My wife has this problem on her X5 4.8 2007. She had it into the dealer a few months back and they updated some software. My guess is that it was the update listed here. It was much improved...for a while. Now it's doing the same thing again. We're going to take it back in to verify that it does have this update. Has anyone else had this problem reoccur after this update was done?

I also disagree with a poster a few messages up which said that the problem could be eliminated by gently pushing on the gas pedal. Its when I'm trying to make a smooth and easy start that it jerks. At least on our X5, a tender foot doesn't do the trick.

+1. After the software update, my car seemed to drive smoother (for a while). But lately I've been experiencing the jerks/unsmooth shifts again. I've been trying to pinpoint the cause, but still haven't figured out exactly under what condition it occurs. It's like Russian roulette. I'm never sure when it will just jump out wildly.

I do agree that it tends to happen more when I try to make a smooth start. A smooth start for me is where I gently ease into the gas and progressively add more to speed up. The problem of course is that gently stepping on the gas sometimes just doesn't move the car or moves the car very slowly.

I also notice that the problem seems to occur more when the car is carrying more load. When I'm driving by myself, the acceleration is still not as responsive as the starts in DS mode. There is a lag. But when my wife and kid comes along, the lag is much more evident and the jerks and sudden surges happen more often.

I've driven many, many cars in the past and the only other car whose transmission acted like this was the recently changed model of a Mercedes E320. So disappointed in my X5.

I just wish the car would drive more smoothly like in DS mode, but just shift slightly sooner to the next gear (than rev up higher in DS mode).

Thanks for your reply, mtech8. I haven't noticed the load variable. That said, this is my wife's car and I don't normally drive it unless the family or at least the two of us are in the vehicle. To be honest, I also haven't noticed the jerky shifts. The only issue that I've noticed is the jerky starts. Sometimes it takes off smoothly and sometimes it jumps off the line like you're trying to race. It boarders on a safety issue. It seems to me to be more of a throttle issue than a transmission issue. I'm no mechanic, however.

I hate to ask such a newbie question since we've had the car going on two years, but what is DS mode? Is that where you push the button to put it in sport mode? Or maybe it's moving the gear shift to the left to shift manually? Anyway, it would be good to know a means that seems to work better than "normal".

Yeah. There isn't a problem with shifting once the car moves past 10-20 miles per hour. My guess is that the normal mode the car starts in 2nd gear. Thus more gas for some odd reason causes it to jerky starts. I think a lot of people attribute this to shifting, but you could be right about it being a throttle issue. All I know is that it sucks and is very uncomfortable.

Yeah. DS mode is when you move the shifter to the left. In your center console (The "D" changes to "DS". If you don't manually shift up or down while in the left, the "DS" automatic program shifts the car at higher revs and feels like it starts in 1st gear). In "DS" mode, I've never felt the jerky starts. But driving in "DS" mode is sometimes uncomfortable because it typically holds in a lower gear, thus you don't feel like the car cruises when you let go of the gas. You feel more engine braking.

The button "sport" mode is just for stiffer suspension vs non-sport which is more cushy.

My dealer reported they may have found a fix - they are testing it on another X5 with the problem and will let me know next week.
No mention if it is a new SIB or other.. but hopefully it will fix my truck! GOD I CAN"T STAND THE JERKING!!!

my dealer is a piece a shit he makes me lose out on the aero kit i wanted and he keeps telling me the car is fine and the 09' X5's built in july have the latest transmission software...everytime i drive off the car jerks and bounces and its annoyin plus embarassing if someones in the car and im not gonna sit there and "gently" press the gas thats bullshit im about to go over there and make this jerkoff fix this problem cuz i got a heavy foot, i pay 900 a month for this car and im gonna drive it the way i want trouble free...

When was your 09 built? According to the SIB it's really for the 08 while the "Delayed Up_shift in Hill Program" SIB is for up to 04/27/09. Maybe your dealer isn't lying to you. Your car could possible have the latest update which simply means that it doesn't solve what you are experiencing.

I'm guessing that you are experiencing what I am (even with the updates done). Pretty disappointing. I also think that some of the other posters in this thread might have been experiencing something worse that made them feel like the SIB really worked OR maybe they just drive more aggressively all the time. I think it's the trying to start smoothly with a light foot that really throws the transmission/throttle response off. (It's pretty much this and the long wait for the rear view camera to be useable that makes me regret getting my X5).

My 3.0 d suffers from Situation 4 on SIB 240608 listing does this SIB work for 3.o diesel or is there a separate SIB, please advise if anyone knows

David

My dealer told me it was built in mid-july....i know what you mean but thats not my case for sure, i got a heavy foot...im the type of guy who peels out from park like a jerkoff.

yea and the rear view camera is bullshit.

Yes. SIB 240808 last updated December 2008.