XSeries-forum

I can report back a success. Easy peasy really. I put some spare paving slabs i had in front of the wheels and drove up onto them to raise the car about 3". Plenty of room.
It took about 3 hrs in total. The magnets in the sump had a bit of sludge on them but no metal bits. The old fluid was black and smelt burnt. That was no surprise as it was used to tow caravans by a previous owner in the past.
I bought Comma MVATF Plus (7ltrs) and a Febi bilstein filter for £80. I called Comma to get assurance that the fluid was correct and they give a 100% compatibility guarantee. Anyway, I drained about 5.5 ltrs which i thought i might. I will do another drain/ refill in a few weeks to replace more from the tc.
I only did a short test drive but the car is defo more 'sprightly'. Time will tell but is goes like our other E53 which has half the mileage. My car was feeling sluggish compared to the wife's. I will do a longer drive tomorrow as i know where and when it used to start shuddering and skipping gear. If it doesnt do it then I will be chuffed. I had 3 quotes to service the tranny which were all between £300 and £400 so I have saved a few pounds.

Update. I've done about 45miles today. A roads at 60 and through Cambridge etc and the car is so much better. Smoother gear shifts and general running. The missing when cruising at 50 has gone. I thought I felt a slight shudder at one point but it could have been the road. It didn't do it in the usual places on my daily trips. If that is the result when replacing only half the fluid then another drain / fill should be good.

[quote="themoog"]
Update. I've done about 45miles today. A roads at 60 and through Cambridge etc and the car is so much better. Smoother gear shifts and general running. The missing when cruising at 50 has gone. I thought I felt a slight shudder at one point but it could have been the road. It didn't do it in the usual places on my daily trips. If that is the result when replacing only half the fluid then another drain / fill should be good.
[/quote]
sounds good! let us know how it goes after some stop start commuting stuff, mine is fine on a run and I only mainly get the change down shunt when the box gets hot around town.

Well today I quickly drained it and refilled- about 4 ltrs- so the fluid is mostly fresh now. I havnt driven it yet but will be out and about tomorrow so a report will be on the way.

Update. I did around 20 miles yesterday. Short stop starts ands a run on some A roads. Seems to be OK now. I'm motivated to do some other things now. I'm going to either replace the radius / control arms or poly bush the originals, sort an oil leak from somewhere up at the back of the engine (coming from the passenger side bank around where the coolant cross over pipe is) and fit some new tyres.
If anyone can shed any light on the oil leak please do. From underneath I cant quite see far enough across. It maybe the CCV but not sure.

BMW V8 almost compulsory that the rocker covers leak

Well I can report no issues with transmission. I did over 200 miles at the weekend with no probs. The oil leak at the back of the engine I havnt located yet but I think the two vanos solenoid gaskets are knackered as the front of the engine is wet with oil. Must get some ordered. Main dealer? Or does anyone know another source..

What is not so good is the front control arm bushes. Driver side is splitting but the passenger side centre bit has totally separated from the outer so its not even central in the bush.. Car is pulling to the left and if I tap the brake the steering jolts to the left. Im surprised i have no steering shudder when braking.
I have a set of Powerflex bushes sat on the passenger seat ready for me to put in next week if I feel motivated.

[quote="themoog"]
Well I can report no issues with transmission. I did over 200 miles at the weekend with no probs. The oil leak at the back of the engine I havnt located yet but I think the two vanos solenoid gaskets are knackered as the front of the engine is wet with oil. Must get some ordered. Main dealer? Or does anyone know another source..

What is not so good is the front control arm bushes. Driver side is splitting but the passenger side centre bit has totally separated from the outer so its not even central in the bush.. Car is pulling to the left and if I tap the brake the steering jolts to the left. Im surprised i have no steering shudder when braking.
I have a set of Powerflex bushes sat on the passenger seat ready for me to put in next week if I feel motivated.
[/quote]

What's the mileage on your car and what is "the missing when cruising at 50"?

Mine has 140k. The 'missing ' i was referring to is the lock up clutch engaging and disengaging when driving between 50 and 60. It feels like a misfire but isnt.

Fortunately the self levelling sensing isn't that smart / stupid.

It levels the ride... as in Ride height according the height sensors at each axle to the rolling surface
- not the parallax to the ground.

[quote="themoog"]
Mine has 140k. The 'missing ' i was referring to is the lock up clutch engaging and disengaging when driving between 50 and 60. It feels like a misfire but isnt.
[/quote]

Keep and eye on it.  The lockup clutch in the TC is what caused my transmission failure.  If it's the same version on yours (mine was a 2005MY 6-sp) then there is a plastic component which can shear off.  By pure bad luck the broken bit wrecked the transmission oil pump and the rest was inevitable due to pressure loss 

Mine is the 5hp24 ZF transmission 5 speed not 6 speed.