E92 M3 - DCT Software question

[x5x3]

I had the hesitation problem a while ago and got the dealer to upgrade the software, it got better but it is still there sometimes.

I have just had a service done and as always I asked them to check the software versions, this time they came back with this information;

current version on car - E89X-08-03-540

latest available - E89X-10-06-502

To me they look quite a lot different, i.e. there must have been lots of versions in-between, does anyone know how old the version I have is?

They have offered to do the update for me - at cost of course...

[ellipsis]

x5x3 said:

I had the hesitation problem a while ago and got the dealer to upgrade the software, it got better but it is still there sometimes.

I have just had a service done and as always I asked them to check the software versions, this time they came back with this information;

current version on car - E89X-08-03-540

latest available - E89X-10-06-502

To me they look quite a lot different, i.e. there must have been lots of versions in-between, does anyone know how old the version I have is?

They have offered to do the update for me - at cost of course...

I had E89X-10-06-501 uploaded (coming from E89X-09-09-516) and it made a noticeable difference but it is still possible to get throttle lag on occasion.

The update was available from 25/06/10, so reasonable to assume that's the '10-06' bit..? To answer your question, E89X-08-03-540 is probably 4 years old!

If you merely want the latest software for the sake of it then I don't really see the point. If you have a palpable issue that you can demonstrate at will and your car is still under warranty, then you should be able to make a reasonable case for having it addressed at no cost to yourself.

In isolation, I think DCT is a fantastic tool, with only one or two occasional flaws.

But, I still think I made the wrong choice and should have got the 6MT...

[TheEnd]

These numbers are the integration level, and your original is from the V30 set of programming files.
The updated files he has mentioned are from the V38 set.

The latest available is actually 12-3-502 (V46) unless there has been any changes since then.

The version numbers will count up even if there aren't any changes made to a particular model, as other models in the range might have more updates, hence a new programming files disc.

[x5x3]

TheEnd said:

These numbers are the integration level, and your original is from the V30 set of programming files.
The updated files he has mentioned are from the V38 set.

The latest available is actually 12-3-502 (V46) unless there has been any changes since then.

The version numbers will count up even if there aren't any changes made to a particular model, as other models in the range might have more updates, hence a new programming files disc.

thanks, my car is a March 2009 car - so does it have the version it was shipped with?

[TheEnd]

It's likely, I'm not sure of the release dates of each S/W disc.
Sometimes just one module can be updated, but more commonly, the complete car is recoded as the modules are more closely linked to each other.

When the complete car gets recoded like that, the "I-level" increases, and that gives you an equivalent update level for everything, not just the gearbox.

[x5x3]

thanks, so the fact that ages ago I moaned about the hesitation problem and they told me they had updated the software and then each time the car has been back to them for a service and I asked them to check for newer updates suggests they have been lying to me?

[TheEnd]

It could have been a single module update, which would mean just the DCT controller is updated, and not the complete car.

The I-level code for the complete car as it is now is most likely the original, and it looks very much like the code is Chassis-year-month-version, so the complete car is on a 1st half 2008 which would fit.

If there was an update, only a single module, and wouldn't have been a complete car update.
I don't think it can be said just yet if your 'box update wasn't installed, but the I-level isn't the best way to judge it.

[ant man]

x5x3 said:

thanks, so the fact that ages ago I moaned about the hesitation problem and they told me they had updated the software and then each time the car has been back to them for a service and I asked them to check for newer updates suggests they have been lying to me?

Yes or they're just incompetent.

Your local indy with Autologic can upload the latest DCT software, firmware and sat nav maps at a fraction of what BMW dealers charge. So if dealer doesn't do software update for free, complain first and if you don't get anywhere, take your business elsewhere.

[griff7]

ant man said:

Yes or they're just incompetent.

Your local indy with Autologic can upload the latest DCT software, firmware and sat nav maps at a fraction of what BMW dealers charge. So if dealer doesn't do software update for free, complain first and if you don't get anywhere, take your business elsewhere.

+1 i have a local guy who knocked off a warning light a couple of weeks ago and while the car was plugged in he told me all the updates available for my car i.e. nav,gearbox,etc i think there were about 5 in total with about 4 or 5 hours worth of time to do it.He would only charge for about an hours labour as he just leaves the car plugged in to do the downloads while he works on other cars.The last time i complained about my gear change at the dealer i was also told that i had the latest software,so in other words they were not interested to even check.

[x5x3]

thanks all, I think I'd prefer to think they are lying, if they are incompetent then that sounds dangerous!

Good call on the indie route - I will give that a try thanks.

[gubsta]

When I was in your situation a short story recounting a near-death episode when pulling out onto a roundabout was enough to have it in the following day to update the software. All you need to do is send them an email to the service manager using the words 'out of date gearbox software' and 'dangerous'...

I also emailed them a copy of a US BMW bulletin which seemed to speed things along - I had a look to see if I still have it but I don't sorry.

More info here:

http://www.utahjusticelaw.com/bmw-m3-m-dct-dkg-tra...

Good luck.

[x5x3]

gubsta said:

When I was in your situation a short story recounting a near-death episode when pulling out onto a roundabout was enough to have it in the following day to update the software. All you need to do is send them an email to the service manager using the words 'out of date gearbox software' and 'dangerous'...

I also emailed them a copy of a US BMW bulletin which seemed to speed things along - I had a look to see if I still have it but I don't sorry.

More info here:

http://www.utahjusticelaw.com/bmw-m3-m-dct-dkg-tra...

Good luck.

thanks but i tried that a while ago and they "did" the upgrade then, so unless they have somehow downgraded the software since then I am more confused than ever.