X3: xDrive Transmission – Poor Driveability – Always Hunting for Gears

[2fast]

X3: xDrive Transmission – Poor Driveability – Always Hunting for Gears

Dear Friends,

I recently purchased a new 2007 X3 3.0, xDrive, 6-speed automatic transmission. I’ve only driven it ~500 miles. I love the car, but, to me, the transmission is very difficult to deal with at low speeds. When accelerating or decelerating, the car is balky, surges, and seems to be ‘hunting’ for the right gear. I have two other BMW’s – a 2002 530i with 5-speed auto trans, and a 2003 M3 with 6-spd manual, so I’m familiar with BMW’s. It’s so bad, that I need to drive in the Sport Shift ‘semi-manual’ mode to enjoy the X3.

Here’s my assessment.
· The X3’s All-Wheel Drive causes some drive-train drag that makes it decelerate faster than a RWD car.
· The X3’s first gear is very low. I could pull a stump with it. It wants to shift out of 1st very quickly, so I’m getting a gear change at maybe 5 mph. In manual mode, I typically start from a stop in 2nd gear, and then get a smoother acceleration.
· With 6 speeds, the computer shifts through the gears quickly, for best gas mileage. Unless the car is under a load (like going up a steep hill) it wants to get to 6th gear by about 30mph. With that slow speed and high gear combination, any acceleration causes the car to down-shift, then up-shift again, so it’s constantly going down and up, down and up… Putting the trans in ‘Sport Shift’ automatic mode helps some, keeping it in lower gears longer.

My questions:
· Is this normal?
· If not, I’ll take to the dealer for a check (but I bet it’s normal)
· Can the dealer re-map the computer controlled transmission, for improvement?

Thanks. I appreciate any feedback.

Doug

[trueX5er]

Wecolme Doug-

Your problem is very very common with 2007 X3 owners. This is a transmission defect.
It is not normal. You need to bring it to a certified SAV center as soon as possible. The dealer will do several reporgrams, and the issue will resolve itself and the car will drive normal.
I suggest you look at the following links:
http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203584
http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224576
http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=209534

Good luck and keep us updated. :xoutpost:

[Paris92]

Does anyone know if this is a common issue with 2010 X3s also? Mine hesitates sometimes, especially when going up hills, revs high and then takes off. Seems dangerous at times, as it speeds up suddenly. Dealer tells me it is "normal" for this model. Seems very odd to me.

Originally Posted by trueX5er

Wecolme Doug-

Your problem is very very common with 2007 X3 owners. This is a transmission defect.
It is not normal. You need to bring it to a certified SAV center as soon as possible. The dealer will do several reporgrams, and the issue will resolve itself and the car will drive normal.
I suggest you look at the following links:
http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203584
http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224576
http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=209534

Good luck and keep us updated.

[AzNMpower32]

This is a common problem, as trueX5er pointed out. Bimmerfest has a larger X3 board and I've read many complaints from those with the 3.0si.

http://www.x3world.com/x3-e83-forum/...x3-owners.html

I've mentioned my reasoning on Bimmerfest, but basically BMW screwed up on both the programming and gearing. They dropped the 6-AT with shorter ratios into the X3 for '07 and paired it with an even shorter final drive than previous models. The result is gearing that is far too short, especially considering the N52 engine has more power than the M54 motors.

There have been a couple dealer service bulletins re: the auto gearbox programming. However, sad to say.....not all the reprograms stick, and results may vary. There is no guarenteed fix, except to purchase a manual X3. Indeed, it has gotten to the point where I am steering friends and forum members away from the '07 X3 6AT and recommending a manual gearbox, or else look elsewhere.

[Wagner]

:welcome:

[asawadude]

Try one last thing before going to the dealer for resolution - clear out the adaptive throttle and transmission settings.

With the car in park and the engine shut off, turn the ignition to position 1 and step on the accelerator pedal for 30 seconds, then release it. The adaptive settings should be erased. Drive it as you normally would, but keep in mind you're still in the break-in stage.

This may or may not help but it's worth a shot. From reading the threads supplied by TrueX5er, it might be something more. If it helps, that's great, if not, good luck...

[trueX5er]

Originally Posted by asawadude

Try one last thing before going to the dealer for resolution - clear out the adaptive throttle and transmission settings.

With the car in park and the engine shut off, turn the ignition to position 1 and step on the accelerator pedal for 30 seconds, then release it. The adaptive settings should be erased. Drive it as you normally would, but keep in mind you're still in the break-in stage.

This may or may not help but it's worth a shot. From reading the threads supplied by TrueX5er, it might be something more. If it helps, that's great, if not, good luck...

clearing it won't help.
Bring it to the dealer.
(sorry adude, but us 07 x3 owners have been struggling with this for months now...it's been a huge pia... )

[[email protected]]

Originally Posted by 2fast

X3: xDrive Transmission – Poor Driveability – Always Hunting for Gears

Good luck--my '07 has 9000 miles and still does not shift properly--yesterday it went into "limp mode" while I was turning a corner--i almost got rear-ended--in Limp mode you only have 2 gears--and when it downshifts if feels like you got rear-ended--its at the dealers now and I have an '04 X3 3.0i for a loaner--this vehicle with the 3.0i and 5 sp auto drives soo much better than my '07 ever did--shifts smooth and the low speed torque is better--but the '07 is much better in all other aspects--Ok ya I tried the "reset" thingy--seems to improve for a short time then it goes back to doing what it wants to do..hope they get it right--other than the trans, I like the vehicle....

[Derek]

I don't recall the mileage we had on our but it went into limp home mode around that same mileage and I had it towed to the dealer. They reprogrammed it and ran the first update that was released.... it seemed better at first but now it is a lot worse than before. I'm hoping our service interval comes up soon and I can get it updated again then. My 07 525 with the 6 spd auto is sooooo much smoother than this POS. We'll see what this update does later.....

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Good luck--my '07 has 9000 miles and still does not shift properly--yesterday it went into "limp mode" while I was turning a corner--i almost got rear-ended--in Limp mode you only have 2 gears--and when it downshifts if feels like you got rear-ended--its at the dealers now and I have an '04 X3 3.0i for a loaner--this vehicle with the 3.0i and 5 sp auto drives soo much better than my '07 ever did--shifts smooth and the low speed torque is better--but the '07 is much better in all other aspects--Ok ya I tried the "reset" thingy--seems to improve for a short time then it goes back to doing what it wants to do..hope they get it right--other than the trans, I like the vehicle....

[[email protected]]

Originally Posted by Derek

I don't recall the mileage we had on our but it went into limp home mode around that same mileage and I had it towed to the dealer. They reprogrammed it and ran the first update that was released.... it seemed better at first but now it is a lot worse than before. I'm hoping our service interval comes up soon and I can get it updated again then. My 07 525 with the 6 spd auto is sooooo much smoother than this POS. We'll see what this update does later.....

I don't like the sound of that---Don't ya think that the 525 and the X3 would have the same 6 sp trans--if thats so then its the programming that is the problem.