X3 Tried to Kill Me

[trueX5er]

I was waiting at a busy intersection to turn left in the X3. There was no light, and I was waiting at least 7 minutes when I finally found a small gap in the traffic. I floored the gas all the way, and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! After a second and a half, I completely lifted my foot up, and only then did I lurch forward into the path of a Ford Explorer. So back on the gas, and with just a tap I launch like a bat of of hell, complete with tire squeal. Only tapping the gas.

The X3 will be visiting the dealer shortly.

[FSETH]

Glad to hear you didn't get t-boned! Let us know what the issue was.

[trueX5er]

The issue is, and has always been, a poorly programmed transmission. There have been several TSBs to fix it, but they are only patches.

[primetime]

Originally Posted by trueX5er

The issue is, and has always been, a poorly programmed transmission. There have been several TSBs to fix it, but they are only patches.

Sorry to hear that...that is extremely dangerous and I would not be happy. Especially if that was your significant other or a family member driving it...

[motordavid]

Glad you ok...regretably a more than an anomaly complaint on
this X3 board and B'fest X3 board, as you probably know.

Hope you get the trans/prog. fixed at your fave stlr.
GL,mD

[Ishniknork]

My '05 with the 5 speed auto did something similar to me... once. It was only a few months old and has never happened again.

Same situation as you, waiting to turn left across traffic. Hit the gas at an open spot, not floored, but a fair amount of throttle. Mine lurched forward instantly and then just stopped going like I had let off the gas. After a second or two I did let off the gas and hit the brake because I wasn't in the traffic lane yet. Scared the **** out of me though!

I never did take it in for re-programming or anything, I chalked it up to the "learning" process the trans software has. Ever since that ONE time it has been fine.

[trueX5er]

Thanks for the kind words....although the Explorer had time to stop of they needed to, it still scared the sh!t out of me.

Ish: as you have probably read at the Bfest X3 forum, the 6sp has its own issues separate from the 5sp.

My experience was different because I floored it all the way (past the depression point) and not even a lurch, nothing. Only after I let go did it start to move....which has sometimes happened (slight delay) but never to this extent.
But I am fine, and the X3 will be getting a much needed dealer visit!

[FSETH]

Wow! That seems like an issue BMW really needs to fix for good. That is a lawsuit waiting to happen. I have to be honest, I am a big BMW nut, but I would refuse to drive a car that is known to have that problem and I wouldn't be happy with any of my friends or family members behind the wheel either. That is one issue that can end someones life in a hurry. I am OK with other reliabilty issues, but that can be very serious. If that happened to me and it was a common issue, there would be another model BMW in my garage the next day. That is unacceptable from BMW or any car manufacturer for that matter.

[AzNMpower32]

If the dealer can't (won't) fix it, ditch it now and go buy a pre-facelift one. Or one with a manual gearbox. This is old advice from Bimmerfest. Heck, I requested the mod to create a sticky just for this issue.

For all who aren't familar, the '07-early '08s have issues with the new 6-speed automatic. Not all of them are bad, but a sizeable portion are.

[trueX5er]

Issues today. I was taking a corner very quickly and kind of sharply (but nothing dangerous) and I set off the DSC. About a mile later, I needed to accelerate very quickly to pass a dump truck which was spilling dirt all over the road. I pressed the accelerator to the depression point.....and nothing. Push past, it drops a gear, and I rocket off. Not to mention it has been very jerky in the past few weeks around town. And I set off the ABS twice today after that, while stopping at very slow speeds, which has never happened before. I'm going to have them check out the car (and keep it) when I go in for service.......