2007-2010 X3 Automatic Transmission Problem Master Thread!

Thanks Community!

I went in today after talking with the SA and getting resistance to this. He had me drive the care with the service manager. The SM drove and noticed "Flaring" in shifting between 2-3 gears. He said he would take this in to repair. It was only after the Service Manager drove this that the SA would acknowledge there an issue and will address it. It sounds like he has seen this before and there was little confidence in the fix, but he said he would do this fix. They seemed nonchalant about it and seemed not confident the fix would work, but I will keep on this until this is addressed. I even went in with the Service Bulletin number and had to "post up" to the SA to get him to get me to the SM. Resistance, but I will not be deterred. I will keep the group updated as to my progress.

-They did fix the rattle in the Sun roof (a known SB was made and followed for this)
-New wipers
-new drivers side window control bezel
-New steering wheel bezel also (after resistance as the non BMW dealer I got this from scratched off all the soft plastic)


2007 x3si Premium package / Sport Package / Cold Weather package / NAV. 30K miles.

Originally Posted by BigShark

Thanks Community!

I went in today after talking with the SA and getting resistance to this. He had me drive the care with the service manager. The SM drove and noticed "Flaring" in shifting between 2-3 gears. He said he would take this in to repair. It was only after the Service Manager drove this that the SA would acknowledge there an issue and will address it. It sounds like he has seen this before and there was little confidence in the fix, but he said he would do this fix. They seemed nonchalant about it and seemed not confident the fix would work, but I will keep on this until this is addressed. I even went in with the Service Bulletin number and had to "post up" to the SA to get him to get me to the SM. Resistance, but I will not be deterred. I will keep the group updated as to my progress.

-They did fix the rattle in the Sun roof (a known SB was made and followed for this)
-New wipers
-new drivers side window control bezel
-New steering wheel bezel also (after resistance as the non BMW dealer I got this from scratched off all the soft plastic)


2007 x3si Premium package / Sport Package / Cold Weather package / NAV. 30K miles.

This is what gets them in more trouble. If they would simply stop fighting everyone that walks in with a problem and practice good old CS they would find people are willing to work with them.

When this first happened to me they blamed me, my driving styles, the gas I used, the stereo I installed, you name it.

Now even though I have a good working 08 MT I still warn off people to the 07 AT because they handled the situation so poorly I had to call an attorney.

Last night, on the way home from the airport, my 07 X3 completely lost power. The engine sounded like it was revving, but when I stepped on the accelerator, nothing happened. I had to pull off the freeway but only got as far as halfway up the closest off-ramp. It wouldn't go any further than that. I had AAA tow it to the dealership. This morning, they called at 7:30 (!) to say they had started the car and that the cooling fan was running when it shouldn't be, and that they would run the diagnostics and let me know what they found. He also said, "Don't worry, it's covered under your warranty." I wondered how he would know it was covered if he hadn't yet diagnosed it. ... unless it was a problem he immediately recognized and was familiar with.

So now I'm waiting for a call back to see what they've found. It's now late afternoon here. Does this incident sound familiar to anyone?

He knew because he ran the VIN and it showed you still had warranty left, so anything that was wrong (that was not intentional damage) would almost certainly be covered. Which dealer did you take it to?

Thanks, I hadn't thought about that. It's at Allison. They called late yesterday and said no one had gotten to it yes, so I asked if they would at least run the diagnostics and tell me what the problem was. He called later in the evening and said it was the water pump. OK, that explains why the cooling fan kept running, but what about the fact that the car wouldn't go anywhere? Is there a built-in protection system that keeps you from driving the vehicle if there's a major problem? That's the only thing I can figure. Obviously, I'm not a mechanic.

Allison of course is gone and the store is now part of AutoNation's stable, known to all as Mountain View BMW. I liked them better before, but I am sure the service department is just fine!

Yeah, I know, but we locals will prolly call it Allison forever. I've lived within walking distance for 25 years, although that spot hasn't always been a dealership.

So do you have any ideas about why the car wouldn't move?

I remember a Standard Brand paint store there on the corner back in the day. I live just off Grant near Foothill so it has been a very familiar spot to me for 40+ years. I use Stevens Creek BMW now. Sorry don't have a clue why the car stopped but I suspect it might be a "limp home" thing.

I realize now that my posts about this are in the wrong place. When I originally posted, I thought the problem was my transmission. Mods, please feel free to delete.

Originally Posted by BigShark

Thanks Community!

-They did fix the rattle in the Sun roof (a known SB was made and followed for this)
-New wipers
-new drivers side window control bezel
-New steering wheel bezel also (after resistance as the non BMW dealer I got this from scratched off all the soft plastic)

Do you know the sunroof rattle SIB? I have the same issue and want to take in the sib number. Thanks!

Originally Posted by loci

Do you know the sunroof rattle SIB? I have the same issue and want to take in the sib number. Thanks!

LOCI: please keep your posts in this forum to only questions or comments on the Transmission.

I do not. It had something to do with a piece of felt that needed to be replaced. I can look on the receipt and see if it is there and I'll send to you.

After *2* days of ownership, I think I have the AT issue described in this thread: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...5&postcount=17

Originally Posted by sagosto

After *2* days of ownership, I think I have the AT issue described in this thread: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...5&postcount=17

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. No matter how many times we warn people and describe what to do and what to look for, they act dumbfounded when it happens. Sigh

IIRC the one you bought was not driven over a 24 hour period, but bought same day?

Originally Posted by Evlengr

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. No matter how many times we warn people and describe what to do and what to look for, they act dumbfounded when it happens. Sigh

IIRC the one you bought was not driven over a 24 hour period, but bought same day?

I drove it 2 times on 2 seperate days as well as the wife. We didn't notice anything.

Using your logic, I noticed this issue and bought the car anyhow.

Originally Posted by sagosto

I drove it 2 times on 2 seperate days as well as the wife. We didn't notice anything.

Using your logic, I noticed this issue and bought the car anyhow.

Originally Posted by sagosto

The wife and I both drove it about 15-20 min each and I went over various driving conditions, gears, dead stops, hard/soft accelerations, etc.

I have written several times over a step by step process of what to look for, but have always warned everyone away from the AT.

Part of that says something to the effect of take it for the weekend. I don't see how driving it 15-20 minutes remotely qualifies for taking it out over an extended period of time.

Since, you chose not to look back at that, you got the abridged answer.

However, not going to get into a debate over this, since you are already smarting from finding out you have the dreaded AT issue and I would like to help you if I can.

Here are the options as I see it:

Find out if it has the latest TSB. If it doesn't try your luck and see if it will fix the problem.

Live with it. Some people seem happy enough to shell out several thousand dollars and have a car that kinda' works.

Return it asap, as imo this is not a fixable problem. If it was, this thread would have died out a long time ago and I wouldn't have gotten a manual.

Originally Posted by Evlengr

Here are the options as I see it:

Find out if it has the latest TSB. If it doesn't try your luck and see if it will fix the problem.

Live with it. Some people seem happy enough to shell out several thousand dollars and have a car that kinda' works.

Return it asap, as imo this is not a fixable problem. If it was, this thread would have died out a long time ago and I wouldn't have gotten a manual.

Do we know what the success rate is for this problem?
What's TSB?

You mentioned the TSB might fix the problem yet it's not fixable?

Originally Posted by sagosto

Do we know what the success rate is for this problem?
What's TSB?

You mentioned the TSB might fix the problem yet it's not fixable?

TSB or SIB is a cute euphamism for almost a recall. Technical service bulletion.

Some people say it fixed their problem. After 13 tries it didn't work on mine.

You would think this thread would keep people away from the affected AT model years...
My '07 530 xi is a dream.

Originally Posted by x3ronnie

You would think this thread would keep people away from the affected AT model years...
My '07 530 xi is a dream.

Nah - why would we do that!

BTW - I second the 530xi comment! I love mine! So far its a long-term keeper!

Ok, I'm a dum dum. I should have done more UGC research. I recently purchased the 07 X3 via CPO, and had an issue this weekend where the call stalled when I slowed coming off an offramp to merge into traffic. Then, I was making a left turn later, and the engine did not kick. WTF. I love how the thing drives, and am taking it to dealership to have it checked.

1) Does anyone know what is the most update program that should be used for the transmission, so I can ensure they apply it?
2) How do I know they applied it? What should I ask for in terms of a print out?

Look at the first post of this thread. I do not think there is anything more recent although there is supposedly something new coming out any day now.



In the meantime, try accelerating in SD or manual mode if you need to make a fast getaway.
It is a work around and it isn't even clear it is working around anything but it is better than having another heart thumping moment.

My update:

Dealership has had vehicle for the day. Referred to the TSB. Said the Engine module update took, but the transmission module did not. They are waiting for feedback from BMW HQ, and more testing is required. They will provide me an additional update tomorrow.

I don't know if I should be happy that they found the problem, and are trying to address it, or saddened that it is flawed to the point that additional tests are required. Without going through each post of this thread, has anyone had this issue resolved based on reprogramming?

Originally Posted by navlancer

My update:

Dealership has had vehicle for the day. Referred to the TSB. Said the Engine module update took, but the transmission module did not. They are waiting for feedback from BMW HQ, and more testing is required. They will provide me an additional update tomorrow.

I don't know if I should be happy that they found the problem, and are trying to address it, or saddened that it is flawed to the point that additional tests are required. Without going through each post of this thread, has anyone had this issue resolved based on reprogramming?

translation: they fried the transmission computer attempting the update and are now ordering a new unit from the motherland....

Originally Posted by navlancer

My update:

Dealership has had vehicle for the day. Referred to the TSB. Said the Engine module update took, but the transmission module did not. They are waiting for feedback from BMW HQ, and more testing is required. They will provide me an additional update tomorrow.

I don't know if I should be happy that they found the problem, and are trying to address it, or saddened that it is flawed to the point that additional tests are required. Without going through each post of this thread, has anyone had this issue resolved based on reprogramming?

I had the same issue during my software upgrade. The dealer thought a new chip would have to be ordered, but they finally managed to get it to program correctly.

No significant issues since. It has been 35k miles since the update.

Maybe that is why my upgrade took so well. They had to bring it back from the brink of death!