automatic gearbox failure

I have an '00 X5 with a 3 litre diesel engine (besides '04 530d with a bit
stronger engine) and averything has been perfect so far. Few days ago my
gearbox died. I mean really died. I couldn't get my car moving. Few days
before that I pulled a 4t trailor for a very short time and, at a time, it
seemed OK. The car was able to pull that with no special effort. What could
cause this problem? Did anyone else had this problem? I bought the car
second hand and they told me that all services have been done on the car so
I wouldn't have to worry. Maybe they didn't change the oil in the gearbox?
Or it was me pulling that heavy trailor? Or this what has happened to me is
common? The car has 120000 miles on it.
What do you think?
Regards
Mario

In article <ggj5p2$7o8$1@localhost.localdomain>,
Mario-Laser d.o.o. <mario-laser RemoveThis @sb.t-com.hr> wrote:
> I have an '00 X5 with a 3 litre diesel engine (besides '04 530d with a
> bit stronger engine) and averything has been perfect so far. Few days
> ago my gearbox died. I mean really died. I couldn't get my car moving.
> Few days before that I pulled a 4t trailor for a very short time and,
> at a time, it seemed OK. The car was able to pull that with no special
> effort. What could cause this problem? Did anyone else had this
> problem? I bought the car second hand and they told me that all
> services have been done on the car so I wouldn't have to worry. Maybe
> they didn't change the oil in the gearbox? Or it was me pulling that
> heavy trailor? Or this what has happened to me is common? The car has
> 120000 miles on it. What do you think?

You need to check the spec for towing. Should be in the driver's handbook.
Some autos require a larger or additional oil cooler for towing.
Overheating kills them in short order.

The ZF transmission on my car (particularly the torque convertor) is very
compact compared to older ones and I'd guess would overheat very quickly
if overloaded.

As regards changing the fluid originally this was a lifetime type. But now
IIRC it's recommended to change it at about 80,000 miles. A Google should
find details.

--
*Why is it considered necessary to screw down the lid of a coffin?

Dave Plowman dave RemoveThis @davenoise.co.uk London SW
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