04 X5 3.0 - Transmission problem!!

Originally Posted by Rod365

Well I got my transmission replaced on my 04 X5 3.0 - felt good for the 1st week or so but now it has the same issues again. I have to take it back in and see what they say this time. Its very frustrating...

Just spoke to service dept... originally the fix was to replace the transmission, now they have the software where they can do an adjustment. Appointment is for July 6th, will let u know.

My wife's X5 went in for a tranny replacement about a month or so ago .... when I got there they said they had a software update and could have the update completed in about 30 minutes. We haven't had one problem with the tranny since ... and we drive the crap out of the car. Bought it in Nov. 03 and we have right at 15k on it. I am very happy with the fix. You shouldn't have in trouble after the update.

Besides being a dog slow car, it has been great so for!
MGR8

Originally Posted by MGR8

Besides being a dog slow car, it has been great so for!
MGR8

Our '03 X5 3.0 does 0-60 in 7.9 seconds. My dad's '84 533i 5-speed (top of the line 5-series back then) did 0-60 in 8.0 seconds.

What else do you own that makes your X5 dog slow? I consider ours pretty quick.

(On topic, we just broke 20,000 flawless miles.)

I have a 04 330ZHP and prior to that I had a 03 Expedition (5.4)....which felt faster or as fast as the X5. My wife had a O3 MB C320 that we traded for the 330. She even complains that it is slow compaired to her MB.

MGR8

Originally Posted by SASTUD

this may shock the bmw world. but the transmissions that you are referring to are GM, yes General Motors transmissions that BMW has commissioned GM to build for them for use in 3 series & x5 models. what happens is they leak internally & have a cold start delay during the 1st a.m. start-up & usage of the vehicle...

Actually that is well-known to most of us .

BMW has been using GM gearboxes in various 3s, Zs and 5s for fourteen years. Almost all US-bound BMWs have had a GM gearbox; only the V8s and V12s have typically used ZF. 4-cylinder E46 autos also use the GM 5-speed.

What suprises me, and not in a good way, are the repeated calls for immediate complete vehicle replacements for a fault which the dealer has not yet even been given the chance to fix. Oddly there have been no reports of wholesale automatic transmission failures in the UK, where BMW sells 100,000 cars a year.

BTW my car is about to get its second replacement differential - the first replacement went the same way as the OE part. The dealer is cheerfully sorting it out for me, offering to pick up the car and leave a loaner, valeting the car when it's done, refitting a slightly warped exterior door trim, repainting a small patch of bad paint (which the tech only noticed when the car was on the ramp) and has already apologised twice on BMW's behalf for my trouble.

I'm disgusted by this wilfully fraudulent behaviour. Who do I sue?

Originally Posted by Rod365

Well I got my transmission replaced on my 04 X5 3.0 - felt good for the 1st week or so but now it has the same issues again. I have to take it back in and see what they say this time. Its very frustrating...

my 2003 x5 3.0 came with a similar sounding transmission problem. after reversing out of the driveway every morning it would take 20-30 seconds to get enough steam to start driving forward, then several blocks of driving to get full power.

after battling with the service rep and manager, the 'bmw tranmission specialist' visited the shop and identified a pressure leak. A new 'o' ring was installed to stop the leak. Now all is still well 6 momths later (with the transmission anyway).

It was key that the shop replicate the problem on a 'cold' start. the pressure would leak out slowly over night.

I guess misery loves company since I'm happy to find that I'm not the only one with X5 tranny problems. The dealer has already repaired one,replaced one and now after only 1000 miles the thing is acting up again. At certain times, the X5 will feel like it's running over a washboard. The dealer and now BMW customer relations tell me they're sorry but there's nothing they can do. When it stops running, they'll come and get it. If the specs for the transmission are like the speedometer +10% +2.4 mph, then I guess I'm lucky it runs at all. Not what I expected when I wrote the big check!