Anyone else's X5 shift very hard; 1st shift on cold engine?

[X5SND]

^^ +1.

at you boys and your definition of cold!

[Beoch]

I’m having the same issue just on first gear. The weather today is 25 degrees so I put the car in neutral and revved the engine to about 1500 rpms for about 5-10 seconds and it shifted like it was already warmed up. Figured it would be a temporary solution until I can change the transmission fluid.

2006 X5 4.4 bought used at 100,000 miles and we’ve put 36,000 miles since. Not sure if the transmission fluid has ever been serviced

[CleanIsFast]

I wouldn't say 'hard' shifts from 1st to 2nd in cold weather for me. But you can definitely feel it vs when the vehicle is at normal operating temperature. I tend to just take it easy in general when the vehicle is cold. I plan on doing a transmission service @ 80k

[danny_acs]

Has anyone found a fix yet?

[Purplefade]

Upallnight pretty much nailed it, most likely low fluid level or fluid pressure pushing past the mechatronic seal and pickup tubes.

Most likely (fix), drop the pain, change the filter and refresh the fluid. If that doesn’t do it, change just the fluid again and if that doesn’t do it, drop the pan and change the bridge seal and pickup tubes.

That said, initially check the BMW service procedure for trans fill, get it up to temp, run it through the gears and top off the fluid.

Most probable cause is low fluid pressure when it’s cold, as it heats up the fluid expands and the shifts go back to normal. And yes, you’d be amazed how quickly the trans heats up sitting directly between the cats


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[Purplefade]

Quick note, doesn’t have to be a puddle under the car to have a “weep” that makes it past the mech seal or out the tail shaft seal and just looks a bit like “slippery” stuff on the under carriage, it is amazing how little fluid is too much for these trannies to lose before they start to act up...

Good luck and keep us posted!!


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