I am having a lumpy downshift. 2004 X5 4.4i
It's not banging, just annoying.
This re flash is way beyond my computer skill level.
Anyone in the Dallas Ft. Worth area able to help out
for some cash payment.

There are several BMW dealers here.
That is always my last resort.

Thank you.

Get ready for your new trans.

Thanks Jay,
I'm waiting for a second opinion ��

Greg don't fret it was just a joke. In any case you are going to want to get the trans oil changed for normal service and there is a whole discussion on the plastic mechtronic seal. This applies to the 6-speed ZF trans. I would not wait to 100K to change the trans oil. BMW at one time stated that this oil for the trans is lifetime and then turned that decision and recommended at 100K. The vehicle is over 10 years old its time for the change. Take a look at some of the ZF articles for this trans that others have posted and get the service done on it and take it from there.

Thanks Jay,
I just ordered the ZF 6 fluid, filters, and gaskets today.
I did do a sneak peak on the fluid. I cracked the drain plug and got
an oz sample. It looked used, but not tar looking.
New fluid and filter makes a world of difference I have found.

My X5 has 85 K miles total. From the fluid sample, it looked fairly ok.
Might have been changed at some point.
Either way, it's getting all new.

For those of you who don't know Jay, he is a really stand up guy.
We met years ago looking to buy his E28 stick shift car.
Shudda bought that car ......

Since you are dropping the pan make sure to install the new sealing sleeve - Mechatronic part# 24347588725 as part of your service.

Oh yeah the E28 535i. That was a nice BMW of many BMWs ago....

Tagging for interest. I have a harsh 2-1 downshift and upshift as described in the OP. I've had the Mechatronic sleeve seal replaced and fluid drained and refilled (not flushed). Maybe the software update will help.

UPDATE with some new info
 

First a big THANK YOU to Fmugur - he's a member of this forum.
He owned a 2000 4.4 and he has a 2006 4.8 and another 4.4 with the N62 engine, so he did also a few experiments, and some we did together.
Last week he called me with a new find concerning the transmission. He told me that the ASC module, which is related to wheel speed sensors AND transmission has also to be updated, for the transmission to work flawlessly. And so he did this to his 4.4, without changing ATF - it worked. My transmission worked great, but for the heck of it I also changed the software for the ASC which was big time outdated. I had no idea, until SSS Progman showed the version I had and the version it will replace it with.
After re-programming the ASC, the shifts were even smoother. Up to that point I thought I had a flawless transmission, but after the update, the truck is extraordinary smooth, better than a Cadillac, no exaggeration. Extremely happy.

So if you consider servicing the transmission, after changing ATF, seals, etc, update and re-flash the mechatronics module, followed by updating the software for the ASC module. The results are stunning.

the ASC updating takes about 1/2 hour with SSS progman.