auto boxes

[nicka1]

I'm running a company 330i Sport auto at the moment.
Really like the box to begin with, but starting to get hacked off about a hesitation, whether I am in Sport or manual mode. Enter a roundabout at 20ish, lift off, maybe brake slightly (knocking the gear down to 2nd if in manual), steer round roundabout, and put foot down on exit (not to the floor just want to pick up speed)...and I get a hesitation before the power engages, meaning a jerky take-off. It's almost as thought the gearbox has decided to select neutralwhile my foot is not on the accelerator, and re-engage the gear only when I have applied some pressure back on it. I thought that the gearbox should hold me in that gear if I selected in manually.
So I guess my questions are :
(a) is this normal for beemer auto boxes? and
(b) if normal, doesnt it drive everyone up the wall?

[tollytuff]

mines a lot older (1989) but used to hesitate from a standing position, turned out to be an air leak in a pipe, replaced pipe and its been fine since.

i wonder if the auto 330 is the same as the manual and has this "fly-by-wire" throttle system, if so, youre stuffed!

[Marshy]

That doesn't sound right for 2nd gear... my car (much older!) will do that in 1st: you can accelerate up to, say, 29mph in first and when you lift off, the revs die down to idle. When you want to go again, the revs rise to the right point for that gear/speed *then* the gearbox engages. If that happens too quickly, it's somewhat less than smooth. I know it happens, so I'm gentle about it.

Thing is, in 2nd and above, it doesn't happen. Yes the revs drop some if I lift off, but not much, and the takeup is nicely cushioned.

[jj.]

I’ve got a 530 Sport auto (2002) – and yours doesn’t sound right to me. I get hesitation if I approach a roundabout and then accelerate away (say around the 10mph mark) as the box has a quarter of a second to think about either continuing using 2nd or drop into 1st gear. And only hesitates if it does drop into 1st.

If I’m in manual mode (i.e I select the gear myself) it never hesitates and will only change if you dip into the kick down selector (via your accelerator pedal).

In sport mode I get the opposite - it just seems to quicken the change up - which for me doesn't suit the 5-series style (maybe I'm just getting old!?)..!
jj

[off_again]

Mines a 535 with the steptronic box and I dont get any of that - no hesitation or jerkiness to the changes! I am still really pleased with the changes and how smooth they are. Though I have managed to catch it a little off-guard a couple of times - I am used to simple autoboxes which dont have any electronics in them and have adapted my driving style accordingly. But with the computerised steptronic I do get the occassional "slam" change when it gets a little confused.... but thats for me to learn rather than the car, I cant expect it to be perfect, certainly as my driving isnt

In drive, sport or manual modes I get no drop off revs or hesitation in pickup - in any gear (mines the 5 speed one). Just smooth as hell and with the v8 a great drive. Sounds like it might be worth a trip to a dealer or specialist to check the codes or see if anything is wrong - doesnt sound right I am afraid.