X5 3.0i petrol gearbox query

[x5Tarquin]

Hi All,

I have been enjoying the posts and its time to start tackling some issues with my 53 plate x5 which ive owned for about 3 years so looking for some pointers. The biggest problem / annoyance is a gearbox issue.

This only happens when cold (at least standing for about 4 hours) and if i reverse to start with. So in the morning i will reverse off the the drive and then select drive. First gear will then slip for about 10 seconds before engaging properly once its engaged it will work perfectly. Does not do it every morning but maybe 3 out of 5. I have have my local mechanic change the Gearbox fluid (not a bmw specialist) but that made no difference

Also if anyone can point me in the direction of a good bmw specialist to look after it i would appreciate it. Im pretty close to Uxbridge in Buckinghamshire.

After sorting the weird gearbox issue i can move onto a few other simple things like, tail gate rattle, alloy wheels could do with a refurb, leather interior could do with a good bit of love and the paint work would like a machine polish. I will take some before and after pics


thanks all.

[Holski]

My '02 3.0d does this also. After driving a couple of miles its fine. My indy told me that it was a hydraulic issue after checking to see if there was any codes stored. He said that there is a pump on the outside of the gearbox that circulates the fluid and that sometimes starts to fail, apparently not a big job to replace.

[E53IOM]

Hi

Don't want to depress you but I had the same problem with mine last month and am now in the middle of having the gearbox rebuilt.  If you google, you'll find it's a well known problem with the GM gearbox on this model and is also common to Range Rovers.  The 3.0D has a ZF gearbox and (I believe) is more resilient.

I didn't need to go into reverse with mine.  When setting off cold, the engine would rev to about 3,000 without anything happening.  If I left it in neutral for a few seconds, then put it back in D, it would move off as normal.  When driving though, it felt as though the 'clutch' was slipping.

Let us know how you get on.

[Y13HYA]

Get it
On a machine. See if it shows any gearbox fault
Codes...
If you are in the north west feel free to use mine...