Drivetrain Malfunction @ 400 miles

LeviBruno · 12-03-2018, 10:20 AM

Hi all,

My wife and I have had our 50i mSport for a couple weeks now and just recently hit 400 miles. Unfortunately, the car is at the dealer now as I experienced a "Drivetrain Malfunction" on Friday. The alert popped up on my iDrive while I was pulling out into traffic. By no means was I flooring it, but I was on the gas when the engine started to sputter and the alert came on. During the rest of the drive the car was extremely sluggish, to the point where it was so slow it was dangerous to drive. The car could also not figure out what gear it needed to be in so it was constantly jumping up and down, always reving over 5k. Along with this, I noticed all of the safety convenience features would no longer work as well so I was without cruise control and lane departure which I thought was sort of odd. Finally, the car takes a couple seconds now to start, cold or warm, and the motor is considerably louder.

The car is at the dealer now where they assumed it would just be a software update. I've done some searching and this seems to be somewhat common with the larger V8 i50.... has anyone else experienced this? Our car was optioned close to $90k and it would be a bummer if this was something of the norm.

Thanks!

2019x5User · 12-03-2018, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeviBruno

Hi all,

My wife and I have had our 50i mSport for a couple weeks now and just recently hit 400 miles. Unfortunately, the car is at the dealer now as I experienced a "Drivetrain Malfunction" on Friday. The alert popped up on my iDrive while I was pulling out into traffic. By no means was I flooring it, but I was on the gas when the engine started to sputter and the alert came on. During the rest of the drive the car was extremely sluggish, to the point where it was so slow it was dangerous to drive. The car could also not figure out what gear it needed to be in so it was constantly jumping up and down, always reving over 5k. Along with this, I noticed all of the safety convenience features would no longer work as well so I was without cruise control and lane departure which I thought was sort of odd. Finally, the car takes a couple seconds now to start, cold or warm, and the motor is considerably louder.

The car is at the dealer now where they assumed it would just be a software update. I've done some searching and this seems to be somewhat common with the larger V8 i50.... has anyone else experienced this? Our car was optioned close to $90k and it would be a bummer if this was something of the norm.

Thanks!

Another incident, what's going on, BMW?

Xeno · 12-03-2018, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2019x5User

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeviBruno

Hi all,

My wife and I have had our 50i mSport for a couple weeks now and just recently hit 400 miles. Unfortunately, the car is at the dealer now as I experienced a "Drivetrain Malfunction" on Friday. The alert popped up on my iDrive while I was pulling out into traffic. By no means was I flooring it, but I was on the gas when the engine started to sputter and the alert came on. During the rest of the drive the car was extremely sluggish, to the point where it was so slow it was dangerous to drive. The car could also not figure out what gear it needed to be in so it was constantly jumping up and down, always reving over 5k. Along with this, I noticed all of the safety convenience features would no longer work as well so I was without cruise control and lane departure which I thought was sort of odd. Finally, the car takes a couple seconds now to start, cold or warm, and the motor is considerably louder.

The car is at the dealer now where they assumed it would just be a software update. I've done some searching and this seems to be somewhat common with the larger V8 i50.... has anyone else experienced this? Our car was optioned close to $90k and it would be a bummer if this was something of the norm.

Thanks!

Another incident, what's going on, BMW?

Very troubling.

AndroidRobot · 12-03-2018, 02:16 PM

sounds like it went into limp mode. We're you able to pull any codes before taking it in?

Wild Blue · 12-03-2018, 07:51 PM

Oh, dear.

mjchernis · 12-03-2018, 08:45 PM

Super sorry to hear you are having such problems..really ridiculous for a car like this. All the iPhone nonsense is bad but disabling drive problems are in an entirely different class of headache.

There is a similar thread on a new 4.0 with the same problem. I have week 43 5.0 and so far so good. Fingers and toes crossed. What production week is your car? The other thread seems like a newer car.

mnewnam · 12-03-2018, 08:49 PM

I started a thread as well when I broke down on a road trip with my family on Friday. I have a 40i but the exact same symptoms as you're describing. BMW NA called me today and I'm working with them and the dealer. The issue with the dealer is the vehicles are so new they really don't know how to service them. That's where the extra time is going to be taken to resolve. The SA at the dealer that mine was towed to pretty much admitted today that they need BMW's support to figure it out.

From the way the BMW rep was talking, these aren't isolated issues. It was a "we know there's a problem and we're going to make it right" kind of calls. As long as they come through and make it right I'll be happy.

mnewnam · 12-03-2018, 08:51 PM

And mine had 356 miles on the odometer when it happened...

fides7 · 12-03-2018, 09:51 PM

Same here this morning 40i with 850 miles. Pulled over, turned car off and then back on - so far all good.

avengerboater · 12-03-2018, 10:16 PM

These are very worrisome and concerning news. I'm even more paranoid about how my car is gonna turn out. Imagine what happens if this occurred while one's driving at 70 mph on a freeway...

mnewnam · 12-04-2018, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avengerboater

These are very worrisome and concerning news. I'm even more paranoid about how my car is gonna turn out. Imagine what happens if this occurred while one's driving at 70 mph on a freeway...

I was doing 85 in the left lane of I-10 with rush hour traffic approaching Lake Charles with my family on board. It was definitely an ass puckering moment trying to weave between semis to get off the freeway. My foot was to the floor and could barely keep it at 70 long enough to get into the right lane. If this had happened on the bridge, which is a major incline, it would have been a disaster.

magna6882 · 12-04-2018, 12:28 AM

It would be very helpful if folks having the drivetrain malfunction would be so kind as to post what the solution was. I will have mine in about a month and it would be great to be able to verify my car had whatever was the problem rectified.
Thanks

2019x5User · 12-04-2018, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magna6882

It would be very helpful if folks having the drivetrain malfunction would be so kind as to post what the solution was. I will have mine in about a month and it would be great to be able to verify my car had whatever was the problem rectified.
Thanks

Lol, is this the forum for NEW 2019 X5?
Does not sound like ^-*

ADGrant · 12-04-2018, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2019x5User

Lol, is this the forum for NEW 2019 X5?
Does not sound like ^-*

Disagree. This is exactly what you would expect at the beginning of the first model year for BMW.

Even more established models can have these issue. I parked my 2011 LCI X5 with less than 2,000 miles on it out in the rain. Next day got all sorts of malfunction lights driving back to the city. Next day car wouldn't start and it spent the next 3 days in a Manhattan parking garage before BMW Roadside could work out how to get it on a truck (transmission locked into Park). It then spent the next month at the dealer.

LeviBruno · 12-04-2018, 08:13 AM

Update:

Our service center called and said the car is not driveable (thanks) and they have diagnosed it as a "Faulty Plug Connector". As of yesterday they have ordered a new plug connector, I'm not 100% sure what this is, and it will arrive from Germany in 7-10 days. This was the first time they've had this issue for any of their X5's, new or old, so they really didn't seem too confident it would fix or eliminate the issue from happening again.

Before this car we had a 2015 X5 diesel and never had a single issue. I'm starting to wonder if we should have waited for the kinks to be worked out first. Oh well, the first 400 miles were great!

fides7 · 12-27-2018, 03:15 PM

New transmission. Not good - vehicle had less than 1,000 miles when "drivetrain malfunction" warning first showed up. Being shipped from Germany and will take about 10 days to arrive.

paul45 · 12-27-2018, 03:51 PM

On many occasions, stopping, shutting the car down completely and restarting tends to clear these malfunctions for the time being.

DBV1 · 12-27-2018, 04:02 PM

That is concerning. I have been between a buying a 2019 or 2018 X5 35d. Maybe going with the 2018 is a better choice for now, since bugs should be worked out?

BmwGk · 12-27-2018, 04:42 PM

When I started my 40i last week "Drivetrain Malfunction" appeared, then disappeared. Haven't seen the alert since.

lumpydog · 12-27-2018, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BmwGk

When I started my 40i last week "Drivetrain Malfunction" appeared, then disappeared. Haven't seen the alert since.

You're the 4th person on this forum to see this error/warning message....

- mnewman
- LeviBruno
- fides7
- BmwGk

As a percentage of forum members that have have taken delivery... concerning for sure.

Doc5513 · 12-27-2018, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumpydog

Quote:

Originally Posted by BmwGk

When I started my 40i last week "Drivetrain Malfunction" appeared, then disappeared. Haven't seen the alert since.

You're the 4th person on this forum to see this error/warning message....

- mnewman
- LeviBruno
- fides7
- BmwGk

As a percentage of forum members that have have taken delivery... concerning for sure.

It's gonna all be ok

2019x5User · 12-27-2018, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc5513

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumpydog

Quote:

Originally Posted by BmwGk

When I started my 40i last week "Drivetrain Malfunction" appeared, then disappeared. Haven't seen the alert since.

You're the 4th person on this forum to see this error/warning message....

- mnewman
- LeviBruno
- fides7
- BmwGk

As a percentage of forum members that have have taken delivery... concerning for sure.

It's gonna all be ok

Yeah, what else a customer can do?!

12-03-2018, 10:20 AM	#1
LeviBruno Private 22 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2022 M5C Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: MI. USA iTrader: (0)	Drivetrain Malfunction @ 400 miles Hi all, My wife and I have had our 50i mSport for a couple weeks now and just recently hit 400 miles. Unfortunately, the car is at the dealer now as I experienced a "Drivetrain Malfunction" on Friday. The alert popped up on my iDrive while I was pulling out into traffic. By no means was I flooring it, but I was on the gas when the engine started to sputter and the alert came on. During the rest of the drive the car was extremely sluggish, to the point where it was so slow it was dangerous to drive. The car could also not figure out what gear it needed to be in so it was constantly jumping up and down, always reving over 5k. Along with this, I noticed all of the safety convenience features would no longer work as well so I was without cruise control and lane departure which I thought was sort of odd. Finally, the car takes a couple seconds now to start, cold or warm, and the motor is considerably louder. The car is at the dealer now where they assumed it would just be a software update. I've done some searching and this seems to be somewhat common with the larger V8 i50.... has anyone else experienced this? Our car was optioned close to $90k and it would be a bummer if this was something of the norm. Thanks!
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12-03-2018, 02:16 PM	#4
AndroidRobot Major General 4328 Rep 6,121 Posts Drives: 2022 Porsche Boxster GTS Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] 2022 Porsche Boxste ... [0.00]	sounds like it went into limp mode. We're you able to pull any codes before taking it in? __________________ 2022 Porsche Boxster GTS Gentian Blue 2023 Porsche Spyder Python Green (on order) 2022 BMW M3 Comp AWD IOMG/Kyalami Orange (SOLD) 2018 BMW M2 Mineral Grey(SOLD) 2019 BMW X5 50i Carbon Black/Tartufo (SOLD)
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12-03-2018, 07:51 PM	#5
Wild Blue Brigadier General 3684 Rep 3,479 Posts Drives: 2021 X7 M50i, 2004 330i w/ZHP Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Alaska iTrader: (0)	Oh, dear.
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12-03-2018, 08:45 PM	#6
mjchernis Private 41 Rep 90 Posts Drives: BMW X5 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Super sorry to hear you are having such problems..really ridiculous for a car like this. All the iPhone nonsense is bad but disabling drive problems are in an entirely different class of headache. There is a similar thread on a new 4.0 with the same problem. I have week 43 5.0 and so far so good. Fingers and toes crossed. What production week is your car? The other thread seems like a newer car.
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12-03-2018, 08:49 PM	#7
mnewnam First Lieutenant 270 Rep 376 Posts Drives: '21 Mineral White X5MC Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	I started a thread as well when I broke down on a road trip with my family on Friday. I have a 40i but the exact same symptoms as you're describing. BMW NA called me today and I'm working with them and the dealer. The issue with the dealer is the vehicles are so new they really don't know how to service them. That's where the extra time is going to be taken to resolve. The SA at the dealer that mine was towed to pretty much admitted today that they need BMW's support to figure it out. From the way the BMW rep was talking, these aren't isolated issues. It was a "we know there's a problem and we're going to make it right" kind of calls. As long as they come through and make it right I'll be happy.
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12-03-2018, 08:51 PM	#8
mnewnam First Lieutenant 270 Rep 376 Posts Drives: '21 Mineral White X5MC Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	And mine had 356 miles on the odometer when it happened...
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12-03-2018, 09:51 PM	#9
fides7 New Member 10 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0)	Same here this morning 40i with 850 miles. Pulled over, turned car off and then back on - so far all good. __________________ 2019 X5 40i, M-Sport, Exec, Premium, 22, etc
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12-03-2018, 10:16 PM	#10
avengerboater First Lieutenant 146 Rep 342 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 xDrive40i Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	These are very worrisome and concerning news. I'm even more paranoid about how my car is gonna turn out. Imagine what happens if this occurred while one's driving at 70 mph on a freeway...
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12-04-2018, 12:28 AM	#12
magna6882 First Lieutenant 162 Rep 360 Posts Drives: 2017 audi q7 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: seattle iTrader: (0)	It would be very helpful if folks having the drivetrain malfunction would be so kind as to post what the solution was. I will have mine in about a month and it would be great to be able to verify my car had whatever was the problem rectified. Thanks
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12-04-2018, 08:13 AM	#15
LeviBruno Private 22 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2022 M5C Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: MI. USA iTrader: (0)	Update: Our service center called and said the car is not driveable (thanks) and they have diagnosed it as a "Faulty Plug Connector". As of yesterday they have ordered a new plug connector, I'm not 100% sure what this is, and it will arrive from Germany in 7-10 days. This was the first time they've had this issue for any of their X5's, new or old, so they really didn't seem too confident it would fix or eliminate the issue from happening again. Before this car we had a 2015 X5 diesel and never had a single issue. I'm starting to wonder if we should have waited for the kinks to be worked out first. Oh well, the first 400 miles were great!
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12-27-2018, 03:15 PM	#16
fides7 New Member 10 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0)	New transmission. Not good - vehicle had less than 1,000 miles when "drivetrain malfunction" warning first showed up. Being shipped from Germany and will take about 10 days to arrive. __________________ 2019 X5 40i, M-Sport, Exec, Premium, 22, etc
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12-27-2018, 03:51 PM	#17
paul45 Second Lieutenant 85 Rep 218 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: FL, USA iTrader: (0)	On many occasions, stopping, shutting the car down completely and restarting tends to clear these malfunctions for the time being.
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12-27-2018, 04:02 PM	#18
DBV1 First Lieutenant 134 Rep 395 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW X5d 2021 Tesla S Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	That is concerning. I have been between a buying a 2019 or 2018 X5 35d. Maybe going with the 2018 is a better choice for now, since bugs should be worked out?
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12-27-2018, 04:42 PM	#19
BmwGk Private First Class 37 Rep 139 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i Msport Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	When I started my 40i last week "Drivetrain Malfunction" appeared, then disappeared. Haven't seen the alert since.
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