Uh no. No I did not. Can it happen? Sure. Is it likely to happen in any meaningful numbers to draw the conclusion changing it will result in transmission damage? No data has been provided to make such an assertion. Likewise I highly doubt BMW would recommend such a procedure.

Good. Then from now on, at least when it comes to 2002 - 2006 model year E53's we'll see you recommending 100K miles transmission change intervals. Yes?

actually I just got back from a trip and wasn't able to view these messages till now. Sorry I didn't mean to start a war with anyone I was just curious if anyone has encountered issues with a full flush at higher miles. :(

You said you considered it was untrue. Not that it couldn't happen, just that reports of it having happened were untrue and therefore to be discounted. I saved myself typing that much, but if you insist.

From your comment on nothing being in a service manual that has a risk, I suspect that you have never changed a tire on a split rim truck wheel. Lots more examples if you would like them.

There is a lot more to recommending transmission fluid change intervals that the manufacturer's starting point, but it is a starting point. Did you tow? Then probably sooner, if you monitor fluid temperatures and know or suspect that it was overheated. Are you concerned about a failure after changing the fluid in a high mileage transmission? Then either do it more frequently, or leave it be. If you do it more frequently, and thus greatly reduce the risk of a problem after a fluid change, is there still an economic rationale for doing it over the component life? Questionable. But start from the 100k figure? Yes. Just don't necessarily stop at that one number, if you want to maximize uptime and minimize life cycle costs.

You didn't do anything wrong, it was a fair question.

You just re-ignited a debate that raged here for years, and had gone relatively quiet since sunny stopped posting on the topic in 2013.

Unless someone has done an RCA on a transmission failure after the fluid was flushed no one here can say definitively the fluid flush caused the failure.

I said it's a wives tale. An urban legend. And, until there is data to support such a causation, I maintain as much to this day. Given BMW doesn't even hold this position (as inferred from their recommended change interval) I'd say I'm in good company.

That was a whole lot of reading! My eyes are hurting now. Sorry to reignite an old topic on this. I was just wondering if it would have been worth just making him replace the fluids lost and not flush it but I just took his expertise advice and went with it.

Anyways a little heads up with whats going on since Ive been able to drive it. Ive been driving it this entire past weekend and the shifting issue still exists. :( Its only happening when the car is cold. First time start. Once its warmed up everything is just fine. Ive been told it could be as simple as it being under filled but you would think the shop would have confirmed that its properly filled up. If I remember reading right it states the car should be on and warmed up and to keep filling till its full and that should do it? Can anyone confirm. Ill probably make a call to confirm this was done or not. Since I don't know any history on this vehicle since Ive purchased it late last year at about 200k I don't know if its ever been changed or not. I understand the fact that new fluids have detergent in them that can free up things that could cause blockage, etc. I was just curious if possible if there was a good amount of success stories compared to unsuccessful.

Ill have to update my signature but since it was asked:
2004 X5 4.4i now with about 202k on odometer

IMO you did us all a favor. It has now been conclusively settled that, at least for model years 2002 - 2006, changing the transmission fluid should, per BMW's maintenance schedule, be done around 100K miles. Anyone saying otherwise will have their reasons but know it's in opposition to BMW's stated maintenance schedule.

From memory, the fluid temperature needs to be between 30C and 50C. If I've got that wrong I am sure someone will correct me.

Checking the level is a good thing to check with the shop.

Well at least we got that out of the way. :) Now that Im 100k over recommended maintenance schedule that leaves me with the question if I should or shouldn't! :dunno: