I am the owner of a 2003 m3 equipped with the smg-ii transmission [xxx]. For the past year (since the car accrued about 11,000 miles), the car has, with increasing frequency, failed to make the shift from 3rd to 4th gear under hard acceleration. Instead, the transmission slips into neutral and the engine free-revs often past red-line. The result is that the car loses acceleration (dramatically if the fuel is cut-off when the red-line is passed), but because the driver's foot is on the gas, the brake lights do not illuminate. This recently nearly caused me to be rear-ended. As you can imagine, when accelerating to merge into highway traffic, an unannounced loss of forward momentum is very dangerous. Bmw has replaced the transmission (twice), which has failed to correct the problem. My dealer has submitted a puma to bmw engineers (twice) without a response. The most recent submittal was about two months ago, which coincided with another puma submittal from another dealer about the same problem. I am aware of at least three other people with the exact same problem. (one of them is on his fourth transmission and still has the malfunction.) bmw, however, has not taken adequate steps to remedy the problem, issued a service bulletin or otherwise addressed the safety issue. My inquiry to customer service was also unhelpful. At the end of august, I sent a letter describing this problem with return receipt to the attention of the general counsel of bmw of north america, llc. I have received no response nor has any attempt been made by bmw to contact me. My attempts to reach any part of bmw other than customer service have also failed. *jb updated 07/19/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
2003 BMW M3 transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 14 of 14, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Ltr concerning a defect of the sequential manual gear transmission on the leased 2003 bmw m3. *bf the vehicle lurches moving only an inch at a time. The lurching forward happens while accelerating from a stop position. Problem exists when the vehicle goes from first gear to second. *tc
Bmw m3 2003 with smg transmission surges badly in first gear occasionally with no apparent cause. This is quite disconcerting when trying to merge into traffic and the auto won't accellerate properly.
While traveling 60 MPH, the owner began to merge for an exit. The transmission failed not respond to the clutch or shifting of the gears. The transmission locked in second gear from that point until driven home. The vehicle was towed to the dealership which notified the consumer that the clutch wore out and over-heated. Please describe details. Ts
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