It's Baaaack!! '04 330cic Steptronic slipping AGAIN

[MyHarley]

Just thought I would let you guys know that when I was at the dealership Friday, I asked about the sliptronic......he said, yes, there have been several cars with this problem. I thought it interesting since our (Houston) weather may be 30 to 35 but for only a few hours and has only occurred a handful of times so far this winter. Hmmmmm, we dont even consider Houston to have a winter season.

 

[Rpro2k3]

My car (2004 bmw 325i) does the same thing...it slips on cold start.

well I tried something new tonight...I let the car warm up in idle for 10 minutes then I did my usual procedures and it did not rev at all. I know this is bad but I think this also does some good. Try it people and tell me how it goes. I will try it agian tomorrow just to see what's up.

 

[passat]

you dont have to idle...just use manual mode

...i heard somebody said you can just use manual mode and goes right away ..
no slips ... that is either SD or M mode so you u dont need to idle .. waste of
gas .. lots of pollution .. bad wear for engine .. give it a try!!!

 

[LarryE]

My car (2004 bmw 325i) does the same thing...it slips on cold start.

well I tried something new tonight...I let the car warm up in idle for 10 minutes then I did my usual procedures and it did not rev at all. I know this is bad but I think this also does some good. Try it people and tell me how it goes. I will try it agian tomorrow just to see what's up.

This is absolutely true, and is the recommended circumvention from BMW until you get your tranny replaced.

 

[P. Eden]

In response to several points above: The dealer, i.e. service manager has been reasonable and accommodating. His "boss" was terse and defensive on the phone with me (but I was aggressive, too). Overall the BMW service experience per se has been good. And, having owned new cars before, I realize that often major components need to replaced, and that is life; however, I feel that the dealers in my area should have tested the steptronic (argh - kills me to even type that word) BEFORE selling any of the cars.

In response to Larry E - yes, absolutely, I would like to know if this is a cold-weather problem with every such tranny, or if the weather exacerbates the "defective" trannies.

 

[LarryE]

In response to several points above: The dealer, i.e. service manager has been reasonable and accommodating. His "boss" was terse and defensive on the phone with me (but I was aggressive, too). Overall the BMW service experience per se has been good. And, having owned new cars before, I realize that often major components need to replaced, and that is life; however, I feel that the dealers in my area should have tested the steptronic (argh - kills me to even type that word) BEFORE selling any of the cars.

In response to Larry E - yes, absolutely, I would like to know if this is a cold-weather problem with every such tranny, or if the weather exacerbates the "defective" trannies.

Am being told by people at Car and Driver.Com and roadfly that it should not slip at all in cold weather. Shouldn't even hesitate for more than about .5 secs.

Larry E.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Took the car to the dealer today, they told me it needs a new transmission and apparently the mechanics are required to test the car before approving it for delivery to the customer, however checking for the sliptronic is not on the test list. So it turns out I need to wait 2-4 weeks for a *NEW* transmission to be shipped. I was guaranteed by the head of the service department that the transmission is brand new off the assembly line. I even stressed the question whether it be rebuilt or new and was told NEW. Which means that now the resale value of the car is practically ruined when the records show a replaced transmission at a litttle over 5000miles. Also I was instructed to shift manually until it warms up till they replace the transmission; no mention about warming up in park.

On the side note does anyone know how much a new Steptronic Transmission costs?

 

[Kirby]

Mine was supposed to go in today for the new transmission install, but the roads here this morning were REALLY BAD with snow/ice/slush so I called and postponed the the work. There was so much frozen solid plowed crap at the entrance to my driveway it would have ripped off the front end of the car. I don't have snow tires since I planned on never driving it in the winter.

FWIW manual shifting did not prevent my transmission from slipping. It was just as bad in Sport or Manual modes.

Someone posted here or EMailed me and said that they saw the work order for their transmission replacement. The tranny was listed at about $3650.

 

[donmbmw]

Even with the record cold temps my sliptronic problem is not nearly as bad a Kirby and others have reported. When putting in drive from reverse, I apply the brake lightly untill I feel the tranny grab and then accelerate slowly. Takes no more than 5 seconds on the coldest day. When I use manual mode there is still a little hesitation, but it engages sooner. I brought my car in on 12/29/03 and was told a "repair kit" was ordered. I have not heard from the dealership yet. I'll wait a little longer and f/u with a call.

 

[JC7727]

I haven't had any probelms with my steptronic and its been really cold out here in NYC. I have the 2001 330i, I guess it's just a problem with the new bmw's.

 

[Rpro2k3]

So mine is going in tomorrow, but who has got their tranny replaced and actually had no problems with it after the new one was put it. It seems like BMW is not sure about what needs to be done so they just figure replacing it is what needs to be done. Get at me if your replacement actually fixed the problem.

 

[LarryE]

I haven't had any probelms with my steptronic and its been really cold out here in NYC. I have the 2001 330i, I guess it's just a problem with the new bmw's.

Problem is limited to '03 and '04 ... and only those with the GM Trannys.

 

[LooNTooNs]

Hey guys, Yes its confimed..Im the proud owner of a Slip. New tranny is on order. Now if I can just get my damn radio replaced along with the tranny ill be happy.

 

[rickhuizinga]

How do you check if you have a GM or ZF tranny?

 

[outpost22]

SA called today and said "new" Tranny is in. We will have it installed next week or the week after. It took about 2 weeks for it to get here after ordering. FYI

 

[LarryE]

How do you check if you have a GM or ZF tranny?

Only dealer can tell for sure, but if sticker says country of transmission manufacture is France, welcome to the club!

 

[tmallin]

Count me among those having a Sliptronic. I took delivery of my new 2004 330xi around Thanksgiving and have noticed the problem on days when the temp is in the 30s or below. On Monday, after the car had been in my attached garage and not driven since Friday, I backed out of the driveway into the 3-degree weather. The tranny slipped for at least 30 seconds before gradually grabbing after crawling a half block.

I found this thread later that day and then called the service manager at my dealer, Laurel BMW of Westmont, IL. I left a message identifying myself and my car and explaining the problem to him. He called back within an hour and put me on the list for a new trans, no further questions asked. It may help that I have purchased three new 3-series cars from this dealer since 2000. But I think the big help was the fact that the service manager said he was currently driving a new 330i and was personally experiencing the same problem with that BMW.

The service manager suggested as a temporary "workaround" that before I move the car forward, keep my foot on the brake and move the trans from D to M1. I have tried that every morning since and no further slipping has occurred; it was 3 degrees again this morning.

I also have a 2002 325xi wagon which has a very mild form of this disease. Even in its mild form, however, it is odd enough behavior for my wife to say she noticed it on that car once I told her of the problem with the 2004. She is usually oblivious to complaints I have about vehicle performance and noises.

 

[balajc]

Me too!

I registered just to post about this as well. I saw this link from Bimmerforums.com

We purchased our 325xi August 03. Within 150 miles driven off the dealer lot, the car got a CEL at a red light and then I had to rev the car up to 2000rpm+ to get it to move (steptronic). Once it does get moving, the acccleration is very sloppy. Towed the car to the dealership, and they replaced the valve body and the ECM that controls the transmission....it took a couple days but every was fine afterwards.

Fast forward to December 03, I started to notice the reverse->D->slightly delay (rev climbing) before it degages and go...I dont drive the BMW everyday (it is my wife's car). She does not notice it [???1]

I took the car into service 1/22/03. I described the problem to them and before they even test drive it, the service writer started talking about ordering a new transmission and wont be in for a few days yada yada...

I overheard that the X5 are having the same problems as well?

I have owned a couple new cars (Impreza and Eclipse) in the past and none had been back to the dealer as often (for the severity of the defect and the mileage (4400 miles) )

Anyway, the transmission is ordered and we will be notified once it is here. The car will be at the dealer for the entire day...

 

[LarryE]

Status Report on my Sliptronic

Had my '04 325XI in this week for replacement tranny. Picked it up yesterday.

SA swore that it was brand new. In fact, I spoke to the tech who did the work and he told me (unsolicited) that it was brand new (I didn't even ask ... he offered this info voluntarily). He claims that all the '04s are receiving brand new trannys. Then ... when I signed the paperwork, I noticed "RMFD. TRANS". I brought this to their attention and they acted surprised. Do you believe it? Also, had them keep it overnight after the work was done so they could test it when doing a coldstart. They claimed everything checked out ok.

So ... let it sit overnight. It was 11 degrees this morning when I started it. Shifted into "R", then into "D", and frankly ... I didn't notice any difference from the way it was before. Someone told me that especially at high idle in cold weather, I should almost have to hit the brake to keep the car from moving forward. Well ... I shifted into "D", and had to depress the accelerator ... it went from about 800rpm to about 2000rpm, and it just felt like it was laboring that didn't catch very easily. I would say that at that rpm, I couldn't get it to go more than 15-20mph.

Next few mornings supposed to be very cold here in NY, so I will continue to test and keep you all posted. I want to be sure that I'm not imagining that there's an issue. But I don't think I am. I had an '03 330i loaner for a few days this week, and it absolutely performed and responded very differently upon coldstart in the AM.

They already think I'm a pain ... wait till they see what I do if this verifies to still be an issue.

 

[sieben]

Re: Status Report on my Sliptronic

Had my '04 325XI in this week for replacement tranny. Picked it up yesterday.

SA swore that it was brand new. In fact, I spoke to the tech who did the work and he told me (unsolicited) that it was brand new (I didn't even ask ... he offered this info voluntarily). He claims that all the '04s are receiving brand new trannys. Then ... when I signed the paperwork, I noticed "RMFD. TRANS". I brought this to their attention and they acted surprised. Do you believe it? Also, had them keep it overnight after the work was done so they could test it when doing a coldstart. They claimed everything checked out ok.

So ... let it sit overnight. It was 11 degrees this morning when I started it. Shifted into "R", then into "D", and frankly ... I didn't notice any difference from the way it was before. Someone told me that especially at high idle in cold weather, I should almost have to hit the brake to keep the car from moving forward. Well ... I shifted into "D", and had to depress the accelerator ... it went from about 800rpm to about 2000rpm, and it just felt like it was laboring that didn't catch very easily. I would say that at that rpm, I couldn't get it to go more than 15-20mph.

Next few mornings supposed to be very cold here in NY, so I will continue to test and keep you all posted. I want to be sure that I'm not imagining that there's an issue. But I don't think I am. I had an '03 330i loaner for a few days this week, and it absolutely performed and responded very differently upon coldstart in the AM.

They already think I'm a pain ... wait till they see what I do if this verifies to still be an issue.

Thanks for all the information. I had a 03' 325i loaner. In the morning after cold start, the car accelerated very fast, and I did have to hit the brake to prevent it from going forward too fast. However, in a car with transmission problem, it won't even go if you press the accelerator.