Auto Transmission not shifting smoothly

[ReCovery]

Hi Everyone,

I'd really appreciate some help!

I have a 2009 135i Coupe, Auto Transmission.

First, I noticed my transmission shifts really rough, especially when upshifting at low speed (2nd-3rd most noticable, but it also does it in other gears also), it jerks a little bit, but nothing serious.

I drove a 2013 X5 and 2013 X3 (3.5) and they both shift a lot smoother than mine.

Is this a common problem?

Also, my car is about 36k miles on it, what is the time interval to change transmission fluids?

thank you everyone!

[Maranello455]

Originally Posted by ReCovery

Hi Everyone,

I'd really appreciate some help!

I have a 2009 135i Coupe, Auto Transmission.

First, I noticed my transmission shifts really rough, especially when upshifting at low speed (2nd-3rd most noticable, but it also does it in other gears also), it jerks a little bit, but nothing serious.

I drove a 2013 X5 and 2013 X3 (3.5) and they both shift a lot smoother than mine.

Is this a common problem?

Also, my car is about 36k miles on it, what is the time interval to change transmission fluids?

thank you everyone!

Do you have any warranty left? If you do, I would run to the dealer.

[JuuS]

Are you driving in DS mode? DS mode's shifts are jerky and aggressive if you are using it with very little gas. There's really no need to hang in a higher gear if you are just driving Miss Daisy in traffic. If you are just barely making it to 3k rpm for the upshift, it is indeed clunky in DS mode.

[Satalite]

The car adjusts to the driver's way of driving. If you bought used I would run a quick throttle reset and see if that helps...

1) Push the key in the ignition without foot on break.
2) Press the ignition button to get AUX Power
3) Press and hold the accelerator all the way to the floor for 20-30 seconds
4) Turn off power

[avholloway]

Satalite Not that I don't trust you, and actually I drive a manual, so this is purely curiosity asking: How do you know this and do you have a source?

[SteveAZ]

Originally Posted by Satalite

The car adjusts to the driver's way of driving. If you bought used I would run a quick throttle reset and see if that helps...

1) Push the key in the ignition without foot on break.
2) Press the ignition button to get AUX Power
3) Press and hold the accelerator all the way to the floor for 20-30 seconds
4) Turn off power

Originally Posted by avholloway

Satalite Not that I don't trust you, and actually I drive a manual, so this is purely curiosity asking: How do you know this and do you have a source?

You can find the reset sequence in other posts as well, it's fairly common knowledge.

BMW says lifetime for transmission fluid changes....not buying in to that!

I've personally done the transmission adaptions reset...it works*, but may or may not be the OP's problem.

Having just read up on transmission fluid changes...my car has 30K miles on it and will be doing a fluid change soon. Some have reported that helps and seeing nasty fluid even with that kind of mileage. I'm not doing it because mine is rough, but because of the demands I'm placing on it. Will also be upgrading the transmission software to the Alpina B3 for faster and more robust shifts, but that's a whole different thing.

*During the course of tuning and dialing in my car, I noticed a hesitation when the car shifted in to second, especially when cold. I did the transmission adaption reset and it actually did make a notable difference (I bought mine used as well). However, it was short lived as it wasn't the root cause for my particular case. As the car relearned, it came back a short time later. Ultimately I think it ended up being dirty injectors or crap in the fuel system. I did a couple of iterations of redline injector cleaner and it really made things a lot smoother. However, that said, I have a lot of other variables (as you can see by my sig). So this may or may not help with your situation. Not sure why it initially improved it either...kind of wierd, might of had to do with timing drops and less aggressive shifts during the adaption process...

[RimasRS]

OP what size of the wheels you are running ? Is it rough when oil is cold?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by ReCovery

Also, my car is about 36k miles on it, what is the time interval to change transmission fluids?

BMW says the trans fluid is Lifetime. The people who make the trans for BMW (ZF) say the fluid SHOULD be changed every 80K kms.

IF you change the fluid... only use an approved ZF fluid and I would also replace the trans filter inside the AT pan. You will also need a AT pan gasket and new bolts.

These guys make some nice ZF servicing kits. You just need to know which ZF trans you have(you can look on the AT trans pan area).

http://www.thectsc.com/index.php?p=c...parent=61&pg=1


New AT fluid will make the trans shift smoother. I would also say you should check your electrical system. A bad alternator or battery can make the trans do strange things. Use a simply Volt/Ohm meter and check the standing battery voltage at the battery. It should be at least 12.8 volts with the engine off, and at least 13.4 volts with the engine running. Also check for AC voltage across the battery with the engine running... you should have less than +1ACvolts. AC at the battery indicates a bad alternator.

Dack

[ReCovery]

Originally Posted by RimasRS

OP what size of the wheels you are running ? Is it rough when oil is cold?

I'm running stock wheels and tires, and yes, it's especially noticeable during cold mornings (I park my car outside most of the time since the garage is taken )

[ReCovery]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

BMW says the trans fluid is Lifetime. The people who make the trans for BMW (ZF) say the fluid SHOULD be changed every 80K kms.

IF you change the fluid... only use an approved ZF fluid and I would also replace the trans filter inside the AT pan. You will also need a AT pan gasket and new bolts.

These guys make some nice ZF servicing kits. You just need to know which ZF trans you have(you can look on the AT trans pan area).

http://www.thectsc.com/index.php?p=c...parent=61&pg=1


New AT fluid will make the trans shift smoother. I would also say you should check your electrical system. A bad alternator or battery can make the trans do strange things. Use a simply Volt/Ohm meter and check the standing battery voltage at the battery. It should be at least 12.8 volts with the engine off, and at least 13.4 volts with the engine running. Also check for AC voltage across the battery with the engine running... you should have less than +1ACvolts. AC at the battery indicates a bad alternator.

Dack

thank you, sir!

[ReCovery]

Originally Posted by JuuS

Are you driving in DS mode? DS mode's shifts are jerky and aggressive if you are using it with very little gas. There's really no need to hang in a higher gear if you are just driving Miss Daisy in traffic. If you are just barely making it to 3k rpm for the upshift, it is indeed clunky in DS mode.

Well, in regular D mode, its during the low RPM's that are a little jerky, it's really not that serious, but it started to bother me after i drove the newer cars (X3, X5).

I agree, in DS Mode it is clunky if just driving around the city.