Transmission problem with new 2013 X3 drive 35i car

3 weeks into driving my brand new 2013 X3 drive 35i, my transmission went into fail/safe mode and went to mid-gear safe mode. Although it happens only once in a while, it shows up. Took it to Rahal BMW Service here at Washington, Pa, and they said there is no mechanical problem with the transmission but that there is a computer glitch that controls the transmission mechanism. Nobody in the service department could crack the software glitch.
So they sent more than 20 pages of computer information to BMW at Spartanburg, SC to see if the software gurus there could program a software fix to the glitch. If not, it might even go to Germany for a fix. What a bummer! I never thought i would be driving an Ultimate Unreliable Driving Machine instead of an Ultimate Driving Machine!

Too bad...I hope it gets resolved.
Please keep us posted.
Thanks.

Originally Posted by captirwin

Too bad...I hope it gets resolved.
Please keep us posted.
Thanks.

Thanks Capterwin! From the response I am getting(none) I might only be the first one to have an I-drive computer glitch that controls the transmission of the 2013 X3 build 35i car engines. I have all the confidence that the people at BMW will make it right!

Go over to the E83 X3 board and read the sticky about transmission problems at the top of the forum. Gives you an idea of how long it took to "make it right" -- the jury is still out on if they ever did.

Originally Posted by UncleJ

Go over to the E83 X3 board and read the sticky about transmission problems at the top of the forum. Gives you an idea of how long it took to "make it right" -- the jury is still out on if they ever did.

Yes indeed...just please note you have a completely different transmission than the old X3 ( even a different manufacturer). Also not every one had the tranny issues (90k on mine never an issue although my build date is the later part of reported problems).

Keep the pressure on the dealer. Having gone through a similar problem with a different make and model vehicle that took almost 2 years to fix and a dealer change...I know what this is like.

My recommendation...play the game for 2 weeks then change dealers. I suspect this IS hardware related and some dealers are just not very good. Another option get an opinion from a trusted Indy and use his diagnosis to talk intelligently about the issue with the service manager.

Originally Posted by x3brian

Yes indeed...just please note you have a completely different transmission than the old X3 ( even a different manufacturer). Also not every one had the tranny issues (90k on mine never an issue although my build date is the later part of reported problems).

Keep the pressure on the dealer. Having gone through a similar problem with a different make and model vehicle that took almost 2 years to fix and a dealer change...I know what this is like.

My recommendation...play the game for 2 weeks then change dealers. I suspect this IS hardware related and some dealers are just not very good. Another option get an opinion from a trusted Indy and use his diagnosis to talk intelligently about the issue with the service manager.

I trust my dealership. The Bobby Rahal BMW of Washington, Pa has been voted as one of the 31 BMW dealership to receive the 2012 Center of Excellence Award by BMW, USA. In fact, my dealership gave me to drive a brand new 2013 X3 loner while they are fixing my car:
http://www.bmwblog.com/2012/03/09/bm...ership-awards/

Reporting back on my transmission problems! My dealership found the problem. Defective Mechatronic Transmission Module. Spartanburg sent a replacement. My transmission is good as new. Working perfectly!!

effie imperio

They all usually give a loaner...if you don't get results go to another dealer. Trust is one thing, but results is another.

Edit....interesting...i clicked on the link and one of the dealers listed I had a horrible past experience where they said something was software related and it was hardware...food for thought as that dealer was in the top 10...