The Auto Box on my D-Sport is about to expire in a spectacular fashion soon I'm sure..
The mechatronic piston teats have hardened or broken up it seems after 186,000 miles, & she will go up from 1st to 2nd with an amazing BANG when cold & some times again between 3rd & 4th.... So I use the manual tip-tronic change mostly now & match the revs gently to eliminate the the risk of the gear cogs exploding out of the gear case side...
So... 3 questions ?
I have potentially sourced a matching gear box & torque converter with only 70,000 on it for £550, & wondering
(1) how much agro it is to swap the box out on ramps in the drive way ?
(2) if the replacement Gear-Box will need mapping to the vehicle ?
I have swapped many Landrover Discovery TDi gear boxes before, so the practicalities are not an issue, but does the X5 D-Sport present any unusual issues ?
(3) I live in Stafford nr Birmingham UK, so does any one know of a good Indie around here that will do a recon box refit service ?
Cheers
Grant B
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E53 D-Sport Auto Box swap out
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- Snr Member
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Re: E53 D-Sport Auto Box swap out
Sorry no idea about DIY gearbox changes, but I always use autogearbox specialists to service my gearboxes as that's what they do day in and day out. BMW indie garages may only do a few every year.
2011 Kia Sorento KX3 2.2D 60 Plate Auto in black ( mine )
BMW E83 X3. 3.0d M Sport, 2008 in black ( now gone )
BMW E93 330i Convertible Msport 2007. ( Now sold )
VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 GT 2010 ( now sold )
Now Sold 55 plate, X5, 3.0 D Sport. Silv
BMW E83 X3. 3.0d M Sport, 2008 in black ( now gone )
BMW E93 330i Convertible Msport 2007. ( Now sold )
VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 GT 2010 ( now sold )
Now Sold 55 plate, X5, 3.0 D Sport. Silv
Re: E53 D-Sport Auto Box swap out
I doubt it’s that difficult as long as you have enough height under the car for the bell housing (unless you can separate it. You need the car to be level I would suggest - for ensuring fluids etc are fine.
It’ll be heavy though! Are you refurbing the replacement first? Or has it been done?
Like for like box will not need mapping. Fortunately the E53 wasn’t that clever (or should it be dumb) to need reteaching every time a bolt is swapped out!
It’ll be heavy though! Are you refurbing the replacement first? Or has it been done?
Like for like box will not need mapping. Fortunately the E53 wasn’t that clever (or should it be dumb) to need reteaching every time a bolt is swapped out!

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- Joined: Sun May 25, 2014 11:13 pm
Re: E53 D-Sport Auto Box swap out
Hi X5-Sport,
The replacement box with torque converter has 80k miles on it, & is supposed to be ok & operating properly..
There appear to be a couple of indy gearbox places that solely do BMW gear box refurb & replacements between £1,000 & £1,200 incl torque converter, & its a 24 hr turn around... so that's what I will probably do me thinks.
My box would be dropped & & shipped off, & another one that's already been re-furbed goes straight back in.
The replacement box with torque converter has 80k miles on it, & is supposed to be ok & operating properly..
There appear to be a couple of indy gearbox places that solely do BMW gear box refurb & replacements between £1,000 & £1,200 incl torque converter, & its a 24 hr turn around... so that's what I will probably do me thinks.
My box would be dropped & & shipped off, & another one that's already been re-furbed goes straight back in.