BMW and M Power Owners

Man of Honour
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
159,641
I had a test drive of a 120i automatic yesterday.. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

In the past I've heard some bad things about certain car manufacturers having bad automatics (sorry, cant remember which). What's the general consensus with BMW automatics, any problems or issues I should be weary of?

It is fitted with probably the best automatic gearbox on the planet.
 
Caporegime
Joined
25 Nov 2004
Posts
25,834
Location
On the road....
I can re-join this thread now. Picked up my 2008 650i cabriolet yesterday. Bought from Peerzy on here (thanks man).
Very happy with it.
Nice, always had a soft spot for these despite the “questionable” styling of that era, isn’t the engine in that a bit prone to issues or have I imagined that?

Anyway, pictures man! :)
 
Soldato
Joined
4 Jul 2011
Posts
4,300
Location
England
So the gearbox in my F11 is quite jerky in low gears at low RPM. If I let off the accelerator to slow for a roundabout or junction and then accelerate again to move off it can take some time for the gearbox to catch up. I'm unsure if it is just my driving or if it os infact the gearbox.

Is this something worth taking up with the dealer as although it is an 11 plate it's still in warranty? The last time I had my car in to get something checked they threatened to bill me for an hour's labour if they couldn't find anything wrong.
 
Soldato
Joined
24 Oct 2002
Posts
14,182
Location
Bucks and Edinburgh
So the gearbox in my F11 is quite jerky in low gears at low RPM. If I let off the accelerator to slow for a roundabout or junction and then accelerate again to move off it can take some time for the gearbox to catch up. I'm unsure if it is just my driving or if it os infact the gearbox.

Is this something worth taking up with the dealer as although it is an 11 plate it's still in warranty? The last time I had my car in to get something checked they threatened to bill me for an hour's labour if they couldn't find anything wrong.

The gearbox shouldnt be jerky unless it is sport+ mode, if in comfort mode it should be silky smooth. The delay when coming off the accelerator and putting your your foot down again is IMO normal and a symptom of auto gearboxes. I wrote about it earlier in the thread BMW and M Power Owners
 
Associate
Joined
2 Jan 2009
Posts
2,020
Location
London
Might be due to adaptations on your driving style. Worth giving it a reset to see if it improves:


1) press start button once to turn on power (without starting the engine)
2) press the accelerator down to the floor for 5 sec
3) press start button to turn off power
4) remove foot from accelerator
5) wait for two minutes
6) enjoy result
 
Soldato
Joined
4 Jul 2011
Posts
4,300
Location
England
Might be due to adaptations on your driving style. Worth giving it a reset to see if it improves:


1) press start button once to turn on power (without starting the engine)
2) press the accelerator down to the floor for 5 sec
3) press start button to turn off power
4) remove foot from accelerator
5) wait for two minutes
6) enjoy result
I've already tried this, can't say I noticed any massive change.
 
Associate
Joined
2 Jan 2009
Posts
2,020
Location
London
It would certainly benefit from a gearbox oil change, despite BMW claiming "sealed for life" on its transmission components.

ZF themselves recommend a change every 60k miles. It would make a positive difference although it's worth noting that there are some potential horror stories out there, mainly due to using the wrong oil.

BMW will of course have none of the above arguing "that they all do it".

Last but by no means least a remap would significantly make it better as well. When fitting the BMW power kit on my F30 330D, comfort mode bacame almost as responsive as sport mode.

All depends on whether you can accept it or decide to throw money at the problem.
 
Don
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
22,761
Location
Wargrave, UK
Here we go

nXMFWN7.jpg

S2I4maA.jpg

mvE7KLn.jpg

c3Z0ULY.jpg

0TYqBRP.jpg

Spec:
2008 LCI 650i Sport
Sport automatic transmission
Climate comfort laminated glass
Interior/outside mirror with auto dip
Interior mirror with automatic-dip
Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
Sports seat
Seat heating driver/passenger
Park Distance Control (PDC)
Xenon Light
Adaptive Headlights
Light package
High-beam assistant
Lane departure warning
Navigation system Professional
Head-up display
Voice control
USB/Audio interface
High gloss shadow line

HUD is awesome. Getting the nav directions and my speed displayed on the road in front of me is very handy.
Stereo is crap being the base (LoFi) system, but the top Logic 7 system in the E64 is slightly better crap that's a pain to upgrade so I'm happy with this for now. New speakers (MB Quart) and some amplification will go in in the next few weeks.

The exhaust sounds fantastic by the way. Not boomy but howls when you press the loud pedal to the floor.

I'm sure @Peerzy will post about his replacement soon.
 
Associate
Joined
6 Jan 2018
Posts
359
That is gorgeous! I’ve just bought a 745i, same engine, you have the valve stem seals to look out for, coolant transfer pipe and Valvetronic eccentric shafts, and valve cover gaskets amongst other stuff... Mine has been on a main dealer service schedule and just needed half the engine stripping down due to a sticking Valvetronic shaft caused by sludge. Expensive enough just in labour. If it needs a new eccentric shaft too... yikes.

Valve stem seals I got quoted £1000 for locally (doesn’t need doing yet though) which is VERY cheap, by someone who has the tool to make the job quicker, coolant transfer pipe can be repaired with a £200 kit instead of an engine out job to replace it and there is an adjustment to the valve lift that can compensate for eccentric shaft wear to some degree

Beautiful car though, I bet it sounds gorgeous with that exhaust, mine is all stock (except golf tee mod) and it sounds quite beefy!
 
Don
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
22,761
Location
Wargrave, UK
Well aware of all the potential issues and fixes. I used to have a 750i with the same motor.
I went in to this with my eyes open. I don't need to drive every day and can do without the car for extended periods if the worst happens.

At least there's plenty of knowledge about the engine out there and loads of guides and specialists. That's what always annoyed me about the XJ. They are so rare and people tend not to do their own spannering on them so when questions such as "How do I fix this?" come up on the forums "Take it to the dealer" is the usual answer.
 
Associate
Joined
6 Jan 2018
Posts
359
Well aware of all the potential issues and fixes. I used to have a 750i with the same motor.
I went in to this with my eyes open. I don't need to drive every day and can do without the car for extended periods if the worst happens.

At least there's plenty of knowledge about the engine out there and loads of guides and specialists. That's what always annoyed me about the XJ. They are so rare and people tend not to do their own spannering on them so when questions such as "How do I fix this?" come up on the forums "Take it to the dealer" is the usual answer.

I would have preferred a 750i but this (what I thought was) a very nice 745i turned up at the right price and I went for it. Impossible to own a car like that if you depend on it every day I think!

I did fancy an XJ but the idea of repairing it was somewhat off putting haha.

At least the issues with these are well documented and there are some “tricks” out there to save some 4 figure bills if desired.

It looks fantastic with the top down, love the contrasting interior!
 
Soldato
Joined
4 Jul 2011
Posts
4,300
Location
England
It would certainly benefit from a gearbox oil change, despite BMW claiming "sealed for life" on its transmission components.

ZF themselves recommend a change every 60k miles. It would make a positive difference although it's worth noting that there are some potential horror stories out there, mainly due to using the wrong oil.

BMW will of course have none of the above arguing "that they all do it".

Last but by no means least a remap would significantly make it better as well. When fitting the BMW power kit on my F30 330D, comfort mode bacame almost as responsive as sport mode.

All depends on whether you can accept it or decide to throw money at the problem.
What's the best way to get the software updated? I don't mind spending money getting the car working better but also don't want to risk my warranty. Is it something a dealer or an indie would do?
 
Soldato
Joined
3 Apr 2007
Posts
7,262
Location
South of the Watford Gap!
If the car is under warranty, book it in, take the tech out in it to show the problem and then let them deal with it.

Different car but in my f30 the stop/start was pure crap and as rough as nails, dealer in Leicester claimed they are all like that, dealer down south investigates and updated the cars software and boy what a difference it has made. Still not as smooth as my wife’s Yaris but i no longer feel the urge to turn it off.
 
Soldato
Joined
17 Jul 2005
Posts
9,689
had my m240i for just over a week and I'm already regretting it :eek: the steering feel is so bad also its a quick car but it really does struggle to get the power down and anything other than a perfect day with warm tyres the rear tyre grip is frightening:(

Barring a lack of steering feel (not uncommon in modern cars, especially in its rivals) my M140i has no issue putting down its power. In the wet the tail can be a bit playful but that is controlled by not being a spanner with the throttle.

This is on the stock Pilot Super Sports.
 
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