E-Brake jump and notchy shifts
 

So...seems my '11 X5d has developed yet another issue to add to the long list.
It just started doing this over the past 2 weeks. It does the "normal" couple inch lurch after turning it off which in the grand scheme of automobilia, isn't that normal.

The thing that concerns me is this:

When I turn the X on, whether on an incline or a flat, it will lurch forward if on a flat and roll back a couple inches if on an incline as if the parking brake was let out and it feels sudden and violent when it happens. The parking brake is still on when this happens. I could see this as being potentially dangerous to either an unsuspecting pedestrian or my X or another car. Any suggestion on this one? Think it could be the parking brake controller everyone seems to have to replace?

The other thing I've noticed is that the tranny is getting a little notchy. The X is just about to turn 65K miles. It's slow to downshift when slowing down to a stop and when you begin to take off from a stop, it will act like it's not in gear or a higher gear and have quite a bit of lag on taking off. If anyone's experienced a the crappy torque converters in mid 80s Chevy Caprices, it feels like that. When it engages it feels clunky and slow.

Am I making yet another trip to see my SA and is my X about to have a lengthy stay at the dealer again? :dunno:

The new Volvo XC90 needs to hurry up and appear at my local dealer...I love driving the X but hate the myriad of problems it has...

I'd check the transmission oil level. If OK, then would change the transfer case fluid (not that it's likely the cause, but it's cheap step and at least would eliminate one uncertainly)

Is there a DIY out there for checking the fluid? I'd much rather that be the issue than have it laid up for a couple weeks at the dealer

Bringing the thread back because I'm experiencing similar symptoms in 2008 4.8i sport, especially coming to a stop. Feels like gears aren't letting go, then a jerk as they finally do. Some shifts seem to hold too long as if in S or sport mode, but it isn't. 85,000 miles.

Love when people update their threads..


14th...any ATF service???

ard, no. I recently bought it and have the service records from the original owner (meticulous dealer service history). My indy looked it over, and reflashed the trans adaptations for me, no codes. So I am going to take it in to him and want to provide some "guidance". (I also have an e53 4.8is with 140k and it has never had trans service - mechanic is on the side that says don't mess with them because failures seem to follow servicing the trans).

Thanks!

Simply because BMW mechanics never service the transmission, allowing issues to accrue (sludge, wear and breakdown contaminates)...then, when someone like you comes in and says 'transmission is doing weird things, change the fluid" the fluid change stirs up the sludge from years of neglect and issues are accentuated.

The time to change ATF is WELL BEFORE you have symptoms.


Mechanics that say "fluid changes cause problems" are (1) wrong, and (2) doing a disservice.

What one really should look at is "how often does a fluid change at 50k miles cause a transmission issue in an otherwise complaint-free trans" versus "how often do issues accelerate in a transmission with symptoms and ATF change intervals over 80k miles?"

Does he sell remanufactured transmissions?

No. This is a long-running debate on the e53 board (change it or leave it alone), and as far as I can tell there is no definitive answer (no data set to use either). My mechanic is great in all respects and I trust his recommendation on this, and it has worked out well so far on our e53.

But the question I posed was on the e70, where he and I have less experience (there aren't that many around here and those we do see are just coming out of dealer warranty). So, I thought I'd see if this issue had been noted and resolved here before deciding.

Is a fluid change the answer? Is this likely something more/different? Is it just the way these trannys age (live with it)?

Thanks,

It being an E70 is pointless in the discussion. The same transmission is used across multiple vehicles. All 8 speeds used by BMW are a ZF; now ZF does have different 8 speed models that deal with how much power they can handle. BMW does use a lower power spec trans in say a 3 series. The F30 uses a 8HP45. The 5 series uses 8HP50. The F01 and E70 uses 8HP70.

Who knows more about the transmission, BMW or ZF?
http://www.zf.com/brands/content/en/...hange-oil.html

http://www.zf.com/global/media/en_de...s/TE-ML_11.pdf

Thanks for the links, Ianbrown. I read through both and went back through the maintenance history on the e70 (5k oil changes, never any report of transmission issues, codes or maintenance). I would guess that, given the duty of this vehicle, it was deemed "lifetime fill" and not requiring a change, which is consistent with the maintenance link you posted from ZF.

I am inferring that you believe a flush and refill might resolve the downshifting to a stop that I'm feeling, and I'm fine with getting that done. Hopefully it isn't anything more serious.

Again, thanks.

The transmission oil is not lifetime. BMW calls it that but they never actually deem what lifetime is. Is lifetime 4 years/50,000 miles? Is it 6 years/100,000 miles? Is lifetime when the trans fails because of the lack of maintenance?

There are vehicles that 200,000 or even 300,000 miles on them. Do you think a transmission oil will last that long?

If changing he oil will help or cause issues with your transmission is not known. You are experiencing issues and changing the fluid is a maintenance item that is performed before there are issues.

I just bought my 2008 4.8i and found the low-load 2nd to 3rd gear shift to be quite harsh. Almost like a muscle car with a shift kit. I cleared the transmission adaptations with an Autologic, and problem solved...shifting is back to normal.

But while hooked up to the Autologic, we found that there were software updates for 14 different modules in my car that had never been run by the previous servicing dealer. Including one for the transmission. My Indy shop owner will need to download all the updates from Autologic to his device, then he can install them all tomorrow. Car will need to be on a battery maintainer, and this could take several hours to do the updates. Kind of reminds me of what happens when I power up a laptop I haven't used in a few months, and Windows wants to run a whole slew of updates.

Thanks for posting this. How many miles on yours?

Please post updates. My adaptations were reset and it helped briefly, but is now worse. Would be curious if your improvements are more permanent, and if the updates help. I'll be calling my mechanic as soon as I can get to it, for the fluid flush/change and to look for updates as well and will report back.

69,000 miles. I've only driven about 250 miles since doing this, so far it's good. If it reappears, I'll post again.

I do plan on doing the transmission fluid/filter change at 80,000 miles. I did the fluid change on my E53 at about 100k miles, as I was experiencing some slippage. Fluid change fixed that.

Mine is fixed!

Went to my indy and discussed at length. I read this thread: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ke-ballin.html over on the e53 forum. Asked the indy about the gasket mentioned and they said they always keep both styles in stock. We agreed to drain fluid, replace pan/filter and replace that gasket.

Picked it up a day later. They reported the fluid was not burned, was really fine. Some "hair" on the drain plug but nothing to be worried about in the fluid or filter. That gasket thing was hard but showed no wear, tears, or other issues (as with the linked thread). Reset adaptations again. It is now driving like it should again!

Thought I'd share - may do this on the e53 next, even though it has much higher miles and is doing better transmission-wise than the e70 was.

Interesting. I'll keep this in mind as I should prolly get this done at some point in the future. My local indy shop is only open M-F unfortunately and I'm stuck in military training for the next year (meaning I can't go into work late) :(

I really don't want to go to the stealership for this.