BMW X7 Transmission Nightmare: Grinding Through Gears

Hey there! I had very similar symptoms with my 2017 BMW X5 40i last year. The grinding during shifts and sluggish acceleration were exactly what I experienced. After diagnosis, it turned out my torque converter was indeed failing, your suspicion seems spot-on. The mechanic found metal particles in the transmission fluid, which indicated the converter was deteriorating. In my case, they had to replace the entire torque converter assembly. It was quite a serious repair since the transmission had to be removed to access the converter. The job took about three days at the shop. Since then, the transmission has been shifting smoothly, and all warning lights disappeared. Just make sure you find a mechanic who specializes in BMW transmissions, the electronics and adaptive programming need proper attention after such repairs. Hope this helps with your decision. Good luck with the repair.

Hey, thanks a lot for sharing your experience! That really helps since our problems sound almost identical. I think I'll need to bite the bullet and get my torque converter replaced too. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? I'm trying to figure out what I'm in for here, both money-wise and reliability-wise. Thanks again!

Hey again! Happy to give you an update! Yes, I ended up paying 2120 € for the whole repair, parts and labor included. And I'm glad to report it was totally worth it. The transmission has been working like a dream since the fix. The mechanic diagnosed it correctly, it was definitely the torque converter lock-up clutch causing all that trouble. No more grinding noises, no warning lights, and the shifts are butter-smooth now. It's been about a year since the repair, and I haven't had a single transmission-related issue pop up. The car feels like new again, honestly. My X5 is shifting exactly how it should, and the sluggish acceleration problem is completely gone. I know it's a pretty hefty bill to swallow, but considering how well it's running now, I'd say it was money well spent. When these torque converters go bad, there's really no band-aid solution, you've just got to get it fixed properly. And trust me, once it's done, you'll feel the difference immediately! Let me know if you need any other details about the repair. Happy to help!

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! It's such a relief to hear your repair has held up well for a year now. The price is steep, but honestly, it's better than I expected. At least I can prepare myself mentally and financially now. Speaking of repairs, I actually got mine fixed last week. You were right, it was the torque converter! The mechanic I found was fantastic. He walked me through everything and showed me the worn-out parts. The grinding noise was exactly what he expected from a failing torque converter. The whole job took about four days, but the difference is incredible. No more warning lights, smooth shifts, and the car feels powerful again. Cost me about what you paid, but seeing how well it's running now, I'd say it was worth every penny. Thanks again for helping me make this decision. It's so much better going into a big repair when you know what to expect. Really appreciate you sharing your experience!