I have an unusual BMW transmission problem. I have a 2002 325i (e46) with a Steptronic transmission. When I start the car in the morning or after it has been parked for a while, it drives normal with no shifting problems, and I can drive it all day, problem free, as long as I don't turn it off.

But if I make a stop and turn off the car. it will most times re-start in a hard shift mode. I can tell as soon as I shift from park into reverse or drive. It will then shift extremely hard or "bang" into all gears, until I turn off the car, and let it cool down for about an hour. After the car has cooled down completely, it starts and runs fine again. (But if I go through the series of hard shifts onto the freeway, staying in 5th gear for a long period of time, it will have reverted back to normal shifting when I stop!)

Any ideas on what may be causing this? Thank you for any help you can offer!