check out these sites

Consumer complaints about BMW Transmission Problems

BMW Reverse Transmission Problems

I proposed that you have a strategy on how to communicate this tot he dealer - Since my experience with the local dealer NIELLO the rep (15 years at the dealer) was totally an A** he totally lied in my face saying that he has NEVER heard of BMW having transmission trouble. He was a total A** wipe

hey guys i wanna bump this thread up. No failure yet, but since i have only driven 5k miles.

my warranty runs up sept 30 of this year and i really need this fixed before then

any ideas?

You might want to check-out this site:

BMW Reverse Transmission Problems

And this one:

Atlanta BMW Transmission | Mechanical Problems | Roswell Decatur - Atlanta Auto Repair Center | ASE Mechanics

May be useful for background information on transmissions in general, but the No Reverse site is focused on the E46 323, which is a different transmission than the X5 uses.

The Atlanta BMW site is focused solely on the ZF 5HP19, also a transmission not used in the X5 (which uses the 5HP24, a larger transmission).

The problem with these web sites is that consumers think that the diagnosis applies to them, when often it doesn't. There are X5 owners posting on the No Reverse site, blithely unaware that their transmissions share little except that they are both installed in vehicles made by BMW.

Is there anything i can say to the dealer? or is there anything i can have them do to test for the problem. Because there is a problem that is NOT normal, and that should be fixed under warranty..right? i mean it covers major mechanical problems, a delay putting into reverse is a mechanical problem..

Do a search on Mechatronics Module Failure on the forum (i believe that is how it is written). If you are having issues on the 5th to 6th gear doing 35mph steady and your transmission feels like it is trying to upshift but can not...

You gotta get that transmission fixed asap before your warranty runs out. The cost is around 4K to fix it.

Had same issue on my 2002, Dealer sent ECU to BMWNA for reprograming, for some reason would not accept update on dealer system, has been fine for 3 years

Re: big delay when putting in reverse
 

Could it really be as simple as reprogramming the ECU? The 2002 and 2004 are different trannys, I wonder if they could both have the ECU problem. Hmmm

Odd, the Atlanta BMW site said it was used in the X5.