Funny you mentioned that - I believe that both GM and BMW (perhaps other car makers too) actually outsource their trannies from third party suppliers.

If I remember correctly BMW uses Getrag trannies which have had quality issues for some time now. They may be switching to ZF trannies, which are used in some GM cars and trucks.

Both Getrag and ZF are companies based in Germany.

 

Funny you should mention ZF trannies. I know for a fact that my E46 has a ZF tranny. When I first heard that GM uses the same vendor I became very worried, but I have to say that my 2002 E46 with 107K miles on it shifts so smooth and velvety that even today I get this awesome feeling I can't even describe in writing. Of course, I did not buy into BMW's lifetime fluid claim and this car is now on its third tranny fluid and filter. Maybe the ZF transmission is the permanent fix that the 5 series needs.

 

My '08 535xi has the same problem, which is addressed by Service Information Bulletin 24 03 08. (Sorry, I don't have a link for the SIB.) My dealer says my car has the current software which is supposed to fix the problem, but the problem persists. I am told BMWUSA "is working on it." I guess we will see. You can try driving in Sport mode when the car is cold; I don't experience the lurch (which almost feels like being rear-ended) in DS.

 

The problem lies in the unconventional nature of the ZF box on the Lci cars and the hill hold feature or the hill hold with the electro mechanical e-breaks on the 6sp...
Several TSB's and software updates to fix with no luck.

No hill hold no problem. I think all the regular & SAT trans missions & the 6sp have issues with it.

So for the growing common LCI e60 problem list:
HPFP ( N54's)
Transmission Slam ( 1st/2gear start from dead stop or reverse)
Injector issues (N54's)
Rapid Batt drain (e6x in general)
Wast gate/ waste gate seat issues (N54's)
Turbo lag from BMW software installed to fix the Hpfp and Waste gate rattles (N54)
Fogging Xenon head light clusters (on inside of cluster) (e6x)
Lifters on the NA engines ( I6 or V8)
Swirl flap failure on the oil burners
Non braided air lines on the load level suspension on the E61's (BMW fixed the part ,cost a bunch out of warranty)

Did I miss any thing else?

Yet I still love my E60... My R32 had like 1 issue ( break position switch, bane of every MkIV golf/jetta), but I don't miss it any near as much as I will the E60....

 

EDIT: I got bored so I looked up some info. ZF makes the A/T's for BMW, Getrag makes the M/T's including the M-DCT. BMW is planning to put a ZF tranny in the F10.

There's nothing unconventional about the ZF tranny - it's just that BMW is continuously attempting to precisely control a hydraulic-mechanical device with an electronic shifter with not so good results

You bring up a good point with the Hill Descent Control. I can't remember which 5ers got it (only xi??) but I know for a fact that I don't nor do I have the problems the OP mentioned.

 

Mine is an XI and it has the Hill Descent Control. I had the slam and it went away when they replaced the transmission under warranty. I wonder if just changing the electronics module would have done the trick. Sounds to me like BMW needs better software drivers.

 

Hill hold and Hill decent.

I think All lci's have the hill hold , meaning come to a stop on an incline and if you let off the break the car won't roll backward or creep forwards with an auto box. The car basically set the e-breaks or park break to hold the car. So when you get on the gas the car has to quickly dis engage and go... hince the clunk! THis some times even kicks in on my 08 on level ground.

I looked it up in the owners manuals only the ix's have HDC even the E61's, push a button and as long as the car is going under 22mph it will constantly apply the breaks to "maintain" a controlled decent.

My Wagon has not come in yet so I don't have the exact wording.