Okay so I was able to take the X for a long enough drive to get everything up to normal operating temps. New fluid and filter definitely helped. You can still "feel" the downshift but it's definitely not as harsh as it was before. I'll see what the wife thinks because she drives the vehicle daily currently around town.

Note: To my knowledge, old transmission fluid was ORIGINAL. Had never been serviced before. Upon inspection of the little magnetic on the oil pan, there was NO debris, metal flakes, etc. Filled with fresh ZF specific fluid, cleared adaptations, ran through all the gears (P,R,D,1,2,3,4,5), driven around the block. Back on the lift and topped off.

Next up: I have a small vaccuum leak somewhere. I may swap a MAF from my M5 (since I run Alpha N and it doesn't use the MAFs), and see if that helps. I think I have some CRC MAF cleaner laying around somewhere. The previous owner had an oiled intake filter that I threw away because it was gunked up and never serviced. If not, i'll have to do a smoke test. Even though we did one a few weeks ago and it yielded nothing. Could be fuel related?

Good to know, glad it helped out. Hopefully here in a few weeks I can get this hammered out. Need to work on the wife's car first.

Swapping the MAF might help. I had some harsh shifting and a pretty bad idle (sometimes the engine would stall) when I first got my 2000 540i touring. I bought a brand new Bosch MAF and that solved the issue completely. Nobody ever replaces the MAF so they do start acting up with age and mileage.

Yup I plan on swapping to see if that helps, but I have to wait a few days because I dont feel like wrenching outdoors when its 20* outside :rofl:

CIF - Your making good headway on your To Do List :thumbup:

Add fuel cleaner to your next tank. It can not hurt! There is so much trash in today's "winter gas" especially in Maryland and North.

If you pull your codes and look at the fault readings you should see the MAF fluctuations.

We did fuel cleaner last month. I don't have BMW Specific software to pull all the codes. I just have the Autolink AL319 one, the SES light is NOT on currently. You remember the engine gasping for air after we didnt the spark/coil replacement. Idle hunting.

It's not bad at all, I opened up the secret menu and the rpms fluctuate from about 500-700rpms at idle. Barely see the needle moving

Worked on taking apart the intake system and cleaning up the MAF sensor to see if that cures the idle bounce. I inspected all the intake hoses and the hose to the secondary airpump. No signs of tears or holes of any kind. Put everything back together and idle was steady around 600-625 using the secret menu (option 7). I'll continue to monitor but looks like the MAF just needed a cleaning.

Looks like I am off to the dealer for two airbox lid clips :yawn: Both fell down into the engine compartment. I couldn't find them at all looking from the top. Decided to remove the lower splash guard...What a PITA! Whoever designed that thing was a moron. Why must something be held on by six 10mm bolts, and eight 8mm bolts...To sum it all up, the clips weren't even down there...Oh well there goes another $8-10 to buy two new clips.

Been there and done that. The clips hang around and you will see them under the headlamps after receiving your new clips. I have a few extra now just for this reason. :rofl:

Yep, these X5's swallow up parts and tools like it's nothing. My 4.6 has eaten an o-ring, a valve cover + washer, a 10mm socket, and a 10mm/11mm ratcheting combo wrench. Neither have come out after 1000 miles of driving so they must be lodged in pretty deep.