Steptronic rough shifting when cold (E46)

[OppositeLockMT]

I've had this issue going on for about a year now and after reading auto transmission horror stories on this forum and other places online I'm starting to worry.

During the warm up period I'm getting a bit of a rough shift between 2nd and 3rd and it pretty much feels like an SMG with a bit of a pause/judder during the shift. I've been putting the transmission into manual mode as soon as a drive her off so I can back off the throttle when changing gears which makes it much smoother. As soon as the car warms up the changes are fine.

This issue could be related to my driving style, I've developed a bit of a habit of driving in manual mode about 90% of the time and when I'm driving hard I don't keep my foot planted through the gears, I lift off change up and then get back on it. When changing down I reach for a gear and blip the throttle slightly so I don't get that rough judder when the engine revs are trying to match the road speed (I know, should have got a manual).

Car is sitting at 154,000kms currently, auto failure stories are starting to haunt me and on top of that there isn't anyone here trustworthy enough to be able to handle doing a gearbox flush without the fear of them messing it up completely.

Need advice! :blueCry:

 

[Blue Shirt]

Take the car to ZF Services to replace the gearbox oil & filter. They are in Edenvale and Cape Town area.

 

[KPM3_30]

Take the car to ZF Services to replace the gearbox oil & filter. They are in Edenvale and Cape Town area.

I think the OP is from Malawi iirc... Hence his distrust with the repair shops on something like this.

OppLock: Is there a bmw dealership nearby that you can use?

 

[Nikhil]

you need a fluid and filter change + adaptions reset. :coolShake:

 

[OppositeLockMT]

Take the car to ZF Services to replace the gearbox oil & filter. They are in Edenvale and Cape Town area.

I think the OP is from Malawi iirc... Hence his distrust with the repair shops on something like this.

OppLock: Is there a bmw dealership nearby that you can use?

Dealership was revoked of its license about 2 years ago, so there isn't a dealership unfortunately. How delicate is the whole procedure? Would have to find someone capable.

Caught between a rock and a hard place here.

 

[ChefDJ]

you need a fluid and filter change + adaptions reset. :coolShake:

This :withStu:


My car has had a rough shift from second to third since I bought her.

 

[OppositeLockMT]

you need a fluid and filter change + adaptions reset. :coolShake:

This :withStu:


My car has had a rough shift from second to third since I bought her.

Planning on a fluid change anytime soon Chef?

 

[Blue Shirt]

I am sure you can do the oil & filter change yourself, but the adaptations reset afterwards is mandatory so you would need someone competent to do that for you.

 

[Cartlyn]

I suggest checking the oil level, top up if necessary, i had the same issue with my car , changed the oil and filter and that was the end of my box, from what i read ZF looks at certain information from the box, one being clutch wear, if the clutches are not within a certain spec they will not change the oil as this leads to slipping, if you do not have this info it is a gamble, i do not think the guys changing oil on lower mileage vehicles have any issues, my car had just about 153000kms when i changed the oil, hope this helps.

 

[ChefDJ]

you need a fluid and filter change + adaptions reset. :coolShake:

This :withStu:


My car has had a rough shift from second to third since I bought her.

Planning on a fluid change anytime soon Chef?

Not right now. I'm actually too scared to... Have heard horror stories.

 

[Waseem 333i]

I called ZF to service the gearbox on my e46. They said they dont do it because its a GM box. Then called another guy and he said not to touch it. Other BMW forums recommend full flush and service no matter how high the millage and all of them talk good stories after the service was done. It is also recommended to replace the solenied and pressure valve inside the box. Those components fail then cause all the other havoc.

 

[Lizzard]

I also have that problem on my E46 330i step where it shift down or up from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 3rd.

This also bothered me but I juts started driving it slow for the first few kilometers and then go for it from there. I wouldn't warry to much about it for now as it is only noticeable on when it is cold, correct?

If it continues and doesn't correct itself after warming up then you must worry and do a oil change and filter which there is DIY's for. But I also heard that once you open it, there is a 50% chance that it might make it worse. So where possible wait for it to get worse, so to say. But I also think that due to the fluids being cold and they need to work through the gearbox valves that it will create this.

Hope this gives you more comfort. Some people are reckless and don't look after their cars and then it ends up like the horror you read about steps. You noticed the shift and know about it so just treat it with care and you should do many more kilometers on it like that.

 

[OppositeLockMT]

I also have that problem on my E46 330i step where it shift down or up from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 3rd.

This also bothered me but I juts started driving it slow for the first few kilometers and then go for it from there. I wouldn't warry to much about it for now as it is only noticeable on when it is cold, correct?

If it continues and doesn't correct itself after warming up then you must worry and do a oil change and filter which there is DIY's for. But I also heard that once you open it, there is a 50% chance that it might make it worse. So where possible wait for it to get worse, so to say. But I also think that due to the fluids being cold and they need to work through the gearbox valves that it will create this.

Hope this gives you more comfort. Some people are reckless and don't look after their cars and then it ends up like the horror you read about steps. You noticed the shift and know about it so just treat it with care and you should do many more kilometers on it like that.

Thanks for the advice bud, gives me some perspective.