[FuzzyLogik]

Hi all,

I've owned by E92 330d Auto for nearly 2 years now. Over the last few months I've noticed Drive mode feeling very sluggish, making me feel the need to shift to DS a lot just to get the car moving, especially from a standing start. It wasn't like this until recently. I've always shifted to DS at times when needed (if I wanted a quick get away), but now I find myself shifting in normal circumstances.

Early mornings feel like I'm killing the engine in D. My first journey is up a hill for 1/2 mile. When I start out in D the engine revs to 3500 and holds for a while then eventually changes to gear 3. If I press the accelerator more I just get more noise and not much more acceleration. It seems like the clutch slipping to me.

If I start in DS from cold the engine feels smoother and much better, but obviously the gear changes are harsh.

I know that D starts in 2nd, DS starts in first, but the sluggishness wasn't this noticeable before.

I've checked engine temps (via hidden menu) and I'm generally running between 84-89 once warmed up. Maybe a bit low? I've never checked before.

I have 2 months on BMW Warranty remaining, so would like to nail it for anything I can. I suspect something is wrong. Any thoughts? Something is not right.

Thanks

Steve

[mob17]

Whats your mileage? Have you ever done an ATF change?

[FuzzyLogik]

Milage is at 59,000.

I've not done an ATF change during my ownership. Service log also doesn't show a change.

How often should this be changed?

[mob17]

Well BMW state is filled for life, which is rubbish. ZF, the ones who make the gearbox, say every 60k. Here is the service info: http://www.zf.com/media/media/docume...hselkit_EN.pdf

Here is a link to the best price for the service kit i have found: http://www.incarmotorfactors.co.uk/e...sk0basic.html#

Its for the 6HP26 transmission. Its probably what you have but just double check on realoem. The link is for a genuin ZF kit. On the same website theres a cheaper non-genuine kit.

[tmarshall57]

Or go for the Meyle Kit at £165. It is just the same quality.

http://www.incarmotorfactors.co.uk/e...0000basic.html

[mob17]

Originally Posted by tmarshall57

Or go for the Meyle Kit at £165. It is just the same quality.

http://www.incarmotorfactors.co.uk/e...0000basic.html

Also a decent option. But for me i'd pay the extra £30ish for genuine ZF fluid. But thats just me.

By the way, you could go and complain to your dealer and they might update your gearbox software. They did that on mine but didn't do much.

[FuzzyLogik]

Thanks for the advice.

I presume the symptoms I have are consistent with ATF needing a change?

Do you think I'd have any luck pushing the dealer to do it under warranty? I'll try it one way or the other, but I suspect they will fob me off.

[JP.Williams]

Originally Posted by mob17

Well BMW state is filled for life, which is rubbish. ZF, the ones who make the gearbox, say every 60k. Here is the service info: http://www.zf.com/media/media/docume...hselkit_EN.pdf

Here is a link to the best price for the service kit i have found: http://www.incarmotorfactors.co.uk/e...sk0basic.html#

Its for the 6HP26 transmission. Its probably what you have but just double check on realoem. The link is for a genuin ZF kit. On the same website theres a cheaper non-genuine kit.

why didnt i see this last month! i spent over £130 (around there) on the oil alone from BMW!!

[FuzzyLogik]

JP.Williams what made you change the ATF? BMW recommendation? What was the total cost?

I'm not looking to do this myself, so it will be a garage/dealer job.

[mob17]

OP very much doubt BMW will do it. I haven't even tried with my local one because while they had my car they said my non oem alloys (still 19") were causing the problems! I mean thats just pure and utter bullshit!

I think member yoro had his ATF changed a while ago at A1BN specialists. Worth popping down if you're not too far. Looking at the ZF service info i posted it should be done anyway every 50-60k miles.

Just to note, on cold mornings its normal for the gearbox to hold revs until its warmed up.

[FuzzyLogik]

I've used a local independent BMW garage since I've had it (http://www.bmservicing.com). Any ideas what cost I might be expecting when I ask?

I'm used to the car warming up and holding revs, but this feels odd. It feels like it's warming up all the time and never gets there.

I like driving in DS and all but it's no good for my economy

[tmarshall57]

Originally Posted by FuzzyLogik

I've used a local independent BMW garage since I've had it (http://www.bmservicing.com). Any ideas what cost I might be expecting when I ask?

I'm used to the car warming up and holding revs, but this feels odd. It feels like it's warming up all the time and never gets there.

I like driving in DS and all but it's no good for my economy

I had my AT pan and fluid replaced at Darren Woods last summer. They quoted 2 hours labour and fitted in a couple of other things like topping up diff fluid and replacing fuel filter. I provided the parts. The bill was approx £100. AT pan and fluid cost me £161 from Incar Motor Factors.

This thread has very quickly moved from the problem you described to a change of ATF as the preferred solution. I would suggest an additional solution would be to reset the transmission memory/adaptations to default using INPA or DIS so that it can start learning again from scratch.

Given you have warranty and a serious fault could be expensive to cure I would take the fault up with the dealer.

[Dan-danGT]

From what I have read it sounds more like you either A are low on auto gearbox oil which will cause a slipping affect. Or B hold the throttle pedal down for 30+ seconds with the ignition on but engine off. That gets the gearbox to relearn itself. Some people say it don't but it does work for me!

[Reece]

Also whilst cold it sounds like its almost a clutch slipping, and should be changing gear but feels like its holding out ??????

When cold the auto boxes limit the torque to not damage something, if you search the forum there is some info on it somewere.

Obv if its doing it when its not cold then maybe as a few have suggested above

[FuzzyLogik]

Thanks all for the advise. Wise words from tmarshall57, I won't assume ATF change is the fix and will of course take this up with the dealer.

I'm booked in for a week on Wednesday to look at the problem. Earliest time I could get a courtesy car.

I just don't want to get fobbed off by the dealers. I know something is not right, it's not the same as when I bought it.

Since there are no alarms I suspect the dealers will say there is no problem. How do i convince them there is a problem?

[mob17]

Good luck with that. Dealers will do fuck all. My one tried to convince me its because of my non oem wheels. Fucking ridiculous.

[old grey steve]

We do shed loads of transmission oil services, procedure takes around 1.5 hours start to finish, however after the change (do fluid/sump & mechatronuc sleeve change)don't just drain the fluid as I've seen done many a time before even when the sumps been leaking drive the car as it is.

However before thus perhaps it's worth looking just to see if there's an issue say with the transmission signal itself ( D DS & M)will produce different reactions both DS & M will feel sharper, maybe in D something's gone awry, but on the general symptom might be worth getting thus done before changing the fluid just out if morbid curiosity to see if there's a communication issue when D is used. If so might come up as a gear switch, pressure solenoid internal fault, if you can get to a knowledgable Indy with an Autologic machine if a code pops up you can dial into the fault that open the recorded file with the vide, the mileage the fault actually was recorded, first came to light and will also if there is a fault show upon ignition cycle if the car has tried to self test/correct the fault, cats capable of doing this to an extent.

But after this carry out the fluid/sump change. You fluid will probably smell horid and will come out looking like this



Remember the sumps plastic



and has the filter inter grated into the casing



With the sump off this is what you don't see



hence why IMO this sealed for life statement sucks, but if it's sealed for life surely they'd be no BMW stock of fluid and sumps as they'd be no call for them to be held in accessible stock right?

Wrong I can call a sump in within 4 hours direct from BMW, likewise fluid can be obtained with ease in the same time factor or less as the dealers like us hold it in stock! So do they know something we don't?

Once done providing there's no faults I'd get the car driven in its current state to see the lie of the land you might find fluid sump filter change has helped if it has consider this option.

Like mobile phone there are updates for gearboxes the updates are in place due to various reasons but mainly psyches are developed for a variety of reasons but a software update plus clearing adaptations and going through a full gearbox relearn procedure(done with 2 technicians ideally)out on the road using the Autologic machine running a set sequence can transform the way the box works, though labour intensive this can be a viable and worthwhile route to go down.

Don't think that the key in the ignition for 30 seconds trick will do the business on the box(this operation could actually as they are connected make a difference/improvement but all this does is a basic throttle reset procedure)but on that side things sure it works.

But it's worth a go, it takes just 30 or so seconds of your time that's all and it might help a bit. Try and see.

[mob17]

OP even if an ATF change doesnt solve your issue, you should do that anyway as its a good maintenance job. Should be done every 50-60k.

[shrimpvende]

Sorry to hijack, but should I be looking into changing my manual transmission fluid? Car has done 97k with full BMW history, but obviously won't have been changed by them. What's a reasonable price to expect for this? Cheers