Learning to drive a vehicle is not always easy, and often it may seem like a good solution to select an automatic BMW 3 Series, whether it’s for basic comfort or ease of use, this sort of transmission is becoming more and more prevailing. However, although they may seem like an ideal solution, there may possibly also be problems with the automatic gearboxes of your BMW 3 Series . This is precisely the theme of our content page. First, we’ll briefly explain the different types of automatic gearboxes, then, in a second step, which problems you may possibly come across with the gearbox of your BMW 3 Series , and, at last, how to resolve them.

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The different kind of automatic gearbox of a BMW 3 Series

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Gearboxes have the benefit of being reputed to be trustworthy, as you don’t need to use your clutch pedal and every thing is electronically and mechanically controlled there will be no premature wear of your clutch or other components that could be put to the test by misuse on your part.
However, based on the sort of automatic transmission your BMW 3 Series is equipped with you will have more or less reliability, we will introduce them to you now:

  • Common automatic gearbox: It will use a torque converter, which will manage the gear changes, it’s the oldest technology, it has evolved quite a lot in the last decades (more gears and a better management of the gear changes).
  • Robotized automatic gearbox: This is a manual gearbox with a robotized mechanism that will replace the driver’s action. This sort of gearbox is less and less general because they are considered very slow. We also generally feel a coupling during deceleration.
  • Dual-clutch automatic transmission: This is the greatest automatic transmission, it works on similar principle as the robotic transmission, but thanks to its dual clutch, you won’t have any more problems with slow speeds or elevated fuel consumption. They are often fitted on luxury models.
  • Continuously variable automatic box: It is similar theory as on a scooter, a variator will come to control the differences between acceleration and motor speed, they are really slow and tend to be unresponsive during the acceleration phases of your BMW 3 Series.

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I’m having problems with the automatic transmission on my BMW 3 Series

We now begin the part that surely attracts you the most in this post, what are the problems you may encounter with the automatic transmission of your BMW 3 Series? As outlined above, generally speaking they are more reliable than manual transmissions, however, here are the main problems you may come across:

  • As explained above, no matter what sort of automatic gearbox, they are generally known to be slow and have inertia when accelerating. However, this phenomenon is supposed to occur just when the vehicle is started, not when it is launched. If it feels like it comes about constantly, the clutch or converter is almost certainly dead.
  • I have the impression that a gear in the automatic transmission of my BMW 3 Series no longer shifts or jumps: If you have the impression that your gears no longer shift or tend to jump on your BMW 3 Series, there is a part that is most likely responsible for this failure. In truth, the solenoid that works as a “switch” to engage the gears must not be working effectively, second option, a speed or engine speed sensor may be faulty and send the wrong information to your gearbox.
  • If you feel drops caused by the automatic gearbox of your BMW 3 Series: If you feel a clutch when you go up or when you slow down, it is either your oil which is too old and which does not lubricate any more adequately all the mechanisms of your gearbox, or else a sensor which gives bad info

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  • My BMW 3 Series’s automatic transmission is leaking: Finally, if your BMW 3 Series’s automatic transmission is leaking, it’s most likely one of your spy seals is too worn.

How do I fix automatic transmission problems on a BMW 3 Series?

And finally, we’re going to try to give you the strategies to resolve the automatic transmission problems on your BMW 3 Series . Find them down below:

  • Oil leak on the automatic gearbox of a BMW 3 Series: Find the source of the leak, and replace the concerned gasket, get it done by a professional, opening a gearbox is not easy. It will cost you a few hundred euros, especially for the labour. Do not hesitate to read our content page on gearbox oil leaks on BMW 3 Series.
  • Sensor issue: No matter which sensor is concerned, a replacement is the just solution, sensors do not repair themselves, you should count from 100 to a few hundred euros dependent on the difficulty of access to the one that worries you.
  • Couplings: If you have problems with the couplings on your BMW 3 Series, you will only need to do a complete gearbox change to gain comfort and preserve your gears.
  • The automatic gearbox of my BMW 3 Series slips: In this case, you certainly have a dead clutch disc, you will have to change the clutch, and on some models you won’t be able to change it without doing a standard exchange of the gearbox, be prepared to spend more than a thousand euros.

There are other automatic transmission problems on BMW 3 Series, such as electronic problems or pressure problems, but this list lists the main ones, in any case, for such complex mechanisms. When you feel a problem on this level, we recommend you to go quickly to your mechanic.

If you want more tutorials on the BMW 3 Series, go to our BMW 3 Series category.