Had a scare today. On my way into work, turned right on a red light after stop accelerating normally and had a very large slam from the rear. I thought I had ben hit from behind but noone was there. Anyone ever had this before (2004 545i, step, sport pkg)?? Thanks in advance.

 

Sounds like the auto transmission slam problem

You will find a couple if you do a search

Problem with ZF transmission software, latest update is supposed to fix it

 

Tell your dealer there is a service bulletin on it and insist on software version CIP 17.1. It fixes this problem and improves the transmission shifiting considerably. Go here for more specific information: http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=12152

 

you don't need the very latest sw to correct transmission problem. i believe anything after 15.x will do the trick. i have 16.2 and the transmission is 1000 times better than before . but if you are not in a rush and your dealer doesn't have the very latest yet, might as well wait a little bit.

 

I had the exact same thing happen. I is a transmission slam, as others have eluded to. It happened to me, and I had CIP 16.2, so the service bulletin is post 16.2 release. I was upgraded to 17.xx or later (description on the my service description), and have noticed a distinct improvement in shifting. Maybe improvements were made over 15.xx, but they have done it again. It is a vast improvement.

 

I had the siftware update and my car still slams, I also notice it only does this in DS


Also the car gets confused in 2nd and 3rd gear and wont upshift, revs up to redline and hessitates to kick down now.

Yes the slam is scary it does feel like a 5 mph rear end hit

 

have to agree, i noticed the same as the above mentioned. I take the ride in on tuesday hope they fix it with the CPI update. i will post results

 

Are you sure you have 18.0. Granted I got it back on Friday, so I have not driven it enough to say it is fixed, but it sure seems better.

 

Quick question: how can you find out what software version you currently have installed in the car? I am thinking that it is via the iDrive system, as everything else seems to be controlled that way.

 

to this date the only way it can be determined is thru bmw, when they hook up and check your system. The Idrive cannot tell us that info as of yet. I always ask what version when my car is picked up from completed service..