My ?05 545 (with Steptronic) occasionally does an extremely hard shift when starting slowly from a stop, or from a rolling stop. This has happened about 10 times in the first 5,000 miles. It is so dramatic it feels as though the car has been hit.

After the first visit to the dealer, I was told if they couldn?t reproduce it there was nothing they could do. In frustration I called BMW NA who told me the same thing. This past Friday it was in for some other issues, and a different SA had heard of the problem and said that a software upgrade would solve it. That night, after an upgrade to 15.0, it happened once again.

Has anyone else experienced this, and are there any fixes?

 

I think so. Although mine is a SMG. I ocassionaly get this hard BANG just as you described but this is during deceleration. Its when it changes gears from 3 to 2 or 2 to 1. I get this hard BANGing into gear that can be felt through the drive train... and like you said it almost feels like I've been hit from behind of something.

According to some TIS bulletin its suppose to be a DME re-calibration thats suppose to be addressed in CIP 16.1 I forget if its the same for step, I know its the case for SMG.

 

Here note whats in red... it might be that your transmission software is differnt than the rest of the car. Ask your dealer to make sure the transmission software matches CIP 15.

Service Measure


Engine Electrical
B12 200 05
01/11/2005







Subject

E65/66, E53 and E60/63/64 with N62 (ME 9.2.2) ? Intermittent crank-no start



Complaint

On the above listed vehicles (E53, X5 4.4 produced 10/04 through 12/04; E/60/63/64/65/66 produced 09/04 through 12/04), a customer may complain of intermittent ?crank, no-start condition?. Vehicle would restart after 15-20 minutes of soaking. No faults are stored in DME control module.



Cause

DME software.

Calibration for injection is too rich in certain ambient / engine temperatures combinations.



Measure



Document every case in PUMA system.



On E65/66 and E60/63/64 reprogram and recode complete vehicle with CIP 15, or higher.



On E53 X5 4.4, contact Technical Hotline/Drivetrain via PUMA case for authorization, and Fed-Ex DME to Montvale for reprogramming.

After receiving reprogrammed DME, it must be recoded with DIS CD 39.2, or higher.



Also, after DME coding is successfully completed, make sure that the ZF 6HP26 transmission control module (Mechatronic) software is at the latest level. Customer complaints of harsh shifting may result from the discrepancy between DME and EGS software levels.




Important:

Transmission temperature must remain below 500 C prior to start of programming.



Identify the transmission control unit via DIS/GT1 ?Diagnosis Control unit Function; EGS Transmission control GS1904; Identification long?.



In the ?Program version? 12-digit line, identify the ?N? number (5th digit from the right side). If the number is ?N36? or higher, the transmission software is already at the current highest level and EGS reprogramming is not required.



In case the version is lower than ?N36? (e.g. N26 or N32), then reprogram the transmission control module using CD39 with second update (?Version P39.2? is displayed when Programming/Coding is selected), or higher.



To reprogram the transmission control module:

1. Connect the vehicle to a BMW approved battery charger.

2. Connect DISplus/GT1 loaded with CD39 with 2nd update, or higher.

3. Select: BMW Coding/Programming.

4. Select: 5 Programming, then right arrow.

5. Select: 6 GKE Programming, then right arrow.

6. Select: 1 Exchange control unit, then right arrow.

7. Display appears The ECU is determined by manual input, then right arrow.

8. Select First determine basic ECU by manual input and then program, then right arrow.

9. Select: GKE 1 Determine basic control unit, then right arrow.

10. Enter the basic GKE control unit part number message is displayed.
Enter: 7 544 720, then right arrow.

11. Enter vehicle identification number as prompted.

12. Enter the new part number of programmed GKE control unit message is displayed.
Enter: 7 549 952, then right arrow.

13. At this point vehicle data and the required GKE software version numbers are stored in the tester for the automatic identification. Scroll to the left.

14. Select: 2 Program basic control module, then right arrow and follow screen instructions.

 

I had this just once (so far), again at low speed whilst pulling up to a junction and, like you, I was convinced I had either been hit or had hit something. That's the only way you can describe it. Hasn't happened since. After it happened and I pulled away, I even turned round after a minute or so and drove back to the junction just to make sure I hadn't hit anything as the bang sounded (and felt) just like a low speed collision.

 

Thanks, that looks like a possible culprit. I was having some starting problems followed by a check engine message.

 

Yes I have been having the same (545/step) this is one of the items that my dealer will be looking into at my service next week (along with the clunk in my steering) / Hmmm they wanted me to wait to bring the car in until they had a loaner for me, this opposed to a rental car, wonder if they think they're going to have to have the car for a while

Mine is exactly as you described...coasting to a stop maybe around 5 miles per hour...then get on the gas hard and....BANG

 

I have experienced the same severe downshift while being in Sport Drive and coming to a stop. This in the fiirt 600 miles of break-in.

 

The more I drive my 545 step the more I hate the tranmission. It is simply too jerky. My dealer will hopefully update things soon with a software fix but now it's just not feeling "right". I drove a 99 740i a couple of months ago and the tranny felt silky smooth like my old 330i.

 

I have the same experience. From a standing start and wham! It truly feels like you were rear ended along with the noise. As well as the clunk in the stearing lately (started about a weeke ago when I turn the wheel one extreem or the other without going to the stops. So strange. I am told that a new software update will solve all problems. Isn't that what Microsoft said how many update patches ago!!! :'( I decided to skip 16 and wait for 17 that is suppose to come out this month here in Germany around the 17th. I certainly hope it fixes all of the many software problems. These as well as 5 or 6 others!
John

 

From a stop and slowly start and bam! It felt like I was hit from behind. I has only happened once so far. I have 3500 miles so far.