Engine and Tranny software updates? 2003 4.6is
 

Gentlemen,

So I took my 4.6is to a good indy to get the DME and EGS updated. I stood next to him and the Autologic and watched all the key strokes. My car had never been updated before as evidenced by only 1 slot being used for both (each module allows 13 or 14 updates in its lifetime called "slots").

The engine was updated to a new version (very exciting!) but the tranny showed no available update. Is this possible after all these years? I was hoping to address the hard shift when stopping for 2nd to 1st. My X was built 06/24/03, just a month or two before the 4.8is N62 came out.

Is it possible that maybe my tech's Autologic didn't have all the updates? Or maybe the tranny really is up to date from the factory. I had him reload the EGS software anyway but the file number was the same. I haven't driven enough to determine what has (or hasn't) changed.

Any ideas?

2003 is when BMW had the some changes in the software. It's possible that your tranny software already has the most updated version when assembled at the factory.
I was able to update both on my E39 and E53, using SSSProgman V32.

Yeah, I think tmv is right. No updates. I updated mine and even changed the EGS module with a newer one thinking that it might have a firmware that would fix the hard downshift.
I monitored the transmission temperature and it happens only when it worms up. I also rebuilt mine including the valve body and also replacing the VB and the problem is still there. Talking to tranny shops I didn't get a clear answer. It seems to be a combination of clutches tolerance and VB housing/pistons wear.
If the downshift you have is very hard you have a risk to damage the axels and drive shafts. This is what happened to me.
Make sure your heat exchanger is not clogged. You can try to monitor the tranny temperature with inpa if you have access to it and go from there. Thats the cheapest start.
I also added an oil cooler on mine and I have the engine running at 96C.
If you don't have other transmission problems or don't want to get a reman transmission you can add a transmission oil cooler for $60 if the heat exchanger is ok and the hard downshift goes away.
Just make sure you determine the conditions when the problem occurs.

So true

I noticed my 02 X5 harsh down shift only happens when driving for a while which mean the transmission temp would have gone up.

Was thinking of adding a trans oil cooler as well but just thinking out loud, there should be one existed already right? The one that has engine coolant running around it?

Also can you explain/guide of how your was done? Did you use a thermal stat as well that only open once oil temp reach a certain level?

Thanks

AFAIK, virtually every car with an automatic transmission has a cooler built into the radiator. What's a little different on the X5 is the thermostat gadget located down in front of the A/C compressor. If your tranny is running too hot, perhaps the transmission thermostat is bad and not allowing the tranny fluid to flow into the radiator?

There is a heat exchanger thermostat in there which if defective can cause the overheating.
So in your case I would check that and the heat exchanger coolant side, don't unplug the tranny oil lines. There is a e39 link somewhere where a guy had the heat exchanger clogged and did a DIY. You can also bypass the heat exchanger and add an external cooler. There is a DIY very well done by civdiv.

Link please, thanks.

Yes sir. Here you go!
Google search for e39 hard downshif heat exchanger returns:
Automatic Transmission Heat Exchanger Cleaning/Regulator Replacement (540iT) - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum

For civdiv external oil cooler google returns:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...on-cooler.html

And if you want to control the engine temperature as civdiv here is the link:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...long-post.html

Cheers :D

The 4.6is tranny fluid doesn't flow through the radiator, it has a separate tranny cooler. Click on the link, it's the big rectangular shaped block, part #11, called a heat exchanger.

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.6is Oil-cooler pipe/heat exchanger