My 2004 3.0 has the GM transmission model a5s-390R and it is made in France.

Interesting. ZF don't list an automatic transmission for the 3.0 petrol (they do for the 3.0 diesel).

Agree that ZF builds transmission in Friedrichshafen, but that is in Germany, not France. I suspect that they may have a plant in Boutheon France as well, but I don't know.

The GM Powertrain plant is in Strasbourg, France. That is where the X5 3.0 automatics are built.

Could the label you are looking at perhaps relate to the transfer case, which is built by ZF?

It is always possible that there is an E53 with a 3.0 petrol engine and a ZF automatic, but it just doesn't show up in the technical literature.

I have been having similar issues
 

I have an 03 4.6is S3 and I have had the transmission serviced at 85K due to the trany fluid smelling burnt. I'm now having issues with trany codes popping up on the ECU.

bf

it would be intersting to see the poll with a 3.0 vs 4.4+ option

note!BMW does not maked any tranny.all the 3.0i/is model still using GM trannies it called GM5 AND GM6 .the GM builded the trannies but it enginer by Bmw.IT DOESN'T MEANT ANY GM TECHNITION CAN FIX OR REBUILD IT.and the ZF TRANNIES builded by it owe company and authorized distributor OEM used for BMW

It is a little hard to decipher your post.

We agree that BMW does not make their own transmissions.

We disagree on whether the transmissions were engineered by BMW. The base transmission is built by either ZF or GM Powertrain. The electronics package and integration into the vehicle electronics is what BMW builds.

ZF is not a BMW company. It is a separate company owned by the Zeppelin Foundation, a legacy from the Zeppelin airship days.

Over the last few months, I was noticing the following issues on a 2006 X5 4.8is with 43,000mi (I took ownership at 18kmi):

-Cold shifts to 3rd were abrupt - ie hard (not present when fluid warmed up)
-Tranny would have a difficult time shifting into 1st after a brief stop (not a California stop where you coast thru the stop sign)
- If I stepped on the accelerator a bit more due to being annoyed (say 1/4 to 1/2 throttle) the tranny would bang into 1st gear.
- Much hunting when going up a 30mph steep hill. It would shift from 5th to a slipping tq converter 4th, then slipping tq converter 3rd then the tq converter would lock after 3secs or so (kind of like a lazy or dumb tranny when it encountered a hill).

Otherwise the tranny was fine. Well the other day I was getting annoyed at the fact it would stick in second after a brief stop. Sure, if I waited 5secs it would go into 1st, but that was annoying me. So I did a bit more throttle (1/2 throttle) and the thing went bluurp bluurp bluurp and noted the trans failsafe. To be sure, I shut it off and it reset and repeated the same thing. This time the trans failsafe light came on with a subsequent Service engine soon light which made me call the dealer. After a brief discussion, they called me back and said keep the loaner, she needs a new tranny.

Driving style is normal. I have done a few hard launches (maybe three to five of them) and I mix between D, sport, and Steptronic for fun. It's lived a pretty tame life really.

I'm in the process of finding a tranny for my 03 4.4i. Its completely blown and i need to replace the entire thing. Im looking at about 4,000 for the purchase + replacement... sigh...

rebuild it yourself.... like $500 bucks....there is a DIY on here somewhere

Mine is an 04 4.8is with 75,000k on it. There is a real shift lag between 1st and 2nd gear, when it finally shifts, CLUNK!! I try to baby it and modulate the throttle for that shift but it is driving me nuts. Had the dealer diagnose and they left me a voicemail just now decribing a transfer case error code. Can that really be it? I am on my way to the shop now to dig in... stand by.