GVWR: Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)
Make: BMW
Manufacturer: BMW M GMBH
Manufacturer Id: 967
Model: M3
Model Year: 2009
Other Restraint System Info: Dual-stage suppl. restraint system (SRS) certified to the advanced airbag requiremnets of FMVSS 208, S14.
Plant City: Regensburg
Plant Country: Germany
Seat Belts All: Manual
Series: 3 - Series
TPMS: Direct
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 2009 BMW M3 COUPE WITH THE DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION (DCT). I AM EXPERIENCING MAJOR SHIFT LAG TRYING TO REACCELERATE AFTER SLOWING DOWN. BASICALLY, THE 2ND GEAR WILL FAIL TO CATCH / ENGAGE WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING THE CAR STALL FOR A SECOND OR TWO. AFTER THAT, THE GEAR WILL ENGAGE ABRUPTLY AND I WILL BE PULLED VIOLENTLY FORWARD. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL NEAR-ACCIDENT SITUATIONS: 1. I ALMOST REAR-ENDED SOMEONE WHEN THE GEAR ENGAGED ABRUPTLY WITH THE CAR JERKING FORWARD AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN IT TURNED GREEN AS I WAS APPROACHING, SLOWING DOWN TO 2ND GEAR. 2. I WAS ALMOST T-BONED AT A NON-REGULATED INTERSECTION. I WAS SLOWING DOWN WHEN APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION. THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR FOR ME AND ABOUT 1/4 WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION, I SAW A VEHICLE SPEEDING DOWN TOWARDS THE INTERSECTION ON MY LEFT. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF THE INTERSECTION BUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE FOR A FULL 2 SECONDS. I BARELY MISSED THE VEHICLE T-BONING INTO MY CAR. THERE IS NO APPARENT EVENTS THAT HAVE LED UP TO THE FAILURE. THE CAR BEHAVES LIKE THAT ON THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT. THIS FAILURE WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME I LEAVE THE CAR IN AUTOMATIC MODE, SO THAT THE CAR'S COMPUTER WILL DOWNSHIFT FOR ME. I ALREADY BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THE POTENTIAL SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS, BUT THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED THAT BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT CLAIMING THAT IT IS NORMAL TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO TO CORRECT IT. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND I AM ASTONISHED THAT BMW WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO RECTIFY ITS PROBLEM. *TR