infamous cold start auto trans delay 03 3.0 auto

cattywampus · #1 03-16-2011, 09:30 AM

searched to no avail.

anybody have any luck w/a DIY to resolve the internal 'o ring' leak. mechanically inclined but know when to say when, more sensible to take to a pro?

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Zulu95 · #2 03-16-2011, 09:58 AM

Every post I have ever read on this subject over the last 6 years always seemed to end in "reman tranny being installed". The only difference has been in whether it was a $6800 dealer reman or a indy shop at lower prices. I believe one guy actually posted a blow by blow of him doing the rebuild himself.
When I bought 6 years ago this was one of the issues I was aware of and checked with my indy who priced out a rebuilt tranny from one of the big engine/tranny rebuild houses available to the trade and gave me an estimate of around $4000 installed with a 3 year/36K miles warranty. I'm sure there are many quality transmission specialists in your area who could diagnose/repair this for you and get you back on the road.
GL with whatever route you take.

cattywampus · #3 03-16-2011, 10:09 AM

thanks Zulu for your post.

since the car is drivable, i'll likley wait a little longer till this abolition...i mean transmission disintegrates before replacing it.

i should mention vehicle has a total of 68k mi.

Zulu95 · #4 03-16-2011, 10:30 AM

That is terrible! Only 68K and the tranny is starting to play up. We have around 62K on our 2001 so I'm sure it could be in the future for us.
Did you ever change the tranny fluid? i ask out of interest as we have had two changes so far in an attempt to prolong the life of the seemingly "weak' transmission. I know that BMW is not on my list of replacements for this vehicle when the time comes.

cattywampus · #5 03-16-2011, 10:49 AM

i hear you and i'm as brand loyal as they come.

researched and have not replaced the fluid

s54 m3 powered e46 wagon (fs btw

), s52 m coupe, m54 x5

of the (40) or so bmw's i've been fortunate enough to own, the x5 has been by far the most problematic/expensive to keep on the road. i understand you pay to play and all that but 68k mi and a prospective replacement tranny has me saying no more e53's in our future.

we purchased the vehicle in anticipation of our first born. after a week of ownership, the car enters limp mode after a trans fail safe message appears in the instrument cluster. after dealing with a swarm of independents that could not diagnose the problem, the stealership replaces the entire transmission wire harness to the tune of $2500. we end up bringing our baby girl home in a rental car

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