Transmission question on 08 X5 4.8

Hi folks, I just picked up a 2008 CPO X5 with almost every option except for the convenience package. So far I love the car and couldn't be happier (traded in my FX35).

I have a question regarding the transmission. Some times i feel that the tranny (when sport is NOT engaged) seems to hold onto the gears longer than it should. Meaning that when i'm cruising lets say up a moderate incline, when I would expect the tranny to shift, it doesn't. Anyone else notice this or can chime?

Thanks in advance.

-E

Mine does the same. There is a service bulletin for this issue. Had my transmission software reprogrammed, but no improvement noticed.

my advice......... put your foot in it. the tranny learns your driving habits. my '08 has begun showing similar behavior but i have 85K on the odo and this is relatively new behavior. once i top out on the 100K i will flush and replace the "lifetime" fluid.

of course if you are not in sport mode this may be normal vehicle function related to gas mileage. with the exception of maybe the first few days i owned the thing, mine has been in sport mode for over four years now.

So are you saying it holds on to a higher gear when it should downshift? Or does it holds on to a lower gear when it should upshift?

Originally Posted by autoque

So are you saying it holds on to a higher gear when it should downshift? Or does it holds on to a lower gear when it should upshift?

Okay so say I'm going up a small to moderate hill in 2rd gear, the revs are climbing pass 3k RPM, my gas pedal is steady and I'm just waiting for the car to up shift. It's holding onto the lower gear when I'm expecting the car to up shift. This doesn't necessarily just happen on a hill, I've experienced this on a flat surface as well.

my 08 4.8 does the same, the dealer updated with new software and it's still the same!!!

Originally Posted by tiger1014

my 08 4.8 does the same, the dealer updated with new software and it's still the same!!!

What did you tell the service advisor in order to get the software update?

Originally Posted by g0tb00st

Okay so say I'm going up a small to moderate hill in 2rd gear, the revs are climbing pass 3k RPM, my gas pedal is steady and I'm just waiting for the car to up shift. It's holding onto the lower gear when I'm expecting the car to up shift. This doesn't necessarily just happen on a hill, I've experienced this on a flat surface as well.

I've experienced the same behavior on occasion.

My BMW's display the same behavior. Personally, I feel this is an advantage because it keeps the car in the power band in the event you need it. If the car up shifted, the RPMs will drop and if if the car needs more power it will just down shift again which can create a constant up/down shift cycle. This was the case on my jeep in CO which forces me to move to manual when going up hills

Originally Posted by g0tb00st

What did you tell the service advisor in order to get the software update?

Just tell them the car is not shifting up sometimes,especially on uphill. Even after the update still the same, I am planning to bring it back to the dealer again and see what else they can do.

Originally Posted by MRV99

My BMW's display the same behavior. Personally, I feel this is an advantage because it keeps the car in the power band in the event you need it. If the car up shifted, the RPMs will drop and if if the car needs more power it will just down shift again which can create a constant up/down shift cycle. This was the case on my jeep in CO which forces me to move to manual when going up hills

I never thought of that and you maybe right...I'd rather have power on tap if a situation does arrive that requires it. It just really feels awkward and that's why I wanted to ask the forums.

-E

once more, drive it like you stole it. put the powerband where you want it not where the trans thinks you need it. i have yet to experience a situation where my 4.8 was hunting for a gear.

you really need to open that thing up OP. trust me.