2007-2010 X3 Automatic Transmission Problem Master Thread!

my first post woohoo! hello all. bimmer newbie here. i just bought a cpo 08 x3. it only had 22k on the odo and i got it for a great price. after having it for a couple weeks i noticed the transmission issue. off the line it seems like it's hunting for a gear. i get the inevitable lunge once it decides what it wants to do. luckily this forum and specifically this thread came up as the first link in a google search so here i am. i haven't been able to get through the whole thread but i was wondering if anyone had any info/advice to get it resolved. since it's cpo should i be able to just go back to the dealership and have them do the update? btw, i bought it at beverly hills bmw but the closest dealership to me is south bay bmw in torrance (if anyone here has dealt with either). thanks in advance for any replies. looking forward to a good time here.

Yes, bring it in and have them put in the new engine and transmission software.

If you already have it, ask for a reset so it adapts to your driving at least.

Good luck! I had mine done 90k miles ago and it is still going strong!

Originally Posted by madurodave

Yes, bring it in and have them put in the new engine and transmission software.

If you already have it, ask for a reset so it adapts to your driving at least.

Good luck! I had mine done 90k miles ago and it is still going strong!

thanks so much madurodave! appreciate the reply. how was your experience getting it done? did the dealership give you a lot of guff? seems like since there was a service bulletin put out on it that it should just get taken care of. i'm assuming your x3 is driving much smoother now?

The X3 shifts much better, but it is not as smooth as my wife's 530xi.

Dealership was great about it. They almost toasted the engine chip but were able to resuscitate it after 2 days. This caused my repair to take 3 days. However, I had a nice 5 series loaner so I was fine with the delay!

So definitely pursue it and get it fixed.

Originally Posted by madurodave

The X3 shifts much better, but it is not as smooth as my wife's 530xi.

Dealership was great about it. They almost toasted the engine chip but were able to resuscitate it after 2 days. This caused my repair to take 3 days. However, I had a nice 5 series loaner so I was fine with the delay!

So definitely pursue it and get it fixed.

sorry to keep asking questions of you but were you still under warranty when you had it done? and did they deem it a warranty repair?

Originally Posted by alleyooptroop1

sorry to keep asking questions of you but were you still under warranty when you had it done? and did they deem it a warranty repair?

I just got my software reset and have a 2007 X3 CPO that I bought recently. Drives much smoother now. It hesitated going up and down the lower gears but not now. It was covered under the CPO.

Originally Posted by PC in Ohio

I just got my software reset and have a 2007 X3 CPO that I bought recently. Drives much smoother now. It hesitated going up and down the lower gears but not now. It was covered under the CPO.

exactly what i was hoping to hear! so it sounds like i should be asking for a software update AND a reset?

Originally Posted by alleyooptroop1

exactly what i was hoping to hear! so it sounds like i should be asking for a software update AND a reset?

Yes, After that they way to test for it is to coming to a rolling stop (in other words not fully stopped, but about 5-10 mph) and then accelerate hard. If it seems like it is hunting between 2-3 gear it is not fixed.

thanks for the info guys. i was able to get an appointment to get the software update done but the service rep was telling me they have to test drive it first. i hope i don't get the "unable to recreate the problem" bs.

Well at the very least, you can reset you transmission yourself. Like others have said, after resetting the tranny to MY driving style the SUV's behavior was like night and day.

Originally Posted by alleyooptroop1

thanks for the info guys. i was able to get an appointment to get the software update done but the service rep was telling me they have to test drive it first. i hope i don't get the "unable to recreate the problem" bs.

I think they have to drive it first. They drove mine b4 the software upgrade too. They agreed w me and took care of it.

Originally Posted by alleyooptroop1

thanks for the info guys. i was able to get an appointment to get the software update done but the service rep was telling me they have to test drive it first. i hope i don't get the "unable to recreate the problem" bs.

If they say that, drive with the service guy and show him. I had to do that for steering wheel vibration on my wife's car. It got the job done!

Originally Posted by ngcreese

Well at the very least, you can reset you transmission yourself. Like others have said, after resetting the tranny to MY driving style the SUV's behavior was like night and day.

Would you mind posting a link?

Originally Posted by alleyooptroop1

thanks for the info guys. i was able to get an appointment to get the software update done but the service rep was telling me they have to test drive it first. i hope i don't get the "unable to recreate the problem" bs.

It is very easy to recreate. The problem is that your X3 is hunting for the right gear between 2-3 and 3-2. If you come to a rolling stop and then turn sharply and accelerate it will occur. So a good example would be a turn around where you don't completely stop and have to enter quickly, another coming to a flashing yellow and tapping the brakes (not a complete stop mind you) and then accelerating right and slightly uphill. This always made my X3 confused as to what it should do and would lurch at that point.

The other more severe problem will screw up the sport mode where if placed in sport mode and allowed to downshift as you come to a stop will cause the transmission to shift so abruptly you may think you were rear ended. If this occurs it is the worst scenario and no flashing of the ECU/DME will fix it. Only minimize it.

Good Luck

And yes take the SA with you as even now they act as if it is something new and never heard of it before even though there are thousands of documented cases.

Originally Posted by alleyooptroop1

Would you mind posting a link?

Here's a link to that tranny reset procdure...

So, many 1000s of miles later I have to admit the X3 is damned fun to drive!

Tranny now shifts like it should(!).

Also, in sport drive mode... corning is really fun since the tranny down shifts it shelf to the point where engine breaking is in effect as your round a corner (ie you don't have to keep your foot on the brake as you enter the apex of the curve, cause the engine is braking for you...). And coming out of the corner, the tranny doesn't hold the lower gear too long anymore.

Also, changed the pre-cat O2 sensors, so no more stumbling engine under heavy acceleration and high RPMS...

Me == Happy

After 10,000 miles the transmission is still doing what it always did. Resets, rechecks, etc. etc....all the same.

It does not like steep hills and still sticks in lower gears from time to time at the top of the hill. That was supposed to have been fixed in the final update. Most stops and accelerations are ok but it still does a hard rolling stop-to-lower gears on occasion.

Like anything else you just get used to it.

Little update. My x3 has been at Beverly Hills BMW for 2 days now. Towards the end of day 1 they told me they couldn't duplicate the problem. So the advisor told me one of the head technicians was going to take it for a more thorough drive today. I left him a message last night to especially try to drive some hills as my x3 won't upshift on hills. The advisor called me this morning to reiterate the plan but I never heard back for the rest of the day. Wish they would just do the update and give me my x3 back.

On a side note the 328 courtesy car has been fun to drive.

P.S. I didn't try the reset procedure yet. I wanted the car to show the problems so I could get the update done.

You should drive with them if they still don't feel it!

So in 65 pages, has anyone been able to post any information pointing to an actual SIB that addresses this issue?

Originally Posted by alleyooptroop1

thanks for the info guys. i was able to get an appointment to get the software update done but the service rep was telling me they have to test drive it first. i hope i don't get the "unable to recreate the problem" bs.

Go with them. They have a check list for denying problems:

Could not recreate

They all do this

It is your driving

Must be the gas you use

Those are their main go to explanations.

Like I said, go to a rolling stop and accelerate like your life depends on it (it might) and turn. If it hesitates (and it will), then you got them. Plus, they really shouldn't need to test drive squat if you don't have the latest firmware.

Originally Posted by Evlengr

Go with them. They have a check list for denying problems:

Could not recreate

They all do this

It is your driving

Must be the gas you use

Those are their main go to explanations.

Like I said, go to a rolling stop and accelerate like your life depends on it (it might) and turn. If it hesitates (and it will), then you got them. Plus, they really shouldn't need to test drive squat if you don't have the latest firmware.

I agree.
I don't believe they would/could have found the root of these issues. I finally got the bottom of this stuff though trial and error ( ... and partly from experience with an e30). Also, knowing a good BMW mechanic helps too.

When you get your car back... Reset the tranny yourself. Then see what other issues you may have. For me, after tranny shifting was sorted out, I found that my engine was misfiring, hence changing the spark plugs (which by themselves didn't solve the problem) and O2 sensors (spark plugs should/need to be changed when you change your O2 sensors). Keep this in mind once your tranny issue is under control.

Found an indy in Northern VA that says they have all the same computer systems as BMW (SSS, DIS, the new ISIS, etc) and are going to be able to tell if mine was upgraded/needs an upgrade. I need to bring it in to change some of the coding features of the car as i realized i cannot live without the three blink touch turn signals and will tell them to scan for software updates. Anyone else heard of an indy having unlimited access to all the BMW software/computer systems?

Well, good news. I was finally able to convince them to perform the software upgrade without having to drive with a tech. They also said they would perform the reset for me as well. Picking it up tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Originally Posted by alleyooptroop1

Well, good news. I was finally able to convince them to perform the software upgrade without having to drive with a tech. They also said they would perform the reset for me as well. Picking it up tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by CleanKM

Found an indy in Northern VA that says they have all the same computer systems as BMW (SSS, DIS, the new ISIS, etc) and are going to be able to tell if mine was upgraded/needs an upgrade. I need to bring it in to change some of the coding features of the car as i realized i cannot live without the three blink touch turn signals and will tell them to scan for software updates. Anyone else heard of an indy having unlimited access to all the BMW software/computer systems?

Which Indy shop did you talk to? My wife's x3 is having this issue.

I have had good experiences with RRT in Dulles, but for help with mechanical issues, not software.