[BigJake]

I have a '13 X3 with 7k on it, and 4 times I've experienced the car stutter or buck under acceleration. I only use 91 or 93 octane, so I ruled out bad gas and I noticed its always at low RPM's under 2k. The car will buck, like it is not getting enough fuel, or the air/fuel ratio is dorked up.

Searching showed me some folks experienced this in previous versions and it was typically an O2 sensor or bad crank shaft sensor.

I'll mention this when I bring it in for the first service, and just wanted to know if anyone else has experience this.

[mge92]

What mode are you driving it in? ECO PRO?

[dencobmw]

I have a '13 X3 28i and mine totally does this.

It only happens in warmer weather. I noticed it last summer but it was absent all winter. Now that the weather is warming up, it has started doing it again. I've checked the engine codes and no errors have been thrown.

I did mention it to the service manager when I was in for an oil change. He insisted (rather rudely) it was the gas. I only use Shell premium. I now keep ALL my gas receipts in case it becomes an issue in the future. I don't go to that dealer anymore though (Gebhardt in Boulder, CO).

The tough thing about the issue is that it is hard to reproduce. It doesn't always do it. So the dealership will just give you the gas song and dance if they can't reproduce it.

Let me know if you find anything out.

[saulgoodman]

There is a Service Bulletin issued specific to this issue, but for '12 models.

Service Bulletin No.: SIB-12-09-12
Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ENGINE
NHTSA ID Number: 10049299

All Products Associated with this Service Bulletin close
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)

BMW 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO 2012
BMW BMW 9999
BMW M3 9999
BMW M5 9999
BMW X3 2012
BMW X5 2012
BMW X6 2012


Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC

SUMMARY:
BMW: WITHOUT RELEVANT FAULTS STORED IN DME MEMORY, WHEN AT LOW SPEED MANEUVERING AND IDLING, OR STEERING TURNED TO FULL LOCK POSITION, OR DRIVING OFF THROTTLE (COASTING) AND BRAKING AT 10MPH, VEHICLE WOULD IDLE SPEED MAY FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN OR CUT OFF. MODELS 2012 E70, 71, 82, 88, 90, 92, 93, F07, 10, 12, 13, 25. *PE UPDATED 05/13/2013 *JS

[dencobmw]

This doesn't sound quite like the issue the OP or I are experiencing. At least in my car, it happens under acceleration, sometimes hard acceleration, but around 2K-2.5K RPMs.

I would love it if there were a SB for this to show my dealer though!

[Nahoa]

Originally Posted by BigJake

I have a '13 X3 with 7k on it, and 4 times I've experienced the car stutter or buck under acceleration. I only use 91 or 93 octane, so I ruled out bad gas and I noticed its always at low RPM's under 2k. The car will buck, like it is not getting enough fuel, or the air/fuel ratio is dorked up.

Searching showed me some folks experienced this in previous versions and it was typically an O2 sensor or bad crank shaft sensor.

I'll mention this when I bring it in for the first service, and just wanted to know if anyone else has experience this.

Don't know if this applies, but in my experience the X3 (and other BMWs) are susceptible to what I'll call "over compensation". If I modulate the accelerator like I would on another car, the result is a jerky, uncomfortable acceleration. For this car in particular, if I focus on applying pressure to the accelerator in a consistently progressive manner it responds smoothly and dramatically. If I press and then slow the rate of press -- or worse, lift off the pedal -- then I get a jerky, gear changing, head snapping, bucking, response.

[cem82]

Originally Posted by Nahoa

Don't know if this applies, but in my experience the X3 (and other BMWs) are susceptible to what I'll call "over compensation". If I modulate the accelerator like I would on another car, the result is a jerky, uncomfortable acceleration. For this car in particular, if I focus on applying pressure to the accelerator in a consistently progressive manner it responds smoothly and dramatically. If I press and then slow the rate of press -- or worse, lift off the pedal -- then I get a jerky, gear changing, head snapping, bucking, response.

Yeah, you describe it exactly. I get the same response with my 2012 X3 35i. If I take care to press the accelerator in a smooth, progressive manner as you say, all is well but if I press quickly (without thinking about it) and then lighten the pressure on accelerator, it is a harsh jerky acceleration. At my last dealer visit, I mentioned this problem and they said they had a firmware update to fix it but after the update, it still has this issue. Hopefully, BMW is working on another update for this.

[smovva]

Originally Posted by BigJake

I have a '13 X3 with 7k on it, and 4 times I've experienced the car stutter or buck under acceleration. I only use 91 or 93 octane, so I ruled out bad gas and I noticed its always at low RPM's under 2k. The car will buck, like it is not getting enough fuel, or the air/fuel ratio is dorked up.

Searching showed me some folks experienced this in previous versions and it was typically an O2 sensor or bad crank shaft sensor.

I'll mention this when I bring it in for the first service, and just wanted to know if anyone else has experience this.

Search posts under my username, but I had the same problem (bucking bronco acceleration I called it) with my 2011 X3 3.5i and it turned out to be a bad VTG motor on the transfer case. Once they replaced it and updated to latest software, no issues whatsoever.

[BigJake]

Originally Posted by mge.92

What mode are you driving it in? ECO PRO?

Typically in eco-pro mode, once in comfort.

[Plyford]

Hi all. I am experiencing the same issue on my 2015 F25 2.0 D. 27k miles. It pulses, jerky, on acceleration. I would be really grateful for any pointers on if anyone else has experienced it and how it was resolved. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Riick]

I've had this happen twice in the 49k miles on my car when in ECO PRO accelerating with a heavy load.

[najnad]

I had the same issue with my 2011 X3 35i, hesitation like a faulty shift when accelerating under 2k rpm, turned out to be a bad spark plug.

I would get your plugs and coils checked, or maybe just replace depending on when they were done last.

[pokerface]

Any chance it could be misfire? ie., coil packs and spark plugs

Same as what najnad ^ is saying.

You would also get CEL and a drivetrain fault warning on screen if you push the car hard while it's misfiring.