I just bought an X5 from an auction! It has a few issues.

[UNLIMTD]

I just bought a 2002 X5 4.4i, at an auction, I got a good deal so I am ok that it is having some issues.

It has 147k Miles on it.

I got a P0720 Output Speed Sensor code as I drove it home (frustrating because I scanned for codes before I bid on it, they cleared the codes). I noticed that when taking off from a stop it revs quickly, moves slowly, and then slams into gear. This feels like you are being rear-ended, not cool. I only drove it home, and a few short times very close just to diagnose it. Once it is over 10-15 MPH it runs fine, and the shifts are smooth, I can even use the Manual shifting mode. However if I floor it and it downshifts, it will rev up and slam into gear even when going 40 MPH. Then it goes into Failsafe mode and the Manual shifting is no longer available.

I just changed the Rear output sensor, filter and fluid, no difference.

It is parked until I can find something else to try. I may have to pull it and rebuild it, I see there is some good info on how to do that. I would like some confirmation that it is required, and not just something else electronic causing it to fail.

One interesting thing is that when I changed the fluid, I dropped the pan, and I noticed there were no magnets, there was a lot of black I believe is clutch residue. I did note that the fluid looked and smelled really good, as in recently changed, and it must have been a complete change, because there was no sign of the original fluid, all red.

Trans Pan by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr


Looking around, I found the magnets:

Rogue Magnets by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr

I can only assume some sabotage was in play here, I can't think of any other reason that the two magnets would be removed from the pan and placed up here together. They were of course covered with black clutch material, I cleaned them off, and put them back up there just for a picture. It could be argued that the tech who did the filter change last, cleaned them and thought he would store them there while he cleaned the pan, just seems unlikely.

Then again he must not have been a very bright soul, I found these wires pinched in with the pan gasket.

Pinched wires by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr

Pinched wires2 by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr

This is the filter I removed, is that a date code of November of 2014? Note a dark layer of clutch material, I wiped part off to find the numbers.

Old Trans Filter by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr

Trans Tag for reference ZF 5HP24
Trans Tag by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr

Our new X5:
X5 Side by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr

[asma123]

So what's next? The wrong fluid on these trannies can really play a big and bad role. I'd say you will probably need a new TC

[UNLIMTD]

It is the right fluid as far as I can tell, it looks feels, and smalls exactly like the Red LineD4 I put back in it. Lame testing criteria, I know, but that is what I know so far. I do not expect the fluid is any issue.

I did also find the large round connector in front of the pan was only about a quarter of the way connected. I found this before dropping the pan, I unhooked it, flicked some dirt and dust out of it, and connected it properly. I excitedly took it for another spin around the block, It was perfect in my subdivision. When I got to the main road I came to a complete stop, it down shifted into first, and when I drove away it went back into transafe mode.

[bcredliner]

It may have the Dinan tuning. They offered several levels to match up to what Dinan mods are installed. If it has the Dinan cold air box it should also have a Dinan MAF and throttle body. With all those mods the HP goes from 340 to 369. Torque increases also.

Time to check for error codes again.

[UNLIMTD]

Maybe on a 4.6 it would do that, but this is just a 4.4, so it started life as 290HP, but hopefully it has a little more now. It only has the axle back portion of the Dinan exhaust, everything else looks stock. I can't find much info on it as Dinan has discontinued it, but man does it sound good!

I cleared the codes before I drove it, after changing the Output Speed Sensor.

No codes have come back, but a grey (pending) fault was displayed about being the wrong gear ratio.

[bcredliner]

Oopsie, I was just posting on a 4.6 thread. I have the 2002 catalog that lists HP and Torque improvements by mod for the 4.4. Everything that is Dinan will either have the Dinan D on it or Dinan on it. Is Dinan on the airbox or MAF? The improvement with just exhaust would be hard to measure.

[UNLIMTD]

Dinan Exhaust
Dinan Exhaust by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr

Dinan CAI
Dinan CAI by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr

Dinan Sticker
Dinan Sticker by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr

Probably stock Throttle Body
Throttle Body by UNLIMTD13, on Flickr

[bcredliner]

The 2002 4.4 stock was 282 HP with 335 ft/lbs of torque. With your Dinan mods you are at 310 HP and 351 ft/lbs of torque. If Dinan still offers the transmission software I would suggest adding it though you may have it already. If you do--- when you are in manual mode the transmission will not shift until you shift it, max shift points are at higher RPMs and shifts are faster.

[jdstrickland]

At risk of stating the obvious, those wires that were pinched in the pan might be the problem. Clean them up and be sure to not pinch them again, OR find out what they are for and if they are not for the transmission then move on. But if they are for the trans, and they are pinched, then it can't be good.

[UNLIMTD]

I welcome all questions basic or advanced.

I looked the wire over and I do not see any open wires, I may need to remove it and try to disassemble and test those wires.

I made sure to not close those wires in the pan when I closed it up.

I believe it is the Shift Selector.

Selector Switch BMW 540/740/X5