Towing with the 6 speed transmission

Diesel X5 · 08-03-2016, 08:09 PM

When I'm towing a trailer the transmission always wants to stay in 5 gear at hwy speeds and uses more fuel.Can anyone who tows anything tell me if this is common with their truck. Any other time with out the trailer everything shifts fine. Any input would be greatly appreciate.

mitch808 · 08-04-2016, 12:10 AM

6th gear is an overdrive gear. As such with load (e.g. trailer, extra weight) it'll stick to the gear giving the most appropriate torque.

My guess would be if you coasted downhill, you'd switch into 6th. But what fun is that?

smass · 08-04-2016, 09:58 AM

How much weight are you towing? Towing 5k lbs, mine goes to 6th on the highway and stays there cruising at 70mph. If I hit hills, the trans will warm up and stay in 5th for 30 seconds or so to cool itself off.

Diesel X5 · 08-04-2016, 11:07 AM

When I'm towing my 6000# trailer it was staying in 5th gear at 65 and now I have a 3000# trailer and it is still staying in 5th gear at 65. As soon as I drop the trailer the transmission goes back to normal. I just don't think this is working right as it seems to be working a lot harder and won't shift into 6th.
Everything else sounds like it should when hooking to the trailer, The air suspension adjusts as normal, The display is also normal showing the hitch hookup, I don't know if the program for trailer changes any settings in the transmission for towing.

smass · 08-04-2016, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel X5

When I'm towing my 6000# trailer it was staying in 5th gear at 65 and now I have a 3000# trailer and it is still staying in 5th gear at 65. As soon as I drop the trailer the transmission goes back to normal. I just don't think this is working right as it seems to be working a lot harder and won't shift into 6th.
Everything else sounds like it should when hooking to the trailer, The air suspension adjusts as normal, The display is also normal showing the hitch hookup, I don't know if the program for trailer changes any settings in the transmission for towing.

I forgot to mention I am towing a boat which is somewhat aerodynamic. I bet you are towing a travel trailer which adds significant drag at speed. Do you have the OEM wining and was the X5 coded for a hitch? Once I hook up my wiring, my X5 knows I have a trailer behind it and adjusts things accordingly.

Diesel X5 · 08-04-2016, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smassey321

I forgot to mention I am towing a boat which is somewhat aerodynamic. I bet you are towing a travel trailer which adds significant drag at speed. Do you have the OEM wining and was the X5 coded for a hitch? Once I hook up my wiring, my X5 knows I have a trailer behind it and adjusts things accordingly.

I had the hitch coded about two years ago and everything seamed fine up till recently and I'm using OEM harness.

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smass · 08-05-2016, 06:26 AM

Does it go to 6th going down hill at 70? Your trailer does not look that boxy. It seems like 6th on flat highway should be normal.

blue dragon · 08-05-2016, 07:26 AM

No SLS on your X5 eh?

smass · 08-05-2016, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue dragon

No SLS on your X5 eh?

Nope and it is the one option I am missing! I need to crawl under and see if there is any wiring, which I doubt I will find. I then can come up with a plan to go all factory, partial factory with manual control or aftermarket. This will be a winter project once the humidity dies down.

mefferso · 08-09-2016, 02:01 AM

Will it going into 6th if you put it in DS and manually shift into 6th?

Diesel X5 · 08-09-2016, 05:37 PM

[QUOTE=mefferso;20382676]Will it going into 6th if you put it in DS and manually shift into 6th?[/QUOTE
Yes when I try the DS mode I can manually shift to 6th.
I hauled my trailer camping yesterday everything seems fine now. I'm still not sure what was going on with it.

08-03-2016, 08:09 PM	#1
Diesel X5 Private First Class 37 Rep 136 Posts Drives: X5 35d X Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Earth iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X5 xDrive 35d [10.00]	Towing with the 6 speed transmission When I'm towing a trailer the transmission always wants to stay in 5 gear at hwy speeds and uses more fuel.Can anyone who tows anything tell me if this is common with their truck. Any other time with out the trailer everything shifts fine. Any input would be greatly appreciate.
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08-04-2016, 12:10 AM	#2
mitch808 Captain 107 Rep 994 Posts Drives: 2012 X5 35i Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	6th gear is an overdrive gear. As such with load (e.g. trailer, extra weight) it'll stick to the gear giving the most appropriate torque. My guess would be if you coasted downhill, you'd switch into 6th. But what fun is that?
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08-04-2016, 09:58 AM	#3
smass Lieutenant Colonel 396 Rep 1,578 Posts Drives: 06 325i - 10 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 E90 335i [0.00] 2016 F15 35i [0.00] 2003 E53 3.0 [0.00] 2006 E90 325i [0.00]	How much weight are you towing? Towing 5k lbs, mine goes to 6th on the highway and stays there cruising at 70mph. If I hit hills, the trans will warm up and stay in 5th for 30 seconds or so to cool itself off.
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08-04-2016, 11:07 AM	#4
Diesel X5 Private First Class 37 Rep 136 Posts Drives: X5 35d X Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Earth iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X5 xDrive 35d [10.00]	When I'm towing my 6000# trailer it was staying in 5th gear at 65 and now I have a 3000# trailer and it is still staying in 5th gear at 65. As soon as I drop the trailer the transmission goes back to normal. I just don't think this is working right as it seems to be working a lot harder and won't shift into 6th. Everything else sounds like it should when hooking to the trailer, The air suspension adjusts as normal, The display is also normal showing the hitch hookup, I don't know if the program for trailer changes any settings in the transmission for towing.
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08-05-2016, 06:26 AM	#7
smass Lieutenant Colonel 396 Rep 1,578 Posts Drives: 06 325i - 10 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 E90 335i [0.00] 2016 F15 35i [0.00] 2003 E53 3.0 [0.00] 2006 E90 325i [0.00]	Does it go to 6th going down hill at 70? Your trailer does not look that boxy. It seems like 6th on flat highway should be normal. Attached Images
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08-05-2016, 07:26 AM	#8
blue dragon Lieutenant Colonel 1190 Rep 1,544 Posts Drives: '22 Tesla MY + '23 Tesla MY Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Land of high taxes and crappy healthcare iTrader: (2)	No SLS on your X5 eh? __________________ \| '22 Tesla Model Y P - My daily \| '23 Tesla Model Y LR - Wife's daily \| '17 F15 35D - missed daily \|
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08-09-2016, 02:01 AM	#10
mefferso Second Lieutenant 44 Rep 241 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Covington, Louisiana iTrader: (0)	Will it going into 6th if you put it in DS and manually shift into 6th? __________________
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08-09-2016, 05:37 PM	#11
Diesel X5 Private First Class 37 Rep 136 Posts Drives: X5 35d X Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Earth iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X5 xDrive 35d [10.00]	[QUOTE=mefferso;20382676]Will it going into 6th if you put it in DS and manually shift into 6th?[/QUOTE Yes when I try the DS mode I can manually shift to 6th. I hauled my trailer camping yesterday everything seems fine now. I'm still not sure what was going on with it.
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