2008 BMW M3 Transmission Problems

I OWN A 2008 BMW M3 WITH DCT TRANSMISSION. WHEN IN AUTO MODE AND YOU SLOW DOWN AND THEN WISH TO ACCELERATE THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN LUNGES FORWARD. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR OR COULD CRASH INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. THEIR NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. VIN NUMBER [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10343436

Incident

Jul 15, 2010

Mileage

1,500 mi

THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP CONTROL. THE DANGER IN THIS BEHAVIOR OCCURS WHEN MAKING A TURN INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 10-15 MPH. AFTER THE TURN, THE CAR IS POSITIONED IN THE TRAFFIC LANE, BUT YOU HAVE NO POWER TO ACCELERATE INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE ONCOMING CARS ARE NOW CLOSING IN ON YOUR CAR AT A FAST RATE, AND YOU'RE BASICALLY STUCK. THIS SITUATION IS MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE "AUTO" MODE OF THE DCT TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO OCCURS TO A LESSER DEGREE WHILE IN THE MANUAL MODE WHEN YOU SELECT SECOND GEAR IN PREPARATION FOR THE TURN. IT IS ALSO VERY REPEATABLE IN BOTH MODES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328416

Incident

Dec 10, 2009

Mileage

8,000 mi

I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOUR ORGANIZATION TAKING AN INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT BMWNA IS WELL AWARE OF, BUT INSISTS THAT IT IS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR" FOR MY CAR/TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE IT, BUT THEY WERE TOLD BY BMW THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR." THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP CONTROL. THE DANGER IN THIS BEHAVIOR OCCURS WHEN MAKING A TURN INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 10-15 MPH. AFTER THE TURN, THE CAR IS POSITIONED IN THE TRAFFIC LANE, BUT YOU HAVE NO POWER TO ACCELERATE INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE ONCOMING CARS ARE NOW CLOSING IN ON YOUR CAR AT A FAST RATE, AND YOU'RE BASICALLY STUCK. THIS SITUATION IS MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE "AUTO" MODE OF THE DCT TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO OCCURS TO A LESSER DEGREE WHILE IN THE MANUAL MODE WHEN YOU SELECT SECOND GEAR IN PREPARATION FOR THE TURN. IT IS ALSO VERY REPEATABLE IN BOTH MODES. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURRING AFTER A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL UNDER HARD BRAKING OR NOT SHIFT UNDER HARD BRAKING. THE RECALL FIXED THAT PROBLEM, BUT INTRODUCED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH OCCURS ALMOST EVERY DAY WHEREAS THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED DURING A SPECIFIC SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS DANGEROUS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10324666

Incident

Apr 7, 2010

Mileage

1 mi

HESITATION IN THE AUTOMATIC MODE WHEN DECREASING SPEED THEN TRYING TO INITIATE A TURN. FOR EXAMPLE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50MPH THEN BRAKING TO TURN LEFT, ONCE BRAKING OCCURS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION WILL OCCUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC HITTING YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10313479

Incident

Feb 21, 2010

Mileage

6,503 mi

2008 E92 M3 WITH M-DCT TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION TENDS TO "LAG" AFTER MEDIUM TO HARD BRAKING CAUSING UNRESPONSIVENESS TO THROTTLE FOR 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE EITHER 1)SLOWLY REGAINING THROTTLE, OR 2)SUDDEN FORWARD JERK. BMW HAS TRIED UPDATING THE M-DCT SOFTWARE, WHICH SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BEFORE STARTING TO OCCUR AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312939

Incident

Jan 14, 2010

DESPITE MULTIPLE SOFTWARE UPDATES TO CORRECT THIS FLAW MY M-DCT (AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION) CAR STILL EXHIBITS A DELAY BETWEEN THROTTLE APPLICATION AND ANY RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE. FOR A SMALL PERIOD OF TIME THE VEHICLE IS UTTERLY UNRESPONSIVE TO THE THROTTLE INPUT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING TO A NEAR STOP. THE LACK OF ACCELERATION CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD IN MANY CASES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312891

Incident

Feb 21, 2010

Mileage

30,000 mi

SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR PRODUCES LAG AND UPON ACCELERATING THE CAR JERKS AND JUMPS FORWARD, WHICH IS SCARY IN TRAFFIC AND ABSOLUTELY A BIG SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10302125

Incident

Jan 23, 2010

Mileage

11,345 mi

I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOUR ORGANIZATION TAKING AN INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT BMWNA IS WELL AWARE OF, BUT INSISTS THAT IT IS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR" FOR MY CAR/TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE IT, BUT THEY WERE TOLD BY BMW THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR." THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP CONTROL. THE DANGER IN THIS BEHAVIOR OCCURS WHEN MAKING A TURN INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 10-15 MPH. AFTER THE TURN, THE CAR IS POSITIONED IN THE TRAFFIC LANE, BUT YOU HAVE NO POWER TO ACCELERATE INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE ONCOMING CARS ARE NOW CLOSING IN ON YOUR CAR AT A FAST RATE, AND YOU'RE BASICALLY STUCK. THIS SITUATION IS MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE "AUTO" MODE OF THE DCT TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO OCCURS TO A LESSER DEGREE WHILE IN THE MANUAL MODE WHEN YOU SELECT SECOND GEAR IN PREPARATION FOR THE TURN. IT IS ALSO VERY REPEATABLE IN BOTH MODES. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURRING AFTER A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL UNDER HARD BRAKING OR NOT SHIFT UNDER HARD BRAKING. THE RECALL FIXED THAT PROBLEM, BUT INTRODUCED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH OCCURS ALMOST EVERY DAY WHEREAS THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED DURING A SPECIFIC SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS DANGEROUS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298037

Incident

Sep 1, 2008

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 SEDAN, BUILT 2/08, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW IN JULY, 2008. IT HAS A DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS AS FOLLOWS. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION OR DELAY BETWEEN STEPPING ON THE GAS, AND GETTING THE CAR TO GO, WHEN I HAVE SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP, THEN WANT TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. IT IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. IN WYOMING IN LATE JUNE, 2009, FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS COMING FROM A SIDE ROAD ONTO A MAIN HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO STOP SIGN FOR ME, JUST A RIGHT CURVE IN THE ROAD I WAS ON, THEN MERGE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY. THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR BECAUSE I HAD SLOWED DOWN FOR THE CURVE. AS I TURNED RIGHT AND STEPPED ON THE GAS, NOTHING, IT SEEMED LIKE FOR A SECOND OR TWO. ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS MOVING ALONG AT A FAST SPEED, AND I ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED BEFORE THE MOTOR FINALLY RESPONDED TO THROTTLE INPUT. I THINK THIS IS DANGEROUS. WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS, THE MOTOR SHOULD RESPOND IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT LAG TIME. IT SEEMS LIKE SOME COMPUTER IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. MAYBE THERE IS A SOFTWARE FIX. WHATEVER IT IS, IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284611

Incident

Jun 30, 2009

Mileage

14,000 mi

2008 M3 DCT LAG PROBLEM. AT LOWER SPEEDS THE GEARBOX TAKES TO MUCH TIME TO SELECT A GEAR (LIKE COMING THROUGH A SLOW CORNER) AND THEN AFTER THE LAG AND IT "CATCHES" AGAIN THERE IS USUALLY A JERKY ACCELERATION. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A TRANSMISSION TO DRIVE THIS WAY. HAPPENS MORE IN "D" MODE BUT ALSO IN REGULAR MODE ESPECIALLY IN 2ND GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277593

Incident

Jul 17, 2009

Mileage

8,100 mi

I HAVE THE DCT TRANSMISSION WITH MY 2008 BMW M3 AND THE LAG IS VERY UNSAFE. DEALER SAYING NO FIX AND PROBLEM NOT UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275817

Incident

Sep 29, 2008

Mileage

5,000 mi

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION. EVER SINCE BMW INSTALLED A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO FIX A SIMILAR NHTSA ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, MY CAR SUFFERS FROM A SUDDEN POWER LOSS WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 10MPH, AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THIS LEADS TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE AND TRAFFIC AROUND ME CONTINUES TO MOVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10274382

Incident

Jun 8, 2009

Mileage

11,605 mi

WHILE DECELERATING IN 2ND OR 1ST GEAR UNDER LIGHT BRAKING THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A LOSS OF POWER FOR TWO TO THREE SECONDS. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS HAPPENED MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANE. HAD ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEEN CLOSER WHEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT MID SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BMW REPORTS THAT THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR OF THIS TRANSMISSION HOWEVER I FEEL IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266854

Incident

Feb 28, 2009

Mileage

2,000 mi

ISSUE WITH THROTTLE NOT RESPONDING WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION CAR (2008 BMW M3). THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT RENDERS THE CAR UNRESPONSIVE TO THROTTLE INPUT AND THEREFORE INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265216

Incident

Apr 13, 2009

Mileage

1,200 mi

THE CAR HAS A DANGEROUS THROTTLE LAG AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO FASTER TRAFFIC, IT CAUSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE FOR UP TO 2 SECONDS. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED A COUPLE TIMES. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION, I HAVE RECENTLY GOTTEN A RECENT SOFTWARE UPDATE WHICH IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR. BMW CURRENTLY IS NOT OFFERING A SOLUTION AND CALLING THE PROBLEM NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265158

Incident

Apr 6, 2009

MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH THE "DCT" TRANSMISSION. AT LOWER SPEEDS, THERE IS A DELAY OF 1+ SECONDS IN THROTTLE RESPONSE IN "D MODE" (SIMILAR TO AN AUTOMATIC MODE). THIS HAS LEFT ME IN LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS SEVERAL TIMES IN INTERSECTIONS WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND ONCOMING CARS. I FEEL I CANNOT TRUST THE VEHICLE TO MOVE WHEN I NEED IT TO. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I WAS NEARLY STRUCK ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER REPEATEDLY FOR THIS ISSUE AND AM ONLY REFERRED TO BMW SI B 28 07 08 AS AN EXPLANATION, WHICH IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10265086

Incident

Apr 13, 2009

Mileage

15 mi

I HAVE A 08 BMW M3 WITH DCT TRANSMISSION. IT RECEIVED A SOFTWARE UPDATE MONTHS AGO TO FIX A TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PATTERN. IT DID SOLVE THAT ISSUE BUT IT CREATED A MUCH WORSE ONE. THE CAR NOW, WHEN DECELERATING FROM NORMAL SPEEDS AND REACHES A SPEED WHERE IT SHOULD BE ENGAGING INTO 2ND GEAR, IT DOES NOT FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME. THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE IS WHEN I SLOW DOWN AT AN INTERSECTION, COME OUT OF STREET AND MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, TRY TO MAKE A U-TURN, TURN INTO A BUSINESS ETC. THIS CREATES A SCENARIO THAT IF YOU ARE AT A BUSY ROAD AND LETS SAY DOING 45 MPH AND YOU SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN TO A SLOW SPEED THAT YOU CAR SHOULD ENGAGE 2 OR 3RD GEAR AND IT SITS THERE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AND IT SEEMS TO BE "LOOKING" FOR A GEAR TO CHOOSE AND IT SIMPLY DOES NOT RESPOND. TO TRY TO COMPENSATE, THE NATURAL REACTION IS TO STEP ON THE GAS A BIT MORE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE CAR THEN, WHEN IT DECIDES TO ENGAGE 2ND GEAR, LURCHES FORWARDS IN A VERY ABRUPT MANNER. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO SINCE THAT PAUSE IS A GREAT DEAL OF DISTANCE TRAVELED BY THE CAR BEHIND YOU AND IT KEEPS GOING. THE LAG IN THE TRANSMISSION CREATES DRASTIC VOID IN POWER AND THERE YOU SIT LIKE A FISH IN A BARREL HOPING A CAR OR AN 18-WHEELER DOES NOT HIT YOU FROM BEHIND. I HAVE HAD 3 VERY CLOSE TIMES MAKING A U-TURN IN A BUSY STREET THAT MY CAR WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED WITH A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT! ONCE IT CREATED ROAD RAGE WITH THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK THAT ALMOST HIT ME AND THE OTHER PERSON ENDED UP IN THE MEDIAN AS TO NOT HIT ME. BMW HAS CHOSEN TO BE NON-COMMUNICATIVE WITH ITS CUSTOMERS AND EVEN STATING THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR A DCT TRANSMISSION WHICH IS NOT. THIS DID NOT EXIST BEFORE THE LAST SOFTWARE UPDATE 31.2. IT IS VERY CONCERNING THAT BMW HAS TAKING THIS STANCE. I 'M AN AVID AUTO ENTHUSIAST & AN ER DOC AND TRUST ME THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT IF THEY DO NOT FIX THIS SOON PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10265062

Incident

Apr 7, 2009

2008 BMW M3 DCT THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE ON OCTOBER 2008. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS A SEVERE LAG ISSUE UPON BRAKING THEN ACCELERATING AGAIN. THE THROTTLE DOES NOT RESPOND FOR A 1-2 SECONDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265050

Incident

Oct 31, 2008

Mileage

900 mi

TIME DELAY IN SHIFTING OR LAG WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265025

Incident

Apr 10, 2009

Mileage

6,400 mi

WHENEVER THE CAR IS MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, THERE IS A LAG BETWEEN THE MOMENT THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AND THE TIME THE CAR ACTUALLY STARTS ACCELERATING. THUS, DURING THIS LAG, THERE IS NO POWER TO THE CAR! THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10264753

Incident

Apr 8, 2009

Mileage

7,000 mi

2008 BMW M3 W/DCT - I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND HAD SLOWED TO MAYBE 5MPH WHEN TRAFFIC ON THE OTHER SIDE HAD OPENED ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TURN, I PRESSED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR DID NOTHING BUT CONTINUE TO ROLL AT ABOUT 5MPH TOWARDS THE DRIVEWAY IN THE ON-COMING LANES, WHERE THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE QUICKLY APPROACHING. AFTER ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS OF HESITATION THE GEAR ENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND NARROWLY AVOID BEING BROADSIDED BY ON-COMING TRAFFIC. HAD THE HESITATION BEEN FOR ANY LONGER, TRAFFIC BEEN MOVING ANY FASTER, OR THERE BEING ANY LESS OF A GAP IN TRAFFIC, I WOULD HAVE EITHER OF BEEN HIT, OR CAUSED THE ON-COMING DRIVERS TO HAVE LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES POSSIBLY CAUSING THEM TO BE REAR-ENDED. THIS TRANSMISSION HESITATION IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE AND IS ALWAYS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN IF MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER DRIVES THE VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT I REGRET NOT GETTING A STANDARD MANUAL WHERE I AM AT LEAST IN FULL CONTROL OF WHEN/IF THE CLUTCH ENGAGES AND AM IN MY SELECTED GEAR AS QUICKLY AS MY ARM CAN MOVE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS HESITATION, THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT ISSUE SINCE THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE, I BELIEVE I HAVE SOFTWARE VERSION 31.2. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263966

Incident

Apr 2, 2009

Mileage

4,800 mi

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 WITH A DCT TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY HAS A LAG WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM ROLLING STOPS AND WHEN MERGING. I BELIEVE THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO LOSS OF POWER AT THE WHEELS, ESP. IN HIGH SPEED SITUATIONS, IE WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO BUSY HIGHWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261907

Incident

Mar 13, 2009

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF HAS MANY ERRORS IN SECOND GEAR. IF YOU SLOW DOWN ALMOST TO A STOP AND PUT YOUR FOOT BACK ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN IN INTERSECTIONS WHILE TURNING LEFT BEFORE. WHEN YOU'VE GOT CARS COMING AT YOU AT HIGH SPEED AND YOU'VE GOT NO POWER, IT WILL DEFINITELY GET YOUR HEART BEATING A LITTLE FASTER FOR A MINUTE. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT REALLY IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT ANY DCT DRIVER CAN REPLICATE EASILY. BMW NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A VIABLE SOLUTION EVEN IF IT MEANS HAVING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS, AND IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN SOON. FOR AS MUCH AS THE UPGRADE COSTS, IT SHOULD WORK THE WAY THEY ADVERTISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10260768

Incident

Mar 3, 2009

Mileage

1 mi

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 EQUIPPED WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION AND MY ISSUE IS THE LAG WITH 2-3 GEARS, THIS IS MY DAILY COMMUTER CAR AND FOR SOME ONE WHO IS STUCK IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AND 45 MILES EACH WAY I CANT NOT DRIVE MY CAR ANY MORE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I'VE BECOME REALLY FRUSTRATED BY THIS BEHAVIOR. IT'S NOT AT ALL INTERMITTENT -- IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR DROPS INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN SLOWING (AND NOT COMPLETELY STOPPING). DECELERATING TO TURN CORNERS IS AN EXERCISE IN FRUSTRATION (ESPECIALLY WITH PASSENGERS IN THE CAR) BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE OUT OF THE CORNER RIGHT AWAY... AND IF IT DOES, IT DOES SO RAPIDLY, THROWING EVERYONE'S HEADS INTO THE HEADRESTS. I'VE TRIED UPSHIFTING TO THIRD GEAR, BUT THERE'S A LAG IN THAT AS WELL IF I'VE ALREADY GIVEN THE CAR SOME GAS. I'VE HAD THE FIRST SOFTWARE UPDATE PERFORMED WHICH HAS NOT DONE MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259911

Incident

Feb 7, 2009

Mileage

9,400 mi

AFTER SLOWING FOR A YIELD SIGN, PRESSED ACCELERATOR AND THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE, FOLLOWED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION. BUMPED TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME DURING THE SURGE. CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST REARENDED ME WHEN MY CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258881

Incident

Feb 14, 2009

Mileage

4,500 mi