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BMW X3 hesitation on acceleration
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Hesitation was practically all gone. Lately it has gotten worse again.
Almost got clocked while making left turn into gas station today. I had plenty of room to make left turn, but it lunged forward slightly, then nothing!!!!! Then the oncoming traffic was approaching, and beeping their horn. All of a sudden, I got power, and the tires chirpped!
it is weird-you push the gas down, and it does not respond.
Not safe!
I am not happy. I bought it April of 2007. It has been in for this problem at least 5 times.
It is going in again-this time for good!
I want a new vehicle-this is a lemon!
You previously mentioned that your jeep was better than the x3 and had starting problems so many times.
So didn't the dealer take your car back?
So what car will you be considering I am definitely thinking about lexus now how about you?
Repair sheet says "software update to DME with V30", so if you still have your X3, call your service guy and press to get this update.
It happens to me about once every week or two. I'll be waiting to make a left turn without a light (i have a few of these turns on my commute) and when it's my turn I inch up, and, if I have the opening, I hit the gas. The car will go forward, but then give up; hitting the gas does nothing. This leaves me in the middle of the road unable to accelerate, cars coming at me in both directions. After a few seconds of flooring it, the transmission engages again and I lurch forward, out of harm's way, shaking a little.
A new car (regardless of brand) should be responsive, no matter what your driving style, and under no circumstance leave you without power. I used to think I was the only one, but thanks to this forum, I feel a little less crazy. My lease is up at the end of the year, so it's not worth trying to get anything more than the software patch out of my dealer. I certainly won't be getting another X3, and I will add my voice to the NTHSB complaints list.
My wife and I have driven it about 1000 miles and it has shifted perfectly and predictably every time so far.
I drive it with a very light foot and get good mileage and have found that heavy foot pressure is not required to make the 260 hp rocket take off.
My wife drives with a heavier foot and has reported no issues to me.
Just another data point.
How did the buy back with BMW go? My service director at the dealership made the comment "you really don't want to go that route".
Thanks!
BMW are a bunch of morons who refuse to admit there is a problem with the cars and their software fixes do [non-permissible content removed].
BMWNA knows there is a problem and puts up barriers in hopes you will give up. If all else fails get a Lemon Lawyer. They are free for the consumer. Document everything down to the times you have called. Persistance is the key to resolution.
funny part is, i have x3 2008 rental, drives great without any problem for two weeks now .....
Good luck to you.
I had an '04 325i and kick myself every time I get into my X3(not an easy task). I loved that car. It was everything I expected a BMW to be. Handled like a race car, not blindingly fast, but I couldn't keep it under 80, 25 mpg,,,ahhh The X3 is not. It handles like a car, rides like a truck and thumps across smooth pavement. I won't miss it when my lease is up. Thank God it's only a lease.
I have had the latest software update, but it still does not shift like it should. BMW screwed this one up. I can't help but be a little suspicious of your comments about the shoes and pressing the pedal, since they were the first things my dealership accused me of....I've been driving too long to fall for such nonsense from someone like a service writer.
Any resolution to your x3 problem?? I'm having the same exact problem with mine. This would be a fantastic vehicle if the tranny worked correctly. I've been in numerous times to have it "reprogrammed". I've have numerous 'near misses' with other cars and I've almost ended up on someones trunk when the car surged while stopped at a red light. The only reason I didn't get tossed into the side of a building one night is because my foot was firmly on the brake. How long have I been complaining? A year and a half! When it is "fixed" the "fix" will last for anywhere from 3 days to a month before it reverts back to it's old ways. I've spent two thirds of my lease driving the Ultimate Driving Machine with a transmission problem! BMWNA finallyyyyyyyyy got the district guy into evaluate the car. Good news is, they sent him in right after it was "fixed", so, "...no faults were found. The vehicle is operating as designed". Well dahhhhh. Of course, the dealer(s) are saying they're independent so this is BMWNAs issue. I went through an issue such as this 20+yrs ago. Here's my bottom line. NEVER DEAL WITH A CAR ISSUE WITHOUT A LAWYER! I've been stupid enough to think I would be delt with as a valued "customer with a real mechanical problem". Car companies do not deal with people that way, they wear them down through attrition until they give up. Then again, that's what I get for buying a "cheap" car, right?
I'm also looking at the option of putting a sign on the side of my car and driving the streets in front of the dealership. I know the dealers are independent, but I really don't care anymore.
I'll keep this short. Mine has almost gotten me in numerous accidents. Dealers have told me there's a problem with mine and other X3s (hell, we all know there's a problem). BMWNA says ***the vehicle is operating as designed***. I've done this there way for over a year only to be told (again) ***the vehicle is operating as designed***. I finally wised up last week and hired a lawyer. If you're having these problems get yourself legal help now!
I urge you don't buy the BMW, your buying yourself a head ache., big time... I need a SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFE CAR and DEPENDABLE... CAR.. BUT people buy BMW because they need a bigger halo...
Our BMW still in the dealer, called us, coordinator said,, we can't duplicate the problem.. the've been saying that for a whole week...
I buy a Chinese bike before buying another BMW...............
I haven't had it happen for months now, so not worried. When you mentioned that the 07 has a six speed trany and starts out in first now makes me wonder if thats what they did to eliminate the hesitation in drive mode from starting in 2nd gear? but you still have a problem. If I remember rite someone has a post explaining that when your foot comes off the accelerator the x models are supposed to shunt fuel to save gas, I wouldn't doubt since the vehicle seems to run on more software than it should that the system could could be shunting more fuel in your vehicle, not an expert but something to look into.
My problem was traced to extra force because of shoddily-glued felt strips in the guide channels on either side of the window (inside the door). Some contact cement and some bad words and that was straightened out.... Have fun! (the pop sounds like the plastic clip breaking or the metal arm popping out of it.)
Even if you're not in CA, I'd appreciate the info.
Thanks.
Rule #2 See rule #1
I'm tempted to add a #3 don't trust BMW because they really distinguished themselves by never acknowledging the issue or ever fully fixing it for affected drivers.
My best advice for you is to thoroughly test drive it. Politely ask the salesperson to remain silent if it's distracting and be sure you get more than a once-around-the-block chance to see how it handles. You would principally notice it has a hesitation in acceleration when starting from a dead stop or a very rough 'herky jerky' sensation when accelerating from low speeds. Mine also is noticable when slowing down to lower speeds then suddenly accelerating, as if you were preparing to stop for a red light then it turned green before you made it to the intersection.
Best of luck, it's still a great car but you don't want to be surprised.
Now, back to my point. If your X3 has this problem you will not only be risking an accident, you'll be mad as hell that you're paying for something that's not the way it should be. As mad as you'll be over that it's nothing compared to what you'll feel after being tossed overboard by BMWNA once they tell you the vehicle is operating as designed when they know full well it's got a problem. All the forums on the web, the NHTSA site as well as local dealers who will admit there's a problem can be found with little effort.
I've never seen a company put so much effort into driving people away from a brand. My opinion is to either have an attorney on retainer or go with someone else.
I had just purchased it pre-owned and they said it was simply a "unusual mechanical issue" and the car was fine. "We've never heard of this happening before....." I still had almost 2 years of warranty left, but I was having nothing of that so they took it back.
So in the mean time, I did more research and have seen many threads about this transmission problem, and I drove several more to get my confidence back. I drove a couple of 2007's and 2008's and never noticed this transmission hesitation problem in any of them, at all.
What I ended up with is an '07 with 22K miles on it. It has the sports package with the M3 detailing and I'm thrilled with it. With the tighter suspension, it drives like an "ultimate driving machine" and I have absolutely no issues with the transmission or anything else for that matter. (Well, the "climate control" doesn't work very well as far as I'm concerned and the blue tooth sorts my phone book in a strange order, but other than that....) I live in Colorado so when it's really slippery, I use the manual transmission anyway, and it hugs the road.
So a) they are not all like that, and b) if anyone has any input on the climate control and blue tooth deal, I'd be happy to hear about it.