Well, trouble is still just around the corner...
Just 3 months now that I got home with a brand new E60 520d; When driving at slow speed, and low engine RPMs (around 1000 / 1200 RPM), there are some kind of irreguarities with the transmission. Just some kind of small shocks, or kickbacks. There is no abnormality with the RPMs (I mean, they don't bounce up and down); and as soon as I go over 1200 RPMs, the problem is gone....
I assume I will be heading for the dealer pretty soon, but do any one of you have any hints about this issue.....

 

I think it's because you drive the car at low speeds, i a too high gear. It's a manual gearbox right?

Does the enginen behave like this in all gears (1-2) ? Or only 3-6 ?

PS: Please update your profile with your location!

 

Thanks for your help, but I am unsure about your issue:
- Engine never behaves like this on first gear
- behaves like this as soon as I go for 2nd gear (but also on 3rd when driving smoothly), driving around 40-50km/h (driving in 1st at this speed would mean driving at around 2000 and above RPMs I guess).
Or does this mean that ALL BMW engines behave like this at light throttle ? That would be pretty reassuring for me, but somewhat awkward don't you think ?

 

No, gasoline BMW engines don't do this.

I think you should contact your dealer.
That feature don't feel right to me.

 

When I first had my 520d I noticed a slight hesitation / shunting at about 1800 / 2000rpm. It happened on light throttle ie sitting in traffic at a constant speed and lightly feathering the throttle
(My car is a manual BTW). The first dealer said it was the particle filter regenerating and was normal. In the end I took it to another dealer and they performed a software upgrade, must have been on the ECU?. Anway the car now behaves fine, I get a slight hesitation now and again but this IS when the particle filter is regenerating and is very very slight. Take the car back and insist they update your software / ECU, it makes a huge difference.
I also find that using BP Ultimate Diesel makes the car even smoother, mine has done nearly 10,000miles and is really starting to loosen up.

Good luck

 

I suspect you may have the same problem as me when the particule filter cleans itself. I have the same slight variation of the engine at light throttle. At the same time, the exhaust makes a more grave sound.

I never told me dealer about this problem. I just push a little bit more on the throttle to warm the motor and exhaust and hope to accelerate the cleaning process.

I don't know if at can be a real problem at time. For now, 40.000 km without problem.

 

Well thank you all for the advice. I thought that when the particle filter was on the RPMS would also go up, wchich is not the case. I contacted my dealer, and he is willing to test drive the car with me. I'll keep you posted, but maybe the explanation about particle filter is just correct(I hope this is it). Else, I'll be on for software upgrade !
Thanks again

 

If it's the particle filter then it will only happen every 100 - 300 miles (I think)...if it's doing it all the time it will probably require a software upgrade. Keep us posted of your progress.

 

I don't know about the 520d, but what you describe sounds quite similar to the way my last car (320cd) behaved at times - except for the comment on the RPM's, mine did tend to 'blip' a little.

At low rpm's / idle the engine was 'choppy'. To me it seemed as if the ECU was running the show not me.

At idle / low speed it seemed to go through several 'styles' - some days it would be lovely and smooth, other days MUCH louder. Idle speed also altered.

I'm convinced this was related to ambient temperature, but interestingly not engine temperature.

But, in my 320cd, the powerband was so clearly between 2500-3500rpm, that I spent almost ALL my effort keeping the engine speed up

 

For sure, I will be interested by your dealers comments : just to know if it worth to talk to mine.
On my car, the RPMs don't go up when the particule filter cleans itself. I'm not sure a software upgrade would do the trick : I'm already at Progman 20 due to other problems .

Thanks in advance.