BMW and transmissions: hiding its head in the ground?

Any thing can happend, for BMW to denying it is very bad. Honda had to fix some of the faulty trany problems they had, why can't BMW do the same.

They don't want to admit, because they know it will seriously hurt their sales.
Well, I guess I have to delete the X5 out of my list as I will bying a new SUV soon.

Damn! I don't even like Lexus, I guess I might toward Acura/Honda for now.

I read the Touareg was a piece of garbage.

Hello! Audi Q7 over here.

Yes, the Q7 is far better than any Acura or Honda truck...

...and the Touareg isn't garbage. Although I'd definitely pick a Q7 or X5 over it, I can see why someone would get it over an RX350 or MDX or something.

Oh and, a transmission failure on a last-generation BMW SUV shouldn't be enough to deter you from the new one.

This news [of BMW transmission problems / inadequate customer service] could hand tens of thousands of sales to MB and Lexus in the next year or two. MB is looking good with the new C Class and Lexus can step up the pressure with variants of the IS.

And the new Audi A4, though you'd hate to admit it.

a simple transmission flush and fill would have avoided this problem for BMW? whatever interval is recommended by manufacturer, if you're into doing your own stuff like i am, you'd do it sooner. they told me to change transmission oil every 30K, but i do it every 10-15K just to be sure. if you just changed your lubes often enough, engine oil, trans oil, and differential lube (for rear wheel cars) you're gonna have a happy and long running car irrespective of make or model.

I dont know who makes the transmission, but im sure that getrag, wagner og who makes it, have to pay BMW for the trouble to make the transmission work proberly.

GM made the 5 speed for e46 (3series 99-05) same for the 1st gen. X5. It's a known problem, most dealers will fix it if a customer complains once or twice but no recall or tsb was issued.

How many miles were on the vehicles that the article was referring to? Anyone know? I have to say, unless there was some sort of defect, I haven't heard of major transmission failures in cars these days.

Toyota just announced a huge recall on Tundras and Sequoias.

Google is my source.

that was the QUESTION "Is there a problem here? Is BMW in denial? R u OK?
atleast TOYOTA is not in denial.

I did not know this thread was about a Toyota. I could have sworn...there is a BMW in this title somewhere.

What does a defective transmissions feel like to its driver, when it slips out of gear, or hunts for gears or stays in one gear? That must be the magic feel that everyone talks about.

There's a 5 to 10 sec. pause before the vehicle will move when in gear. 2003 and 2004 3 series have the most complaints.

I wouldn't call it hideous (there's nothing exactlky ugly about it), but I don't think it's particularly attractive, either.

*Exactly.

Looks like BMW is giving their customers the middle finger saying F-off,thats BMW service for you!!

I had a 2000 e46 323ci, i had the problem described the car would not move in reverse at times. I had to shut off the car and leave it for a while and try again, it got worse over a week, to the point it was doing it very often, i made a complain to the dealer and BMWNA 1800 they said that the problem was unique, and i would have to replace the tranny from my pocket. But i got disgusted with BMW and decide to sell it to carmax, i ended up getting little for the car. I now have a TSX, damn the car is realiable. Just wanted to vent.

I remember friend of mine had the 1st gen X it worked pretty good for a couple of years but i think when thy sent it to service the windows n radio stopped working.Either the dealership didn't know what they were doing. Or it was a prob. I think they ended up selling it. Now they have a Ford Freestar and a Ford Fusion. Only prob the freestar gave was the driver side window stopped working twice.

*1st gen X5

Well, it having three electronic functions right now (if any of those broke, it would be pathetic) would certainly help its reliability record!

bmw is very reliable !!!! :P

mine is amazingly reliable. and sooo pretty. and fast.

I cannot understand this article.They don't show any figures.They're quoting 5 complaints of 5-7 year old BMW owners who complain about the same problem.From hundreds of thousands sold since then.When a problem is real it will appear at huge lot of cars especially because 90% they're automatic and you can't really break them yourself except if you don't follow the service intervals and care instructions.If it was a real problem BMW couldn't possibly hide it since it would have spread at a huge number of vehicles.