Transmission Reprogram DIY

Has anyone here tried this? seems like the 7er folks are getting good results... might just be that perticualr transmission though...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=195020

Interesting. Never heard of that one before. No 'big' complaints on the way my 2007 X3 shifts, so I'll pass on trying this one.

Tried it this morning.
1 to 2 much crisper also 3 to 4 seemed better.
Mike

My only complaint of the X3 is the start from dead stop where I think it goes from gear 2 down to gear 1. I tried it this morning but it didn't seem to help that. Anyone with info on reprograming the tranny to start in gear 1?

Thanks

Originally Posted by bigjakex3

My only complaint of the X3 is the start from dead stop where I think it goes from gear 2 down to gear 1. I tried it this morning but it didn't seem to help that. Anyone with info on reprograming the tranny to start in gear 1?

Thanks

I'm not sure if it does the same thing with the X3, but I believe the Dinan Engine software for the E46 changed the transmission in the D setting to start in 1st gear instead of the normal 2nd gear. Of course, the S mode does the same thing. If it does work for the X3, it's an expensive solution.

http://www.dinancars.com/Series.asp?...is=36&Model=90

I tried it today and I think it made an improvement (although it might just be a placebo effect).

The procedure I followed:

1. Insert key and turn 2 clicks - accessories power on, dash lights illuminate.
2. Press gas pedal all the way to floor, past the click point.
3. Hold for 25 seconds.
4. Release gas pedal.
5. Turn engine on.

It feels much snappier accelerating from a dead stop, better throttle response, and better about shifting from 1 to 2. It feels more like driving in SD mode, just without extended rev holding. I need to drive for a couple of days to tell for sure.

I'm curious to hear from more people who try this. The trannies mentioned in the original posts on 5 and 7 series are ZF 6ATs I believe; we have GM sourced 6ATs. But I'd be willing to bet the procedure for clearing the adaptation was specified to be the same for all BMW ATs.

Can anyone provide hard confirmation on this?

Originally Posted by Brandon01

I tried it today and I think it made an improvement (although it might just be a placebo effect).

The procedure I followed:

1. Insert key and turn 2 clicks - accessories power on, dash lights illuminate.
2. Press gas pedal all the way to floor, past the click point.
3. Hold for 25 seconds.
4. Release gas pedal.
5. Turn engine on.

It feels much snappier accelerating from a dead stop, better throttle response, and better about shifting from 1 to 2. It feels more like driving in SD mode, just without extended rev holding. I need to drive for a couple of days to tell for sure.

I'm curious to hear from more people who try this. The trannies mentioned in the original posts on 5 and 7 series are ZF 6ATs I believe; we have GM sourced 6ATs. But I'd be willing to bet the procedure for clearing the adaptation was specified to be the same for all BMW ATs.

Can anyone provide hard confirmation on this?

I would be interested to see if there is any substantial mileage change........

Tried this yesterday and I was almost ready to reply with a note that nothing really changed but today I did make note of some changes. I drive every day over a bridge 1km long and 30% steep and every time I play with the SD in order to keep from changing gears uphill. Today after performing the procedure, I noticed the car didn't need that play and also it seems peppier at passing other cars or starting from a dead stop. Less gear change.

Same here, leasing a demo vehicle. Seems like it shifts better now, but I just reset it at lunch, haven't had enough time to really see if there is a difference...

Stupid question here, don't flame me :
In the old days if you pressed on the gas pedal too long before starting you car, you would flood the engine and the car would stall... why is this not the case if you press on the gas pedal for 25 seconds and then start the engine?

Originally Posted by MTLX3

Stupid question here, don't flame me :
In the old days if you pressed on the gas pedal too long before starting you car, you would flood the engine and the car would stall... why is this not the case if you press on the gas pedal for 25 seconds and then start the engine?

well, here goes with an explanation from years ago when my dad showed me around the cars he rebuilt as i was growing up, so this may not be completely technically correct...

in the past, carburetors were used to control the mix of gas and air pushed into the cylinders (where the gas & air mixture combusts with a spark from a spark plug, and cylinders combusting in turns rotates a crankshaft, etc.). they were mechanically controlled, so if you pressed the gas pedal, you could flood the carburetor with gas while the engine was not running, which would mess up the proportion of gas and air needed to properly combust in the cylinders, so the engine wouldn't start.

nowadays, carburetors have been replaced by electronic fuel inject (EFI) where the amount of gas forced into the cylinders is controlled electronically (and more precisely for better combustion). this electronic feature does not work when the ignition is off, so you if you press the gas pedal when the engine is not running, there is nothing to flood...

so there you have it...

Originally Posted by MTLX3

Stupid question here, don't flame me :
In the old days if you pressed on the gas pedal too long before starting you car, you would flood the engine and the car would stall... why is this not the case if you press on the gas pedal for 25 seconds and then start the engine?

I'd say the simple answer is that the car is drive-by-wire... no mechanical connection between gas pedal and engine.
I don't think you can flood the engine at all because the computer wont let you, but I could be wrong of course...

I noticed the lag when I did my first 2007 test drive back in January '07. Just returned from 4 weeks in Europe after an ED and must say that I did not experience any Xmission lag from day one. It was a great ride. Now the wait for redelivery

Ok, it's been 3 days now since I did the procedure and I've paid careful attention, counted shifts, and watched fuel consumption. I can say with certainty that it has changed how the car shifts, for the better.

I have a 2007 (build date Nov 06). When in D mode it suffered from annoying transmission lag, fumbling for gears, starting in 2nd then shifting down to 1st when accelerating from a stop. All the things many others have complained about with the 07 6AT. Things which driving in SD mode cured, but SD brings with it higher rev holding which is a bit too aggressive. I've said to my wife I wished there was a mode in-between.

I can confirm that in D mode now the car always starts in 1st. Under light acceleration it then quickly shifts to 2nd. No more fumbling, no more dropping from 2nd to 1st when starting from a stop. All I can say is "Yay!"

However, in my case mileage has dropped a little. I was expecting this, as starting from 2nd before should save some fuel. My average city mileage per the on-board computer (which I reset right after perfoming the procedure) has dropped from 16.8 to 15.8 over the same routes and streets as before. My highway mileage was about 23 before. I don't anticipate seeing a change there (can't say yet - no weekend trips). This is with 2800 miles on the car.

Tried the same procedure as you guys in my 2007 X3 loaner (mine should be approaching Canada any day now ) and I can't say I really noticed any difference... . I wish it did as I find myself using the SD mode quite often, specially around town. Will try again tomorrow, maybe I didn't do it right... but that would be surprising as it is a very simple procedure.

no "carbs"

Originally Posted by kjboyd

no "carbs"

Ahhhhhhhh...

for the most part, gas mileage went DOWN for me.

More on this: (it will explain why for some, or some newer cars may not seem to make a difference)

According to my BMW buddy, the procedure is real for all current BMW's. The adaptive transmission is learning yor driving habits and and algorhitm is established but everything pretty much stops after the first 1000KM after which the learning is complete. Then, in order to make it learn again or reset, you need to perform this procedure again.

So, in my opinio it would make sense for dealers to also perform this procedure before a certified series is sold.

If a car (eg 2007 loaner) has less than 1000km on the odometer, the procedure will have no sensible effect.

But on my car which I purchased it as a Certified series at 25k km, it made a huge difference. As someone said, it feels like a totally new car. I used to read reviews that said the X3 3.0i had plenty of power and seem to have a pretty good transmission/engine match. Only now I completely agree with that comment, after performing that procedure.

Guys,
I know this is an old post, if it`s helpful anyhow, I got to let you know that my X3 had the famous jerk on the 1500 - 2000`s rpm (yeah...mine too). I have steptronic in my vehicle. The reset worked beautifully. Jerks gone and soft shifts..
Ciao !

Sounds promising, will try it on my in the evening.

Will give this a try tomorrow morning before my commute. I know that modern cars have the ability to reset their learned techniques (my ML320 was able to do this), but this completely escaped my head about doing it to my X3

I have a 04 x3 2.5, I just tried this and had two questions. Does it work on my car and how do I know if it worked?

It should work I guess. I had a minor jerk during rides on low rpms; after I performed the task it stop doing that anoying "bump".

Did it this morning and boy was there a difference. Highly recommended for those that are starting to feel like their X3 is kicking your ass whenever you drive.