Finally Bought My Dream M3, 48hours later "transmission malfunction"

[The-Traveler]

Originally Posted by Saint_M3

Hey guy!

Like the title suggest. I finally bought my dream M3! Jerez Black E92 M3, 77k miles, and it is in excellent condition! The car in and of itself is perfect, well almost.

That being the DCT. I noticed around commuting in town or on the highway its fine, But the second I begin to drive aggressively it. The error pops up, "Transmission Malfunction, Limited Gear Selections Possible"

Gears randomly disappear. It will go, 2-4-6, or sometimes 1,2,3,5,7.

The only way to get it to stop is to stop the car completely and restart it.

I also pulled these codes as well

5134
5A64
5131
5A85

I just installed a fresh battery, checked the ground wire from the engine to the body, (lower ground mounted on the oil pan), and that was good!
I do know I have a leak on my pan and it could be dripping from somewhere on the top of the transmission.

With all this being said, what do you guys think is wrong? Any practical steps so figure out whats happeing??

I didn't read the thread, but I had this once with my car when it was almost brand new and it was just a low battery. Clear and charge, and you should be fine.

[Saint_M3]

Originally Posted by The-Traveler

I didn't read the thread, but I had this once with my car when it was almost brand new and it was just a low battery. Clear and charge, and you should be fine.

Thats one of the first things I did, and sadly no change :/ Happy it worked for you though!

Brought the m3 back to the dealership, which then was sent to one of their BMW shops. Still waiting to hear back what they find.

[marcoac14]

Originally Posted by Saint_M3

Thats one of the first things I did, and sadly no change :/ Happy it worked for you though!

Brought the m3 back to the dealership, which then was sent to one of their BMW shops. Still waiting to hear back what they find.

Have you heard back from the shop? I have a similar issue except for in my case its’s selector rod 1-3. The dct will engage 1st and 2nd but will not engage any other gear.

[Saint_M3]

Hey guys update time!

After back and forth talks with the dealership, we decided that I would take back the car and they would cut me a check for fixing the transmission.

Their shop reported the same findings as mine which was the mechatronics unit. Instead of paying 8k in hope that fixes the problem. I decided to go with a swapping out the current DCT with a low mileage used transmission instead (since that will come with mechatronics unit in it). Luckily used DCTs are fairly affordable.

Appointment already scheduled with my indie shop for the swap. Ill update you on the results.

[ccdies79 M3]

Lol, mines a 2011 M3 E92 Jerez black DCT as well, and the first week I bought mine I started getting a high trans temp alarm, some times it’ll throw the car out of gear, it goes away after a couple of seconds, sometimes it’ll go off all day and get annoying, and some times I can go weeks with out any thing at all, from what I found out from this fourm is that mostlikly it’s the trans temp sensor. But my warranty and dealer ship where I bought the car from said it’s not a internally lubercated part so it’s not covered under warranty, and for me not to do any thing to it because it could void my warranty, so for the next 24K miles or 2 years I guess I gotta live with this,, sorry for jacking your thread, it just so happens to be both of our luck to buy a M3 with DCT trans issues,

[ccdies79 M3]

Oh and I wanted to do the rod bearings when I bought it just to save the motor if I where to have a failure, but they told me not to do that either, it’ll void my warranty. Again, sorry to Jack your thread, glad you got yours figured out

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by Saint_M3

Hey guys update time!

After back and forth talks with the dealership, we decided that I would take back the car and they would cut me a check for fixing the transmission.

Their shop reported the same findings as mine which was the mechatronics unit. Instead of paying 8k in hope that fixes the problem. I decided to go with a swapping out the current DCT with a low mileage used transmission instead (since that will come with mechatronics unit in it). Luckily used DCTs are fairly affordable.

Appointment already scheduled with my indie shop for the swap. Ill update you on the results.

the selling dealer is eating the cost on this? that's pretty awesome (and rare)

[VR1]

Originally Posted by ccdies79 M3

Oh and I wanted to do the rod bearings when I bought it just to save the motor if I where to have a failure, but they told me not to do that either, it’ll void my warranty. Again, sorry to Jack your thread, glad you got yours figured out

Wait what? I’m guessing you have an extended warranty… and your warranty company said fixing a sensor would void the warranty?

[ATLIEN]

Originally Posted by Saint_M3

Hey guys update time!

After back and forth talks with the dealership, we decided that I would take back the car and they would cut me a check for fixing the transmission.

Their shop reported the same findings as mine which was the mechatronics unit. Instead of paying 8k in hope that fixes the problem. I decided to go with a swapping out the current DCT with a low mileage used transmission instead (since that will come with mechatronics unit in it). Luckily used DCTs are fairly affordable.

Appointment already scheduled with my indie shop for the swap. Ill update you on the results.

Man this is great news!!!! Good strategy too on just doing the entire tranny vs the mechatronics.

[ATLIEN]

Originally Posted by ccdies79 M3

Lol, mines a 2011 M3 E92 Jerez black DCT as well, and the first week I bought mine I started getting a high trans temp alarm, some times it’ll throw the car out of gear, it goes away after a couple of seconds, sometimes it’ll go off all day and get annoying, and some times I can go weeks with out any thing at all, from what I found out from this fourm is that mostlikly it’s the trans temp sensor. But my warranty and dealer ship where I bought the car from said it’s not a internally lubercated part so it’s not covered under warranty, and for me not to do any thing to it because it could void my warranty, so for the next 24K miles or 2 years I guess I gotta live with this,, sorry for jacking your thread, it just so happens to be both of our luck to buy a M3 with DCT trans issues,

That’s bs. I’d call the warranty company and complain. Don’t take no for an answer as the problem is not going to get better with time and at least you have ground to stand on with the short time you’ve owned the car and the time the problem occurred.

[ccdies79 M3]

Originally Posted by VR1

Wait what? I’m guessing you have an extended warranty… and your warranty company said fixing a sensor would void the warranty?

That’s right, prettt much can’t do nothing to it, drive it to failure, guess they dont want to be stuck with the bill if another shop don’t know what they are doing,

[ATLIEN]

Originally Posted by ccdies79 M3

That’s right, prettt much can’t do nothing to it, drive it to failure, guess they dont want to be stuck with the bill if another shop don’t know what they are doing,

I’d move up the food chain of that company and start talking to some directors and vps of that organization. This is breach of contract and with that you have legal recourse.

[ccdies79 M3]

Originally Posted by ATLIEN

That’s bs. I’d call the warranty company and complain. Don’t take no for an answer as the problem is not going to get better with time and at least you have ground to stand on with the short time you’ve owned the car and the time the problem occurred.

Pretty much bought the car as is, I did buy the extended warranty 24K miles or 2 years what ever comes first for $2,400, but for the warranty company, it’s not a internally lubercated part, and does not want to fix it, and I guess I can understand if I take it to a shop to get work done to it and they F it up, or don’t know what they are doing, then the warranty company will void my warranty because the shop that worked on it broke it, I’m better off just driving it and waiting to see what happens, they are in this business to make money, not fixing cars before they break,

[ATLIEN]

Originally Posted by ccdies79 M3

Pretty much bought the car as is, I did buy the extended warranty 24K miles or 2 years what ever comes first for $2,400, but for the warranty company, it’s not a internally lubercated part, and does not want to fix it, and I guess I can understand if I take it to a shop to get work done to it and they F it up, or don’t know what they are doing, then the warranty company will void my warranty because the shop that worked on it broke it, I’m better off just driving it and waiting to see what happens, they are in this business to make money, not fixing cars before they break,

Take it to your local bmw dealer and call it a day. You bought a car in good faith and got a warranty. My thought is that the transmission is definitely a lubricated part. They just don’t want to pay and honor the contract.

[ccdies79 M3]

Originally Posted by ATLIEN

I’d move up the food chain of that company and start talking to some directors and vps of that organization. This is breach of contract and with that you have legal recourse.

I do agree, hell the first month I swapped out both rear wheel sensors, starter and the fuel tank breather valve, the trans temp just comes and goes, I had the car since October 2022 and it’s only come in alarm on the I drive maybe a total of 10 times ,had to pull over once because of the red alarm that threw the car out of gear and would not go back in gear, or even goes off when I’m in neutral in a parking spot at work, not even driving, just sitting there

[ccdies79 M3]

Originally Posted by ATLIEN

Take it to your local bmw dealer and call it a day. You bought a car in good faith and got a warranty. My thought is that the transmission is definitely a lubricated part. They just don’t want to pay and honor the contract.

True,, but I didn’t buy the car from a BMW dealership, it’s definitely a used car auto dealership called USA Auto Direct in Houston, and I should have known by walking into this dealership that they do something like this, not their fault the car had some issues when I bought it, no doubt about that, the original owner probably took it to auction because of this, now I am stuck with a warranty that saids it’s a sensor on the outside of the bell housing and the trans needs to be pulled to replace the sensor, not a lubercated part, I do have a video of ot going off just don’t know how to post it, ill just keep driving it till failure or when the warranty is up, I found the car 2 hours away from where I live and just had to have it,

[ATLIEN]

I’d assume the warranty is from a third party company and wouldn’t restrict where you got it repaired as long as it’s a licensed repair shop. I’m sure you have but I’d read that warranty contract like a hawk. Best of luck to you.

[ccdies79 M3]

Originally Posted by ATLIEN

I’d assume the warranty is from a third party company and wouldn’t restrict where you got it repaired as long as it’s a licensed repair shop. I’m sure you have but I’d read that warranty contract like a hawk. Best of luck to you.

Yup, kinda want to just cancel the warrant completely, better off just not having one at all

[MMMM6GC]

Originally Posted by ccdies79 M3

Yup, kinda want to just cancel the warrant completely, better off just not having one at all

How long have you had the warranty? And how many miles have you done since purchase? Almost all warranties can be cancelled and a pro-rata refund is issued based on the remaining time/miles left. I would call the warranty company ASAP and request a refund estimate if you want go down this route.

[ccdies79 M3]

Originally Posted by MMMM6GC

How long have you had the warranty? And how many miles have you done since purchase? Almost all warranties can be cancelled and a pro-rata refund is issued based on the remaining time/miles left. I would call the warranty company ASAP and request a refund estimate if you want go down this route.

I bought it at the end of October 2022, it had high 88K miles now has 91K miles, i understand that it’s a power train warranty with is only internally lubercated parts, which is what I wanted only because of the rod bearings issues that these car have, the trans temp sensor is bolted to the out side of the bell housing it is not lubercated, it’s behind the clutch plates, and is not internal, it’s a 12 year old car with a lot of miles, so in the next 2 years if I have any issues hopefully the warranty will cover it, but as for now, I didn’t know that this car had a trans temp sensor issues till about 2 weeks after I bought, and being 12 years old yes I bought it as is. I’m not trying to argue with any one about my warranty, it is what it is, if my rod bearings go out and have catastrophic damage to this motor I’m sure the warranty company will just swap it out with another motor from a salvage yard, but yes I could of just used that $2,400 and just went ahead and replaced the rod bearings and would have probably been good, but when I bought the warranty I bought for motor, trans, differential, hope I don’t have any issues with this car, but if I do I do at least have a warranty, it’s just not a bumper to bumper warranty, if I have any issues with the clutches or any part of the trans, I’ll see about getting the warranty to cover it, while the trans is pulled I’ll go ahead and have them replace the sensor while it’s out at my expense, but as of now it’s never left me stranded. It just had a orange alarm that comes every one in awhile, 1 time it took it out of gear 5 seconds later it cleared and I was able to put it back into gear,

[ccdies79 M3]

This is at 5AM on January 22nd when I got to work ambient temp was like 45 degrees, parked in a parking spot, and it just kept going off for no reason at all.

[ccdies79 M3]

Got this pic from another fourm site of where the trans temp sensor is located, it’s a $200 part but I gotta pay about $2,000 in labor to get to it, I’ll just wait and replace it later, but it will be a out of pocket expense to fix. And from what the dear ship told me they do the warranty claims at their location, so If any thing happens to my car it’ll most likely be going to back to dealership to get fixed from where I got it.