BMW M3 hesitation problems

Filed Feb 12, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · 140,000 miles · CA

S65 v8 engine in a bmw m3 e90/92/93 and m5's with a v10 has two throttle valve actuators that fail prematurely at 40-80k miles. Both the internal nylon gears and electronics will fail, affecting accelerator pedal response and causing hesitation, especially with the dct transmission. These parts are not a maintenance item. When failed, the engine malfunction, excess emissions, skid control, and ABS braking warning lights are triggered. Engine goes into limp mode. This is dangerous when it happens while driving in rainy, snowy, and icy road conditions. The throttle valve actuator design defect should have triggered a bmw recall. Replacement parts are $1000-1300 each plus $1000 labor and have never been redesigned by bmw/bosch. So the replacement parts are also defective and will fail prematurely. Repairs occurred on dec. 2012 at 80k miles for $2000 and on jan. 2016 at 140k miles for $3000. A bmw m3 and m5 recall and redesigned parts are warranted. Bmw technical service bulletins should be issued for this design flaw. 8yr/80km federal emissions warranty should cover these repairs as well.

Filed Jul 15, 2010 · Transmission · 1,500 miles · MD

I own a 2008 bmw m3 with dct transmission. When in auto mode and you slow down and then wish to accelerate the car hesitates and then lunges forward. This is going to cause a problem with losing control of the car or could crash into vehicle in front of you. Took it to the dealer and they said nothing is wrong. Their needs to be a recall on this. Vin number [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Feb 23, 2010 · Transmission · 6,503 miles · TX

Hesitation in the automatic mode when decreasing speed then trying to initiate a turn. For example going down the road at 50mph then braking to turn left, once braking occurs a significant hesitation will occur which may result in the oncoming traffic hitting you.

Filed Feb 22, 2010 · Transmission · 12,011 miles · AZ

1. When slowing down for a red light that turns green, then trying to accelerate before actually stopping, the car hesitates or lags. Could get rear-ended or t-boned if turning in an intersection. Someone is going to get killed due to this ongoing, ignored, serious safety flaw. 2. Can routinely reproduce this hesitation/lag. 3. Bmw refuses to resolve the problem and has told it's dealers it is a normal response.

Filed Sep 19, 2009 · Transmission · 14,000 miles · OR

I have a 2008 bmw m3 sedan, built 2/08, which I bought new in july, 2008. It has a dual clutch transmission. The problem is as follows. There is a significant hesitation or delay between stepping on the gas, and getting the car to go, when I have slowed almost to a stop, then want to accelerate. This happens all the time. It is dangerous especially when merging into traffic. In wyoming in late june, 2009, for example, I was coming from a side road onto a main highway. There was no stop sign for me, just a right curve in the road I was on, then merge into oncoming traffic on the main highway. The transmission had shifted into second gear because I had slowed down for the curve. As I turned right and stepped on the gas, nothing, it seemed like for a second or two. Oncoming traffic was moving along at a fast speed, and I almost got rear-ended before the motor finally responded to throttle input. I think this is dangerous. When I step on the gas, the motor should respond immediately, without any significant lag time. It seems like some computer is trying to figure out what to do. Maybe there is a software fix. Whatever it is, it is a dangerous condition.

Filed Aug 3, 2009 · Transmission · 7,000 miles · TX

The dual clutch transmission (dct) in my car, a 2009 bmw m3 routinely hesitates when pushing the accelerator in 2nd gear. The hesitation is long enough to have put me and my passengers in grave danger. In fact, it has almost caused a number of accidents when merging with highway traffic. This is unacceptable and needs to be immediately corrected before someone is seriously injured or killed.

Filed May 29, 2009 · Transmission · 7,518 miles · AZ

2009 bmw m3 dct (dual clutch transmission) exhibits a serious lag/hesitation when trying to accelerate from a rapid rolling stop. When this issue occurs in an intersection or at a stop light, a serious safety issue exists of being t-boned or slammed in the rear. When reported to bmw they claim it "works as designed". Guess someone needs to be seriously injured or killed before bmw will resolve this issue.

Filed Apr 2, 2009 · Transmission · 4,800 miles · CA

2008 bmw m3 w/dct - I was making a left hand turn and had slowed to maybe 5mph when traffic on the other side had opened enough to make the turn, I pressed on the gas and the car did nothing but continue to roll at about 5mph towards the driveway in the on-coming lanes, where there was another vehicle quickly approaching. After about 3-5 seconds of hesitation the gear engaged and I was able to accelerate into the driveway and narrowly avoid being broadsided by on-coming traffic. Had the hesitation been for any longer, traffic been moving any faster, or there being any less of a gap in traffic, I would have either of been hit, or caused the on-coming drivers to have locked up their brakes possibly causing them to be rear-ended. This transmission hesitation is incredibly unsafe and is always a cause for concern if my significant other drives the vehicle. At this point I regret not getting a standard manual where I am at least in full control of when/if the clutch engages and am in my selected gear as quickly as my arm can move. This is not the first time I have experienced this hesitation, this has been a constant issue since the original recall notice, I believe I have software version 31.2.

Filed Feb 16, 2009 · Transmission · VA

I am extremely troubled by one particular problem I have noticed from the outset: there is a significant lag or hesitation of at least 1 second between applying pressure to the accelerator and the clutch engaging and giving acceleration to the wheels. This does not happen from a stand-still, but occurs primarily when the car is in motion at virtually all ranges of speed, from rolling stop (5km/hr or less) through standard road speeds of any degree (residential 30-40km/hr, city roads 50-70km/hr, or highway 90km/hr+). The problem is acute in 'd' mode, but occurs in 's' mode as well.

Filed Feb 10, 2009 · Transmission · 1,400 miles · MI

There is an issue with the m-dct transmission equipped on my vehicle. The problem occurs when the car is brought to a near stop such as at an intersection, and then pressure is applied to the accelerator to try and pull away quickly. In this case the vehicle will hesitate for a long period of time, potentially leaving the car unresponsive for a few seconds while coasting slowly into the intersection with oncoming traffic bearing down. The manufacturer claims this behavior is normal for the transmission but it is certainly not safe. Additionally, the problem was exacerbated by a prior software update whose intention was to fix other problematic behaviors of the transmission. So the behavior is clearly not germane to the transmission itself, it is instead the result of glitchy software which the manufacturer should rightly be obligated to fix. I firmly believe that this problem could endanger the lives of the occupants of my vehicle and sincerely hope it can be rectified immediately.