Updated DME software and got fun noises..

[Knightelf]

My service rep came back to me today and said this was not available for my car, but there is a different software update available to address the idle fluctuations.

Any ideas why he said this SIB is not available for my car? (I am in Australia, if that changes anything)

I have a 2010 N55 DCT (production date July 2010)

[YangEnterprise]

Got my car back today from the dealership after being serviced for the Vanos recall and SIB 12-15-14 update. Car seems more responsive BUT nothing really different to be honest. The crackle and pop from the exhaust is still pretty much gone. I don't know how the OP has the crackle and pop still from the update. Overall, still happy with the car and update .

[Chunner]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Btw - do you know if this software flash is relatively quick or do they need to hold the car overnight? I'm going in for routine maintenance and am thinking of bringing this issue up but I already know they won't have a loaner for me so wondering if it's something that can be fixed same day.

Did you get the SIB 12 15 14 (August 2014) DME update? Wanted to confirm that we still keep our "135is" pops and crackles.

[Knightelf]

Originally Posted by Hillstrand

Got my car back today from the dealership after being serviced for the Vanos recall and SIB 12-15-14 update. Car seems more responsive BUT nothing really different to be honest. The crackle and pop from the exhaust is still pretty much gone. I don't know how the OP has the crackle and pop still from the update. Overall, still happy with the car and update .

If it doesn't do much then I probably won't be bothered with updating it.

My car is out of warranty, and if I wanted an update they'll charge me $400.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Chunner

Did you get the SIB 12 15 14 (August 2014) DME update? Wanted to confirm that we still keep our "135is" pops and crackles.

I go in for service tomorrow, will keep you posted.

[Everfly]

Mine not only crack and pop but also pull much stronger than before

[cwaldo]

Just set appt this Saturday for the Vanos recall and also mentioned the software update.

[cpandrewschmidt]

Thought I'd chime in on this with my review. Been watching the thread for a while, my warranty is up on my 2011 135 w/ DCT this Sunday. I was hesitant to get this till the last minute to see other people's reviews knowing past updates made things worse. This seems to have good reviews. So, went in Tuesday for this SIB and Vanos recall.

Got the car this AM, they did perform both. Two things people seemed most worried about from the DME update:

1. Exhaust note: If before the update noise was at 100%, I would say post update it is 85%. The gurgles are still there, but not quite a prominent in my opinion. Up shifts are as loud, maybe a tad louder actually. Still give that nice "burst" sound when hitting the paddle. But downshifts where I loved the burbles are noticeably quieter, hence my 85% review. Again still there, but not quite scare your neighboring car loud, which i loved.

2. Throttle lag issues: Fixed 100% so far. Only had the car back for half the day, but no issues. Throttle is quick and responsive, and I do actually think the car pulls a bit harder. Especially on highway and punching it down to 3rd gear. Very happy with that.

So, all in all I'd do it again.

Andrew

PS got a 235i loaner. Man does that electronic steering suck. It was amazing the difference when I got back in my car. Lots to like about it though. Wish I had that interior.

[Chunner]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

I go in for service tomorrow, will keep you posted.

Thank you Sir!

[Overpar56]

I've put a couple hundred mixed driving miles on mine after the update.

1) throttle tip in delay and stutter - gone
2) idle goes to 1K to 1.2K pulling up to a stop - pretty well fixed. If only goes up a little if you let off the brake after stopping. I'd consider this probably normal.
3) Pops, crackles - low speed in Sport mode and manual shift the burbles aren't as loud. A little over 2.5K and back off the throttles gets normal pops and crackles.

[cpandrewschmidt]

Side note to my update. My angel eyes are now programmed on all the time without the corners being on. Not gonna complain about that one! not sure why that got changed. Plus I swear they're brighter, my wife thought so too. So I know I' m not crazy.

[e36addict]

Originally Posted by cpandrewschmidt

Side note to my update. My angel eyes are now programmed on all the time without the corners being on. Not gonna complain about that one! not sure why that got changed. Plus I swear they're brighter, my wife thought so too. So I know I' m not crazy.

You can change that feature via cluster/nav if you have it. Just DRL's..

[cpandrewschmidt]

Originally Posted by e36addict

You can change that feature via cluster/nav if you have it. Just DRL's..

I always assumed that option turned the actual lights on during the day, so i left it off. I'm an idot.........

[sam-e82]

I got my car back from dealer yesterday, car feels exactly the same just no a/c idle problem anymore. Had another dealer check the integration level and software and it seems to be the same from 12-15-14 yet my car still feels like it has the software from 12-09-12. Throttle lag is still there, still the same. Anyone have a clue why this is happening?

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Chunner

Thank you Sir!

Dealer spent all day trying to replicate the issue instead of updating the software initially. Guess they thought it was a hardware issue. So I'll have to bring the car back another day since they didn't have a loaner and I need the car for the weekend. 8 hours later I got an oil change and free wipers.

[Chunner]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Dealer spent all day trying to replicate the issue instead of updating the software initially. Guess they thought it was a hardware issue. So I'll have to bring the car back another day since they didn't have a loaner and I need the car for the weekend. 8 hours later I got an oil change and free wipers.

lol... when you get the loaner, ask for a 235i for shits and giggles.

[Overpar56]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Dealer spent all day trying to replicate the issue instead of updating the software initially. Guess they thought it was a hardware issue. So I'll have to bring the car back another day since they didn't have a loaner and I need the car for the weekend. 8 hours later I got an oil change and free wipers.

Oil change one drop at a time. Those wipers can be a bitch to change too.

I wonder if dealers bulk on doing an update since it takes up a service bay for hous on end and they get squat to do this?

Mine seems to be doing fine after the update. I did a lot of stop and go yesterday (a half marathon blocked the road into our Saturday Cars and Coffee venue) so I had to creep forward every couple minutes. Before the update I'd have at least one or two lags. Yesterday I had none. I'm still crossing my fingers that the update will hold.

[dtla1]

The dealer supposedly did the SIB 12-15-14 software update on my car, no more lurching at stops, still hesitates when letting off then getting back on slowly (think California stop).

Also, pretty much all crack and pops are gone. ?? What's going on here?

Should I double check the software with another service dept? Or are other people experiencing no more cracks and pops also?

[jmz135]

Update:

I've driven about 300 miles since the update.

Lurching is worlds better, throttle tip in is still smooth.

Exhaust is definitely quieter.

Before I was complaining the car was less powerful. I've decided that in standard drive without sport mode on the power is about the same. What changed was what happens when hitting the Sport button. Before the recent software, pressing the sport button gave me a noticeable power bump which just doesn't happen anymore.

[TX135i]

I got this update this week. My observations:

The idle now seems to be stable at 700 rpm both with and without A/C on. I'm happy about that because it irritated me.

The "slow roll" throttle response issue seems better; however, at first there was a noticeable loss of power when accelerating hard in almost every gear. That seems to have gotten better over the last day or so, and I was wondering if that is a factor of some transmission adaptation after the S/W upload? Does that make sense?

Sport button makes a difference as before but the power was initially down both with and without the button turned on but again, overall the slow roll lag seems better than before. (Side note - When I picked the car up, SA handed me the keys, I put it in D and pushed the Sport button, no light. I called him back immediately, they took it back and said the connector wasn't engaged. They had replaced my center cupholder section because it was peeling, so that had that area opened up. Don't ya think that's something they might check upon reassembly?)

I also notice that it seems to kick down a gear sooner than before, and I'm not talking about when you nail the pedal past the kickdown. Moderate acceleration/pedal travel seems to kick it down sooner whereas before, it did not seem to occur as soon as it does now.

And I'm very happy to report that my pops and burbles are back after the previous SIB took them away.

[sam-e82]

This latest update seems more like a placebo like another poster stated, throttle tip-in for me is still nowhere near what it used to be like before the June stalling update. Best thing to do is keep complaining to BMW and your dealer if you aren't satisfied, I'd rather make this problem more known and hopefully see a fix come soon. I am adamant with BMW and dealer that the only fix is to install PPK, and I'm going to continue requesting this as they should be honoring their warranty.

If you guys try this out, have sport mode on-DTC pressed once, the gearshifts are the way they are supposed to be (at least near 70milliseconds or less when under acceleration) but for some reason DCT and DSC dull the throttle more. Just having sport mode on helps the throttle just slightly but the gearshifts are harsh at times.

[trainerjon]

I finally got my car back after doing this update and I can say so far so good. No lags, no lunging forward, and it is driving like a completely different car.
My one frustration with BMW continues to be how they fleece us each and every time I take it to the dealer! I tried an update for this same issue in May and was charged for that when it did not fix anything and I drove it for another 5 months until this fix came out. I now have over $500 into this issue for a software problem I have zero control over. Imagine if you had to pay for every time your phone's apps were updated!!! I find it absolutely insane.
While I had it in the shop, they did the VANOS bolts and since they were in there I had them do the spark plugs for which they were nice enough to not charge labor for. Spark plugs are still $30 each. They probably didn't charge labor since they noticed that my battery needs to be replaced and as many of you know it's yet another $440 or something like that for a real BMW battery which we "must" use + "registration" of the battery with the car. I'm at 80k miles so it seems I have a lot of issues I'm going to need to address if I keep this car.
I do need to do walnut blasing which I haven't done yet, and while they are at it, replace all the gaskets around the oil filter housing. They did the valve cover gasket when they did the VANOS and the mechanic was saying that after a few years the gaskets seep and cause some problems.

Here's the N55 at the shop with the valve covers off and VANOS exposed. You can see around the oil filter underneath there's some seeping and dirt collecting around the seepage.
I need new tires within the next 5k miles, and I just got some new rotors and pads which I'll DIY.
Fun car to drive, but the maintenance costs have been a bit surprising.