BMW M6 V10 transmission fault *picture*

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Well, I knew it was too good to be true. Running perfectly fine for the last 2 months and then driving along normally in 7th gear, I put my foot down, the car jerks and transmission error pops up on the screen.

It's not the 'red cog of death' but it is pretty disconcerting.

Has anyone ever experienced this before? I rang BMW Emergency Services and they told me they'd fax the nearest dealer. I ring them up to ask them if they can view my car only to be told that the soonest availble slot over Easter break is 24th April and a courtesy car is not available until 1st of May. What?????????????? Are they having a joke? How do you run a business like that?



I have a serious love-hate relationship with this car. When it works it is awesome (drinking fuel problem aside) but when it messes up, it messes up big time and I don't have the car for weeks on end.

I can drive the car in lower gears but it would eat fuel at a horrendous rate but I would not dare risk it in case it goes into full retard mode.

Has anyone ever experienced this issue before? I know it could be any number of things but I'm trying to build up a picture of the possibilities.

I also fortunately was *intelligent* enough to take out an extended 2 year AUC BMW warranty but it doesn't make me feel better.

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Bigglez said:

The dealer delays are ridiculous. I had a throttle actuator go on my M5 touring, car was randomly going into limp mode and my wife nearly got T boned at a junction with my 8 month old in the back as a result. It was frankly dangerous - similar experience - no courtesy car for weeks - and I can't leave my wife without one with the children.

In the end drove the car to the garage and dumped it on them and had to hire a car. Funnily enough the AUC warranty doesn't cover you for that. BMW assist refused to help as the car was still driveable!

I'm sorry this has happened to you mate with all that's gone on with the car. At least you have the warranty - just pray its not the clutch!

i think even if it is the clutch I have a fairly strong case as the car has been problematic from day 2 of ownership and was not prepared properly to AUC standards.

This is the my 4th trip to BMW and I am doing to be taking it up with BMW UK or demand every single penny back. I am f*cking furious.

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Andy M said:

Have a friendly word with the salesperson you purchased your car from, they may be able to lend you a demonstrator for a few days while your car is inspected.

I considered that but they are 100 miles away in Leicester and with it being Easter I have zero chance.

Car has been given to my local dealer....I told them call me whenever....just sick of this POS car now.

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Was your cog red or amber?

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Helicopter123 said:

Schermerhorn said:

Bigglez said:

The dealer delays are ridiculous. I had a throttle actuator go on my M5 touring, car was randomly going into limp mode and my wife nearly got T boned at a junction with my 8 month old in the back as a result. It was frankly dangerous - similar experience - no courtesy car for weeks - and I can't leave my wife without one with the children.

In the end drove the car to the garage and dumped it on them and had to hire a car. Funnily enough the AUC warranty doesn't cover you for that. BMW assist refused to help as the car was still driveable!

I'm sorry this has happened to you mate with all that's gone on with the car. At least you have the warranty - just pray its not the clutch!

i think even if it is the clutch I have a fairly strong case as the car has been problematic from day 2 of ownership and was not prepared properly to AUC standards.

This is the my 4th trip to BMW and I am doing to be taking it up with BMW UK or demand every single penny back. I am f*cking furious.

Time to reject - your one seems to be a pup.

Cash back and go and buy a better one.

I am strongly considering this.

Car purchased on 30th November 2013.

Oil leak spotted 2nd December and booked in 3th December.

VANOS pressure low in February - booked in.

VANOS issue again 3 days later - car returned 2 weeks later.

Idiot cuts me up, cracks my windscreen.

Now this gearbox issue. It's all documented. I wonder if they can replace it with a DCT M3 or give me my money back. Tis a joke.

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Mr Trophy said:

Tony,

I remember reading your previous threads, you've had abit of a baw ache with this car haven't you !

When you phoned BMW did you ask for someone to come out and collect car?

Yup. I expected it to be a BMW technician.

instead they sent out someone who had no diagnostic equipment on them, were freelance and I wasnt comfortable with them towing my car back to their garage and THEN back to BMW the next day, moreso given that BMW main dealers are literally 300m from my house. The car drove fine in lower gears and I took it in myself.

The car is a PITA. Fortunately it has not cost me anything due to the warranty otherwise I would have burned it to a crisp by now and collected the insurance money.

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AW10 said:

Schermerhorn said:

... otherwise I would have burned it to a crisp by now and collected the insurance money.

V clever thing to say in a public forum...

Lol you are correct. Heat of the moment and all that.

i wouldnt anyway....had the extended warranty for a reason. Looks like it may be very useful during my ownership

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jcolley said:

The amber cog is much less of a concern than a red.

The good thing about the SMG is the computer stores a code for anything which causes that error.

The most common error seen is 4FA0 (clutch position deviation), but that typically throws a red cog.

I would suspect either 4F40 or 4F43 which are related the hydraulic pump "on time" or a low SMG hydraulic pressure error.

Sometimes this is absurdly easy to fix and can be from low hydraulic fluid level or the SMG (salmon from E46 days) relay.

Both of those are really cheap fixes as the fluid only requires a liter of Pentosin and the realy is about $15US.

What is interesting is that over the years, the part number for the transmission itself has changed, but none of the part numbers for the components themselves has. BMW under warranty experienced so many claims for labor that rather than trying to teach the techs how to properly diagnose and repair a hydrualic system (not really a common system for an automobile), it was cheaper for them to swap the entire hydraulic block and refurb the old one. The most common piece which goes seems to be the clutch control valve as it's responsible for the greatest chunk of "smoothness" on the SMG.

Ask for the codes, curious what they tell you. It's frustrating, but I think of it like dating a German supermodel who doesn't speak English. Amazing ride, has some issues, and you can't understand her when she's pissed. I keep a laptop with ISTA handy...it's like having a translator/psychiatrist all in one.

Sounds like you could be on to something.

I had the car returned to me and they told me they cleared some fault codes. I drove it and it seems to be fine but just 2 days ago, same scenario, the warning came back on again.

Since the car drives fine, I'll wait till the Easter holidays are over to take her back in. It is a pain in the backside having to go back in and out of the dealership but that God I have the full 24 month AUC warranty. I suspect BMW labour rates are not cheap!

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sjb1 said:

Schermerhorn, how are getting on with the car now? Are the problems resolved? I am following your posts as I am looking for one. Appreciate the warranty is a necessity...any other tips in your brief ownership?

Thanks Sam

Hi Sam

I took it to the dealership, they cleared the fault codes and it seemed to run fine for 60 miles or so. But then I wanted to see if it was truly cleared and it wasn't. It also was not as persistent as it was before and has only come on once since then. When I have more free time I'll take it down to the dealership and let them fix it properly. I am guessing it is a clutch position sensor from the reading I have done.

Do not buy one without a warranty.

Get the 2 years extended warranty thrown in from an AUC dealer. They usually do it for free if you push hard enough.


Faults so far on mine

oil leak

VANOS re-pressuring

VANOS pipe and valve replaced

The transmission 'fault' issue

overly sensitive tyre pressure monitor

- I figure I have saved over £1000 on garage fees alone. The Vanos issue apparantly needed the front end stripping down and rebuilding. At BMW prices, I am estimating £1000 or near as damn it.


Aside from that - the car pulls like a train. Wife, daughter and rest of the family love it. It eat fuel but it is my weekend car so I am not too bothered.

Another thing I have noticed....do not let these cars sit around for too long, they tend to be abit problematic and need driving at least every 2-3 days to keep the systems calibrated.

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Stu R said:

Must say it's disappointing to read your experiences. Are you still considering an attempt at rejecting it?

I really, really fancy a V10 while there's still a few in AUC and was already apprehensive about the 'box, now I'm plain terrified of it. About those V8 M3's

I am 50:50 on the rejecting bit. When it is sorted it seems to be the most ballistic thing ever. When it isnt I ca not even stomach looking at it.

If only they made these with a manual gearbox....I reckon half of the problems are transmission related. Luckily I have a an AUC warranty and my problems are well documented with the dealership so they dont really have a cop out as far as I am concerned.

Next to the newer stuft it feels a little dim witted at first but then properly takes off like nothing. I have smoked v8 M3s to the point I have scared myself just how fast it is.


I would love an M3 DCT next. The limited edition models with the black CSL style wheels and DCT boxes look utterly gorgeous in red. Gotta admit though, next to the M6 even the newer stuff looks abit naff