[Orb]

For some time now my Steptronic transmission have been behaving badly and has become more prevalent over the last months as the it is broken in. I discussed the items listed below with a Sr. BMW technical advisor and these issues are known and are being worked on and seem to be only with Jan 2007 builds and later:


1. Starring off in first gear can be rough and is best described as slight hesitation which cause a jerkiness wither in “D” and “DS” mode. The behavior is present all the time but varies in intensity. The behavior is not reproducible in manual mode when using 1st gear. Traction and stability control has not effect.

2. Slowing down normally in stop and go traffic the transmission will down shift either 2nd or 1st gear with a clunk which is not audible but can be felt. Consistently the engines RMP are below 2500 and downshift doesn’t feel rough in nature. The problem is very random a will present itself numerous time in one driving session or not for days. One consistency is that in reproducing the problem the transmission must at least be in forth gear before the downshift problem occurs. The problem can not be reproduced in manual mode even with forced hard down shift. Traction and stability control has not effect.

3. Brake assist varies in intensity at random. In some cases at a stop and then releasing the brakes it feels like the brakes are sticking. In other instances the brake assist comes on to strong and is jerky at speeds. The system is not predictable. The system is working in conjunction with downshifts so it maybe a part of the transmission behavior.

It would be helful for myself an you to list any of the problem that you are experiencing as this can be a reference to accelerate a TSB resolution.

Orb

[RedGT3]

#3 here.

[uberschnell]

My understanding is that the 335 AT will start in 2nd gear in automatic mode. Never had the other problems myself (oct build).

[forrestpilot]

Question 1. There has been alot of threads and opinions on the lag in first gear. Not sure what I believe. To be honest, I have gotten use to it. Does not seem to be as bad in DS mode.

Question 2. In DS mode will downshift more aggressively than in normal D mode. No clunking noises. Reminds me if I was driving a manual and used the engine to slow down. No concerns.

Question 3. Only time I have had concerns on the brakes is after shutdown and restart. For about the first couple of months after owning the car, the brake pedal would be stiff on start. After hitting the start button the brake pedal would "relax" to normal. Alot of threads on this as well. For some reason, last couple weeks, this has not been a problem.

[Orb]

Originally Posted by Magna3

My understanding is that the 335 AT will start in 2nd gear in automatic mode. Never had the other problems myself (oct build).

Nope, start in first in D or DS mode. Only manual mode will start in 2nd if you don't down shift.

Orb

[AoshichanX]

#1 here

[Orb]

Originally Posted by forrestpilot

Question 1. There has been alot of threads and opinions on the lag in first gear. Not sure what I believe. To be honest, I have gotten use to it. Does not seem to be as bad in DS mode.

Question 2. In DS mode will downshift more aggressively than in normal D mode. No clunking noises. Reminds me if I was driving a manual and used the engine to slow down. No concerns.

Question 3. Only time I have had concerns on the brakes is after shutdown and restart. For about the first couple of months after owning the car, the brake pedal would be stiff on start. After hitting the start button the brake pedal would "relax" to normal. Alot of threads on this as well. For some reason, last couple weeks, this has not been a problem.

Item #1 is an open issue and is activtly being corrected. Been several hundred complaints for this one I'm told.

[forrestpilot]

Originally Posted by Orb

Item #1 is an open issue and is activtly being correctly. Been several hundred complaints for this one I'm told.

Yea, have to admit, it is a little annoying, detracts from what is a great car.

[Dummydump]

all 3 for me too.

For #2 - I used to have the same thing on my Benz (E-class)....so I'm used to it. Have Turbo Tuner now and that doesn't have any effect...still happens.

For #3 - that one bugs me. When I have people in the car and the brake sticks (when you try to creep up at a stop light or going slow in reverse down a driveway) I always get a comment from the passengers as if I just learned how to drive the car. I'll address when I take it in.

[imaznumkay]

all of the above
i got the hang of it now tho, doesnt really bother me

[DrewKo]

#1. I had the tech delete the neutral idle control. It helped a little but did not solve the problem. Tends to happen in the first 5-10 minutes after start up, then doesn't seem to happen. It almost looks like the transmission is slipping because the revs are increasing but the car is not moving, then bang.

[E91AWD]

#1 for me but mine is a different Step. Must be a software problem

[arcrox]

My experience is that D mode can start in either 1st or 2nd. This is dependent on your throttle input and also, I suppose, the map or program the car is in based on your driving habits (economy or extreme economy).

I also experience terrible lag when downshifting to first gear from a very slow roll either using M mode or from kickdown (which I've learnt to avoid like the plague). I suspect this is probably due to the torque converter catching up with the engine and the gearing of 1st.

[dkbimmer]

#3 - sometimes when I release the brakes nothing happens for a split second and than the car jumps. This makes driving into the garage slowly difficult at times. I think it's time to stop by the dealer to see if they have any ideas.

[Hendrix1]

1, 2 and 3...However 1 and 2 occur within the first 5-10 of operating the vehicle. I figure that since the car is not properly warmed up, the 'jerks' are more likely to occur. In the past few weeks, it seems as if the problems you mentioned are becoming harsher and more noticeable when when I'm driving in the first 5-10 minutes.

[Rt66er]

Originally Posted by DrewKo

#1. I had the tech delete the neutral idle control. It helped a little but did not solve the problem. Tends to happen in the first 5-10 minutes after start up, then doesn't seem to happen. It almost looks like the transmission is slipping because the revs are increasing but the car is not moving, then bang.

Really hope they come up with a fix for this. VERY ANNOYING!

[purplewidow]

orb take it in i don't have ONE of those problems!!!!!!! my car is rockin at 6700miles no problems whatsoever!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Orb]

Originally Posted by purplewidow

orb take it in i don't have ONE of those problems!!!!!!! my car is rockin at 6700miles no problems whatsoever!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is 698 useless post you have so far.

Orb

[Geoff]

I've noticed #3 in my car.

[AcuraGuy]

#1 and #3.

#1- it seems like it always starts off in 1st gear in D mode ( i counted the shifts) but it feels like the computer senses that I applied the throttle gently, then the is slow to pick up. But the instant i apply more throttle, it feels like a surge of power and the car jerks back and accelerates quickly (feels like it downshifted but hasn't because I counted the shifts). Yes, its hard to control the throttle but I think its normal. My friend's 2006 325 does the same thing.

#3- I think that is normal too, annoying, but normal. Again, my friends 325 does the same thing.

[continentalg5]

Originally Posted by AcuraGuy

#1 and #3.

#1- it seems like it always starts off in 1st gear in D mode ( i counted the shifts) but it feels like the computer senses that I applied the throttle gently, then the is slow to pick up. But the instant i apply more throttle, it feels like a surge of power and the car jerks back and accelerates quickly (feels like it downshifted but hasn't because I counted the shifts). Yes, its hard to control the throttle but I think its normal. My friend's 2006 325 does the same thing.

#3- I think that is normal too, annoying, but normal. Again, my friends 325 does the same thing.

Add me to the 1 & 3 list. For 1, I have had to pretty much drive in "M" mode to not look like a bucking bronco from a dead stop. As for 3 I have gotten used to it.

[kevinz]

Wow I thought I was the only one experiencing these problems. I have em all (1,2,3)