DCT Transmission Fault

[Galal01]

I have been experiencing alot of problems with my car lately.. Dont know exactly what the problem is... My car is a 2009 Convertible...

When I drive the car on D it wont shift properly.. When shifting from any gear to another it jerks and cuts power completely for about 4 seconds then power comes back and car takes off until the next gear change and same thing happens again.. A Light came on saying Transmission Fault..

When I took it to BMW Dealership they hooked it up to the computer and said two things.. Under transmission fault it states that the drivers chair is not plugged in.. the other problem is Footwell Module 2 states malfunction.. They tried deleting codes and however nothing changed... they ordered me a new Footwell Module however they dont know what could be messing the transmission...

Now when researching the footwell module it says that it mainly controls lights, power mirrors, and windows.. so I doubt it has anything to do with the problem.

The message under transmission fault states drivers chair missing.. now my drivers chair isnt working properly because I think one of the wire got torn while installing new subs.. however what does that have to do with the transmission failure !

Also would downpipes have anything to do with it? I installed new super sprint downpipes maybe a couple of weeks before it started having these issues

Has anyone ever experienced this type of lagging or jerking in his DCT?

[M3Fool]

Did you name her Christine by some chance??? Cars are funny like that.... almost like they have a living soul and when you are wreckless with her ie; tearing wires out during a sub installation.... she is not happy with you and wants to let you know the error of your ways. j/k

[e1000]

M35i?

[alpina527]

I would get the wire fixed first before going any further with this. The seat sensors can give all sorts of problems with other areas.

[Templar]

The DCT is an electronic controlled transmission, so any sort of wiring fault or electrical issue can mess with the DCT and it's functions.

Sounds like you need to replace that wire that is worn from messing with the subs too.

[calintexas]

Originally Posted by e1000

M35i?

Did a Google search on M35i. Looks like he built it himself. Pretty amazing: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455974 and http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=454408

[mkoesel]

OP, is the car you are having issues with an actual M3 convertible, or is it a "M35i" like the one in your sig or another custom creation of some sort? If the latter, your issues are probably going to be pretty unique to your situation, and not something that one would see with a stock M3.

[persian54]

i think it's a different car because his car is a coupe

but the one with a problem is a vert

[mkoesel]

^^^ I know it is a different car, but I was asking if it is a real M3 or another custom project.

[calintexas]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

OP, is the car you are having issues with an actual M3 convertible, or is it a "M35i" like the one in your sig or another custom creation of some sort? If the latter, your issues are probably going to be pretty unique to your situation, and not something that one would see with a stock M3.

Originally Posted by persian54

i think it's a different car because his car is a coupe

but the one with a problem is a vert

Originally Posted by mkoesel

^^^ I know it is a different car, but I was asking if it is a real M3 or another custom project.

Originally Posted by calintexas

Did a Google search on M35i. Looks like he built it himself. Pretty amazing: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455974 and http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=454408

He put a "looks like an M3" 335i coupe together from a 2009 BMW 316i Coupe, parts, and a written off 2010 BMW 335i DCT convertible . It's hard to know for sure which car he's actually talking about. Follow one of the links from my post (last one quoted) to get an idea what is going on.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by calintexas

..and a written off 2010 BMW 335i DCT convertible.

That's an interesting piece of info, thanks. I have to guess he is indeed talking about drivetrain components from that car, and thus his problem is not only not related to an M3, it quite likely the result of some obscure issues that are side effects of his conversion. In other words, I don't know how much help he will get from us - he is probably the world's leading expert on cars with a 335i DCT drivetrain transplanted into a 316i. But, don't let me deter you OP - good luck in finding a solution.

[e1000]

That's why I was asking about the M35i. If we're dealing with a franken-car, then obviously the troubleshooting needs to be very different.

[Galal01]

I can understand the confusion.. The M35i is my car... its a 2010 M3 Exterior and Interior with a 2010 heavily tuned 335i DCT with an M3 Differential and suspension... However the current issue is with our latest build.. which is a 2009 M3 Convertible with DCT..

Here are the Fault Codes if anyone has a DTC Code translator..

Gearbox control unit
Module Identification

Hardware Number 7601968
Hardware Vesion Number 05
Coding Index 00
DiagnosticIndex 0F20
VariantIndex 5456
Date of ECU Manufacturing 20090907
System Supplier GETRAG
Message Catalog Version 0.29.120
Software Version 52.0.0
OS Version 1.8.10


Current Fault Codes

CF41:

Error will not cause a warning light
Error is not currently present
Test conditions have been completed

5A74:

Error will not cause a warning light
Error is not currently present
Test conditions have been completed

5A75:

Error will not cause a warning light
Error is not currently present
Test conditions have been completed

5A53:

Error will not cause a warning light
Error is not currently present
Test conditions have been completed
Short circuit or signal interruption

5133:

Error will not cause a warning light
Error is not currently present
Test conditions have been completed
Short circuit or signal interruption

5A54:

Error will not cause a warning light
Error is not currently present
Test conditions have been completed
Short circuit or signal interruption

[Galal01]

Here is a video of one of the 316i that we turned into an M3

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Galal01

However the current issue is with our latest build.. which is a 2009 M3 Convertible with DCT..

Ok, so it is a non-factory car. I still think you are probably in a different league with these issues. Again, not to discourage you, just saying that your issues are going to be unique to your situation. Sounds to me like you need to speak with people who know the DCT inside and out. I think if you read through some recent DCT threads on this forum you might find a link that will point you to people who might be able to help. PM me if you need more assistance...

By the way what's the story behind this E93 build? Any pics? You do great work.

[calintexas]

We're mostly owners here with cars that are still under warranty. I don't know that anyone will have the detail knowledge you need.

You may want to look at and post on the S65 forum on [Admin Notified]. A guy there (Sticky) has taken a DCT apart and is working with a company to rebuild and strengthen it. I don't remember if he's gotten into the control system or not.