Today I noticed just how fast my 550's computer brain shifts out of first and second gear under light acceleration and how jerky it can be at times. Have any other 550i owners noticed this?

I also have noticed that my car lurches forward two to three inches after I shut off the motor and then take my foot off the brake. I am on a level surface too. This only seems to happen when I have been in drive and move it to park vs. being in reverse and moving it to park.

I've wondered if these two things were connected in some way.

I also have one other nagging thing that is not tranny or torque related... The car only has 16k on it and the front left corner creaks quite loudly when I go over a road hump at 20 mph or take a sharp left turn into my driveway from my alley way (going 1 mph). Are there issues with the struts or control arms going out prematurely on 2007 5 series?

Now while I just typed that I'd love to know about all known issues on the 07 5 series and the 550 as well, so do reply with them so I can get them sorted out while the car is still under warranty.

 

I've driven myself mad trying to figure out the shift pattern of my 550's transmission, but I gave up in vain. Most of my problems were remedied via a software update, but it is still far from perfect. Perhaps the often mention tranny reset procedure would do the trick for you. If no luck, get the dealer involved.

With regards to the lurching, I and others have experienced the very same thing and it seems to be perfectly normal for our vehicles. I would suggest trying to accommodate for the issue by using the following parking procedure if you don't already. 1) Brake to a stop, 2) Pull parking brake, 3) Let the car settle then 4) engage Park. This (and again the software update) seems to have helped me out a good deal.

The creaking noise could be any number of things from suspension to door seals to the hood. I would have someone listen from outside the vehicle while you make a turn into your driveway to see if the source can be pinpointed. Also, if it's as simple as a door seal, it can be isolated by opening your door while making that same turn. My own noise is caused by an improperly torqued hood hinge and I disappointingly have the problem masked with a couple microfiber towels tucked around the hinges to prevent the hood from creaking over bumps and such.

 

Are you both talking about the Steptronic transmission, or do you have the Sport Automatic?

 

Looks like one of them has the SAT.

Suggest searching E60.net for the "25 second hold down accelerator tip" and try it.

sixcard

 

Welcome to the forum! Where are you located?

Have the dealer check the driver side front lower control-arm/wishbone especially the ball joint.

Does it noisier when it's cold out?

 

I am located in Houston, Texas. It's been cool here, but not frigid. I will ask the dealer to check out that particular control arm as well as the door seal and the hinge on the hood.

The German bushings used in Porsches absolute "schei?e" and I have replaced one lower control arm on my 986 three times and the other three once. The ball joint contains a steel threaded shaft that rests in a rubber bushing. When it goes, that steel drops down and grinds against the aluminum base of the control arm and it makes a real racket. I do hope the BMW variant is more rugged... but I guess I will have to wait twelve years to find out. That's how old my Pcar is now.

Tranny reset procedure ... someone please comment on how I can do this.

 

I thought I'd return to this thread to tell you all what happened at the two trips to the stealership.

Trip #1: I complained about the a) shift patterns, b) the rough idle at start up, c) the creaking from the hood hinges, and d) the strut travel noise when I went over road humps on residential streets at 20 mph.

Car was given back to me with all new door seals on all four doors, and I was informed that the idle issue could not be duplicated so it was not addressed and the strut travel noise and hood hinge noise?if actually present?were normal for the car. The funky shifting in D was also normal to get the most fuel economy... if I didn't like it, I could always drive in DS and was told it shift at higher RPM's like other cars I've owned.

Fortunately, I was told that if I wanted to bring it back for them to look at the unresolved issues again, I was free to do so. So, I made another appointment right then and there and requested a free loaner.

Trip #2: The car was reprogrammed via a TSB I gave them about the idle problems at startup, but the SA said it was the ethanol content in our fuel here in the US and when the motor warmed up it idled fine and I should live with it. The strut top mount bolts were found to be stripped and that was causing the strut travel sound and they were replaced. That left those pesky hood hinges....

My SA took me around the showroom and pressed down on the hoods of brand new 3's, 5's, and 7's and said, "It's crazy, but they all creak when you press down hard on the hood over the hinge area near the windshield on both sides of the car. See for yourself."

He did torque down the structural cross members in the engine compartment, saying those can make creaking sounds when going up and down steep driveways at an angle or a tight corner.

JDoug550, I would love to know exactly where you put the microfiber towels to reduce the noise.

I think I shall take the car to a different dealer for my next warranty service or work for the above reasons and the fact that they stress-cracked my windshield while working under the hood. It killed two more hours in traffic to go home and come back the next day to pick up the car.

I am not that upset about the new windshield though. It was free and the 2 year old one was just a little sandblasted already so I'm not gonna whine about it.

 

Hi Parson and welcome to the forum. Agree with suggestions from others to take it to year dealer, just make sure you can replicate the problems

Where abouts are you located in Houston, I'm on the West side in Cinco Ranch

 

If you want the auto trans to hold first and second gear longer and you've got the Steptronic just tap the shifter to the left to enter "DS" mode. In that sport mode, it will hold gears longer before upshifting (or at least that is what it does in my 2009 550).

 

Word.