Hi all my 12 plate SD4 has developed a knocking from the transmission at idle no noise on increased revs, but the gear engagement is harsh from N to D
Any ideas ?

Cheers in anticipation Sharky MY18 D5 HSE LUX 😎
MY12 FL2 SD4 HSE
Ex D4
Ex D3
Ex D2
Ex D1
Ex FREELANDER 1

oil change is first thing to try,,there is an ssm for autos ..use search 2007 hse gone
214xs

Did that about 6000 miles ago sound more mechanical 😩
Does the auto have a dual mass flywheel ? MY18 D5 HSE LUX 😎
MY12 FL2 SD4 HSE
Ex D4
Ex D3
Ex D2
Ex D1
Ex FREELANDER 1

Don’t think so.
Doesn’t the torque converter do that job?

Thinking out loud after a couple of beers, but could it be an engine mount?
mount unloaded and it allows metal to metal contact, engage drive, and engine gearbox moves forwards (or reverse) and no metal to metal contact.

To be honest though it does sound like the torque converter failing, not common but when you consider the number out there one or two must fail. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Engine or transmission mounts may be a good place to start.
Also anything else around that area which is loose (eg exhaust?) would be worth checking, as the engine rocks more at idle.

Why do you think knocking noise is the transmission?

On the other hand, harsh gear changes could be transmission fluid problems.

https://victrans.com/transmission-makes-clunking-noise/ FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

The relatively recent tranny fluid change is a bit suspicious, if that was the first time it had ever been changed, you might have had some solidified crud come loose. If it were me I'd probably drain and fill the fluid again and see what happens. Might get lucky.

Bad motor mounts will make for hard shifts, but I didn't have any clunking and fixing the mounts + new tranny fluid fixed the hard shifting.

Local garage took the gearbox out and found the drive plate (Flywheel ) cracked
At least it’s not the gearbox he’s just got to find one as they are on back order
Will take some pics when I see it  MY18 D5 HSE LUX 😎
MY12 FL2 SD4 HSE
Ex D4
Ex D3
Ex D2
Ex D1
Ex FREELANDER 1

Good grief, how'd you do that? A bit of off-roading?

So picked the car up and all sorted, back to normal 😇
He showed me the drive plate and the there was a crack around the mounting boss in the centre about 75% of the circumference, said he’d never seen it on a Freelander but is quite common on the RR,
Thank god i caught it before it completely went it would have made a right messes the torque converter a and transmission ! MY18 D5 HSE LUX 😎
MY12 FL2 SD4 HSE
Ex D4
Ex D3
Ex D2
Ex D1
Ex FREELANDER 1

Glad that you have successfully solved problem.

Thanks for keeping us informed of outcome.

Hopefully will give you a few more years of driving. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

 MY18 D5 HSE LUX 😎
MY12 FL2 SD4 HSE
Ex D4
Ex D3
Ex D2
Ex D1
Ex FREELANDER 1