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2011 BMW 5 Series Transmission

78 messages,  Last post on Jan 07, 2012 at 11:12 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 7 of 8

#59 of 78 Re: 2011 535xi [nickel2] by jayrandall

Oct 01, 2011 (8:57 pm)

Replying to: nickel2 (Oct 01, 2011 11:15 am)
No, it's not resolved. And it's not unique to my vehicle. About ten days ago, I went back to the BMW service center. The techs and a manager acknowledged the problem after test driving my car with me. I left the car with them for the day for testing.
 
They subsequently tested a few more cars, and confirmed that each (same year and model as mine) had the delay issue.
 
I spoke to my sales rep the next morning, and I agreed to take the car and drive it for a few days, and to try to break it in. I drove it for the past week and a half, no changes, just mind numbingly annoying delays when driving. And on a few occasions, I couldn't accelerate quick enough. Safety issues now are first on my mind.
 
I plan to call the dealership Monday and discuss returning the car. There is no amount of 'breaking in the car' that will correct this problem.
 
What I find perplexing, is how could BMW release this car and engine to market?
 
Thoughts?

#60 of 78 Re: 2011 535xi [jayrandall] by nickel2

Oct 01, 2011 (9:51 pm)

Replying to: jayrandall (Oct 01, 2011 8:57 pm)
I agree: "how could BMW release this car and engine to market?"
I don't know. My car is slightly improved...about 50%. Sometimes the transmission is OK; other times it is still jerky in the first 2 or 3 gears. There is still a delay when trying to pass. My transmission was supposedly re-programmed at about 7500 miles. I now have about 10,500 miles. They said that the transmission was re-learning my driving style after programming.
I have a friend who was an auto engineer for a major manufacturer. He said the transmissions are software driven and very complex and that the problem is probably faulty software which needs further "tweaking". I recently had an "oil low" warning light and the steering wheel did not return to the pre-set position. Naturally, they found nothing wrong. Hopefully, they will come out with further software upgrades....soon.

#61 of 78 Re: 2011 535xi [nickel2] by jayrandall

Oct 01, 2011 (10:03 pm)

Replying to: nickel2 (Oct 01, 2011 9:51 pm)
How many months have you had your 535? Did you lease or buy ?

#62 of 78 Re: 2011 535xi [jayrandall] by nickel2

Oct 01, 2011 (10:10 pm)

Replying to: jayrandall (Oct 01, 2011 10:03 pm)
I have a 528i, which I purchased 9 months ago. This problem is with several models.

#63 of 78 Re: 2011 535xi [nickel2] by jayrandall

Oct 01, 2011 (10:14 pm)

Replying to: nickel2 (Oct 01, 2011 10:10 pm)
ok, but the problem is no where near as pronounced on a 528i compared to a 535. I say this because the day I brought my car to service, they put me in a 2011 528i and I commented to the service guys that the 528 had much better 'take off' from a stop then my car.

#64 of 78 Re: 2011 535xi [jayrandall] by nickel2

Oct 01, 2011 (10:36 pm)

Replying to: jayrandall (Oct 01, 2011 10:14 pm)
The problem was quite pronounced initially in my car. There are some cars without any problems. So it can vary. I hope you can obtain more satisfaction than I have.

#65 of 78 Transmission software update -- Oct 28, 2011 by bmwowner5

Nov 06, 2011 (8:30 pm)

After waiting most of a year for a software fix for my jerky transmission problem on a 2011 BMW 535i, I finally received some relief. So far, the jerky moves from a slow start have been removed and it moves off smoothly as it should. I have also noticed that the steering is much tighter than before. More like the 3 Series models that I driven in the past. Needless to say, I am very pleased with it at the moment. It drives like the car I expected to buy nearly a year ago. It is a much different car.
The dealer indicated that this software update was only just recently available to them and that they had only done one other car (successfully they said). Anyone with this problem might check with their dealer and indicate that there have been successful changes made to correct this transmission flaw.

#66 of 78 Re: Transmission software update -- Oct 28, 2011 [bmwowner5] by jayrandall

Nov 06, 2011 (10:15 pm)

Replying to: bmwowner5 (Nov 06, 2011 8:30 pm)
Great to hear, but is there a technical note or reference number I can reference for my BMW service center ?

#67 of 78 Re: Transmission software update -- Oct 28, 2011 [bmwowner5] by houssic

Nov 10, 2011 (10:20 am)

Replying to: bmwowner5 (Nov 06, 2011 8:30 pm)
I am in the same boat with Jay Randall. Do you have a code that I can tell the dealership so we can get the same software update? Our 528i is pretty bad.

#68 of 78 Re: Transmission software update -- Oct 28, 2011 [houssic] by nickel2

Nov 10, 2011 (10:46 pm)

Replying to: houssic (Nov 10, 2011 10:20 am)
1 3 3 6 I S P S
1 0 1 7 7 V E H I C L E S O F T W A R E L E V E L I S T A 2 . 4 1 . + .
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 
The above jibberish is what they told me when I requested the software version. My transmission is improved but intermittently it is still jerky at lower speeds. I will check with the dealer next week to see if a newer transmission software version is available.

Messages Page 7 of 8

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