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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > Breaking News: BMW addresses N54 Turbo Lag!!



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      11-17-2008, 08:51 PM   #1
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Exclamation Breaking News: BMW addresses N54 Turbo Lag!!

I figured this deserved a new thread, but for those of you who own an N54 car and are familiar with the dreaded turbo lag issue cropping up from the 29.2 and above software, you'll be delighted to hear the following...

Thanks to our friend Satch Carlson at Roundel who took my letter and others regarding the turbo lag, he was able to track down details on the problem and actually get BMW to admit the problem and announce a software updare.

BMW's official statement is below after Roundel threatened to run all of our letters (which I believe should STILL be run) -- thanks Satch!!

"In an effort to address specific noise concerns, BMW updated the turbocharged engine software on 335i/xi and 535i/xi models built from June 2006 through March 2008. The updated software causes a small amount of increased “turbocharger lag” under certain circumstances and, while not substantial, the lag may be perceptible to the most sensitive BMW drivers. X6, 135i, and 3 Series/5 Series vehicles from March 2008 production onward are not affected. Release of the new software to restore the original turbocharger response is planned for January 2009, and it will be available for vehicles produced from September 2007 through March 2008 when they are brought to an authorized BMW center for a repair which requires a programming update. Clients with vehicles produced from June 2006 through September 2007 may request installation of the January 2009 software update. Clients who get this update should understand that there is a possibility of slightly increased engine noise levels under certain circumstances."
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      11-17-2008, 08:58 PM   #2
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Is this for real for real?

BMW admits problem.

Fix planned.

Sounds too good to be true, but it's almost Christmas, right?
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      11-17-2008, 09:05 PM   #3
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I thought the lag existed beyond September 2007 - March 2008. Aren't DME81 drivers experiencing the lag as well?
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      11-17-2008, 09:07 PM   #4
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very interesting/good news if its legit! Thanks for the post
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      11-17-2008, 09:19 PM   #5
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And then he woke up!


... just kidding... I believe it. The big question for me is this. I have a March 07 build. My car still has the original pre 29.2 software because it has never been back at the dealer since I got it. If for some reason it has to go to the dealer after Jan 09 and if they do an update would that update have the newest version that was otherwise done per customer requests?
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      11-17-2008, 09:21 PM   #6
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sounds too good to be true ;P
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      11-17-2008, 11:04 PM   #7
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link or ban!

I have an April 08 build and if they think I don't have lag they need to go somewhere unpleasant.
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      11-17-2008, 11:08 PM   #8
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I dont know.. I have an late august 2008 build... I wonder if this will affect me.. so far.. I havent felt anything yet.. but then again.. I havent really stepped my gas yet... still at 500ish miles..
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      11-17-2008, 11:15 PM   #9
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I will wait for the details. Let us hope that the v.32 is the real deal. Disappointing that we now have to wait until Jan...
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      11-18-2008, 12:33 AM   #10
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I trust a meth dealer to do the right thing more than BMW. They have been knowingly lying to their customers and f'king up their cars for months. FK BMW, I'll never buy another one.
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      11-18-2008, 12:57 AM   #11
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I guess I'll wait until January to get an update. An indy BMW shop recently did an oil change for me, and they said a fault code was stored (2F9E), which relates to the electronic oil level sensor, and there is a service bulletin for it. I was going to get it checked out soon, but now I think I'll wait!

I'm not sure if I have 29.2, but I do notice that the power doesn't really seem to come on hard until 2500 to 3000 RPM.
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      11-18-2008, 01:51 AM   #12
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Mine was a 2008 April built 335i Sedan. It was laggy from the first day I picked it up, and actually got more laggy the more I drove it.

So, BMW is lying to us yet again by saying the lag has only affected pre April '08 built cars.... unbelievable.
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      11-18-2008, 05:54 AM   #13
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Guys,

I got this e-mail late last night from the editor at Roundel -- I had e-mailed him a long, long time ago about the problem and instructed many of you (who apparently DID) to do the same.

In his e-mail he stated that he was unsure whether Roundel had anything to do with the announcement/response, but he was basically threatening BMW to with posting our complaints in the January addition and suggested that BMW actually have a response to publish.

Apparently Roundel *will* be publishing excerpts from various "complaint letters" they received on the issue along with BMW's response. The editor claims they won't attempt to "interpret" the response (which I've posted here) in any negative light -- which I think is the right move. Let the reader's decide how they feel about it.

I, for instance, wasn't overly pleased with the response for the following reasons:

A. It took them WAY too long, and only under pressure, to response at ALL.

B. When they DID respond they basically belittled the complaints as those from only "sensitive drivers." Why not just call us "a$$holes who complained"?? When the little driving nuances work in FAVOR of BMW, they call it "precision" and the "Ultimate Driving Machine." When they work AGAINST BMW, they call US "sensitive drivers."

C. The fix shouldn't be optional -- it should be mandated for all cars.

D. I don't own an 08 (I have an 07), but from what I understand the latest cars are also affected with this problem from what posters have written here. So I'm not sure why they've set a "cut off" on the cars that are eligable for the software patch to March 2008 builds.

Anyway guys, this is as much as I know. Look for the January issue of Roundel, and talk to your service advisors -- I plan to do the same!
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      11-18-2008, 07:20 AM   #14
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Maybe BMW fixed the design of the wastegate? From what I've read the screw which adjusts the wastegate becomes loose over time causing improper seating and a rattle. BMW updated the software (cheapest and easiest fix) which slightly opened up the wastegate so it wouldn't rattle. Increased turbo lag was the result of this fix. Am I wrong?

My biggest conern with the 335i is HPFP failures due to corrosion from excessive concentrations of ethanol or just bad design.
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      11-18-2008, 07:59 AM   #15
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I have never owned a turbo car before so I'm not sure what "turbo lag" is defined by but whenever I slowly accelerate from a dead stop, it takes a few seconds before I feel that kick. Sort of like this...

vrooooooooooooooooooooooooo
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Is this considered turbo lag?
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      11-18-2008, 08:20 AM   #16
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Sub-freaking-scribed.
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      11-18-2008, 08:34 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TT3 iN NyC View Post
I have never owned a turbo car before so I'm not sure what "turbo lag" is defined by but whenever I slowly accelerate from a dead stop, it takes a few seconds before I feel that kick. Sort of like this...

vrooooooooooooooooooooooooo
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Is this considered turbo lag?
No that's boost threshold
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      11-18-2008, 09:20 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TT3 iN NyC View Post
I have never owned a turbo car before so I'm not sure what "turbo lag" is defined by but whenever I slowly accelerate from a dead stop, it takes a few seconds before I feel that kick. Sort of like this...

vrooooooooooooooooooooooooo
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Is this considered turbo lag?

vrooooooooooooooooooooooooo
*OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

If the "*" is at 1500RPM then NO,
but if it is at ~3000RPM then YES.
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      11-18-2008, 09:21 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ezmaass View Post
Clients who get this update should understand that there is a possibility of slightly increased engine noise levels under certain circumstances."
BONUS!!!
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      11-18-2008, 09:29 AM   #20
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So let me get this straight.....
Quote:
...it will be available for vehicles produced from September 2007 through March 2008 when they are brought to an authorized BMW center for a repair which requires a programming update. Clients with vehicles produced from June 2006 through September 2007 may request installation of the January 2009 software update.
So cars built from Sep 07 thru March 08 you can only get the update if you are in for repair which requires a software update.

For cars June 06 to Sep 07 you can call up and just ask for the update with no hassling for it. Works for me
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      11-18-2008, 10:10 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EK_335i View Post
So let me get this straight.....


So cars built from Sep 07 thru March 08 you can only get the update if you are in for repair which requires a software update.

For cars June 06 to Sep 07 you can call up and just ask for the update with no hassling for it. Works for me
if there is nothing wrong with your car, i wouldn't get the update...wait until people that have the lag experience the map first on their cars before you tread ahead, can't trust BMW at all
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      11-18-2008, 10:21 AM   #22
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I really hope this is true, it will save me the $2000 I was going to drop for Dinan Stage II in Spring 2009
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