2007-2010 X3 Automatic Transmission Problem Master Thread!

Agreed KJ and others. We have moved the discussions to the AT thread as many have requested (makes sense).

So if you don't have AT issues great, but don't put down those of us that do, and are trying to figure out ways to deal with it.

Move ON

So any success stories with fixing this problem 100%? If so please tell us how.

If not tell us what you are doing to try to solve it (other than work arounds).

Originally Posted by Evlengr

More importantly--- Any feedback on X3 vs 335xi?

Evl - you probably want to start a new thread for this.

Originally Posted by el-sea

But I might just try finding a hill and seeing if it happens constantly then find a 4the dealr to take it to!

In my experience, most SA's/mechanics sincerely try to help you but they're only human. My approach is to always help them help me by narrowing down the specific parameters/symptoms of the problem as much as possible and to make sure they're consistent and repeatable during a test drive/demonstration. If you can easily prove your complaint then it's easier for them to help. Once the SA/mechanic agrees with you that something's not right, then it becomes their obligation to fix it even if a fix isn't immediately available. I'll also point out for those of you who weren't aware, BMWNA must authorize all part replacements in advance unless it's obvious that it's bad, i.e. leaking, physically broken. In the case of less obvious defects, the burden to prove a problem sits more heavily on the customers' shoulders.

el-sea, it would seem that you should have little trouble convincing the SA of the throttle problem at least.

Originally Posted by kjboyd

can those of you who do NOT have transmission issue PLEASE tell those of us that do/did WHY you are SO hostile and angry that we talk about it, and to a degree, blame US for the problem?? Be thankful your X3 doesn't have the problem and be sympathetic to those of us who do/did.

why is that so hard for you?

I have transmission issues with my X3. I was not hostile, nor angry. Didn't blame anyone.

I was merely straightening the facts. We've heard ONE report of the new update frying a DME and it needing to be sent back to NJ. ONE. For all we know it could have been the mechanic's fault hooking up the gear or not following the instructions. Seriously, no one knows the reason that ONE DME fried, except BMWNA. Stating that the latest SIB release is damaging all DMEs beyond repair is a bending of the truth. People should not get the idea that their car will be damaged if they take it in for software updates.
Didn't know about his personal talks with the regional master mechanic. I'm surprised they told Evl anything with all his threats of lemoning it.

Originally Posted by MJS

We've heard ONE report of the new update frying a DME and it needing to be sent back to NJ. ONE.

There has been more than one case of the most recent update bricking the DME. They are easy enough to find.



Besides EE's DME, there is this one. Poster works at a BMW dealer.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...&postcount=102

Originally Posted by Andrew*Debbie

There has been more than one case of the most recent update bricking the DME. They are easy enough to find.



Besides EE's DME, there is this one. Poster works at a BMW dealer.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...&postcount=102

That is the only one that has been reported on this board. EE's did not have this issue.

Originally Posted by MJS

That is the only one that has been reported on this board. EE's did not have this issue.

I know it didn't because of this board. You keep trying to discard the fact that a master mechanic for BMWNA stated that this was not rolled out due to problems.
In just about every account with dealing with the transmission issues BMW has not been forth coming until pressed with other evidence of the problem. The first couple of months I go the, "You're the only one with this problem" answer.

Nor have they issued any statement that they have a fix of any sort up coming.

And also if you recall the person that did report the problem with their vehicle is an employee of BMW.

IMO they don't care, or they think they are immune to accountabilty. If they did they would have been up front and worked with anyone that has the problem. In just about every case reported here, the owner has had to prod, cajole, beg, or threaten to get some kind of forward momentum on resolving this.

Show us a little good faith and admit there is a problem. Most of the people here have been extremely patient with BMWNA----- that will only go so far.



If you wait for it to get fixed on its own BMWNA has no real motivation to correct this as they seemed to be focused on new ventures instead of taking care of current customers.

Have you written BMWNA? That seems to be the best start.

Or what measures have you taken to move this forward with your vehicle.

Originally Posted by Evlengr

I know it didn't because of this board. You keep to discarding the fact that a major player for BMWNA stated that this was not rolled out due to problems.
In just about every account with dealing with the transmission issues BMW has not been forth coming until pressed with other evidence of the problem.
Nor have they issued any statement that they have a fix of any sort up coming.

And also if you recall the person that did report the problem with their vehicle is an employee of BMW.

IMO they don't care, or they think they are immune to accountabilty. If they did they would have been up front and worked with anyone that has the problem. In just about every case reported here, the owner has had to prod, cajole, beg, or threaten to get some kind of forward momentum on resolving this.

Show us a little good faith and admit there is a problem. Most of the people here have been extremely patient with BMWNA that will only go so far.

No, I'm not discarding facts. I just want the facts straight. Simple as that. Stick to the issue being debated. Only one person claimed that the newest update fried their DME.

Originally Posted by MJS

That is the only one that has been reported on this board. EE's did not have this issue.

My bad.

Still the most recent update bricked DMEs and BMW rolled back to the previous update.

Originally Posted by HT417

In my experience, most SA's/mechanics sincerely try to help you but they're only human. My approach is to always help them help me by narrowing down the specific parameters/symptoms of the problem as much as possible and to make sure they're consistent and repeatable during a test drive/demonstration. If you can easily prove your complaint then it's easier for them to help. Once the SA/mechanic agrees with you that something's not right, then it becomes their obligation to fix it even if a fix isn't immediately available. I'll also point out for those of you who weren't aware, BMWNA must authorize all part replacements in advance unless it's obvious that it's bad, i.e. leaking, physically broken. In the case of less obvious defects, the burden to prove a problem sits more heavily on the customers' shoulders.

el-sea, it would seem that you should have little trouble convincing the SA of the throttle problem at least.

Unfortunately this is not the case with the lunging forward after removing foot from throttle. It has happened only 3 times in 1 year. The cutting out completely and never going into gear was coming out of a tight curve in freezing temp. I live in Sunny California and was in the mountains hours away. Hard to duplicate here.

Originally Posted by MJS

No, I'm not discarding facts. I just want the facts straight. Simple as that. Stick to the issue being debated. Only one person claimed that the newest update fried their DME.

Ok----

The facts:

• the latest SIB that is being pushed out to vehicles partially works.
• BMWNA continues to keep its clients and dealers in the dark with new updates.
• the latest update didn't work and was pulled back.

Better?

Originally Posted by Evlengr

Ok----

The facts:

• the latest SIB that is being pushed out to vehicles partially works.
• BMWNA continues to keep its clients and dealers in the dark with new updates.
• the latest update didn't work and was pulled back.

Better?

Much better. Now was that so hard?

Originally Posted by Andrew*Debbie

The DME is a Siemens MSV 80. I'm looking for data.

I have had little luck finding details.


This is the best I've found so far. Worth a read. Sounds like Siemens engineers may provide the software to BMW. Or maybe they work together. There is a Z4 hooked up to a development system in one of the photos. The photo on the first page is a BMW, with the steering wheel Photoshoped to remove the logo. Hardly conclusive, but it is the best I could find.

http://www.vdo.com/NR/rdonlyres/F9D2...ervices_en.pdf


The Siemens EMS 2 ECU is 512kB to 4MB flash, 32Kb to 144kB RAM and 8k to 48k SPRAM.


http://www.vdo.com/NR/rdonlyres/25DF...systems_en.pdf


SPRAM -- Static Parameter RAM? That's my guess. If that is where they stuff the fault codes, then even 48K isn't much for a data recorder. Not all of it is going to be available either. I'd guess that is where the DME adaptive parameters are stored too.

I have no idea if the BMW MSV 80 DME is built on EMS 2 platform though. There are several standard sizes. I'm sure they could do a full custom too. If that is the case, then the EMS 2 specs are meaningless.



Continental bought SiemensVDO last year....

Originally Posted by Evlengr

If you wait for it to get fixed on its own BMWNA has no real motivation to correct this as they seemed to be focused on new ventures instead of taking care of current customers.

Wow, that is a very harsh statement and I understand your frustration. But, don't you think it would better serve the forum to stay with the facts rather than make inflammatory comments like this?

Originally Posted by el-sea

Unfortunately this is not the case with the lunging forward after removing foot from throttle. It has happened only 3 times in 1 year. The cutting out completely and never going into gear was coming out of a tight curve in freezing temp. I live in Sunny California and was in the mountains hours away. Hard to duplicate here.

That's going to be a tough one. Maybe the next dealer can get it sorted out. Good luck.

Originally Posted by STE92VE

Wow, that is a very harsh statement and I understand your frustration. But, don't you think it would better serve the forum to stay with the facts rather than make inflammatory comments like this?

Ok,

Facts:

• The GM6 transmission problem has not been fixed properly.
• BMWNA has had over a year to fix it.
• BMWNA will not openly acknowledge there is a problem.
• BMWNA continues to keep its clients and dealers in the dark related to SIB updates or resolution.

What other conclusion can be drawn at this point?

Recently I reported that along with the transmission issues in my vehicle it was now leaking water in the passenger area.

To be fair since I have slammed BMW on the transmission I have to be fair and say it was indirectly my fault on the water issue.

It turns out that the installer "Tweeter" that is supposed to be top of the line tore and cut the "Vapor Barrier" in the doors to install the speakers. This allowed water in heavy rain to leak into my vehicle.

The dealer that has always done right by me (Passport) had never seen this before and took several days tracking it down.

Again, in my highly agitated state with the transmission I was ready to blame BMW for the water problem and it is they that fixed it.


Size 11 now being removed from mouth!

Evl,

Nice job on the candor of the water issue. Especially on a public forum.
Your stock just went up a bit in my book.

+1!

+2 I always think highly of one who is willing to admit culpability. Not nearly enough of this in todays litigious society. Kudos.

Originally Posted by Evlengr

Recently I reported that along with the transmission issues in my vehicle it was now leaking water in the passenger area.

To be fair since I have slammed BMW on the transmission I have to be fair and say it was indirectly my fault on the water issue.

It turns out that the installer "Tweeter" that is supposed to be top of the line tore and cut the "Vapor Barrier" in the doors to install the speakers. This allowed water in heavy rain to leak into my vehicle.

The dealer that has always done right by me (Passport) had never seen this before and took several days tracking it down.

Again, in my highly agitated state with the transmission I was ready to blame BMW for the water problem and it is they that fixed it.


Size 11 now being removed from mouth!

Lets be fair now.
You had a specialist scheduled to look at your X3. He determined that you actually did not have the latest software. When you got it back, some asked what you now thought. You said it was too early and you didn't want to comment. A few days later you found the water and it went back. So all of your comments have actually been regarding the old software. Just sayin.

Zoltar, Somewhat true.

My X3 is still not working correctly with the transmision.

However, I did throw in the "Oh Geez Factor" that the thing was now leaking "Can't they do anything right?"

This was brought on by my "I know what I'm Doing" arrogance with installing the speakers in the doors, even though a lot of people flinched and warned me there might be repercussions. So when it's my fault its my fault.

The past few days with this one 528xi has given me a better picture of why people defend and love thier BMW's so vigorously.

They are cool --I just haven't had one that is!

You should make them an offer on your loaner 528ix.
Stick with a winner I say.
The 528 is a great vehicle; in another whole class from the X3.
You and the X are just never going to be right again.

Originally Posted by Zoltar

You should make them an offer on your loaner 528ix.
Stick with a winner I say.
The 528 is a great vehicle; in another whole class from the X3.
You and the X are just never going to be right again.

Have you been talking to my wife?

Originally Posted by Evlengr

Have you been talking to my wife?