flyingpuck

Transmission Slam is NOT normal, and unless you are insistent, BMW will just keep putting you off! After several software fix attempts etc. they replaced my transmission, and it has not Slammed again since! Stay vigilant and get that transmission!

pjinca

Listen to this man, he knows of what he speaks - got his car back not too long ago.

lee1224

thanks to all that shared your experience. I know that there is no way that the tranny jerking is normal. If this problem is occuring on all 550s with auto tranny, there would be a class action lawsuit somewhere already. I believe that it is a bunch of BS. My SA basically said that its out of his hands at this point. I am trying to reach BMW customer relations and see what happens.

lee1224

Just got off the phone with BMW customer relations, bottom line I AM SH*T OUT OF LUCK!!! They are not going to do anything, saying that its perfectly normal. I made the comparison that other 550s didn't have this problem, and was told that they don't really care about others, they are only dealing with my car. I was told that the car may be too sporty for me, give me a break. I was told that maybe a 535 or 530 maybe better suited for me. I was told that the tranny in the 550 SAT is unique compared to steptronics, that its harsh down shifting coming to a stop is totally acceptable.

Perhaps a turning point (for me personally) with BMWs.

ieweey

I just bought an E60 525, so not much experience with the E60 yet. However, I'm in the car business, and what u described is very common in the E65/E66 7 series. When we buy a car to retail, this is what we always look out for. The jerk is usually felt when u accelerate a fair bit and then come to a complete stop (like at the traffic lights). There is a small bump just before coming to a standstill. This is a very expensive repair (even for us in 3rd world labour rate Asia!) and the problem will usually resurface after a year or so. AFAIK, nothing short of a complete tranny swap will eliminate the problem.

lee1224

That is what I believe, but BMW is trying to play down this problem. They refuse to step up and fix the damn problem once and for all. If the "jerkiness" is normal then why did BMW come out with several software version trying to solve this problem. Isn't that like slapping your own face? If its normal then why even bother at all, Just tell all of your dealership to tell customers thats the way it is. But appartently there are owners that had their tranny replaced and problem solved. Maybe its the economy. just my $.02...sorry guys for fuming, but it is hard to swallow knowing that there is problem.

Cobra 427

The jerkyness when slowing to a stop is caused by the transmission staying in 2nd gear for as long as possible before down shifting to 1st - it is this downshift under braking that is causing the jerking. The transmission stays in 2nd gear because it is not sure if you are going to apply acceloration (like in stop'n go traffic), where downshifting into 1st gear is not needed.

I've gotten around this problem by manually downshifting into M1 about 1 to 2 car lengths before I come to a complete stop. By downshifting sooner, the jerkyness at the last moment is not experienced, and I can stop the car very, very smoothly. After I've stopped, I shift into D and I'm ready to go. Not the best solution, but it works - try it!

The Slam is due to the same delayed 2->1 downshift. As you arrive a stop and intend to "roll" thru it, then accelorate, the car is still in 2nd gear (the car is not slow enuf to downshift automatically), however if you accelorate hard, then car will automatically downshift and engage 1st gear. With a relatively hi-tork engine, like the V8, the amount of tork that is immediately applied in 1st gear is rather abupt and gives the sensation of being hit from behind - this is the Slam.

From what I understand, this 2->1 downshift process is in the design of the transmission.

Recently I had a completely different problem with my transmission, and BMW ultimately replaced the mechatronics valve system - this is the component that controls the shifting of the transmission. Having both the jerk and slam problem before the replacement of the mechatronics valve system, I was hoping that the jerk/slam problems would be gone. They're not, which (for me) only convinces me that this is a design problem that can't be fixed by software (or complete transmission replacement - IMHO).

YMMV,
Randy...

juris335

Yes. Normal, just like it is normal that your car won't start unless you drive it one hour per day or more...

550i now

thats crazy!!!!

My prior '05 545i had this. was fixed by software upgrade via some special program that was forwarded from Germany.

My current '08 550i w/ SAT is PERFECT. No tranny slam

Your dealer and regional dweeb are jerking you around . Push harder, this is a correctlable matter!!

lee1224

Anyone that has this problem and got their tranny replace please let me know. How do I go about pushing harder, this decision came from BMW customer relations. If you got your tranny replace, email me with details and your service dealer to: lee1224 at aol dot com. thanks