Transmission Software Update

[Weebie]

Why are dealerships so reluctant to update/reprogram my transmission software? They keep saying that if there are no faults when it is scanned and if they can't replicate the problem, they can't update the software.

I have a 2006 X5 4.8is and I've taken my car to a couple local dealerships to let them know that it gets stuck in a low gear when going down a steep hill causing it to rev reallly high and won't upshift properly. I can't replicate this problem when my E53 is at the dealer because there aren't steep enough hills in my area. However, I make frequent road trips to visit my parents who live in another state. It is during this drive when I encounter very steep hills on the highway which is in the middle of nowhere.

All I want is a damn software update to see if it resolves my problem. Should I call up non local dealers and ask if they are will to update the tranny software for me and then make the drive to have it done? My car is still under full factory warranty.

[BMWLOVER]

mine was under full factory warranty too and I just told them to do it and they didn't even bother checking but simply just did the reprogram.

[X5 Meister]

If you car is under warranty, just because you want a software update isn't a good enough reason for the dealer to do it. Remember they need to prove to BMW why stuff was done to the car to get reimbursed. If you want to pay for it yourself, find a dealer that will do it, shouldn't be that hard.

[BMWLOVER]

All I said was that I can sometimes feel the bump going from 2nd to 1st and they said okay we'll have the reprogram done.

[Weebie]

I gave them a valid reason but they just can't reproduce the problem because there aren't any steep hills where I live. Unless my SA is willing to come on a 8 hour drive with me to where my parents live and encounter some steep hills during our road trip. That's when my transmission issues are apparent and show their true colors.

BTW, the hill decent feature was never activated and the status light was off so it is not related to that.

I even told the stealerships that it revs so high in a low gear that I have to manually upshift to prevent damage to my engine... and still a no go for them, WTF!!!

[meandmyX]

Originally Posted by BMWLOVER

All I said was that I can sometimes feel the bump going from 2nd to 1st and they said okay we'll have the reprogram done.

do mean when your in manual mode, cause i feel it, i thought i was just accelerating to quickly

[BMWLOVER]

Mine was in fully automatic mode but when I would be slowing down and the transmission would shift from 2nd to 1st it would bump me forward. Mine was when I would decelerate not accelerate. So we might not be having the same problem. Btw I have a 4.4i not a 4.8is.

[X5 Meister]

What you are experiencing is the lurch. Do a search on it, it's been discussed extensively.