more fun with Autoboxes

[Steve the grease]

Hi there, if possible I'd like some advice about a problem with my series 2 2.1td XM estate auto box. I bought the car over a year ago and it had had some work done on the box , a "hub" had been replaced, when I came to change the g/box oil it was quite red but was carrying a lot of very fine particles of what appeared to be metal , the residue of the previous damage I assume. which brings us on to .......
More recently first thing in the morning the car is reluctant to start moving, instead of creeping it just sits there..... you just sit there gently reving it up and eventually there is a thump and the drive comes in and the car starts moving, once moving it drives fine and when its warm it changes perfectly ( or so it seems to me) but did 700 miles last weekend with no problems other than the moving off from cold problem.
It seems to me that the problem is a plunger which is sticking and which, with some "gentle prodding" ( revving up a bit) comes unstuck and then the vehicle behaves ok , until this plunger sticks again when cold. My local auto specialist , some 70 miles away, initially said he thought it was a dirty valve block which could be cleaned out for "about £60 or £70"
The idea being that I would take the XM to him on a trailer partially stripped and would do his magic and I would put it all back together..... Now he is changing his tune "Oh it could be the govenor, bring it down and we'll have a look". I think that will change into " the box'll have to come off " and a bill for a grand . It seems I have a vehicle which drives perfectly other than for 2 minutes every morning so what should I do? I'm in the trade, so have good workshop facilities and I'm not too stupid so I'd like a go myself really.
I've heard about Manuals on CD anyone know from where? Some one on one of the forums described rebuilding a box with a manual he got from ZF, are you still around Sir??
I have a manual but its in French and it doesnt say very much about the auto box.
Thanks in advance
Steve Taylor