X3 Manual Transmission
 

I am planning on buying a 2007 X3 and am debating on whether to buy an automatic transmission or manual. I've read in several forums about this software issue associated with the auto transmission and it has me concerned. How many people have this problem? The service manager at my local dealership said it i snot a common problem and seem to occur with conservative drivers. Is thi sproblem really fixed with the most recent SIB software updates? By the way, it seems like there are very few people in the US who buy the manual transmission.

med

If you are at all unsure, buy the automatic. Problems will be resolved with updates. There are not transmission problems as much as there are a small number of programming problems IMO.

My dealer had approximately 20 X3s on the lot and in the showroom several weeks back. Not one was a manual. They remembered a lease return four months back, but hadn't seen another manual X3 for some time. We ordered a new 3.0si 6MT which is scheduled for July production. Dealer's main concern was that we would try and trade it in after 2 years.

At our dealership in the greater toronto area, there were no manuals to test drive. I couldn't stand the hesitation in the automatic transmision and would not have purchased it.

However my wife and I both love to drive manual and bought the vehicle on faith. We love the six speed, I would recommend it over and over.

P.

I've been driving manuals for the last 20 years (Saab and BMW). My wife has a 2001 BMW 330i with steptronics which seems fine. Did that have a learning transmission too? Is this transmission problem happening in earlier versions of the X3 and X5 and other 3 series models?

:xoutpost: You look familiar ;)

Yes, all the late-model BMW automatics (well, made by GM in France, but that's another story) have the ATC or Adaptive Transmission Control. It's a very complex system that uses fuzzy logic along with many other inputs to determine the right shift map and style. It's great when it works right (like in my '04), but annoying when it doesnt.

The hesistation problem seems to be especially worse this year with the new 6-speed automatic on the 2007s. The new X5 is also having hiccups since it is a brand new model with the new ZF 6-AT. Chances are you may not have a problem. But I haven't read about this many programming complaints.......ever.

You already know my position: get the manual. You will have no programming complaints, and it's a great system. In addition with all the new brake features, you won't be rolling back on uphills anymore.