Decision on how to treat my Transmission for the rest of its life…

[Ash977]

I have been having lots of issues with my transmission. This is regarding a 2006 X5 4.8is with 35K miles. Some issues have been resolved through software upgrade but some are still present to this date. I have another 10 months on my CPO warranty and I like to get this transmission issue resolved before warranty expires. Of course the dealer tells me all these symptoms are normal.

1- There is a three second delay before the reverse gear engages. This only happens when the car is at its normal operating temperature and the transmission is warmed up. If the car is cold, the reverse gear engages right away. In one instance the reverse never engaged… I had to turn off the car and try again. Dealer claims all 4.8is behave the same way and this delay is within tolerance.

2- Occasionally, when I am cursing around 40-50mph, not pressing the gas peddle, the car kicks really hard. I think it downshifts and then it upshifts quickly. As usual dealer says: “Can’t be duplicated at this time. No fault can be found. Operating per spec”

3- All the harsh gear-change in the sport mode and occasional kick between second gear to first or vice versa was resolved with the software upgrade.

I have read on many forums and articles that the first sign of dying transmission is having issue with the reverse gear. I don’t by what dealer tells me because my car didn’t have any delay going in reverse for the first 25,000 miles of its life. Now I am thinking to accelerate the death of this dying transmission and I like to get your opinion on that? And perhaps ways of doing so with out damaging anything else?

I would greatly appreciate your comments and thoughts in advance!!!!

[o. l. t.]

If I knew something were wrong and they refused to fix it I'd personally have it pushed on their lot with bald tires, smoke coming off the tranny, and a smug sense of satisfaction on my face. How much do we pay for these trucks?

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by Ash977

I have been having lots of issues with my transmission. This is regarding a 2006 X5 4.8is with 35K miles. Some issues have been resolved through software upgrade but some are still present to this date. I have another 10 months on my CPO warranty and I like to get this transmission issue resolved before warranty expires. Of course the dealer tells me all these symptoms are normal.

1- There is a three second delay before the reverse gear engages. This only happens when the car is at its normal operating temperature and the transmission is warmed up. If the car is cold, the reverse gear engages right away. In one instance the reverse never engaged… I had to turn off the car and try again. Dealer claims all 4.8is behave the same way and this delay is within tolerance.

2- Occasionally, when I am cursing around 40-50mph, not pressing the gas peddle, the car kicks really hard. I think it downshifts and then it upshifts quickly. As usual dealer says: “Can’t be duplicated at this time. No fault can be found. Operating per spec”

3- All the harsh gear-change in the sport mode and occasional kick between second gear to first or vice versa was resolved with the software upgrade.

I have read on many forums and articles that the first sign of dying transmission is having issue with the reverse gear. I don’t by what dealer tells me because my car didn’t have any delay going in reverse for the first 25,000 miles of its life. Now I am thinking to accelerate the death of this dying transmission and I like to get your opinion on that? And perhaps ways of doing so with out damaging anything else?

I would greatly appreciate your comments and thoughts in advance!!!!

I had every single one of these symptoms. especially the reverse thing. Dealer replaced mine under CPO.

talk to the service department manager, AND demand that a tech comes out and sits in your car with the reverse thing. THats when they finally replaced mine, i had a tech come out and drive the car himself and go from P to D to R a bunch of times.

FYI, my repair was done at Morristown BMW

on another note, i should look for that service receipt, scan it in and send it to you. maybe it'll help?

[Driven]

Had all the above symptoms you are having, plus slipping between changes and hard downshifts into 1st gear. Have an 05' 4.8is with 63,xxx miles. My transmission is currently being replaced at my local indy BMW specialist (courtesy of my extended warranty).

I'll report back next week when I get my X back.

[HEISING]

Hate to say..But.... Sounds like a pressure issue. Possibily a failing pump. When the tranny gets warm, the oil will thin and seals get soft. Maybe even in a clutch pack piston. I would definitely have it replaced under warranty while you still can. 3 seconds into reverse is not ok.

[Nik]

some kind of pressure issue propobbly. I'm fixing mine next week, It has pressure accumulator problem(indy told me) when chaning from 1st to 2nd gear, there is slight 3 secconds delay, where it Revs up as if it was in neutral in that time. Definetly get it fixed. 37k miles is sooo low, It's a brand new car. with new tranny it will run forever.
As for last step braking that tranny is very easy as well. do brake +gas in first gear few times it brake something in tranny for sure.
Wish you Best luck with that problem.

[Ash977]

Thank you everyone for your comments and concerns.

Nazario, Shop foreman drove my car once. He tried going from D to R back to D several times. He acknowledged the delay. But he keeps saying the 3 second delay is within tolerance and it is per ZF design. He told me that they had an engineer from ZF while back ago explaining to them why this 3 second delay is needed to lower the pressure before engaging in reverse. I don’t buy their explanation since:

• This delay didn’t exist before.
• It doesn’t do it when it is cold.
• It can be potential danger if you need to back up quickly and the transmission doesn’t engage.

Having said all that, it seems there is nothing I can do since shop foreman keeps telling me there is no fault recorded and the delay is per design.

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by Ash977

Thank you everyone for your comments and concerns.


Nazario, Shop foreman drove my car once. He tried going from D to R back to D several times. He acknowledged the delay. But he keeps saying the 3 second delay is within tolerance and it is per ZF design. He told me that they had an engineer from ZF while back ago explaining to them why this 3 second delay is needed to lower the pressure before engaging in reverse. I don’t buy their explanation since:

• This delay didn’t exist before.
• It doesn’t do it when it is cold.
• It can be potential danger if you need to back up quickly and the transmission doesn’t engage.

Having said all that, it seems there is nothing I can do since shop foreman keeps telling me there is no fault recorded and the delay is per design.

There is something you can do. Call BMWNA and log the same complaint with them and get it on record. Especially the part about you not feeling safe with the reverse delay. They may choose to get involved and facilitate the replacement with the dealer. Persistance will eventually pay off.

[Nik]

Do delay also occur when shifting from Neutral to Reverse?

[GX5NY]

my tranny was replaced under CPO for that reverse delay and I have an 05 4.8is. Mine was replaced at BMW of Bayside where they still currently have my truck for the self-leveling issues.

The delay is definitely not normal and I would push to get it replaced... like Nazario said, if you need a receipt scan I will scan mine for you as well as it states the delay and the replaced tranny because of it. My new tranny never delays or hesitates like the old one did