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Thread: Automatic gearbox troubles on X5 E53

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    2004 X5 E53

    Automatic gearbox troubles on X5 E53

    Hi all,

    my favorite car has quite a serious problem. It started with some very noticeable shocks while the gears shift (automatically) in between 60 km/h and 80 km/h. At a certain point in time, the onboard computer reported (in German) that the gearbox was in some kind of emergency state. A bit later the gears did not work at all. After a cool down of about 10 minutes I was able to drive again, all be it very slowly as if a clutch (which is not present I learned) was loosing grip.
    I'm having a friend/mechanic looking at this but where a bit stuck on what direction to go. So here are my questions:
    - is this a typical problem for the E53?
    - if so, what is the typical remedy?
    - should we refurbish the gearbox?
    - or maybe even replace?

    Thanks for your advice!

    BC

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Arlington, VA
    Posts
    9,934
    My Cars
    2018 BMW M240i
    How many miles are on your your car? Have the transmission ever been service i.e. has the fluid and filter been changed? You need to have the codes read with a BMW specific code reader. Generic code readers will read the DME and not the transmission computer.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    2004 X5 E53
    Hi,

    112500 miles. Not sure on it ever been services as I bought it second hand. I will inform my mechanic about your hint. I'm afraid though that he doesn't have a BMW reader and I dread going to a regular BMW shop as they are usually very expensive for these kind of things...

    cheers,

    BC

    Quote Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini View Post
    How many miles are on your your car? Have the transmission ever been service i.e. has the fluid and filter been changed? You need to have the codes read with a BMW specific code reader. Generic code readers will read the DME and not the transmission computer.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    2004 X5 E53
    OK, so it seems that the gearbox is out. I seem to have two options: replace it or have it overhauled. The latter option would cost me about 3000 euro it seems, the first option would set me back about 1000 euro. Of course we're talking about a second hand unit. I'm inclined to go for the cheaper option, but the same problem might re-occur.
    So basically my question is: is this a typical problem for the E53? If not, I'm feeling a lot more confident about using a second hand unit.

    Thx!

    BC

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    .
    Posts
    7,708
    My Cars
    .
    E53 gearbox failure isn't really too common. You didn't mention which engine you have. I think I've only ever done one or two in my career.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    2004 X5 E53
    It's a 3.0 D. Happy to here that. So I will go and look for a spare gearbox then. Cheers for al your help.

    BC

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