Hi Guys,
I have the same exact problem with my trany I guess for the past 2 weeks after reading your responses and comments.
I have 2000 X5 4.4 as original owner with little over 174,000 miles....and still clicking in full throttle...

However, today it was enough and I took my baby to a local BMW dealer to check this trany problem before the weekend.

First, after all diagnostics, I have been told by Tech, that I need my trany flush and that should take care the problem I am having, so I authorized the service.....but after all the work and testings, the same problem still remain without any changes ! At the end, Chief Tech came to me and he said that he needs to create a complete Service Claim file to send it to BMW North America for further investigation/assistance since this is their first case like this. I should hear from them within the week.

If someone is trying something different, keep us posted and I will do the same. Good luck.

Great reading man! I only took about 15 mins to look over this (at work when I saw your post) I plan on sitting down and really going over this, and taking notes too.

But I have a few quick questions.
1st) what is the call name to our X5 trannys?
2nd) if it's not the same name, are the componets the same?
3rd) what was shown with the dude who was in Germany is that sold complete, so I could just install the new "brain" as he called it and just throw mine away?

Thank you for your input! You really go my gears turning! lol.

You should check the links that show the 1000's of parts involved in a auto tranny in the post 2 above this one. I believe that any number of these parts could ware out and give us the symptoms that we feel. lol, what ever it is, it's the same part as we all have the exact same issue!
I fear that we may be forced to do a rebulid as there are to many parts that "could" be it to guess, sugesst that it is one particular one.

My visit at ZF Dortmund for Gearbox maintenance.(very, very long!) HUGH RESULT!!

Amazing write up!!!!

I feel like such a Rookie! I wonder if there's anyone in the states that would actually take that much care doing that job.

:)

This site sells the valve body. I think it's the complete unit?
Here is the site....
ZF RWD Transmissions ZF5HP24 Makco Transmission Parts

This issue still could be a programing/control box issue right?

If we feel that it is very likely that it is all in the valve body I will go ahead and order it and install it. But I will be nasty pissed if I go through that hassle and I'm wrong.

Your thoughts?

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.4i A5S440Z MOUNTING PARTS CONTROL UNIT

this link shows pressure regulators which could be the cause but many other things could be the cause
internal wiring
internal components
external wiring to tranny , or anything else could cause issue .
I would need a lot of time to study this to come up with an answer but I can`t test your individual cars to try to pinpoint a solution .
@ Jordo , my X and your X use the ZF A5S 440Z - 4 wheel transmission , they are all similar , the one in the link at Dortmund is similar , all they did was a proper transmission service replacing a few parts with updated parts . kits are available .
read the pdf link in my previous post , there is good insight into how the torque converters work and all the internals.
I think you will come up with something good out of all this .

it`s really not very difficult . take time to digest it all .it seems very daunting at first but it`s only nuts and bolts . care and cleanliness are essential .

all the parts are available for diy cheaper than buying a module from bmw
I would not go throwing parts at it until I had identified a fix .
otherwise I would just wait for the tranny to give big problems before doing a rebuild .
the service shown at Dortmund is a reasonable attempt at a fix , can`t do any harm .the valve body kit on your link is only $173 , you could fill new fluid or filter and re-use the old fluid .

Jordo , one thing just dawned on me ,your symptoms sound to me like differential backlash common to 4wd vehicles .
they have a front , centre and rear diff and sometimes they are not always in harmony .
I have experience a few subtle shudders through the X5 whist rolling to almost stop then applying power .
I had an Audi 4wd do similar and a Toyota Landcruiser Amazon give very bad shudders at times .
maybe all this is a non issue .