Transmssion goes KLUNK!!!

[Doru]

This is the 2nd time it happened in the last 2 weeks.
Slowing down to an intersection, pressed the brake to slow down. Coming almost to a stop - I can feel the tranny going in "limbo" (if it was a manual, it's the same feel as neutral), then pressing slightly the acceleration, the tranny just slams in gear - the feeling is like a huge sledge is hitting the car, almost teeth shattering.
I had an almost similar symptom with the e39 - but it happened when I switched from reverse to drive, or when I was on the HiWay and stepped on the gas pedal. The cure then (e39) was an ATF & filter change - fluid was black, magnets loaded and the filter was pretty much clogged.
This symptom (with e53) is slightly different - still in drive, but very slight throttle, after almost stopping.

Anyone experienced this with an 04'-06' ? If yes, what was the cause & the cure. It's a 4.4

Thanks

[Doru]

Bump. Nobody experienced this? No ideas?

[admranger]

Common issue.

Solution for me was a new transmission under CPO warranty.

What's happening is the transmission is trying to start out in 2nd gear (fuel mileage), but you ask for brisker acceleration so it downshifts to first. Hard. Mine got so bad it felt like I was being rear ended by a truck. Neck snapping bad.

If you aren't lucky enough to have a warranty on the vehicle, I suggest a simple fluid change (assuming you have less than 70-80k miles). I get my fluids from The California Transmission Supply Company, but I'm not sure if they ship to Canada. Get the Lifetime 6 fluid and, while you are in there, an extra fill plug in case yours is buggered up like mine was (on the rebuilt transmission, no less).

Of course, you could always come to a full and complete stop, then the problem doesn't occur!

[absentmathis]

The joys of a BMW auto, and the reason my three-pedaled-challenged wife drives an MB.

I bought an X5 with a known tranny problem and read a lot about them. This is quite common. Some report software updates are beneficial. I changed (no flush, just drain) the fluid and filter on mine at 126k and have (at least thus far) lived to tell about it. Provided you're not really high mileage, I'd start there.

[Doru]

Thanks guys. I think I will go the TF change route. Yes, it was the "neck snapping" - just like rear ended. I have no CPO warranty. Mileage is roughly 95K. I hope it will cure it.
What kind of software update for the tranny is out there? I have the GT1 with INPA, progman, EDIABAS, etc
Is it in there?

Thanks

[fmugur]

Only Winkfp and SSS can update your EGS module.
It's an easy job. You can run SSS and see all the updates you might need for your car.

[Doru]

Originally Posted by fmugur

Only Winkfp and SSS can update your EGS module.
It's an easy job. You can run SSS and see all the updates you might need for your car.

We will do it together at my place.

Thx

[admranger]

A word of caution on higher mileage transmissions like yours, Doru. Changing the fluid out can cause failure of the transmission as the new fluid will loosen up all the crud and may block valve bodies, etc.

I'd recommend proceeding with caution. At the very least, drop the pan, clean out the crap, and put in a new filter.

The fluid replacement process is available onsite, but basically, pump the new fluid in until it runs out the fill hole. Start the X and run it through the gears, pausing at each one (you don't need the wheels to turn, just the transmission to be shifted to each gear). Now the "fun" part; with the engine still running, remove the fill plug and pump in fluid until it runs out again. You'll be right by the screaming hot cat so it's loads of fun. Temp of fluid should be 85 deg F +/- a smidge to be right. I'll just assume you leveled the X5 (not the bottom of the trans, the vehicle itself) prior to filling the trans.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[Doru]

Thanks Kirk. I think the procedure is similar with the e39, which I did a few years ago. New fluid > old fluid in my books anyways. And close to 100 k miles I think is still OK. This is the recommended ATF change interval for ZF trannies in N America (as published in some owners manuals). Funny how ZF recommends 100 k Km, which is 60 k miles......
I believe the people who had issues after an ATF change, screwed things up by either using the wrong ATF, or the wrong fill procedure. Some catastrophic tranny failures were caused by using a cheap non-OEM filter element (usually ZF uses "Filtran").

Thanks

[jsoto]

I'm doing a rough math but let's assume $250 in a fluid change - $20 per quart, new filter and gasket.

That's 7-8% of what a tranny rebuild would be. Regardless, it sounds like th tranny needs a rebuild....

It's all relative I suppose and maybe your do the $250 cost and hope you didn't just plunk that money down when you really needed a rebuild...

When it slams into gear like that though, I'm errring on the rebuild side