DCT Skipping gears or double shifting - My solution

[brettcp]

2012 E93 M3 DCT. A few weeks ago I noticed that when I upshifted, my car went from 1-2 then immediately jumped into 3rd gear on its own. Only happened a couple of times, then was fine for the next few weeks. Today I took it out for a spin and nearly every time I upshifted, it would upshift 2 gears. Through some trial and error I narrowed it down to occurring only when I used the DCT paddle to upshift. If I used the DCT shifter in the center console, or went into auto mode, the issue never occurred. I then realized that it was upshifting once when I pulled the paddle back, then upshifted again when I released the paddle. Got home and popped out the airbag, removed the paddle module/paddle (easy, look it up), disassembled the module to find the grease that is packed in with the little metal ball bearing was gunking up the electrical contact points. A bit hard to see in the photos, but there was grease bridging the two contact points on the PCB.. not good! I cleaned it up with a q-tip and some alcohol, put it all back together, problem solved. I cleaned up the downshift paddle as well while I was in there just for good measure. I'd imagine this happened back when I replaced the paddles several months ago, I must have drug some of the grease around the little channel of the module when replacing the paddle. I was careful this time to not get any grease anywhere other than around where the ball bearing sits.

I hope this helps somebody in a similar situation!

[PKL]

This happened to me recently. But my mechanic and I entirely took the part apart and cleaned it, and it was still happening. So I replaced the part. Upshift only. With the brand new part, started working again flawlessly. I wish the simple clean it solution had worked for me, oh well!

[brettcp]

Originally Posted by PKL

This happened to me recently. But my mechanic and I entirely took the part apart and cleaned it, and it was still happening. So I replaced the part. Upshift only. With the brand new part, started working again flawlessly. I wish the simple clean it solution had worked for me, oh well!

That's interesting as there aren't any actual electronics on that PCB in the photo, its just a contact pad. Did you have to replace the DCT module it plugs into as well (the part the wire harness plugs into behind the steering wheel trim) ?

[wfdeacon88]

Great to know, THANK you! I just replaced my paddles last week, and I noticed the grease was a little sloppy on one.... I didn't mess with it as it was never messing up before, but if it happens to me ever, I will know where to look first. great post.

[jzyaamit@icloud.com]

I have the same issues recently. Do you think it is related to shift paddles?
Because when I shift using shifter knob at the center console, it still happens to me. It skips 2nd gear and goes into 3rd.

[slcook54]

Believe this happened to dogbone

[brettcp]

Originally Posted by jzyaamit@icloud.com

I have the same issues recently. Do you think it is related to shift paddles?
Because when I shift using shifter knob at the center console, it still happens to me. It skips 2nd gear and goes into 3rd.

If your issue occurs only when using the shift knob (the one in the center console), I doubt the paddles are the issue. Doesn't take long to take these apart and clean them, though.