Thank you for your helpful response. For some obscure reason the problem seems to have resolved itself! I will get the gearbox service done, although a little worried that opening it up may complicate matters, or begin causing issues, which makes me think of the axiom.. '..if it ain't broke, don't ...

Hi All, Newbie here, just purchased an E70 with 95K on the clock, to all intents and purposes a genuine car. I've done about 120 miles in it without missing a beat, but in the last day or so when move the gear to N or R or P, i get a mechanical noise, or ratcheting of about 5 seconds. This happens ...