Steptronic Sports Mode will not engage

Tommiexboi · 08-09-2011, 07:54 PM

hello all!

i'm glad some of you guys got it fixed per DIY above.
so FYI, I returned my lease 3 months ago so I don't remember exactly.. unless i can physically see it.

If you look from birds eye view at the shifter assembly there should be 3 silver torx bolts. I think two in the front and one in the back from what i remember.

Why take off those silver bolts?
A: you need to wiggle around the shifter assembly so you can better access the side panel.

Where are the other three bolts?
A: If you look at the picture above, where the blue wire is there should be a case with three torx bolts on it.

Why take off that panel?
A: For you to splice or electrical tape the wires back together.

To be very honest... if you can locate the cut wires you guys will 1000% know exactly what I'm talking about...

Hope this helps..
PM me for any Q's

also i did post a DIY
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=511799

setxua · 04-02-2013, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommiexboi

Guys! I figured it out! and it only cost 12 bucks to fix it completely!

Basically couple wires snapped and you just need to buy wires, electrical tape, and heat shrink.

If you look at the picture, find the wires where I circled it.. that's where it most likely snapped.
That's the sports mode/manual shift wires.

Here's a quick DIY.

Tools needed:
- Torx screw set (not sure what size, but one tiny one and one big one lol)
- Electrical tape
- Electrical wires (I bought 18 gauge wires, but find a thinner one)
- Heat shrink (for extra securing)

Time: 30~45 min

Difficulty: 6 out of 10 (the wires are so short!)

How to fix:
1. Remove shift boot and the connector (lift up the leather part)
2. Remove the Center Trim (you can find this on the DIY section)
3. There are 3 silver bolts that are holding down the shifter assembly, take that off (torx)
4. Wiggle the shifter assembly and lean it to your left
5. On the right side of the shifter assembly there should be three bolts (torx) remove them.
6. Now you have full access to the wires. (Make sure the wires are snapped or not.... but I'm pretty positive it's those wires)
7. Locate snapped wires and begin splicing with new wire, electrical tape, and heat shrink (FYI, the snapped wires are damn short)

How to check:
1. Put all the connectors back on
2. Make sure you have your E-brake on
3. Turn on car **REMEMBER TO HOLD THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME!!!!**
4. Put the car into DS and play with the Manual mode etc.
5. Make sure everything works
6. Put car back on P and turn off car and reassemble everything.

Worked for me!

PM me if you guys have any questions.

amazing post. quick question,, the same applies for a 1 series 120ia ?
exactly the same behavior, verified the conectors but nothing on them.
at least at simple sight, I will double-check tomorrow.

mentos876 · 04-04-2013, 11:44 AM

i had similar issues with steptronic . took it apart. came out that 3 of tiny wires underneath the leveler were cut somehow . fixed the issue myself

Luor32 · 09-06-2013, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eduardomi

Hey man could you please elaborate a bit more as to where those torx are located at? I can only see the big one on the center bottom but removing it does nothing.

Many thanks!

Check out this thread, it will show you were the torx are located.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=842645

Swish · 06-20-2014, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommiexboi

Guys! I figured it out! and it only cost 12 bucks to fix it completely!

Basically couple wires snapped and you just need to buy wires, electrical tape, and heat shrink.

If you look at the picture, find the wires where I circled it.. that's where it most likely snapped.
That's the sports mode/manual shift wires.

Here's a quick DIY.

Tools needed:
- Torx screw set (not sure what size, but one tiny one and one big one lol)
- Electrical tape
- Electrical wires (I bought 18 gauge wires, but find a thinner one)
- Heat shrink (for extra securing)

Time: 30~45 min

Difficulty: 6 out of 10 (the wires are so short!)

How to fix:
1. Remove shift boot and the connector (lift up the leather part)
2. Remove the Center Trim (you can find this on the DIY section)
3. There are 3 silver bolts that are holding down the shifter assembly, take that off (torx)
4. Wiggle the shifter assembly and lean it to your left
5. On the right side of the shifter assembly there should be three bolts (torx) remove them.
6. Now you have full access to the wires. (Make sure the wires are snapped or not.... but I'm pretty positive it's those wires)
7. Locate snapped wires and begin splicing with new wire, electrical tape, and heat shrink (FYI, the snapped wires are damn short)

How to check:
1. Put all the connectors back on
2. Make sure you have your E-brake on
3. Turn on car **REMEMBER TO HOLD THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME!!!!**
4. Put the car into DS and play with the Manual mode etc.
5. Make sure everything works
6. Put car back on P and turn off car and reassemble everything.

Worked for me!

PM me if you guys have any questions.

While this was pretty helpful, I'm running into a snag. I have a 330xi with iDrive, if that makes any difference. I was able to get all of the console trim removed, but I just can seem to get enough of the right (passenger) side of the assembly exposed in order to remove the small hex/torx screws that will allow me to get to the wires that are more than likely broken. I removed the 3 large screws and moved the assembly to the left, but it wasn't enough to expose all of those screws.

I put everything back together for now and I'm hoping someone can help me with this. I felt like I was getting to the point where I was forcing things and I don't want to break something and end up with an even bigger problem.

If anyone is wondering, I lost the Reverse indicator light, and my steptronic is completely gone. It won't up-shift or downshift.

mike-y · 06-20-2014, 04:38 PM

after removing the 3 large screws, try pulling the shifter assembly up a bit, then turn it on it's side. the shifter sits in a rubber pocket that can fit pretty tight, but there should be enough play to pull it up a bit.

luckydawg003 · 02-02-2015, 05:55 PM

Just did this fix to my 07 328i. Since I noticed my car wouldn't shift into DS and the light wouldn't come on in the dash. I took the whole plastic center arm rest out, since I had to fix the aux plug that kept falling inside too. For that fix, I took a spare piece of plastic and cut out a small square template and stuck it inside it, so it won't be able to fall thru the hole any more. I couldn't get the whole arm rest off though, it wouldn't clear the ebrake. Not sure how the hell you get it over that, unless you have to remove it. I checked my wires after doing the loosening of wires, they were all taped up, so I thought they were good. MAKE SURE YOU UNWRAP THE TAPE, since my white wire was severed completely. I then stripped it and crimped it. Works like a charm now. Here's some pics. The arm rest is a pita to get lined back up right.

08-09-2011, 07:54 PM	#45
Tommiexboi Mod whore 37 Rep 456 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Sold :( Audi A4 now Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (4)	hello all! i'm glad some of you guys got it fixed per DIY above. so FYI, I returned my lease 3 months ago so I don't remember exactly.. unless i can physically see it. If you look from birds eye view at the shifter assembly there should be 3 silver torx bolts. I think two in the front and one in the back from what i remember. Why take off those silver bolts? A: you need to wiggle around the shifter assembly so you can better access the side panel. Where are the other three bolts? A: If you look at the picture above, where the blue wire is there should be a case with three torx bolts on it. Why take off that panel? A: For you to splice or electrical tape the wires back together. To be very honest... if you can locate the cut wires you guys will 1000% know exactly what I'm talking about... Hope this helps.. PM me for any Q's also i did post a DIY http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=511799 __________________ E46 2000 328i - Sold ( what started my obsession ) E60 2000 M5 - Sold E90 2008 335i - Sold E93 2011 M3 - Sold B8 A4 - WTF? Last edited by Tommiexboi; 08-09-2011 at 08:04 PM..
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04-04-2013, 11:44 AM	#47
mentos876 Second Lieutenant 22 Rep 260 Posts Drives: 06' BMW e90 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	i had similar issues with steptronic . took it apart. came out that 3 of tiny wires underneath the leveler were cut somehow . fixed the issue myself
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06-20-2014, 04:38 PM	#50
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	after removing the 3 large screws, try pulling the shifter assembly up a bit, then turn it on it's side. the shifter sits in a rubber pocket that can fit pretty tight, but there should be enough play to pull it up a bit.
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02-02-2015, 05:55 PM	#51
luckydawg003 Private 7 Rep 75 Posts Drives: 07 328i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	Just did this fix to my 07 328i. Since I noticed my car wouldn't shift into DS and the light wouldn't come on in the dash. I took the whole plastic center arm rest out, since I had to fix the aux plug that kept falling inside too. For that fix, I took a spare piece of plastic and cut out a small square template and stuck it inside it, so it won't be able to fall thru the hole any more. I couldn't get the whole arm rest off though, it wouldn't clear the ebrake. Not sure how the hell you get it over that, unless you have to remove it. I checked my wires after doing the loosening of wires, they were all taped up, so I thought they were good. MAKE SURE YOU UNWRAP THE TAPE, since my white wire was severed completely. I then stripped it and crimped it. Works like a charm now. Here's some pics. The arm rest is a pita to get lined back up right.
	Appreciate 0 Quote