M-DCT Issue? Does any1 else have this problem?

joseph831 · 03-10-2009, 04:44 AM

Hello all,

I have been having problems with my iDrive telling me there is a "Malfunction: Trans position P" with the following message.

There is a transmission malfunction, the trans may not be able to go into the "P" position. Please ensure you use the emergency brake when stopping the car for long periods ( ie parking the car).

That message above is not word for word, but that is basicly what it says. But my car will still go into park (P). The Malfunction usually appears after I go in reverse. It goes away sometimes, with just stopping the car, and putting it in park....then sometime it stays on...Im lost..

Is anyone else having this problem. If so what was the issue.

Thanks for any help!

M3after330i · 03-10-2009, 08:46 AM

Did you get the DCT software updated. Once done this should go away. I used to get this frequently before the update and have not seen it since.

jaihind · 03-10-2009, 09:51 AM

I had the same problem....as stupid as it sounds...the shifter needs to be replaced, it has nothing to do with the recent updates they were doing.

emkmd · 04-26-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaihind

I had the same problem....as stupid as it sounds...the shifter needs to be replaced, it has nothing to do with the recent updates they were doing.

Have you actually had this done. I took delivery of my car last summer, then began to occasionally have this problem. I had the software update done a few months ago (cannot remember exactly when), and then no more problem. Now I am having the problem again, except that it is constant. Meaning every time I come to a stop I get the warning. I have to make an appointment to bring it in. I think I recall something with either this model or my E46 SMG with a sensor in the shifter causing a problem. However, I am not sure why the shifter would cause this error.
-E

TommyBwell · 04-26-2009, 08:44 PM

I got a free 100k warranty for that one. My car did it the day i bought it. They kept it overnight and did the software update and said it was fixed. About 40 miles after I picked it up the next day it did it again. It turned out to be a bad solenoid. They replaced it and 8k miles later no problems.

miltiadesone · 04-29-2009, 04:35 PM

I have this problem also. I took a picture of the error message to show everyone. After taking the car to the dealer, they told me that they reset the error pompt, and to come back in may 2009 to have the software updated. Is this on par with what everyone else is experiencing?

M-Maika · 04-29-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joseph831

Hello all,

I have been having problems with my iDrive telling me there is a "Malfunction: Trans position P" with the following message.

There is a transmission malfunction, the trans may not be able to go into the "P" position. Please ensure you use the emergency brake when stopping the car for long periods ( ie parking the car).

That message above is not word for word, but that is basicly what it says. But my car will still go into park (P). The Malfunction usually appears after I go in reverse. It goes away sometimes, with just stopping the car, and putting it in park....then sometime it stays on...Im lost..

Is anyone else having this problem. If so what was the issue.

Thanks for any help!

I have that same issue sometimes when i stop my car.
No big deal. I have this problem since i bought the car and still rolling.
In the meantime i have upgraded my gearbox software and the problem still happens from time to time.

When i start the car my i-drive shows no errors.

Best Regards,

Maika

2008911tt · 06-30-2010, 11:51 PM

I notice these posts are older but I experienced this problem today on my 2010 M3 coupe. While the messages said it could be driven and to take it to the dealer, the car would not start. To make a long story short BMW assist finally got me a correct tow and the car is in the shop. So, 5 hours later I was home with a loaner. I love this car and basically use it for a daily driver but am now concerned with reliability as the car only has 2800 miles. Is the fix software related or is there something bigger going on with the transmission?

SenorFunkyPants · 07-01-2010, 02:42 AM

The DCT appears to be virtually bulletproof in terms of its construction while software problems are largely resolved by a software update. Peripheral parts such as sensors and solenoids also seem to be pretty reliable. I suspect long term you are far more likely to have to replace clutches/flywheels and syncro rings in the manual transmission than have to have the DCT worked on.

raiste · 07-06-2010, 08:27 AM

Not the same problem, but mine got stuck in Park the other day. Got the Transmission Failure warning as soon as I started the car. It would not shift into gear at all. Re-started several times to see if it was intermittent or not, but no dice.

Called BMW assist and they had a tow truck on the way. I thought about it for a few more minutes and figured out that the parking pawl was not automatically disengaging. So I broke out the Official BMW Screw Driver and manually disengaged the pawl. Cancelled the tow truck and drove home. Haven't had the problem since.

.

03-10-2009, 04:44 AM	#1
joseph831 New to the world of BMW and M3!!! 9 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW M3 E92 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA in Germany iTrader: (0)	M-DCT Issue? Does any1 else have this problem? Hello all, I have been having problems with my iDrive telling me there is a "Malfunction: Trans position P" with the following message. There is a transmission malfunction, the trans may not be able to go into the "P" position. Please ensure you use the emergency brake when stopping the car for long periods ( ie parking the car). That message above is not word for word, but that is basicly what it says. But my car will still go into park (P). The Malfunction usually appears after I go in reverse. It goes away sometimes, with just stopping the car, and putting it in park....then sometime it stays on...Im lost.. Is anyone else having this problem. If so what was the issue. Thanks for any help! __________________ 2008 E92 M3 US Spec \| Alpine White \| Black Novillo \| Steel Trim / Carbon Roof \| M-DCT \| PDC \| Ipod \| Premium PKG \| Tech PKG \| Cold PGK \| 19" \|Prem Sound-Bass \| Proud member of ///M Flight car club Rhineland-Platz Chapter. Check us out on MySpace! Become a member
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03-10-2009, 08:46 AM	#2
M3after330i New Member 2 Rep 19 Posts Drives: M3 2008, JB, Silver, DCT E90 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA iTrader: (0)	Upgrade DCT software Did you get the DCT software updated. Once done this should go away. I used to get this frequently before the update and have not seen it since.
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03-10-2009, 09:51 AM	#3
jaihind Enlisted Member 10 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW M3 and 2008 BMW M5 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Greenwich,CT iTrader: (0)	I had the same problem....as stupid as it sounds...the shifter needs to be replaced, it has nothing to do with the recent updates they were doing.
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04-26-2009, 08:44 PM	#5
TommyBwell Private 0 Rep 61 Posts Drives: '08 E92 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	I got a free 100k warranty for that one. My car did it the day i bought it. They kept it overnight and did the software update and said it was fixed. About 40 miles after I picked it up the next day it did it again. It turned out to be a bad solenoid. They replaced it and 8k miles later no problems.
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04-29-2009, 04:35 PM	#6
miltiadesone miltiadesone 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW M3 E92 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Queens, New York iTrader: (0)	I have this problem also. I took a picture of the error message to show everyone. After taking the car to the dealer, they told me that they reset the error pompt, and to come back in may 2009 to have the software updated. Is this on par with what everyone else is experiencing? Attached Images
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06-30-2010, 11:51 PM	#8
2008911tt New Member 0 Rep 11 Posts Drives: 2K10 M3; 2K8 997 Turbo Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northwest iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 997 Turbo [0.00] 2K10 M3 [0.00]	I notice these posts are older but I experienced this problem today on my 2010 M3 coupe. While the messages said it could be driven and to take it to the dealer, the car would not start. To make a long story short BMW assist finally got me a correct tow and the car is in the shop. So, 5 hours later I was home with a loaner. I love this car and basically use it for a daily driver but am now concerned with reliability as the car only has 2800 miles. Is the fix software related or is there something bigger going on with the transmission?
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07-01-2010, 02:42 AM	#9
SenorFunkyPants Brigadier General 2511 Rep 4,381 Posts Drives: 2019 M5 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	The DCT appears to be virtually bulletproof in terms of its construction while software problems are largely resolved by a software update. Peripheral parts such as sensors and solenoids also seem to be pretty reliable. I suspect long term you are far more likely to have to replace clutches/flywheels and syncro rings in the manual transmission than have to have the DCT worked on.
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07-06-2010, 08:27 AM	#10
raiste Time is the fire in which we burn. 4 Rep 176 Posts Drives: 2015 SSII M3 Join Date: May 2010 Location: SC iTrader: (2)	Not the same problem, but mine got stuck in Park the other day. Got the Transmission Failure warning as soon as I started the car. It would not shift into gear at all. Re-started several times to see if it was intermittent or not, but no dice. Called BMW assist and they had a tow truck on the way. I thought about it for a few more minutes and figured out that the parking pawl was not automatically disengaging. So I broke out the Official BMW Screw Driver and manually disengaged the pawl. Cancelled the tow truck and drove home. Haven't had the problem since. .
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