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      09-29-2019, 04:14 AM   #1
MEddy78
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F31 335d 50K, Auto Gearbox 'thud'

I've only had my 335d for 3 months so I'm not sure what to expect with regards to what is normal with the gearbox and the how the car drives.

The car is on 50K miles

I have noticed that when in Auto and coming down the gears the difference when a lower gear is selected can be felt particularly at low speeds when coasting up to a stop.

The other night whilst driving in Comfort mode at 15mph I switched the car in to Sport mode and there was such a thud I thought I had been rear ended!
There was no mechanical noise or feeling through the drive components and the car drove ok.

Now, sometimes when in Sport Mode at low speeds (Auto) when a lower gear is selected there is a noticeable difference and a jerk can be felt. I have driven the car in manual and I believe it is when 2nd gear is selected on change down.

I have read some other threads about this and some say gearbox failure others say the quirkiness of BMW's transmission.

Any comments would be appreciated.
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      09-29-2019, 04:28 AM   #2
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Had my car from new and, coming up to 76k miles, I've never experienced the symptom you describe; therefore, if anyone's trying to tell you this "thud" is a quirk of the gearbox - and they're all like that - they're talking nonsense in my view!

I'd have it checked by a specialist (either a main dealer or a reputable independent) and see what they say; is the car still under a warranty?
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      09-29-2019, 04:34 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JNW1 View Post
Had my car from new and, coming up to 76k miles, I've never experienced the symptom you describe; therefore, if anyone's trying to tell you this "thud" is a quirk of the gearbox - and they're all like that - they're talking nonsense in my view!

I'd have it checked by a specialist (either a main dealer or a reputable independent) and see what they say; is the car still under a warranty?
No it is a 64 reg!
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      09-29-2019, 04:46 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MEddy78 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by JNW1 View Post
is the car still under a warranty?
No it is a 64 reg!
I saw it was a 2014 car but was wondering if you had it under an extended warranty (either through BMW or one of the specialist warranty companies). In any event, though, you probably need it checking over so you know what the problem is and what's needed to rectify it; hopefully it will be something relatively straightforward that won't cost an arm and a leg to fix.

If the car has a full BMW service history you may well find that BMW will make a goodwill gesture if there's a significant problem; unlikely they'll pay for everything but they probably won't leave you holding all of the bill either. However, fingers crossed it's nothing major!
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      09-29-2019, 05:15 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JNW1 View Post
I saw it was a 2014 car but was wondering if you had it under an extended warranty (either through BMW or one of the specialist warranty companies). In any event, though, you probably need it checking over so you know what the problem is and what's needed to rectify it; hopefully it will be something relatively straightforward that won't cost an arm and a leg to fix.

If the car has a full BMW service history you may well find that BMW will make a goodwill gesture if there's a significant problem; unlikely they'll pay for everything but they probably won't leave you holding all of the bill either. However, fingers crossed it's nothing major!
I've not long had a new MG gearbox on our M135i under 'goodwill' from BMW, they might think the problem is with me!!

Thanks for your advice!
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      09-29-2019, 05:58 AM   #6
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Get it diagnosed properly as advised first, but if you purchased the car from a dealer it’s likely covered under the Consumer rights act 2015.

If a problem is found after 30 days, but within six months of purchase, you can request a repair or a replacement vehicle. The onus is on the seller of the car to prove the fault wasn’t present when it was sold.
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      10-03-2019, 10:09 AM   #7
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EGR Cooler is leaking....

The previous owner took it to Lancaster in Milton Keynes (Feb 19) under the recall and had it checked but the paperwork I have does not say whether it was actually replaced.

BMW will replace it for me as a warranty item, my local dealer Sunningdale haven't said if the one that is now faulty was the original one or the replacement one. I'm guessing it is the original as the replacement one wouldn't have failed in 8 months and 8,000 miles would it?
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      10-03-2019, 10:29 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MEddy78 View Post
EGR Cooler is leaking....

The previous owner took it to Lancaster in Milton Keynes (Feb 19) under the recall and had it checked but the paperwork I have does not say whether it was actually replaced.

BMW will replace it for me as a warranty item, my local dealer Sunningdale haven't said if the one that is now faulty was the original one or the replacement one. I'm guessing it is the original as the replacement one wouldn't have failed in 8 months and 8,000 miles would it?
Not sure why the EGR cooler issue would result in a gearbox "thud"? In common with a lot of others my car's had a replacement cooler but it never had the gearbox problem you describe so not convinced the two are related....
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      10-03-2019, 10:56 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JNW1 View Post
Not sure why the EGR cooler issue would result in a gearbox "thud"? In common with a lot of others my car's had a replacement cooler but it never had the gearbox problem you describe so not convinced the two are related....
Agree
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      10-03-2019, 01:49 PM   #10
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I'd bite the bullet and get the thing diagnosed at a stealers. If there's nothing logged then I'd be changing the gearbox oil, actually, I'd be changing that anyway. This sounds a lot like a sticking solenoid in the 'box...

Has the car got a towbar? If it's had a life of towing then the gearbox oil needs changing asap even if it's not the cause.

Good luck
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      10-04-2019, 09:25 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TiredGeek View Post
I'd bite the bullet and get the thing diagnosed at a stealers. If there's nothing logged then I'd be changing the gearbox oil, actually, I'd be changing that anyway. This sounds a lot like a sticking solenoid in the 'box...

Has the car got a towbar? If it's had a life of towing then the gearbox oil needs changing asap even if it's not the cause.

Good luck
It did go to the Main Dealer and it was only the EGR Cooler that got replaced after their diagnosis. I have the car back now so I'll give it a run out later and see how things are.
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      10-04-2019, 03:00 PM   #12
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Well that made f*ck all difference, car goes back in on Wednesday
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      10-07-2019, 03:46 AM   #13
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You may just get away with a gear box oil change.
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      10-10-2019, 12:40 PM   #14
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... so BMW had my car for a day and 2 Techs drove the car for 17 miles, they found nothing wrong with the car but reset the gearbox's adaptive learning.

I picked my car up just before BMW closed and it was then that I noticed that the 'thud' is even more apparent, so I called BMW back and informed them of the problem. We agreed that I should return in the morning and take one of their Techs out for a test drive.

This afternoon I took BMW's Tech out for a spin and within 1/2 mile I was heading back with the Tech satisfied having witnessed the 'thuds' and the juddering, he advises me that the fault is most likely the transfer box.

My car is now booked in for 3 days for investigation and potentially to have the transfer box replaced. I am hoping this will be done under warranty / goodwill but I am told that the tyre choice of the previous owner (non star marked on the front) might hamper that.

I was advised there should be no more than 2mm difference in tyre tread between the axles, front & rear.
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      10-10-2019, 02:17 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MEddy78 View Post
... so BMW had my car for a day and 2 Techs drove the car for 17 miles, they found nothing wrong with the car but reset the gearbox's adaptive learning.

I picked my car up just before BMW closed and it was then that I noticed that the 'thud' is even more apparent, so I called BMW back and informed them of the problem. We agreed that I should return in the morning and take one of their Techs out for a test drive.

This afternoon I took BMW's Tech out for a spin and within 1/2 mile I was heading back with the Tech satisfied having witnessed the 'thuds' and the juddering, he advises me that the fault is most likely the transfer box.

My car is now booked in for 3 days for investigation and potentially to have the transfer box replaced. I am hoping this will be done under warranty / goodwill but I am told that the tyre choice of the previous owner (non star marked on the front) might hamper that.

I was advised there should be no more than 2mm difference in tyre tread between the axles, front & rear.
Well on the positive side it at least sounds like you're making progress in terms of getting the fault diagnosed!

Hopefully the issue with the tyres won't have an adverse impact on any goodwill gesture from BMW - personally I don't really see non-star rated tyres being justification to refuse a claim if they're the correct width/profile/load rating and the same type of tyre is fitted on all four wheels. However, regardless of whether they're star rated or not, it's well known that running tyres with different wear levels can cause problems with X-Drive; therefore, if you - or the previous owner - has (say) combined new tyres on one axle with part worn tyres on the other it could have contributed to the issue you're experiencing.

Anyway, I hope you get the problem sorted, hopefully without much or anything in the way of expense!
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      10-10-2019, 03:28 PM   #16
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Based on your original description i'm pretty sure they're barking up the wrong tree with that one unfortunately.

1. The transfer case wont be doing anything coming down the gears (mentioned twice).
2. When you switched to sport mode, again you're not on the accelerator at that moment (i presume) to the tranfer case wont be modulating torque.

I've driven a car with a dodgy transfer case, and it only exhibited jolting (like jabbing the brake momentarily) when accelerating and in-gear.

At least you'll probably get a free transfer case - just be careful if they start blaming your tyres You can disable the Transfer case by taking out 2 fuses - make sure they prove it if they start making demands.
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      10-14-2019, 02:52 PM   #17
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My 16' 335D had a thud like that when changing trough gears in the sport mode. It was horrible and I tought something was wrong.
I reset and re adapted the gearbox with Ista and that cured it. The noise never came back.
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      10-14-2019, 05:28 PM   #18
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You sure its not just the speeds mode

Mine is faster / harsher in sports mode changing gears
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      10-15-2019, 01:31 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by beerglass007 View Post
You sure its not just the speeds mode

Mine is faster / harsher in sports mode changing gears
No, the car is definitely 'driving like an arse' regardless of the mode. It is back in a the dealers tomorrow so I'll update this once it is back (again)
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      10-17-2019, 01:39 PM   #20
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Day 1:
Heard nothing

Day 2:
It's not the non * marked tyres causing the problem as a front set of wheels / tyres were made available to try on the car on a test drive

It's not the transfer box as this was unplugged for another test drive

Have been advised it could be a gearbox fault so things to be checked tomorrow (Day 3);
- first thing in the morning the gearbox oil will be checked as this has to be done with the engine / transmission cold
- gearbox software to be reflashed as some bits of coding have been done to the car already so BMW want to refresh the factory software

Apologies for lack of correct terminology!

I was unaware of what coding the car has had done to it but reading some posts on coding I think it might be;
- M Performance logo on start up
- MPH displayed
- M3 active sound ??
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      10-17-2019, 02:57 PM   #21
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2014 BMW 335d  [0.00]
None of that coding would affect the gearbox. Would be interested to see what if anything they find with the gearbox oil.
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      10-18-2019, 06:57 AM   #22
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So the gearbox oil was ok and after updating all the software to factory spec the car still judders! (only when driving at 40 mph under minor load)

The dealer says the gearbox needs replacing so they are asking for goodwill from BMW at the moment ....
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