DCT hesitation / transmission software problem

[EatMyDust]

Apparently this is a known issue. When travelling at slow speed (like a rolling "California stop" at an intersection) there is a significant 1-3 second hesitation after the gas pedal is pressed before the transmission will engage and the car will move forward. Problem occurs consistently in my '13 135i in Drive mode, but much less frequently in sport mode.

I have had it checked repeatedly by the dealer who has been unable to find a fix. SA keeps flip flopping on whether its a defect or simply the way the transmission works. Today he acknowledged that its a software issue, said he has been asked to check it out from pretty much every owner of a 1-er with the DCT he works with, and said that BMW knows of the problem but is not working on a solution and has no plans to, because they have no idea how to fix it. He also said the problem seems to be limited to the 1-ers, and doesn't occur in the 3-series that use the same DCT transmission.

Anyone else experiencing this problem or have any success in resolving it?

[Neovison]

Originally Posted by EatMyDust

Apparently this is a known issue. When travelling at slow speed (like a rolling "California stop" at an intersection) there is a significant 1-3 second hesitation after the gas pedal is pressed before the transmission will engage and the car will move forward. Problem occurs consistently in my '13 135i in Drive mode, but much less frequently in sport mode.

I have had it checked repeatedly by the dealer who has been unable to find a fix. SA keeps flip flopping on whether its a defect or simply the way the transmission works. Today he acknowledged that its a software issue, said he has been asked to check it out from pretty much every owner of a 1-er with the DCT he works with, and said that BMW knows of the problem but is not working on a solution and has no plans to, because they have no idea how to fix it. He also said the problem seems to be limited to the 1-ers, and doesn't occur in the 3-series that use the same DCT transmission.


Anyone else experiencing this problem or have any success in resolving it?

THIS HAS BEEN THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. Curiously, do you have a 2013 135i? I think this is primarily a problem in late model 135i's. I think the software fix everyone notes helps earlier models, but not 2013's (that is just a guess). No software update will fix this. Brought my car to Niello BMW in Sacramento for this problem 3 times and demo'ed it. Service manager was (apparently) trained to not acknowledge the delay. I've done everything i can to fix. Installed PPK1, had all updates done. Then as a last resort installed a Pedal Box to try and accelerate throttle response. There is not a single thing you or I can do to really fix this. Kills me.... Massive history here on this site (and others), but after spending months, and a ton cash I still have this huge issue....

[EatMyDust]

Yep, mine is a 2013 135i. My experience is much like yours, and have little hope for a fix. I was shocked when my SA admitted that BMW knows about the problem and isn't planning on doing anything to fix it. I told him that one day someone is going to get killed or injured because they press the pedal and the car doesn't move.

Curious whether you have this problem in Sport mode? Mine is mostly in Drive mode, so the only fix I have come up with is just to put it in Sport mode, particularly when driving in San Francisco where there are 4-way stops on every block.

[ignote]

You mean that SIB 12 15 14 doesn't apply to the 2013s? What's different?

[Chunner]

Originally Posted by EatMyDust

Anyone else experiencing this problem or have any success in resolving it?

Have your SA perform this software update... SIB 12 15 14

It will fix your complaint. Fixed mines.

[e36addict]

12 15 14 fixed my car, but I drive very aggressively. The same update fixed my mother's car for a short period of time, but still has quite a delay at times. Obviously her car is driven much, much easier than mine is, so I'd say that has something to do with it.

[Dylanize]

Originally Posted by e36addict

12 15 14 fixed my car, but I drive very aggressively. The same update fixed my mother's car for a short period of time, but still has quite a delay at times. Obviously her car is driven much, much easier than mine is, so I'd say that has something to do with it.

Yes, you are correct. The car adapts the throttle input to the way your drive. If you mash the gas in "drive" constantly it will reduce the delay. However, the SIB posted above is also part of the fix.

Full disclosure: I have no clue if this is part of OP's problem.

[EatMyDust]

SA is applying the latest software update ... although when we talked about it he told me it didn't include any fix for this issue. Hopefully you all are right and he is wrong. (And, yes, I do put the car through its paces ... so its not the case that the software is treating me like the proverbial little old lady from Pasadena). I will post back with an update after I get the car back.

(off topic side note -- they gave me a 228 loaner. its a nice ride, but gotta say the 135i is way more fun to drive, and not just because of the bigger engine. The 2 is a bit wider and looser ... feels much more like a 3 than a 1 imo.)

[HyeWarrior]

Is the software update free?

[Hankdoll]

I had SIB 12 15 14 done on my car six months ago to fix the hesitation issue. It did at first, but the hesitation came back. I believe the short relief I had was due to the reset of the transmission software (not the SIB update), and once it adapted back to my driving style the hesitation came back. I've been planning to reset my DCT to see if it helps.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

Is the software update free?

If you're still under warranty, there's no charge. If not, my dealer would charge two hours labor.

BTW, used to live in San Dimas some years ago. Nice city.

[Ed P]

Originally Posted by Hankdoll

I had SIB 12 15 14 done on my car six months ago to fix the hesitation issue. It did at first, but the hesitation came back. I believe the short relief I had was due to the reset of the transmission software (not the SIB update), and once it adapted back to my driving style the hesitation came back. I've been planning to reset my DCT to see if it helps.

How do you "reset" the DCT?

Thanks!

[Hankdoll]

Originally Posted by Ed P

How do you "reset" the DCT?

Thanks!

Unfortunately, I don't think there is a manual way to do it like the old ATs. I have a BavTech tool that plugs into the OBD port.

[yakuza70]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

If you're still under warranty, there's no charge. If not, my dealer would charge two hours labor.

BTW, used to live in San Dimas some years ago. Nice city.

Does anyone know if an independent BMW garage can install software updates like this one?

[Gangplank]

I'm not sure if that's the right service bulletin. When I look it up on autoMD that SIB no shows something about the AC. ?

https://www.automd.com/recall-tsb/


2011 Bmw 1 Series (pws) Service Bulletin 385005
NHTSA Item Number: 10056707
Service Bulletin Number: SIB-12-15-14
Date of Bulletin: Aug 01, 2014
Component: (pws)

2011 Bmw 1 Series (pws) Service Bulletin 385005

Action Number: 10056707
Service Bulletin Number: 385005
Report Date: Aug 01, 2014
Component: (pws)
Summary: Bmw: when air conditioner is on, engine speed will fluctuates, intermittently, from 500 to 1,100 rpm, after coming to a stop and possible cause is due to unfavorable dme software. Model 2010-13 e82 (1 series), e88 (1 series). *pe

[ExigeS]

Is there a way to tell if you have SIB 12 15 14 installed via some app and a K/D CAN Cable? I've got this same problem, would be awesome to be able to see whether or not I've got the patch already without having to make a dealer appt.

[Dackelone]

See...

SIB 12 09 12 software update for stalling, idle and surging rocks but theres more...
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=897464


http://www.scribd.com/doc/151944423/...ing-TSB#scribd

http://docslide.us/documents/bmw-n55...lling-tsb.html

[EatMyDust]

Mine's a '13; that 2012 update only appears to have helped the earlier models. Got mine back last night with the updated software; too early to tell whether its fixed the issue, but I can say how great it felt to get my ride back after only a few days in a 228 loaner ... any thoughts I had of going the 2 route quickly disappeared once I got back in my 1.

[brocklanders]

I have a late production 2013. There are two problems with the throttle that i have experienced. The throttle delay and the trans lag, or what i like to call the dead peddle. The dead peddle happens very rarely, but is extremely annoying, expecially when someone cuts you off and you have to slam on the brakes and immediately rage throttle, but this happens so rarely that i don't see it as an issue. The trottle delay is another story, it didn't really bpther me too much until I started autocrossing. When I hit an apex i got on the throttle but would get nothing until exiting the corner. I believe this is a normal operation of the vehicle. A few months ago my key fob battery died so none of my driver profile was not being used by the car and the throttle was precise so i believe this problem is the driver profile feature and that's why alot of people get good results immediately following an update when they clear the profile history.

[Gangplank]

Interesting... I wonder if there is a way to disable the driver profile feature.

[Neovison]

i guess the operative term above is "just a guess"

[Neovison]

Originally Posted by EatMyDust

Yep, mine is a 2013 135i. My experience is much like yours, and have little hope for a fix. I was shocked when my SA admitted that BMW knows about the problem and isn't planning on doing anything to fix it. I told him that one day someone is going to get killed or injured because they press the pedal and the car doesn't move.

Curious whether you have this problem in Sport mode? Mine is mostly in Drive mode, so the only fix I have come up with is just to put it in Sport mode, particularly when driving in San Francisco where there are 4-way stops on every block.

I can't even conceive of driving in SF with this delay... I still have the problem in sport mode, but minimized. Since I have the the Pedal Box installed, and set to "race" the throttle is a hair pin trigger... With that said, there is a delay, then VRRRRRRROOOOOOOMMMMMM... It is a modulation thing that I'm struggling with. I'm either dead pedal, or off like a bat out of hell... I printed the SIB 12 14 15 and brought it with me to the dealership and emailed it to the SA. He said the SIB 12 14 15 isn't an update per se, but a notification that there is an update and that I had all the updates already installed.