stupid question about leveling trans to fill
 

I'm even embarrassed to ask since I have a mechanic background but which part of the pan should I put the level on to even it out? I put it on the pan lip where the bolts are.

Only asking because there's 2 bottles left over and I know it should take about 1 more yet the fluid was coming out before I got to the last 2 bottles. thanks

So long as the X5 is parked on a flat/level surface when you refill, you're fine.

So long as you refill with about what you've drained, you're Ok. The torque converter, heat exchanger/transcooler and lines all hold fluid that you wont be able to replace with a pan drop and refill.

I add fluid until it starts to drip. Reinstall the drain plug, start it and manually engage each gear for about 20secs each. Re-engage park, remove plug and top off again.

I agree that volume drained will vary, which means refill volume will also vary.

Did you check the temperature? They define a narrow temp range you are supposed to fill at. Hotter than that and you will end up under filled. Do it cold and you end up overfilled.

Spec is 140 for temp but I don't have a way to record it so I just let run until it reached operating temp then checked. At that point I added about 1 bottle.

I'm going to recheck it again tonight as I had a leak at the back of the pain from a couple loose bolts so i've lost some fluid.

Like what other say, since there is no drain plug on torque converter, you cannot drain all fluids out. There will be only half of total fluids sitting on the pan.

When I did mine, I flushed it 3 times to get almost all old fluids out and this is how I've done.
1. jack up the car in all 4 corners to level
2. remove fill plug first. because if you drain oil first and strip fill plug, your day is over.
3. remove drain plug
4. drop oil pan
5. install new filter and re-install oil pan and drain plug
6. fill new fluids to fill plug until it drips out and install fill plug
7. start engine and run each gear for about 20sec.
8. monitor oil pan with infrared thermometer until temp reaches 30-50C
9. remove fill plug and pump some more if necessary until drips out
10. drive a week. at this stage, fluid is about 50% mixed between old and new.
11. do steps 1-3 again
12. do steps 6-9 again
13. drive a week. at this stage, fluid is about 75% new.
14. do steps 1-9 again. install new filter again.

This seems overkill to some people, but with this method, your old fluids are almost replaced with new fluid 100%.

Great info on this pdf.

it's already done. just looking for the answer to level it correctly

The SAV needs to be leveled when re-filling. I suggest you to get DIS and follow the procedure. It can even read the ATF temp for you and guides you through.

ok, what's a sav?

and for the third time the service has already been done

If you fill it with the engine at operating temperature it is too HOT. I normally jack the car up on jack stand the night before and drain the fluid. This way the ATF in the TQ has a chance to cool off. Fill the empty trans with fluid and start the engine up, continue to fill the trans while the engine is running and check the pan temp with an IR thermometer. You can also use INPA to monitor the ATF temp in the trans. You shouldn't run the car for more than 10 minutes if you want to stay within the temp range as called for by BMW.

Sports Activity Vehicle.... BMW's term for SUV.