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Good luck!
I went to Fields BMW (Chicago area) Service today. I had called ahead so they were expecting me and knew why I was coming in.
A neanderthal service tech guy joins me for a test drive in my car to verify the problem. He (Skip) could not have been more rude, stubborn or just plain stupid. He immediately notices the 'shudder' when accelerating from a stop. He tells me (as we are driving) that it's probably the gas that is causing the delay, aka, shudder from a stop. He then tells me to run the car to empty, and fill it up with the highest grade of fuel. The gas in the tank was from the free fill-up the dealership provided when I got the car last week. Then, he claims that all the internet information is a lie and bogus. (of course)
Anyhow, I am going back on Tuesday and have a meeting with the service manager. I plan to tell them to fix the issue ASAP, or I am returning the car stat.
More to come.
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They subsequently tested a few more cars, and confirmed that each (same year and model as mine) had the delay issue.
I spoke to my sales rep the next morning, and I agreed to take the car and drive it for a few days, and to try to break it in. I drove it for the past week and a half, no changes, just mind numbingly annoying delays when driving. And on a few occasions, I couldn't accelerate quick enough. Safety issues now are first on my mind.
I plan to call the dealership Monday and discuss returning the car. There is no amount of 'breaking in the car' that will correct this problem.
What I find perplexing, is how could BMW release this car and engine to market?
Thoughts?
I don't know. My car is slightly improved...about 50%. Sometimes the transmission is OK; other times it is still jerky in the first 2 or 3 gears. There is still a delay when trying to pass. My transmission was supposedly re-programmed at about 7500 miles. I now have about 10,500 miles. They said that the transmission was re-learning my driving style after programming.
I have a friend who was an auto engineer for a major manufacturer. He said the transmissions are software driven and very complex and that the problem is probably faulty software which needs further "tweaking". I recently had an "oil low" warning light and the steering wheel did not return to the pre-set position. Naturally, they found nothing wrong. Hopefully, they will come out with further software upgrades....soon.
The dealer indicated that this software update was only just recently available to them and that they had only done one other car (successfully they said). Anyone with this problem might check with their dealer and indicate that there have been successful changes made to correct this transmission flaw.
1 0 1 7 7 V E H I C L E S O F T W A R E L E V E L @ I S T A 2 . 4 1 . + .
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The above jibberish is what they told me when I requested the software version. My transmission is improved but intermittently it is still jerky at lower speeds. I will check with the dealer next week to see if a newer transmission software version is available.
Good luck. bmwowner5
If you have any other information on this problem, I would appreciate your help.
Thanks
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Those of you hoping and waiting for some software fix, I would suggest you give up hope. After a year of talking to BMW people at dealerships and corporate, this tranny is just the way it is, which is a pretty substandard experience for a $50K+ BMW.
Some cars are better than others (I have driven several during the past year) and some drivers are more tolerant of the low speed jerking and fishing for the right gear that the transmission goes through, but this issue permeates all 2011 535i's in some form.
My experience with BMW on this will probably cause me to not buy any more BMW's for a long, long time.
I know this thread is old but I am sitting in my dealership at Brian Harris BMW in Baton Rouge. The jerkiness of the car and the slow starts are annoying for such a "well-made" expensive machine. I hope they correct the transmission problem and do not try and get me to pay for it. I was told that I may have to pay even though the preowned car was purchased just two days ago. Hoping for the best as I sit here. Will update after I hear back from the service department.
UPDATE:
Car needs a 350 dollar part. I asked if they were going to cover it and he said "we're going to try and help you" - part takes three days to arrive. I will continue to edit before posting my final commentary.
My Transmission Malfunction light finally came on yesterday as car was downshifting in Sport Mode. It had downshifted roughly during deacceleration. Then it went into "limp mode".
The bumpy acceleration/deacceleration problem has existed prior to & following BMW's extended warranty expiration. Issue usually goes away after a day's driving, sometimes it's two or three months between occurances. Now to call BMW customer service. Hope to get some assistance; if not, this will be my first & last BMW.