Steptronic resolution? ?

[E46_Driver]

Another victim of the defective steptronic transmission sharing "the process" BMWNA has chosen for us to endure. Goes something like this:

1. Consumer realizes transmission is not engaging drive properly
2. Dealer acts surprised by complaint swears ignorance of any known issues with
the trans and urges consumer to bring in ASAP
3. Consumer is offered clutch pack thingy or new trans (aka remanufactured)
4. Consumer gets angry, dealer calls in a hired gun aka BMW Regional rep
5. Regional rep runs interference and dazzles consumer with verbosity and promises
6. Consumer feeling they found a responsible person who will take action backs off
7. After dealer performs option #3, consumer realizes the problem is still present
8. …This is where I am currently

Mny hours researching this defect one concludes this is a known defect. New $40K automobiles should not be delivered with faulty/defective transmissions. BMWNA needs to step up to the reality that this problem is not going away. It is with polls such as Larry E. that we begin to get some numbers as to how widespread the issue truly is. Please consider reposting.

 

[codex57]

Pretty widespread. Consider Lemon Lawing it?

 

[BMV23]

Is this steptronic issue only applicable to new cars or something. Because i've never heard of it in the past

 

[Section_8]

BMV the problem with the steptronic seems to be focused around the '03 models, and only in extreme cold weather (right when getting into the car in the morning). Some folks were trying to also narrow it down to a certain series of cars based on time of production, or the factory they were assembled at, but I don't think that's produced a solid result.

I wonder if anyone 'not' living on the tundra we call the North (hehe), has this problem?

Really wierd that a BMW would have a cold start problem, Germany has much worse winters than the states, you'd think they'd 'breed' their car to withstand those kinds of weather better than say... a car from the East?

 

[LarryE]

Is this steptronic issue only applicable to new cars or something. Because i've never heard of it in the past

Only cars built with GM tranny in '03 and '04 model years.

 

[LarryE]

BMV the problem with the steptronic seems to be focused around the '03 models, and only in extreme cold weather (right when getting into the car in the morning). Some folks were trying to also narrow it down to a certain series of cars based on time of production, or the factory they were assembled at, but I don't think that's produced a solid result.

I wonder if anyone 'not' living on the tundra we call the North (hehe), has this problem?

Really wierd that a BMW would have a cold start problem, Germany has much worse winters than the states, you'd think they'd 'breed' their car to withstand those kinds of weather better than say... a car from the East?

I actually read of someone in FL that experienced the problem (might have been on Roadfly).

 

[bmwrocks]

I live in Florida and have the problem. It is worse when it is chiily, but I have experienced it at 70 degrees F also. I am not getting it fixed though until there is a definite fix as the current fixes don't seem to fix it 100% of the time.

Also, my window sticker says my tranny country of origin is Germany. Does that make it a GM? I thought the General Motors trannys were made in France? If that is the case then the problem is not isolated to GM trannys.

 

[E46_Driver]

the clouds begin to clear...

Seems to me the steptronic slippage issue is revealing itself to be isolated to a set production run and geographic allotment/delivery region. Thoughts and comments appreciated.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

bmw rocks why not get it fixed, it is under warranty, and the longer you wait the less warranty time you'll have on the supposed fix that BMW will provide in the future. I will say that it seems to me that BMW will never come out with a widespread fix since they claim it is experienced by a small number of 3series cars built in 2003 and initially in 2004, and in the words of the service department head "has nothing to do with my car" However, it is your choice and I am only asking what your logic behind it is, since I somewhat feel the same way about pointless service, and with the attitudes of the the service department feel ready to refuse the supposedly "new" reman tranny.

 

[LarryE]

Re: the clouds begin to clear...

Seems to me the steptronic slippage issue is revealing itself to be isolated to a set production run and geographic allotment/delivery region. Thoughts and comments appreciated.

I disagree. I have heard of cars that were delivered earlier this year as well as cars that were delivered in December that demonstrate this problem. Cars that were delivered to NY, PA, CT ... as well as FL. Note that many in the south may not be aware of this as the problem is less pronounced in warmer weather and BMW has not vountarily sent out recall notices (at least not yet).

 

[LarryE]

bmw rocks why not get it fixed, it is under warranty, and the longer you wait the less warranty time you'll have on the supposed fix that BMW will provide in the future. I will say that it seems to me that BMW will never come out with a widespread fix since they claim it is experienced by a small number of 3series cars built in 2003 and initially in 2004, and in the words of the service department head "has nothing to do with my car" However, it is your choice and I am only asking what your logic behind it is, since I somewhat feel the same way about pointless service, and with the attitudes of the the service department feel ready to refuse the supposedly "new" reman tranny.

I agree. Doesn't make sense to wait. Miles accumulate and you are that much closer to the mileage max that some states have for replacement under Lemon Law.

 

[sieben]

Re: Re: the clouds begin to clear...

I disagree. I have heard of cars that were delivered earlier this year as well as cars that were delivered in December that demonstrate this problem. Cars that were delivered to NY, PA, CT ... as well as FL. Note that many in the south may not be aware of this as the problem is less pronounced in warmer weather and BMW has not vountarily sent out recall notices (at least not yet).

That's true; it's everywhere. I guess that's because a large number of defective GM transmissions were shipped to BMW, and then were used everywhere. It would be interesting to know if both Germany-bulit and South Africa-built cars have the problem. I know Germany-built ones have this issue, since all xi's are built in Germany.

 

[Mick]

Search some of the other threads for lengthy discussion on this issue. It's a known issue with the '03 and '04 tranny's. There is a recall underway and you will be getting a full replacement of the faulty transmission with a brand new unit. It's taking time to get to all the cars, so be patient is what my dealer told me. You will get it fixed, it's a recall, ask your service manager for the details.

 

[bmwrocks]

Search some of the other threads for lengthy discussion on this issue. It's a known issue with the '03 and '04 tranny's. There is a recall underway and you will be getting a full replacement of the faulty transmission with a brand new unit. It's taking time to get to all the cars, so be patient is what my dealer told me. You will get it fixed, it's a recall, ask your service manager for the details.

This sounds like the avenue I am talking about. The last thing I am going to do is jump in and demand a fix when there is no surefire one being offered YET. I will be patient, I have plenty of warranty left (car has 6K miles and delivered in Sep 2003).

My logic is as follows: Based on all the experiences posted here, there have been at least two major fixes tried,
1. Clutch pack replacement
2. Entire tranny replacemnet

and even a third:
3. Reprogramming (early on in the problem)

I feel BMW will nail this down and have a consistent fix that will be used in a recall type fashion. Until that is the case, I am not into multiple major work on my vehicle. In fact the last call I made to my dealer about this, they wanted me to bring my car in so they could test it and THEN contact BMWNA if a problem is found. That is not what I would call nailing the problem down from the top. I am not going to let BMW use my car as part of their test bed for possible fixes. If you want to do that then that's your choice.

I do not feel I am screwing myself in any way if I don't let the monkeys dick around with my car on something as major as my transmission. No freakin way.

 

[Kirby]

Re: Re: Re: the clouds begin to clear...

That's true; it's everywhere. I guess that's because a large number of defective GM transmissions were shipped to BMW, and then were used everywhere. It would be interesting to know if both Germany-bulit and South Africa-built cars have the problem. I know Germany-built ones have this issue, since all xi's are built in Germany.

We'll need to hear from someone in the UK, Hong Kong, South Africa, Australia, etc. on the South African built cars. Only right hand drive cars are made in South Africa, according to a business associate of mine who lives and works in Johannesburg.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Kirby, how many times have you brought your car in for repair on the sliptronic... And has it been fixed?

 

[Kirby]

The car was in a total of four times:
1. Dealer could not reproduce, didn't follow my instructions to the letter.
2a. Dealer followed my instructions to the letter, experienced the problem.
2b. Car went back when a BMW NA tech came to reprogram the transmission.
2c. Car went back again for a 2nd try at reprogramming the transmission.
3. New (supposedly off-the-line brand new) transmission #1.
4. "New" (definitely remanufactured-saw the box myself) transmission #2.

I drove the car directly home last week after the 2nd transmission was installed. It has not been driven since due to the crappy weather, and it will probably stay in the garage until the snow melts - sometime in March.

If this transmission is bad, it will probably take like 2 minutes to engage after sitting that long!

By the way, I keep saying it, but the dealer has been really good throughout this whole problem...