DCT Temperature Warning Message -- Anybody Else Get It?

[GT3 Tim]

I took my car in for an oil change and brake fluid flush last week. The day before, I got a DCT temperature warning light. Basically, it was telling me the tranny was hot and to avoid driving "slower than a walking pace". Thing is, the car was sitting all day and was cold. lol

I mentioned this to my SA when I went in. I figured it was a bad temp sender. He advised me that the first thing they wanted to do was install the newest software. He stated that "recall 28 01 10" needed to be preformed before they will do anything else.

From this thread (http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=432993&page=2), AMP states that it is merely a campaign to install the latest software version. Lovely. Apparently, there was an issue with the techs not being able to run the scan tool on the DCT, so the ISTA/P version has to be updated FIRST. THEN they can scan my tranny to figure it out.

I am curious if anybody else with a DCT has had this issue (DCT temp warning), and then had the newest ISTA/P version installed, etc, etc. What were the findings, how did it effect the car, etc. Just looking for some info from people in the know.

Insights appreciated....

Edit: Although there is a lot of info on the thread mentioned above...just curious if anybody has had my specific issue with the DCT temp warning and what the findings were after the lastest software was installed.

[BCA]

16 months and 10k miles here...never had the DCT temp warning. And I've done a lot of stop & go in traffic here in (normally) hot Houston.

[GT3 Tim]

Yeah, I have not seen anybody talk about the DCT overheating.

Mine happened when the car was dead COLD. Thus, I think it is probably just a bad temp sender. Just curious if anybody else has had this happen.

[drakar99]

22k on '08...one of the first DCTs. Never a problem, never a temp warning. This car is bulletproof.

[SenorFunkyPants]

ISTR a few E46 SMG M3s having gearbox overheating problems...stop start traffic on an incline would put quite a heat strain on that box....but I haven't heard of any DCT cars with the same problem..

[Echo M3]

Sounds to me like a bad temp indicator. I've never heard of anyone overheating the DCT. Heck, 2 hours of hard running on the track didn't raise a peep from the temperature warning indicators! I think you are right - you have a faulty temp sensor. Either way, it's best to play it safe if you are unsure, and have it towed in (unless you are a short drive from the dealer) - DCT failures are very uncommon but never inexpensive.

[MMMeister]

Ooops, got the same warning yesterday afternoon.
Car displayed the message as I was stopping for gas.
So before that I was on a freeway at freeway speeds.
Outside temp was about 50s.

I don't think the clutch was slipping at those times. I did have my 12k run-in service 200 miles ago but according to the work summary it didn't include a GearBox oil change. Only engine and diff oil change.

My guess the computer thinks it overheating due to a faulty sensor.

[FlashTwoSix]

GT3 Tim...any updates?

[GT3 Tim]

I took it in and my SA stated that there is a known software glitch that is probably causing the warning light to come on.

I had the software updated and they rescanned everything. They could find no faults. The light has not come back on either....and the DCT seems to shift better in auto mode too. The lag time has been reduced even more, which is great.

My advice to all that get the temp warning light is to take it in and have the software updated. Actually, it is a mandatory update that will be done next time you take it in anyways....so you can either wait until your next service or just take it in for that.

At any rate, the software update seems to have cured the problem....and the bonus is that it seems to have even less lag at low speeds now.

[warrior3313]

Originally Posted by GT3 Tim

I took it in and my SA stated that there is a known software glitch that is probably causing the warning light to come on.

I had the software updated and they rescanned everything. They could find no faults. The light has not come back on either....and the DCT seems to shift better in auto mode too. The lag time has been reduced even more, which is great.

My advice to all that get the temp warning light is to take it in and have the software updated. Actually, it is a mandatory update that will be done next time you take it in anyways....so you can either wait until your next service or just take it in for that.

At any rate, the software update seems to have cured the problem....and the bonus is that it seems to have even less lag at low speeds now.

GT3 Tim,

Have you had any more issues with your Transmission Temp? I ran into this problem this weekend with my 09 E90 M3. I got that same Transmission Temp Warning after driving it home 10 min last night. Drove normally. No hard accelerations or anything. Is this truly a software issue or can it relate to something more serious? I am just curious if BMW would have done the upgraded software on the vehicle while it was in for service or if I have to tell them to do the DCT Software upgrade.

Anyone else who may be able to shed some light on this let me know. A little concerned with this warning I got.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by warrior3313

GT3 Tim,

Have you had any more issues with your Transmission Temp? I ran into this problem this weekend with my 09 E90 M3. I got that same Transmission Temp Warning after driving it home 10 min last night. Drove normally. No hard accelerations or anything. Is this truly a software issue or can it relate to something more serious? I am just curious if BMW would have done the upgraded software on the vehicle while it was in for service or if I have to tell them to do the DCT Software upgrade.

Anyone else who may be able to shed some light on this let me know. A little concerned with this warning I got.

Warrior, did the alarm come back the next day? Did it even return later that day? Did it drive or sound any different before the light came on?

As I've said in other posts (and BMW even says in the owner's manual), the M-DCT is rather fickle at times and all it can take it just a restart of the engine for things to go back to normal. Case in point: I got a warning once or twice that second gear was "unavailable". I turned off the car, waited a minute, turned it back on, and everything was fine. I've not lost any sleep over it and the warning hasn't returned since I saw it over a year ago.

You should be able to call your service adviser and get info if the update was done to the car. All they need is the last 7 digits of the VIN.

[Alohaaaaa]

Check for leaks... I got it a few times when my DCT had problems... No issues right now driving around in 40C!

[warrior3313]

Yea it was fine all day yesterday. Last night a nice ride home and it happened. I think it could have experienced a little slip on a hill from a stoplight right before getting home. It's been fine today. Didn't get the warning on my way to or on the way home from work. Car shifts very well otherwise. I'm going to call my local SA tomorrow and see if he can look up my car by my vin and tell me if I need some software updates.

[warrior3313]

Yea it was also 95 degrees when I was driving home from the train today and no warning light.