xDrive high speed judder

G.Newt · 01-07-2022, 02:11 AM

I have a 340ix 6speed manual. When accelerating moderately/heavily at highway speeds (70+ mph) in 5th or 6th gear, I feel some sort of hesitation or judder. I replaced my spark plugs and coil packs just in case.

It's not my clutch as that's been upgraded and my RPM's don't rise, but it feels something is slipping / traction related. Has anyone else experienced this?

It's usually a single "hesitation" during a pull accompanied by a thud sound then it's smooth the rest of the pull. But today I experienced a few judders before something "caught" and then the rest of the pull was fine. I run square Michelin PS A/S 3+ with les than 10k miles on them. I'm pushing 520+ lb-ft of torque.

A shop changed my transfercase fluid about 10k miles ago with OEM DTF-1 but unsure if they did a calibration. Is my transfercase on the way out or is it possible a calibration is what's needed? Maybe my rear tires are wearing faster than my fronts and are out of spec now? Thanks for all suggestions!

DoC3792 · 03-14-2022, 04:20 PM

Hello, I had the same problems with a 320ix and in the end i solved the problem only by getting my wheels balanced. I had a strage judder only after 110-120km/h

DoC3792 · 03-14-2022, 04:22 PM

I'm really curious how you'll manage to solve it. Good luck

G.Newt · 03-15-2022, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoC3792

I'm really curious how you'll manage to solve it. Good luck

I'm on an upgraded turbo getting custom tuned and that seemed to help resolve the high gear/load and high speed judder. Funny how more power but a dialed in custom tune helped solve the issue. Not completely gone but it's way less noticeable now. Before I was on an OTS stage 2+ E30 tune.

AndrewC1989 · 03-16-2022, 12:55 PM

My car is an 8AT but I have a similar issue where I experience judder when accelerating hard at highway speeds (I think I've only noticed it above 50mph and above 3rd gear). I tried xDelete and that mitigated the problem completely which makes me think the problem is my transfer case. I don't want to keep my car RWD long term however so I changed the transfer case fluid, and while it didn't totally get rid of the issue it seems to have helped quite a bit (the judder is still there but it's way more subtle). I'll probably make a habit of changing the fluid every 20-30k miles.

asbrr · 03-17-2022, 07:55 AM

Question - what procedure did you use to drain the transfer case fluid? It's supposed to be pretty hard to do without removing the whole transfer case...

nurgburgring · 03-19-2022, 04:02 PM

im pretty sure the transfer case has drain plug, it was on f11. And when u change the oil u need to reset adaption values in the transfer case.

asbrr · 03-19-2022, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nurgburgring

im pretty sure the transfer case has drain plug, it was on f11. And when u change the oil u need to reset adaption values in the transfer case.

Ah right - been reading for F30s there's no way to service it / it doesn't have a drain plug...

nurgburgring · 03-20-2022, 06:01 AM

Well it looks like it got a fill plug, according to realoem. Maybe use suction pump trough the fill plug?

asbrr · 03-20-2022, 03:11 PM

Yes - seems that's the only way and you just do your best to remove all the old fluid. It's odd, dealers don't seem to be willing to do this service - perhaps they don't have the instructions/tools/software to do the re-calibration of the transfer case clutches (like supposedly should be done)?

J555 · 03-28-2022, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.Newt

Maybe my rear tires are wearing faster than my fronts and are out of spec now?

What wheels (width front/rear) and tires (width/profile ratio front/rear) do you have?

Viewmaster_F31 · 05-26-2022, 08:43 PM

Similar issue on my F31. Changed the fluid in the transfer case and solved the issue! $40 in Redline MT-90 fluid. Took me about an hour. Pretty easy to do. Recalibrated the accel system and runs smooooooth.

If your tires our more than 1% out of circumference ratio spec Front:Rear could create similar jutter under acceleration as your transfer case clutches try to compensate. Prolonged driving with such tire wear will eventually kill your transfer case.

Hope you find a fix

AndrewC1989 · 05-27-2022, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viewmaster_F31

Recalibrated the accel system and runs smooooooth.

How does one recalibrate the accel system?

WrxToBeamerGuy · 06-01-2022, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asbrr

Yes - seems that's the only way and you just do your best to remove all the old fluid. It's odd, dealers don't seem to be willing to do this service - perhaps they don't have the instructions/tools/software to do the re-calibration of the transfer case clutches (like supposedly should be done)?

I did this procedure where you suction out the fluid from the transfer case. One thing to note is that you wont actually get most of the old fluid out. So I basically ended up replacing something along half of the fluid. I suppose ideally you do it once, drive a few hundred miles and do it again.

ErikB · 10-08-2022, 12:10 PM

Thanks for this post guys. I just started having a weird thunk in 7th or 8th gear with light acceleration usually between 60 and 70mph. Seems similar to what G.Newt is describing. Has a thud and pause/slip and feels like I drove over a log or something. super brief, half a second thing.
I just made sure all of my tires are good pressure, the drivers sides were down 2psi compared to pass side.
I ordered TC fluid to do that on Monday. Hoping that helps.
I am stage 2 flex bm3 and xhp stage 3. I have reflashed the tunes and its still present.

Under WOT or driving even somewhat medium throttle, there is never an issue. So strange. And normally i drive fairly light throttle, not bashing on the car all the time.

Fingers crossed fluid change and tire pressures help.

01-07-2022, 02:11 AM	#1
G.Newt Major 811 Rep 1,452 Posts Drives: CT4-V Blackwing 6MT Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: CO -> TX iTrader: (0)	I have a 340ix 6speed manual. When accelerating moderately/heavily at highway speeds (70+ mph) in 5th or 6th gear, I feel some sort of hesitation or judder. I replaced my spark plugs and coil packs just in case. It's not my clutch as that's been upgraded and my RPM's don't rise, but it feels something is slipping / traction related. Has anyone else experienced this? It's usually a single "hesitation" during a pull accompanied by a thud sound then it's smooth the rest of the pull. But today I experienced a few judders before something "caught" and then the rest of the pull was fine. I run square Michelin PS A/S 3+ with les than 10k miles on them. I'm pushing 520+ lb-ft of torque. A shop changed my transfercase fluid about 10k miles ago with OEM DTF-1 but unsure if they did a calibration. Is my transfercase on the way out or is it possible a calibration is what's needed? Maybe my rear tires are wearing faster than my fronts and are out of spec now? Thanks for all suggestions! __________________ 2022 CT4-V Blackwing 6-speed SOLD: 2016 340i xDrive 6-speed DAW v2.5 turbo E40 \| Dorch S2 \| VRSF DP \| MST intake \| AWE catback \| 335is clutch \| CSF heat exchanger \| RK Autowerks intake manifold \| Orange M Perf Brake Kit \| KW Street Comfort coilovers \| GTS taillights V2
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03-14-2022, 04:20 PM	#2
DoC3792 New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: BMW 320ix GT Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Romania iTrader: (0)	Hello, I had the same problems with a 320ix and in the end i solved the problem only by getting my wheels balanced. I had a strage judder only after 110-120km/h
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03-14-2022, 04:22 PM	#3
DoC3792 New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: BMW 320ix GT Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Romania iTrader: (0)	I'm really curious how you'll manage to solve it. Good luck
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03-16-2022, 12:55 PM	#5
AndrewC1989 Brigadier General 10930 Rep 4,551 Posts Drives: 2015 328d xDrive Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NoVA iTrader: (5) Garage List 2015 328d xDrive [8.90]	My car is an 8AT but I have a similar issue where I experience judder when accelerating hard at highway speeds (I think I've only noticed it above 50mph and above 3rd gear). I tried xDelete and that mitigated the problem completely which makes me think the problem is my transfer case. I don't want to keep my car RWD long term however so I changed the transfer case fluid, and while it didn't totally get rid of the issue it seems to have helped quite a bit (the judder is still there but it's way more subtle). I'll probably make a habit of changing the fluid every 20-30k miles. __________________ My Build Thread
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03-17-2022, 07:55 AM	#6
asbrr Major 543 Rep 1,233 Posts Drives: 2014 335ix M-Sport Join Date: May 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	Question - what procedure did you use to drain the transfer case fluid? It's supposed to be pretty hard to do without removing the whole transfer case...
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03-19-2022, 04:02 PM	#7
nurgburgring New Member 8 Rep 12 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: eu iTrader: (0)	im pretty sure the transfer case has drain plug, it was on f11. And when u change the oil u need to reset adaption values in the transfer case.
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03-20-2022, 06:01 AM	#9
nurgburgring New Member 8 Rep 12 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: eu iTrader: (0)	Well it looks like it got a fill plug, according to realoem. Maybe use suction pump trough the fill plug?
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03-20-2022, 03:11 PM	#10
asbrr Major 543 Rep 1,233 Posts Drives: 2014 335ix M-Sport Join Date: May 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	Yes - seems that's the only way and you just do your best to remove all the old fluid. It's odd, dealers don't seem to be willing to do this service - perhaps they don't have the instructions/tools/software to do the re-calibration of the transfer case clutches (like supposedly should be done)?
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05-26-2022, 08:43 PM	#12
Viewmaster_F31 New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: F31, E28, E36, E24 Join Date: May 2022 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	Similar issue on my F31. Changed the fluid in the transfer case and solved the issue! $40 in Redline MT-90 fluid. Took me about an hour. Pretty easy to do. Recalibrated the accel system and runs smooooooth. If your tires our more than 1% out of circumference ratio spec Front:Rear could create similar jutter under acceleration as your transfer case clutches try to compensate. Prolonged driving with such tire wear will eventually kill your transfer case. Hope you find a fix
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10-08-2022, 12:10 PM	#15
ErikB Private First Class 61 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2018 F36 440ix Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sacramento, Ca iTrader: (0)	Thanks for this post guys. I just started having a weird thunk in 7th or 8th gear with light acceleration usually between 60 and 70mph. Seems similar to what G.Newt is describing. Has a thud and pause/slip and feels like I drove over a log or something. super brief, half a second thing. I just made sure all of my tires are good pressure, the drivers sides were down 2psi compared to pass side. I ordered TC fluid to do that on Monday. Hoping that helps. I am stage 2 flex bm3 and xhp stage 3. I have reflashed the tunes and its still present. Under WOT or driving even somewhat medium throttle, there is never an issue. So strange. And normally i drive fairly light throttle, not bashing on the car all the time. Fingers crossed fluid change and tire pressures help.
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