It's Baaaack!! '04 330cic Steptronic slipping AGAIN
- Thread starter Kirby
- Start date
Just took my '04 330 with only 800 miles on it in today. SA said he will confirm tomorrow morning and probably have to order a tranny. He never questioned the problem and seemed to be familiar but guarded. I asked about the clutch pack and he said they did not perform benchwork on trannies. He also said I would rather have the new tranny... less potential for other problems. I should hear from him by noon tomorrow... will keep you posted.
Keith
Keith
I purchased a 2003 325i that was made in SA in May of 2003. It, of course, had the steptronic
problem. The purpose of this message is to thank you all for the information that you
shared here.
I did quite a bit of looking around and found this board to be most useful to me
in weighing the scope and breadth of the problem, understanding where BMW
was in the break/fix cycle, understand how BMW operates it's various levels
as well as what to expect.
I felt in mid-January that BMW I would apply for the updated transmission
based on the wait times you had all published. As you said, it would be a few weeks.
While my original service advisor was less than enlightened on the topic (I bypassed
him), the assistant service manager was great. His estimate for delivery date was
right on, he returned calls exactly on time and was really very accomodating.
The bottom line is that I now have a new/remanufactured transmission and it
seems to run fine. The manual shifting is a bit more firm and seems quicker.
Auto shifting seems the same. Also, by remanufactured, he said that all of the
inside parts are new but that the casing is reused - similar to what you all have
been saying.
I'll let you all know if it takes a turn for the worst, but I'm hoping that I won't have to
do that.
Thanks again to all of you who provided valuable information.
problem. The purpose of this message is to thank you all for the information that you
shared here.
I did quite a bit of looking around and found this board to be most useful to me
in weighing the scope and breadth of the problem, understanding where BMW
was in the break/fix cycle, understand how BMW operates it's various levels
as well as what to expect.
I felt in mid-January that BMW I would apply for the updated transmission
based on the wait times you had all published. As you said, it would be a few weeks.
While my original service advisor was less than enlightened on the topic (I bypassed
him), the assistant service manager was great. His estimate for delivery date was
right on, he returned calls exactly on time and was really very accomodating.
The bottom line is that I now have a new/remanufactured transmission and it
seems to run fine. The manual shifting is a bit more firm and seems quicker.
Auto shifting seems the same. Also, by remanufactured, he said that all of the
inside parts are new but that the casing is reused - similar to what you all have
been saying.
I'll let you all know if it takes a turn for the worst, but I'm hoping that I won't have to
do that.
Thanks again to all of you who provided valuable information.
Thanks for posting your details. It's good to know that this information is being used to help resolve problems. It's interesting to hear that your manual shifting is better - I noticed the same thing on this transmission, the second one didn't seem any different. It seems like they may finally have the problem solved.
Q: You said it was made in SA? South Africa? Just curious, is it a right hand drive car?
Let us know how things are in 3 or 4 weeks!
Q: You said it was made in SA? South Africa? Just curious, is it a right hand drive car?
Let us know how things are in 3 or 4 weeks!
BULL SH*T!!!
Took the car in for the tranny replacement and got a loaner, the thing reminds me of a Mitsubishi Mirage I rented a year ago valued at $1500... The engine rattles and shakes when turning it off, the car is all scratched up and the interior stinks, not to mention the transmission slips just like the typical sliptronic, and the car doesn't feel right. As if thats not enough I got a flat tire, and the spare tire in the trunk was visibily defective. I had to pay out of my own pocket to fix it, because the towtruck called back 1 1/2 hour later to tell me that he recieved my call from Roadside assistance and would be there in approximately an hour. Meaning I would have been waiting for easily 2 1/2 to 3 hours INSANE! That loaner was a poor excuse for a BMW, I never drove such a POS in my life.![[:(!]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_angry.gif "Angry [:(!]")
Took the car in for the tranny replacement and got a loaner, the thing reminds me of a Mitsubishi Mirage I rented a year ago valued at $1500... The engine rattles and shakes when turning it off, the car is all scratched up and the interior stinks, not to mention the transmission slips just like the typical sliptronic, and the car doesn't feel right. As if thats not enough I got a flat tire, and the spare tire in the trunk was visibily defective. I had to pay out of my own pocket to fix it, because the towtruck called back 1 1/2 hour later to tell me that he recieved my call from Roadside assistance and would be there in approximately an hour. Meaning I would have been waiting for easily 2 1/2 to 3 hours INSANE! That loaner was a poor excuse for a BMW, I never drove such a POS in my life.
Depressed
Well, I've spent the past couple hours reading this thread and already thinking I may have to eat the $1000.00 I gave the local BMW dealer last week to order a new 2004 330Ci convertible for my wife. I'm stunned over this Steptronic transmission problem. She's had her 2001 325Ci convertible for 30 months now and truly loves it . The new car is expected around the end of April. What to do? Ironically I decided to look for a BMW forum late last night in order to read glowing comments about the car we just ordered. Haven't paid attention to BMW forums for the last three years because we've had zero problems with the 325 and naturally assumed the 2004 330CI would be a no-brainer decision. Sheesh! $50,000! And my wife might get caught in a death trap because the car may not move for several seconds. The idiot who says this isn't a problem obviously doesn't live on one of the back roads of North Carolina like we do. Would someone care to speculate what the odds are that we would receive a trouble free Steptronic in our new car? Thanks.
VR
Well, I've spent the past couple hours reading this thread and already thinking I may have to eat the $1000.00 I gave the local BMW dealer last week to order a new 2004 330Ci convertible for my wife. I'm stunned over this Steptronic transmission problem. She's had her 2001 325Ci convertible for 30 months now and truly loves it . The new car is expected around the end of April. What to do? Ironically I decided to look for a BMW forum late last night in order to read glowing comments about the car we just ordered. Haven't paid attention to BMW forums for the last three years because we've had zero problems with the 325 and naturally assumed the 2004 330CI would be a no-brainer decision. Sheesh! $50,000! And my wife might get caught in a death trap because the car may not move for several seconds. The idiot who says this isn't a problem obviously doesn't live on one of the back roads of North Carolina like we do. Would someone care to speculate what the odds are that we would receive a trouble free Steptronic in our new car? Thanks.
VR
If the car is being ordered and isn't from dealer inventory the chances of getting a sliptronic are next to none. Since it seems BMW has had a handle on this problem since dec. You can also inform the salesman and make him test for it and offer some form of guarantee that it wont slip. And yes having a sliptronic can be dangerous in certain situations, after my loaner experience right now Im not so enthusiastic about defending BMW.
I agree. I would go straight to your CA right now and insist on some proof that the car will have a newly designed steptronic. And I would also insist on a coldstart test by the shop foreman prior to delivery. And if they have any problem adding this into the sales contract, I would cancel the deal.
I also agree that it is likely that you won't have a problem if the car is not being built until March.
I also agree that it is likely that you won't have a problem if the car is not being built until March.
My opinion is that the problem is *probably* solved and therefore brand new cars are not going to have the problem.
The bad news: Most have reported needing at least a few hundred miles to several thousand miles before it happens. That means a test on initial delivery may not really prove anything........
The bad news: Most have reported needing at least a few hundred miles to several thousand miles before it happens. That means a test on initial delivery may not really prove anything........
No need to be "casual". Be firm with them. This problem is well known, and you have taken steps to let THEM know that you are aware of it. You have also given them the chance to be up front and come clean if there is a problem with your car. Let them know that you are a fair person, but will not hesitate to involve the BBB, an attorney, whatever you feel comfortable with saying.
I met with the SA this afternoon after leaving the 330 yesterday for him to verify the "slip". VERIFIED and no question about the repair. The new tranny is to be put in next Thursday (ending the concerns about a national backorder on the replacements). I asked again about the clutch pack and again he assured me I would rather have the replacement. He is confident that BMW has the problem fixed. Based on the results others have posted after recently having the replacements installed, I'm encouraged.
I also spoke with BMWNA this afternoon. They confirmed that the replacement is the correct (and now apparently the only) way to go. BMW techs are not trained to do bench repairs on trannies. They do seem to have their arms around this thing.
Based on the recent successes posted here, the info from the SA and my conversation with BMWNA I also support the notion that a car with a January or later production date should not have this problem.
Many thanks to all of you who have shared your knowledge and experiences. I certainly felt more informed talking with the SA as a result. I also think BMW is more comfortable in "guaranteeing" the fix today than they were several months ago.
I'll be back after next week's appointment for the replacement and let you all know how that went. THANKS AGAIN
Keith
I also spoke with BMWNA this afternoon. They confirmed that the replacement is the correct (and now apparently the only) way to go. BMW techs are not trained to do bench repairs on trannies. They do seem to have their arms around this thing.
Based on the recent successes posted here, the info from the SA and my conversation with BMWNA I also support the notion that a car with a January or later production date should not have this problem.
Many thanks to all of you who have shared your knowledge and experiences. I certainly felt more informed talking with the SA as a result. I also think BMW is more comfortable in "guaranteeing" the fix today than they were several months ago.
I'll be back after next week's appointment for the replacement and let you all know how that went. THANKS AGAIN
Keith
Had the transmission put in today I will cold start test it tomorrow, problem is it's gonna be 45 degrees, but if it has a problem it will slip at that temp too.
On the side note I opened the hood and noticed the engine is in there in what appears to be uncorrectly mounted since it seems to be on an incline, with the front slightly upwards.
I'm wondering if this is the result of shoddy work or is this how it's supposed to be after a tranny replacement?? And the car feels a lot weaker and sluggier now..[???1]
On the side note I opened the hood and noticed the engine is in there in what appears to be uncorrectly mounted since it seems to be on an incline, with the front slightly upwards.
I'm wondering if this is the result of shoddy work or is this how it's supposed to be after a tranny replacement?? And the car feels a lot weaker and sluggier now..[???1]
It's my understanding that the Steptronic adapts to your driving style over time. I assume they needed to reset the computer/electronics that govern this for your new transmission. Hopefully that's what you are experiencing and you will re-educate it to behave the way you want it to over a short period of time.
VR
VR
Is this normal? Anyone else experiencing this
The new transmission seems to have a power issue in 1st and 2nd. It seems more like a muffled "weak-slow-unfun-to-drive" car now. People often said the 325i was a slow underpowered car, it NEVER felt like that to me, now it does. It feels as if the engine can rev real high, but sound lower and not deliver as much power as it used to, it just feels that for the engine speed its not delivering enough power to the wheels....
You think that's the result of not being hooked up right? Just trying to paint a clearer picture, also in the engine cover there are 4 circular shaped openings now that weren't there..... never knew they had to pull out the engine to replace the trans; would have lived with the sliptronic had i known that....
Also the replacement trans job was $2650 but covered by warranty, and it said RMFD.
The new transmission seems to have a power issue in 1st and 2nd. It seems more like a muffled "weak-slow-unfun-to-drive" car now. People often said the 325i was a slow underpowered car, it NEVER felt like that to me, now it does. It feels as if the engine can rev real high, but sound lower and not deliver as much power as it used to, it just feels that for the engine speed its not delivering enough power to the wheels....
You think that's the result of not being hooked up right? Just trying to paint a clearer picture, also in the engine cover there are 4 circular shaped openings now that weren't there..... never knew they had to pull out the engine to replace the trans; would have lived with the sliptronic had i known that....
Also the replacement trans job was $2650 but covered by warranty, and it said RMFD.
i got my car back today. i asked the SA if it was a clutch pack fix and he said 'yes'. however you said that your engine wasn't pulled? my SA told me they took the engine out and all that good stuff and then patched it and put it back in. well i guess i'll find out tomorrow morning if it worked or not