X5 e53 gearbox service

Roryb1985 · Post by **Roryb1985** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 7:50 am

Morning all. Not sure if my x5 has ever had a gearbox service so I’m wanting to do one. Car shifts up and down the gears fine but when I checked it on XHP software the E clutch is at its max of 750mbar. Should I leave it or will it be fine to still change

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 8:56 am

This question is one of those Catch 22 ones, damned if you do, damned if you don’t!

The answer is ‘it depends’. How many miles on the vehicle now? What colour is the oil (you need to take small sample)? Does it smell burnt? If there is an indication that there might be an issue with wear then would it be better to let it be? If the fluid is still straw coloured that’s a good sign.

Whilst changing the oil will refresh everything, it does come with a level of risk. The risk is that it will clean the gunk and debris out and that can (and has) led to a gearbox failure fairly soon afterwards. It’s this debris in the clutch and brake sets holding everything together. It doesn’t always happen and many high mileage boxes survive a change but it depends.

Ultimately it’s a case of leave well alone, or take a chance that you might need a £2k rebuild within a few thousand miles. It’s also possible that the clutch ‘at limit’ may go shortly anyway. It’s one of ‘those’ questions and depends upon your aversion to risk and can you spare the funds? There is no right or wrong answer. Higher mileage means greater risk unfortunately.

Leslie · Post by **Leslie** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 6:04 pm

I think a lot of folk are advised to change the oil to try to fix a fault as the cheapest option and it still goes bang soon afterwards anyway and often the oil change got blamed. My e70 is on 153k now never had oil changed that I know off and I'm inclined to leave it well alone. The e53 boxes are known to be a bit more fragile but given their age now its a tricky one .

Alan Gunn · Post by **Alan Gunn** » Sun Oct 24, 2021 6:19 am

Mine was working fine and on 160k but i decided to get it serviced.
Oil that came out looked a bit dark but i only got to see the residual bit in the box sump.
2.5 years later still silky smooth but i thought it was quite smooth before the service but i could tell the difference after the service.
Around 181k now.

Roryb1985 · Post by **Roryb1985** » Sun Oct 24, 2021 7:43 am

Alan Gunn wrote: ↑Sun Oct 24, 2021 6:19 am Mine was working fine and on 160k but i decided to get it serviced.
Oil that came out looked a bit dark but i only got to see the residual bit in the box sump.
2.5 years later still silky smooth but i thought it was quite smooth before the service but i could tell the difference after the service.
Around 181k now.

Funny enough mines on 180k but like yours it’s still silky smooth to drive.

Alan Gunn · Post by **Alan Gunn** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 7:44 am

I thought it was smooth but the service added the "silky" if you get what i am saying.

Entwicklung34 · Post by **Entwicklung34** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 3:52 am

I had the same dilemma but did mine four years ago and it's still going strong

henrym3 · Post by **henrym3** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 12:31 pm

I got mine around 100k and did an oil and filter change, another at 150k, now on 163k. Maybe it’s because it has an easier life now a days, no full bore acceleration bit like myself, more time spent in the slow lane.

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