:iagree: The lifetime BMW claims is a joke! Good think about you is that you have lower miles so you should be in the clear. Im trying to find out if theres anyone on here with higher mileage who had any issues or not.

And that's what Ive read as well so I was just curious if anyone with higher miles had any failures after a change. I did get the filter changed out as he stated it was pretty dirty and so far from driving it home that day it did seem to have shifted better and smoother. Wasn't able to test cold starts yet but may be able to later today so will see if that cured that! Thanks for you insight! I think the tranny shop did a good choice on reusing the fluids and topping it off

Most people I know or have read even if its a Honda, Mercedes, BMW, etc... use approved or manufacture fluids in there transmissions and power steering. Ive seen power steering go bad because of wrong fluids.

But as for your question for the places Ive read were BMW specific and they stated they used BMW fluids and I think it was a few weeks or months later tranny failed completely. Miles ranged from 80k to 180k. So its hit and miss and is why I was just curious if anyone on here had any issues after change on higher mileage X5's.

Yea after thinking about it more and getting more info online I would have to agree with you and think he went the right route. Plus he's been in business for a pretty long time and specializes in transmissions and could have made more money on me changing out the fluids but he didn't and seemed pretty honest. Im just wondering if anyone else on here had any issues changing out the fluids at higher miles?

I see it this way.

1. Many owners flushing tranny fluid, hoping to fix a problem they are having. Of course, it is not always the case.

2. Flushing tranny fluid not done correct way. Just drain/refill -> nono. To do the job properly, not only having correct fluid is important, tranny filter should be replaced as well as drain/refill should be done at least 3 times to drain every fluid out from TC.

3. People usually post on internet AFTER they have problem. That's why you see 100s of posts "Tranny fluid flush gone bad", but not many success stories.

I've done mine at 120,000 miles last year and no problem so far.

That hard shift into second from cold could be a symptom of other problems with the trans. Here's a guy with a Jaguar with the ZF 5HP24 trans like the X and he had the trans service at 107,000 miles and it crap out on him at 113,000. 6000 miles later, but I kinda doubt it was the trans service, but the poor design/material used in the trans.

JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource

A hard shift into second from a cold start up could be a valve body issue.

Yes, it has happened. It hasn't happened to me personally with an X5, but it has with other (customer) vehicles. This has nothing to do with BMW, or ZF, or the X5. The failure mode is identical for all makes and models. My experience is based on working in a shop, not on DIYers in a driveway.

Still, if you want to focus on the X5, there are good detailed posts on here of some who have changed fluid, with the best of intentions, at higher mileages. They used the proper fluid and filter, and did not have problems beforehand. They had problems afterwards, most likely due to the high detergent levels in the new fluid (which are there by design) cleaning out the transmission of deposits that weren't hurting anything where they were, but were carried into the valve body, actuators, sensors, etc. Shifting problems result.

Coming from a service background, the reason why some shops won't touch a requested fluid change is consequent liability. It is a well understood reason for failure, it isn't some sort of urban myth. All they have to gain is the profit on the job, and the potential downside is a failed transmission, which owners tend to go after the shops for. Sure, they can get you to sign a release saying it is all at your own risk, but those rarely work out with all parties satisfied. I would trust a shop who is prepared to stand on their principles more than one who says no worries, it'll be fine, no risk, let's just throw it up on the hoist....

If you have shifting problems, and want to try new fluid before tearing the transmission open, just find someone who will do it. Use the correct (ZF) fluid, not a generic one. Use an OE filter from the dealer or ZF. It may help, and is cheaper than tearing open the transmission.

I know you were looking for info on how many failed. You won't find it. Remember, the plural of anecdote isn't data.

Jeff

I read a BMW service manual that specifically instructed technicians to drain and reuse the fluid when doing the repairs that BMW did support on the automatic transmission (sensors, harness, seals, etc). Even though that is more trouble than putting new fluid in.

I changed my fluid and filter after approx 130,000 kms. I used a genuine ZF filter and fluid. After changing it the trans shifted much smoother and overall was a nicer car to drive , my wife even noticed a difference in it (for the better) I am now about to change it again at 180,000 kms .

I guess that makes sense, if it's a warranty claim - that way BMW isn't copping the cost for replacement fluid on top of the parts required.

But for the same reason that people think the flush causes issues (it dislodges gunk and pushes it into areas that affect the shifting function) I would have thought tipping dirty fluid back into the transmission would do the exact same thing.

I'm keeping an eye on mine - it's starting leaking from the plastic electrical harness connector - so I'm likely going to be paying a shop to do a flush soon. I've got all the gear to do it myself but I'd rather it be flushed right rather than a 'drop and refill'.