Extremely horrible x5 transmission experience, long time-multiple BMW owner

[Storm13]

Wow, JCL, that was a very well written statement. AND, it's exactly the reason that I didn't ask the dealership to do anything about the transfer case issue on my own recent purchase even though I actually purchased my X5 from a dealership.

There just wouldn't be a point to try and push them to cover half of the cost of what it would be for them to replace it, when I got my local transmission shop to rebuilt it for less than what the dealer's discounted price would have been.

$3,500 minus a 50% discount to install a BMW remanufactured transfer case is still more than the $1,475 that I spent at full price somewhere else.

[FSETH]

Per usual, very well written post JCL.

I do feel the OP's pain, because a failing trans on a car under 50,000 miles just flat out sucks. You would think BMW quality was better than that. I am the same type of BMW owner as the OP. Owned two e30's, an e36 and an e53. All of which were used at the time of purchase and none of which were from a BMW dealer. I have also spent tens of thousands of dollars in parts and repairs on my BMW's. Some parts from dealers, some not. Some repairs at dealers, some not. I feel I am strongly supporting BMW's secondary market. However, I am not pumping money into new vehicles from authorized dealers. Therefore, I would never expect BMW compensate me for anything outside of warranty. Even though I feel as though I am valuable asset to BMW in many ways; I currently own 2 BMW's, my next car will be a pre-owned BMW, my family owns 5 other BMW's (pre-owned), I am in the BMWCCA, I participate in BMW forums and I converted a friend from an MB guy to a BMW guy (he actually bought a new Z4M), I don't expect BMW to do anything for me outside of warranty because I am not directly supporting them through purchasing new cars (which is what they are in business to do) and I don't have an exclusive, long term term relationship with any particular dealer or service advisor.

[CTSportX5]

Yea it sucks a $70,000 truck needing a new tranny under 50K miles. Given the fact these tranny's are notoriously bad I would have hoped BMW NA at least giving some sort of a break. Should be lesson learned to the OP- if buying a used AUTO tranny BMW get CPO at the minimum.

[fmk]

what is the dreaded lurch.. thought the slam was normal more or less.. jsut sayin

[04_4.8isX5]

I can't speak for everyone's issues. But the lurch that I was referring to sounds like the same issue your having or calling the slam. When your X5 is driving and going through gears it'll pause to change a gear while the engine is still revving and then suddenly change gears and slam or lurch into the next gear. It isn't right or Ok at all, it may be a normal symptom or problem with these awesome vehicles but either way its not normal. In my case the transmission is losing hydraulic pressure in valves or somewhere thts used to change the gears, so when it trys to change them it loses pressure and has difficulty engaging the next gear. Its very odd though because its inconsistent, and it won't do it when its in sport mode. Atleast I haven't experienced it yet. The stealership told me that this is a very gradual and slow death or process for the tranny, but either way it is bad. Hope that helps and makes sense. Another symptom mine was having lately was a slow response when kicking it into reverse, it would take about a minute to engage. I've read several experiences where these symptoms were software related but apparently not in my case . I will be seeking more opinions, its just difficult to find a shop around my vicinity that will be honest and look at bmw's.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by 04_4.8isX5

I can't speak for everyone's issues. But the lurch that I was referring to sounds like the same issue your having or calling the slam. When your X5 is driving and going through gears it'll pause to change a gear while the engine is still revving and then suddenly change gears and slam or lurch into the next gear. It isn't right or Ok at all, it may be a normal symptom or problem with these awesome vehicles but either way its not normal. In my case the transmission is losing hydraulic pressure in valves or somewhere thts used to change the gears, so when it trys to change them it loses pressure and has difficulty engaging the next gear. Its very odd though because its inconsistent, and it won't do it when its in sport mode. Atleast I haven't experienced it yet. The stealership told me that this is a very gradual and slow death or process for the tranny, but either way it is bad. Hope that helps and makes sense. Another symptom mine was having lately was a slow response when kicking it into reverse, it would take about a minute to engage. I've read several experiences where these symptoms were software related but apparently not in my case . I will be seeking more opinions, its just difficult to find a shop around my vicinity that will be honest and look at bmw's.

i had the reverse problem actually. not a full minute to engage, but about 2-3 seconds to engage in reverse. replaced under my last month of CPO warranty! phew!

[Jordo]

My trany just sh!t the bed. Complete rebuild and install with a 3 year warranty for $3416.81. So OP, you have options.

[diyanich]

Originally Posted by Jordo

My trany just sh!t the bed. Complete rebuild and install with a 3 year warranty for $3416.81. So OP, you have options.

You've got a good deal I guess,'cause mine was around $4900(13% taxes included) and only 2 years/40.000kms warranty.
When it comes to price,canadians are always paying more expensive than americans.
So your X is back?
If so,how is the ride?

[///Bruce]

Originally Posted by 04_4.8isX5

I thought I'd share my most extremely frustrating situation with this forum. I own a 2004 BMW x5 4.8is, beautiful vehicle with only now 48,000miles on it. My wife and I purchased this vehicle from an independent broker in Seattle when it had only a little more than 35,000 miles on it. Lately the x5 has been doing the infamous "lurch" transmission issue and having problems shifting up after about 3rd gear or so. It happens randomnly and inconsistently and not in sport mode.

I have owned aproximately 7 BMW's, raised on working on my own cars and always maintaining them and I am very meticulous to the point some may call OCD! We bought this X5 to drive my wife and our new 10mth old son in.

Getting to the point, I took it to our local Salem BMW dealer/service location and received the diagnosis that the entire transmission needs to be replaced! What's more shocking is the price they gave me would be anywhere from 9500 to aproximately 10,000 for labor and to replace it. After being in shock and upset I tried to speak to the dealer about any type of break or cost reduction, goodwill or anything for us and was denied from both the dealer and BMW NA. When speaking for over 30minutes to BMW NA about my history with them, and the issue, they just told me they couldn't and wouldn't help me since it is no longer under warranty and hadn't been serviced through them since I've owned it. I tried to explain that the car had less than 50,000 miles on it, the transmission in "BMW" terms is lifetime fluid and not to be serviced, the car has been EXTREMELY well taken care of and maintained with records of all the parts I have purchased for it, as well as m other vehicles. They didn't care, they told me they wouldn't do anything but file a complaint.

I currently own a BMW e39 540i as well, have owned multiple e30's, e36's but this experience has made me decide against ever buying a bmw again. We will probably trade this x5 and may get rid of my 540i also for something else and definitely not a BMW because of this experience. I am so so soooo very dissapointed.

-Nathan

I changed the plugs in mine with ~62K on the odometer and it made a HUGE difference in the shifting of the tranny. It was like night and day!

[diyanich]

Originally Posted by ///Bruce

I changed the plugs in mine with ~62K on the odometer and it made a HUGE difference in the shifting of the tranny. It was like night and day!

I am wondering,how would the spark plugs affect transmission,but it's not a first time I read something like this.
Does anybody have an explanation ?