2008 BMW M3 Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

I OWN A 2008 BMW M3 WITH DCT TRANSMISSION. WHEN IN AUTO MODE AND YOU SLOW DOWN AND THEN WISH TO ACCELERATE THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN LUNGES FORWARD. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR OR COULD CRASH INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. THEIR NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. VIN NUMBER [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP CONTROL. THE DANGER IN THIS BEHAVIOR OCCURS WHEN MAKING A TURN INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 10-15 MPH. AFTER THE TURN, THE CAR IS POSITIONED IN THE TRAFFIC LANE, BUT YOU HAVE NO POWER TO ACCELERATE INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE ONCOMING CARS ARE NOW CLOSING IN ON YOUR CAR AT A FAST RATE, AND YOU'RE BASICALLY STUCK. THIS SITUATION...

I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOUR ORGANIZATION TAKING AN INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT BMWNA IS WELL AWARE OF, BUT INSISTS THAT IT IS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR" FOR MY CAR/TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE IT, BUT THEY WERE TOLD BY BMW THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR." THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP...

2008 E92 M3 WITH M-DCT TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION TENDS TO "LAG" AFTER MEDIUM TO HARD BRAKING CAUSING UNRESPONSIVENESS TO THROTTLE FOR 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE EITHER 1)SLOWLY REGAINING THROTTLE, OR 2)SUDDEN FORWARD JERK. BMW HAS TRIED UPDATING THE M-DCT SOFTWARE, WHICH SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BEFORE STARTING TO OCCUR AGAIN. *TR

HESITATION IN THE AUTOMATIC MODE WHEN DECREASING SPEED THEN TRYING TO INITIATE A TURN. FOR EXAMPLE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50MPH THEN BRAKING TO TURN LEFT, ONCE BRAKING OCCURS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION WILL OCCUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC HITTING YOU. *TR

DESPITE MULTIPLE SOFTWARE UPDATES TO CORRECT THIS FLAW MY M-DCT (AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION) CAR STILL EXHIBITS A DELAY BETWEEN THROTTLE APPLICATION AND ANY RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE. FOR A SMALL PERIOD OF TIME THE VEHICLE IS UTTERLY UNRESPONSIVE TO THE THROTTLE INPUT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING TO A NEAR STOP. THE LACK OF ACCELERATION CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD IN MANY CASES. *TR

SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR PRODUCES LAG AND UPON ACCELERATING THE CAR JERKS AND JUMPS FORWARD, WHICH IS SCARY IN TRAFFIC AND ABSOLUTELY A BIG SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOUR ORGANIZATION TAKING AN INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT BMWNA IS WELL AWARE OF, BUT INSISTS THAT IT IS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR" FOR MY CAR/TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE IT, BUT THEY WERE TOLD BY BMW THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR." THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP...

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 SEDAN, BUILT 2/08, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW IN JULY, 2008. IT HAS A DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS AS FOLLOWS. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION OR DELAY BETWEEN STEPPING ON THE GAS, AND GETTING THE CAR TO GO, WHEN I HAVE SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP, THEN WANT TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. IT IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. IN WYOMING IN LATE JUNE, 2009, FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS COMING FROM A SIDE ROAD ONTO A MAIN HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO STOP SIGN FOR ME, JUST A RIGHT CURVE IN THE ROAD I WAS ON, THEN MERGE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY. THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR BECAUSE I HAD SLOWED DOWN FOR THE CURVE. AS I TURNED RIGHT AND STEPPED ON THE GAS, NOTHING, IT SEEMED LIKE FOR A SECOND OR TWO. ONCOMING TRAFFIC...

I HAVE THE DCT TRANSMISSION WITH MY 2008 BMW M3 AND THE LAG IS VERY UNSAFE. DEALER SAYING NO FIX AND PROBLEM NOT UNSAFE. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION. EVER SINCE BMW INSTALLED A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO FIX A SIMILAR NHTSA ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, MY CAR SUFFERS FROM A SUDDEN POWER LOSS WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 10MPH, AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THIS LEADS TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE AND TRAFFIC AROUND ME CONTINUES TO MOVE. *TR

WHILE DECELERATING IN 2ND OR 1ST GEAR UNDER LIGHT BRAKING THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A LOSS OF POWER FOR TWO TO THREE SECONDS. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS HAPPENED MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANE. HAD ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEEN CLOSER WHEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT MID SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BMW REPORTS THAT THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR OF THIS TRANSMISSION HOWEVER I FEEL IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

ISSUE WITH THROTTLE NOT RESPONDING WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION CAR (2008 BMW M3). THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT RENDERS THE CAR UNRESPONSIVE TO THROTTLE INPUT AND THEREFORE INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I HAVE A 08 BMW M3 WITH DCT TRANSMISSION. IT RECEIVED A SOFTWARE UPDATE MONTHS AGO TO FIX A TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PATTERN. IT DID SOLVE THAT ISSUE BUT IT CREATED A MUCH WORSE ONE. THE CAR NOW, WHEN DECELERATING FROM NORMAL SPEEDS AND REACHES A SPEED WHERE IT SHOULD BE ENGAGING INTO 2ND GEAR, IT DOES NOT FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME. THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE IS WHEN I SLOW DOWN AT AN INTERSECTION, COME OUT OF STREET AND MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, TRY TO MAKE A U-TURN, TURN INTO A BUSINESS ETC. THIS CREATES A SCENARIO THAT IF YOU ARE AT A BUSY ROAD AND LETS SAY DOING 45 MPH AND YOU SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN TO A SLOW SPEED THAT YOU CAR SHOULD ENGAGE 2 OR 3RD GEAR AND IT SITS THERE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AND IT SEEMS TO BE "LOOKING" FOR...

MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH THE "DCT" TRANSMISSION. AT LOWER SPEEDS, THERE IS A DELAY OF 1+ SECONDS IN THROTTLE RESPONSE IN "D MODE" (SIMILAR TO AN AUTOMATIC MODE). THIS HAS LEFT ME IN LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS SEVERAL TIMES IN INTERSECTIONS WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND ONCOMING CARS. I FEEL I CANNOT TRUST THE VEHICLE TO MOVE WHEN I NEED IT TO. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I WAS NEARLY STRUCK ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER REPEATEDLY FOR THIS ISSUE AND AM ONLY REFERRED TO BMW SI B 28 07 08 AS AN EXPLANATION, WHICH IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

THE CAR HAS A DANGEROUS THROTTLE LAG AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO FASTER TRAFFIC, IT CAUSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE FOR UP TO 2 SECONDS. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED A COUPLE TIMES. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION, I HAVE RECENTLY GOTTEN A RECENT SOFTWARE UPDATE WHICH IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR. BMW CURRENTLY IS NOT OFFERING A SOLUTION AND CALLING THE PROBLEM NORMAL. *TR

TIME DELAY IN SHIFTING OR LAG WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. *TR

2008 BMW M3 DCT THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE ON OCTOBER 2008. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS A SEVERE LAG ISSUE UPON BRAKING THEN ACCELERATING AGAIN. THE THROTTLE DOES NOT RESPOND FOR A 1-2 SECONDS. *TR

WHENEVER THE CAR IS MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, THERE IS A LAG BETWEEN THE MOMENT THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AND THE TIME THE CAR ACTUALLY STARTS ACCELERATING. THUS, DURING THIS LAG, THERE IS NO POWER TO THE CAR! THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS! *TR

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 WITH A DCT TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY HAS A LAG WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM ROLLING STOPS AND WHEN MERGING. I BELIEVE THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO LOSS OF POWER AT THE WHEELS, ESP. IN HIGH SPEED SITUATIONS, IE WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO BUSY HIGHWAYS. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF HAS MANY ERRORS IN SECOND GEAR. IF YOU SLOW DOWN ALMOST TO A STOP AND PUT YOUR FOOT BACK ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN IN INTERSECTIONS WHILE TURNING LEFT BEFORE. WHEN YOU'VE GOT CARS COMING AT YOU AT HIGH SPEED AND YOU'VE GOT NO POWER, IT WILL DEFINITELY GET YOUR HEART BEATING A LITTLE FASTER FOR A MINUTE. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT REALLY IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT ANY DCT DRIVER CAN REPLICATE EASILY. BMW NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A VIABLE SOLUTION EVEN IF IT MEANS HAVING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS, AND IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN SOON. FOR AS MUCH AS THE UPGRADE COSTS, IT SHOULD WORK THE WAY THEY ADVERTISE. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 EQUIPPED WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION AND MY ISSUE IS THE LAG WITH 2-3 GEARS, THIS IS MY DAILY COMMUTER CAR AND FOR SOME ONE WHO IS STUCK IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AND 45 MILES EACH WAY I CANT NOT DRIVE MY CAR ANY MORE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I'VE BECOME REALLY FRUSTRATED BY THIS BEHAVIOR. IT'S NOT AT ALL INTERMITTENT -- IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR DROPS INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN SLOWING (AND NOT COMPLETELY STOPPING). DECELERATING TO TURN CORNERS IS AN EXERCISE IN FRUSTRATION (ESPECIALLY WITH PASSENGERS IN THE CAR) BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE OUT OF THE CORNER RIGHT AWAY... AND IF IT DOES, IT DOES SO RAPIDLY, THROWING EVERYONE'S HEADS INTO THE HEADRESTS. I'VE TRIED UPSHIFTING TO THIRD GEAR, BUT THERE'S A LAG IN THAT AS WELL IF I'VE ALREADY GIVEN THE CAR SOME GAS....

I AM EXTREMELY TROUBLED BY ONE PARTICULAR PROBLEM I HAVE NOTICED FROM THE OUTSET: THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LAG OR HESITATION OF AT LEAST 1 SECOND BETWEEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CLUTCH ENGAGING AND GIVING ACCELERATION TO THE WHEELS. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN FROM A STAND-STILL, BUT OCCURS PRIMARILY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AT VIRTUALLY ALL RANGES OF SPEED, FROM ROLLING STOP (5KM/HR OR LESS) THROUGH STANDARD ROAD SPEEDS OF ANY DEGREE (RESIDENTIAL 30-40KM/HR, CITY ROADS 50-70KM/HR, OR HIGHWAY 90KM/HR+). THE PROBLEM IS ACUTE IN 'D' MODE, BUT OCCURS IN 'S' MODE AS WELL. *TR

AFTER SLOWING FOR A YIELD SIGN, PRESSED ACCELERATOR AND THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE, FOLLOWED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION. BUMPED TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME DURING THE SURGE. CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST REARENDED ME WHEN MY CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE. *TR

THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE M-DCT TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED ON MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS BROUGHT TO A NEAR STOP SUCH AS AT AN INTERSECTION, AND THEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR TO TRY AND PULL AWAY QUICKLY. IN THIS CASE THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, POTENTIALLY LEAVING THE CAR UNRESPONSIVE FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE COASTING SLOWLY INTO THE INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEARING DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THIS BEHAVIOR IS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT SAFE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROBLEM WAS EXACERBATED BY A PRIOR SOFTWARE UPDATE WHOSE INTENTION WAS TO FIX OTHER PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIORS OF THE TRANSMISSION. SO THE BEHAVIOR IS CLEARLY NOT GERMANE TO THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF, IT IS INSTEAD THE RESULT OF GLITCHY SOFTWARE WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RIGHTLY BE OBLIGATED TO FIX. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD ENDANGER THE...

I HAVE NOTICED SINCE THE SAFETY RECALL ON THE M-DCT GEARBOX: THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LAG OR HESITATION OF AT LEAST 2 SECOND BETWEEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CLUTCH ENGAGING AND GIVING ACCELERATION TO THE WHEELS. THIS RESULTS IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND CAUSES THE CAR TO JUST "COAST". THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN FROM A STAND-STILL, BUT OCCURS PRIMARILY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AT VIRTUALLY ALL RANGES OF SPEED, FROM ROLLING STOP THROUGH STANDARD ROAD SPEEDS OF ANY DEGREE . THE PROBLEM IS ACUTE IN "D" MODE, BUT OCCURS IN "S" MODE AS WELL IN 2ND GEAR. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT YOU CAN PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND RATHER THAN INCREASE YOUR ACCELERATION NORMALLY, THE CAR WILL JUST COAST WITH NO POWER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WITH A CHANCE OF A CAR REAR ENDING...

I HAVE A BMW M3 WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION. SINCE GETTING A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO FIX ANOTHER NHTSA ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, MY CAR WILL HAVE NO POWER AT ALL FOR A COUPLE SECONDS WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 10MPH, AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THIS LEADS TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN CARS ARE COMING AT ME AND THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. THIS OCCURS MAINLY WHEN THE DCT IS SET TO THE AUTOMATIC MODE. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THIS OCCURS PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME I SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 10-15MPH FROM 40MPH OR MORE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE TOLD THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THIS IS NORMAL!! BMW IS AWARE OF THIS AND TOLD THE DEALERS IT'S NORMAL. MANY MORE COMPLAINTS CAN BE FOUND ON WWW.M3POST.COM/FORUMS. *TR

DURING A ROLLING STOP SITUATION WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY ANY ACCELERATION (SUCH AS A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN), THERE IS A THROTTLE DELAY AND THE VEHICLE HAS THE FEELING OF AN "ENGINE STALL" AND LOSSES ALL POWER FOR 1-2 SECONDS WHILE IT SEARCHES FOR A GEAR. THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT AND CAN BE RECREATED AT ANYTIME. THE PROBLEM PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS BECAUSE YOU ARE UNABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING VEHICLES. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS ON THE INTERNET AND CONFIRMED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL OPERATION FOR THE TRANSMISSION. (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SB SI B 28 07 08) HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THEIR VEHICLE UNDERWENT A RECENT RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE UPDATES. VEHICLE 2008 BMW M3 WITH M DCT TRANSMISSION. *TR