and have INPA but no german). But the reader results seem pretty vague; four drivetrain issues and here is the entirety of that report:

1.EGS: Symptom, Gear Monitoring
2.EGS: Speed Signal N-Ou (Output)
3.EGS: Converter Lockup Clutch, Excessive Slip
4.EGS: Batt. + Supply, Term. 87

So I think I need to fire up INPA and have a better look; hope to do that this weekend. Also note that there are 3 safety and 17 body issues reported by the reader (including an apparently dead left rear wheel speed sensor), and I may have some electrical issues as well.

Truck is super clean inside, has some fairly major paint issues on the front end. Hoping to keep it alive! Thanks for all the input so far. Stay tuned.

Larry

[aureliusmax]

Originally Posted by aaalbedo

Sorry to ghost y'all for a month, especially after all that excellent information and advice. This is a fourth vehicle for me and I'm waffling a lot; hate to see another Estoril 4.6is parted out, but choking on the $9K quote to install a rebuilt (and also doubting that the shop can actually find one). There were two silver 4.6is's posted for sale here in Denver in the last month for $2,000 and $1,200 but I missed them both.
Anyway, here is more information.

Transmission was serviced (flush and filter) by PO at 140K miles, now at 170K. I bought it at 160K and asked a local indie if I should service again, and they said no, they have never seen a 4.6 transmission last to 160.

At about 165 I noticed symptoms; after braking it seemed to slip out of gear as there was a very mild lurch as I opened the throttle; most noticeable after a sharp right turn. It also seemed to fight me when braking; it was still trying to pull as I came to a stop. Took it to a different, less specialty shop (tech claims to be a 540 fanatic). They said it was overfilled (which is a red flag since that's nearly impossible) and the fluid smells burnt, needs rebuild and estimated $6K.

About a month later I was on the highway at ~70 mph and the trifecta lit, but it did not seem to go into failsafe, shifting normally for the rest of the 4 miles home. Only short drives for the next couple of months with no change, and eventually the trifecta went away. Then I drove it ~20 miles to work, and trifecta returned at the very last stoplight. Still shifted normally for the drive home with trifecta on.

I bought a reader based on forum advice (I've used OBD fusion heavily for my 330, and have INPA but no german). But the reader results seem pretty vague; four drivetrain issues and here is the entirety of that report:

1.EGS: Symptom, Gear Monitoring
2.EGS: Speed Signal N-Ou (Output)
3.EGS: Converter Lockup Clutch, Excessive Slip
4.EGS: Batt. + Supply, Term. 87

So I think I need to fire up INPA and have a better look; hope to do that this weekend. Also note that there are 3 safety and 17 body issues reported by the reader (including an apparently dead left rear wheel speed sensor), and I may have some electrical issues as well.

Truck is super clean inside, has some fairly major paint issues on the front end. Hoping to keep it alive! Thanks for all the input so far. Stay tuned.

Larry

I've got a 4.6 transmission core. A rebuild will be about 6K to do 'all the way through' but seems a little rich.
A local transmission shop quoted me (canadian dollars so that's 25% off your USD)

A & M transmissions "quote" for ZHP24 rebuild. include RE+RE and 60KM warranty, new TRQ convertor. one week turn-around with access to rebuild parts. 3500-4000 clutches and seals. 4800-5800 for extra failure parts.
I also have a new valvebody that I didn't use either, but it's the for the 4.4 engine and I didn't end up by using it but I'm sure 99% of all the parts inside are good to carry-over like all the solenoids.

It would be nice to sell this kit to another member here.
I managed to get a recently rebuilt transmission by a local guy off a bmw group for $1500 so that's the route I went.

[x5Alpine]

Send the transmission to Erikkson Industries back east. They're one of the few ZF distributors in the US and they quoted me under $3,000 to rebuild the transmission and torque converter. Don't let your 4.6 die, a transmission is rebuildable and should never mean the death of a rare car.