So how do I know if my tranny fluid is low or not?

If no leeks the lewel is probebly ok, my dealer told me my level vas ok but the fluid was old. There are several threds in this site about changing trans fluid, how it wil shock the geabox and the liftime fluid shud stay.
The bmw tecnican at my dealership said that its quit normal now to replase fluid when it had run 100 000 km and up.

So you think it could be as easy as changing the fluid?

Look at thishttp://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/43997-atf-change-not-change.html?highlight=fluid

I am no expert on this, but that worked for me. The e39 run fine for over 3 years after the same symptoms you have, i sold it one month ago and bought an x5.

hmmm..
Anyone else have the same problem?

Thanks for the input erisol... looks like I'll have the fluid changed and keep my fingers crossed

I hope its not the tranny.. super expensive fix

I agree with erisol. My e53 3.0 x5 shifted unsmoothly sometimes/did that reverse thing. I took it to the dealer, had the oil changed and ZMAX put in. The car shifts smoooooth now. I was surprised.

Also sometimes the shaking and stuff happens in reverse if you shift into it and accelerate too quickly, its still in the process of shifting..

Thanks guys. I guess I'll take it to the dealer and see what they say.. I love the car, but If i had to change the transmission it would put me in a hole.. $5000.. thats a hell of a lot

There is no dipstick for the fluid though right?