Newbie - transmission question

J

Juggernaught5

New member
Hello all:
I searched the forum and haven't seen my issue discussed. I just purchased a 2006 z4 3.0si with an automatic gearbox. Having driven manual transmission cars for the past 10+ years, I didn't pick up on my issue until after I had driven the car for a few days. Here's what's up:

In normal auto mode (D), on initial acceleration there is a brief hesitancy - like the car starts off in second gear, then shifts to first, then back to second. It's most noticeable during normal acceleration, such as from a traffic light. It's very rapid - the first two shifts occur after being in each gear for two seconds or less.

There's no hesitation in manual mode, so I don't believe its a throttle/carb issue. I have noticed that in manual mode, if I come to a stop without changing gears manually, the transmission drops to M2 once the car is no longer moving, not M1 as I would expect. There's also no hesitation if the sport button is depressed (although it seems to stay in third gear until over 4000 rpm).

I've attempted the adaptive transmission reset, but I'm not noticing anything different (or not doing the reset properly). When I try the reset, I'm not hearing the ticking/clicking noise as mentioned. I also have tried to complete the throttle reset - again, no difference or I'm not completing the reset properly.

Any thoughts? The car has only 37,000 miles, but given that the air filter element is of 2006 vintage, there may not have been regular maintenance post-warranty.

Thanks in advance for your help!
 
Hello! Welcome to the forum.

It really sounds like a trans issue and not the engine. And certainly not a "carb" issue. You know no one has produced a car with a carb in at least, like 25 years, right? :poke:

Sorry, shouldn't pick on the new guy, but couldn't resist. :) I know you meant injectors.

I don't know enough about auto trans to speculate much beyond it sounds like it can't find the right gear. I can tell you it's normal to hold low gears in sport mode until well into the higher rev range. I hope you're able to easily resolve this.
 
Having driven the 530 series diesel autos but not owning one (job cars), I dont believe you have an issue.

In manual mode it is set to default to 2 and not 1 due to the ratio. If you boot it, it will drop to 1 and then back to 2 without changing the indicator, for the most part it will do it all from 2.

In auto mode it does the same thing.

What your experiencing seems to be the car doing the right thing. Smoothly away on a flat surface with normal gas set it will stay in 2, do the same and push the accelerator harder for a fast get away and it will start in 2 then immediately kick down to 1 then back up again.

In sport mode it hangs on to the gears longer.

I would say from my experience of them you dont have an issue.

If your booting it and it feels that the power isnt getting there, like clutch slip, then change the transmission fluid. This can fix many auto box problems
 
Scotty sounds right to me and I've never owned an auto :roll:

Hope all gets sorted - these cars take some getting used to . . .

:driving: :thumbsup:
 
Hi ya

I have the 2.2i auto unlike you lucky lot with your 3.0l's :driving:

From what I'm hearing I think it's a lot to do with gearbox design as they have a money saving feature built into them that make the car run more economically. On mine because I don't have a heavy right foot (just sometimes :evil: ) it likes to go up the fairly quickly but only when the engine & gearbox have warmed up, but the powers always on tap when ever I want it 8)

I'm going to do a transmission & Diff fluid change on mine just for piece of mine, if it makes the gear changes smoother and fast, why not :D

Cheers PK
 
Thanks so much for these thoughts I really appreciate everyone's willingness to help.

I took my Zed to my local garage (Bavarian Motors Ltd, Phoenix AZ) who has confirmed nothing is wrong with the transmission. The car was given a thorough inspection and pronounced in great mechanical condition with no issues. They believe the car has been driven fairly gingerly and has developed a relaxed shift pattern based on this light use.

BML reset the dynamic driving dynamics, and prescribed using the 3-litre engine to its fullest potential, as often as possible.
 
Juggernaught5 said:
Thanks so much for these thoughts I really appreciate everyone's willingness to help.

I took my Zed to my local garage (Bavarian Motors Ltd, Phoenix AZ) who has confirmed nothing is wrong with the transmission. The car was given a thorough inspection and pronounced in great mechanical condition with no issues. They believe the car has been driven fairly gingerly and has developed a relaxed shift pattern based on this light use.

BML reset the dynamic driving dynamics, and prescribed using the 3-litre engine to its fullest potential, as often as possible.
Click to expand...
Now that's good advice :thumbsup:
 
Update: I found a garage within walking distance to my home, and took the car there for a second opinion on the transmission issue. They agreed there were no transmission problems, but did note a hesitation on acceleration and completed a second full inspection. They discovered that my first mechanic missed a broken axle! Once this was repaired, there has been a marked change in how/when the car shifts from first to second, and the smoothness of all shifts in general.
 
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