Been a while since I've been here. I'm wondering if there was a solution for my 2019 X3 acceleration delay that occurs what feels like random? Drives me nuts when I need to make a turn and want to accelerate to traffic speed so I'm not like the old guy pulling out in front of everyone.

Rhidium wrote

Been a while since I've been here. I'm wondering if there was a solution for my 2019 X3 acceleration delay that occurs what feels like random? Drives me nuts when I need to make a turn and want to accelerate to traffic speed so I'm not like the old guy pulling out in front of everyone.

I find it's gone when I give the DSC button a short push, this disables the more aggressive traction control. Sport mode too helps of course (engine and trans).

I don't believe the complained about lag is due to the engine....with the basic (aggressive) TC off the car pulls like a brute pulling out of junctions, just watch the back end though. I believe the issue is TC related - I could be wrong of course! My car is MY2020, delivered 2019.

My take is that if you give the throttle a good push the TC tries to protect you. Drive without DSC ie in either two of the "off" modes, it's only then that you realise quite what the car can do and how much nannying it does in the default mode.

I'm still minded that at least part of the delay, some users find, is due to the real time adaptation nature of the transmission management.

Breaking the adaptation with changing modes, moving the shifter, pressing DSC buttons, gets you back to default programming. Driving with those changed parameters, the driver influenced adaptation is different, to say Comfort mode.

To me, it's like saying it is now running a higher alert level.

I don't have issues here anymore and this is how I drive:

I always start in sport individual, and often use standard sport mode when the roads are smooth.

I always have DSC off.

I put the shifter into M/S mode for better response early and often. I take it in and out of M/S mode multiple times a drive based on this need, and desired exhaust tone (more pops and burbles).

Sport Individual:
- engine: sport
- transmission: comfort
- suspension: comfort
- steering: sport


My thoughts as to the cause:
Its not turbo lag or any mechanical defect, its the transmission software being overly cautious while interpreting driver input. In order to overcome it I use a combination of settings that make the software behave more in-tune with my driving style.

If you don't think its the software I challenge you to drive the car in full manual mode for a week and see if you run into this problem at all. Since I've never seen the issue in full manual mode, and using M/S helps a lot, I place most of the blame on the transmission software.

It is possible there are multiple factors though. I've certainly noticed the car overall feels more responsive with DSC off which is why its now part of my everyday settings.

Whew Deladude! that's a lot of process each time you drive!!

Why do all BMWs (at least the 3 previous Turbo BMW automatics I've owned) have this seemingly random and very annoying issue?

Beg to differ. I think it is a software/programming issue. It's probably not turbo lag, as when things work well, they work really well!
But other times, same driving conditions, distance, speed, temp, etc, there will be a sudden and potentially dangerous delay.

I also use Sport Indiv but have Engine at Sport Plus, transmission at Sport (not plus as that holds it too low a gear all the time)...

I've been playing with the DSC-off to see if it helps. hard to tell because the lag/delay is quite random...

With DSC off (just a quick push of the button) I always get an instant response to the throttle..so much so that I have to remember that I need to take care when driving such a powerful car. It reminds me of the days of RWD cars without any traction aids...so I leave DSC on if it's wet. Even in Comfort, it's a very noticeable effect, mostly I'm in Sport.

There may be differences between model years, mine being MY2020 with the big update on the engine could have different programming to MY2019. Either it's the TC or as HighlandPete says, messing with the settings turns off adaptations.

When users say "random", gives me a strong clue it is linked to the adaptations, (both driving environment and driver), as we drive. Can be set of circumstances and inputs which are causing the delay.

There may be some programming issues, possibly varying between builds.

I'll give an example of my own family experience with identical engine/DSG transmission setups, in two VW vehicles we were running together. One was pretty much flawless, the other erratic, to say the least.

The erratic one, could be caught out in some situations. Software was updated a couple of times, but made virtually no difference. A new gearbox control unit, didn't change the behaviour. Even a new gearbox made little difference. VW just couldn't sort it. All the while, the other vehicle accumulated mileage, in a faultless way.

The other key factor was the drivers. It had three drivers, all who drove in a different way. My sister was the one who had the delays in pull off. My nephew who drives much harder, said it wasn't that bad, but couldn't be driven lightly. My son viewed the gearbox as having no idea what gear it ought to be in on occasion. Was totally 'confused' if you wanted instant performance from a more steady pace. BTW, my son was also driving his X3 35d at the same period, used to a gearbox which did what he wanted, without any issues.

It couldn't have simply been programming, or the other vehicle would have thrown up at least the occasional issue. I put it down to a combination of software limitations, the particular build stack, (possibly engine parameters also feeding back to the gearbox control were different in each vehicle), also the fact different driver inputs also influenced the erratic gearbox function.

It was the fact we ran the two vehicles in parallel, showed how not all vehicles of a particular build are necessarily equal.

Im assuming the OP has the X3 30i ? If so getting the M40i will solve any acceleration lag problems

satz wrote

Whew Deladude! that's a lot of process each time you drive!!

Why do all BMWs (at least the 3 previous Turbo BMW automatics I've owned) have this seemingly random and very annoying issue?

Beg to differ. I think it is a software/programming issue. It's probably not turbo lag, as when things work well, they work really well!
But other times, same driving conditions, distance, speed, temp, etc, there will be a sudden and potentially dangerous delay.

I also use Sport Indiv but have Engine at Sport Plus, transmission at Sport (not plus as that holds it too low a gear all the time)...

I've been playing with the DSC-off to see if it helps. hard to tell because the lag/delay is quite random...

A lot of process? My default drive mode is sport individual so I press one button to turn dsc off when I start the car, and hitting the shifter into M/S is hardly a process - just about as burdensome as using turn signals I would say. Besides all my previous cars were manual so I quite enjoy leveraging all the ways to control the transmission and gear selection. I'll use M/S to avoid riding the brakes on long downhills too!

I'm not sure what you beg to differ about? We agree on the problem being in the software.

Something else I would suggest is being more deliberate and consistent with your throttle input. I don't know how any of you drive, but I've noticed this delay happens more if you jab the throttle or have a couple "false starts" before committing to pulling onto a road. Try to roll onto the throttle with a steady and firm input. This is just a theory but I think the delay is a result of the transmission not being able to decide what gear to be in based on the throttle input being received.

I've been toying with DSC off (quick press) and I can certainly notice less lag between me pressing the pedal and the x3 accelerating.
One thing I have noticed is the acceleration feels more linear through out the rev range. With DSC on (default) its goes from nothing to a surge of power once it finds it "feet"

deladude wrote

A lot of process? My default drive mode is sport individual so I press one button to turn dsc off when I start the car, and hitting the shifter into M/S is hardly a process - just about as burdensome as using turn signals I would say. Besides all my previous cars were manual so I quite enjoy leveraging all the ways to control the transmission and gear selection. I'll use M/S to avoid riding the brakes on long downhills too!

I'm not sure what you beg to differ about? We agree on the problem being in the software.

Something else I would suggest is being more deliberate and consistent with your throttle input. I don't know how any of you drive, but I've noticed this delay happens more if you jab the throttle or have a couple "false starts" before committing to pulling onto a road. Try to roll onto the throttle with a steady and firm input. This is just a theory but I think the delay is a result of the transmission not being able to decide what gear to be in based on the throttle input being received.

Yes, I agree that it's the transmission adaptation that's messing things up.

Driving situations vary and there are times where you really need the sudden acceleration and can't afford to take time to roll onto the throttle. That is the scary part with this inconsistent acceleration.

My previous BMW had this and it was freakin annoying and frustrating. Turning off the DSC and driving it hard does seem to help, but it shouldn't be that way (this is my 4th BMW, and only the previous one had this issue).

Assuming it's "only" transmission adaptation we're talking about the car being in the wrong gear, eg 2nd when pulling out of a junction. I'm not convinced it's that simple.

Comments made above chime with me, ie the throttle being more linear in sportier/non-DSC modes. It is as though the throttle map changes from being almost unresponsive in the first part of its travel vs in the more extreme modes to being super sensitive.

Is it throttle mapping as well as transmission adaptation plus maybe traction control is linked too?

clivem2 wrote

Assuming it's "only" transmission adaptation we're talking about the car being in the wrong gear, eg 2nd when pulling out of a junction. I'm not convinced it's that simple.

Comments made above chime with me, ie the throttle being more linear in sportier/non-DSC modes. It is as though the throttle map changes from being almost unresponsive in the first part of its travel vs in the more extreme modes to being super sensitive.

Is it throttle mapping as well as transmission adaptation plus maybe traction control is linked too?

You could be correct. There seems to be less lag with sports mode which also changes the throttle mapping. These modern day cars are basically computers on wheels that are run by wire with constant monitoring and feedback that interlinks the whole powertrain and even the brakes together.

This isn't ASS having to start the engine?

UncleWede wrote

This isn't ASS having to start the engine?

No, the issue being discussed is not related to ASS. I'm assuming anyone posting here has this feature disabled permanently already.

UncleWede wrote

This isn't ASS having to start the engine?

ASS isn't so very bad in the G01. If I'm in Comfort it's actually ok but 80% of the time I'm in Sport so ASS is off anyway. I didn't get an M40i to not use Sport...

Well, then, after I turn off ASS (right after I press the Start button) I haven't had any sort of issues with funky acceleration, or lack thereof.

If you guys jinxed me

UncleWede wrote

Well, then, after I turn off ASS (right after I press the Start button) I haven't had any sort of issues with funky acceleration, or lack thereof.

If you guys jinxed me

It works if you hit off button before your start it as well. Also no issue here with acceleration.

Never thought of hitting the DSC button.. First time hearing about it. I always thought it was either turbo lag or transmission protection. Do I just give it a quick press or do I hold it to shut it fully down?

Thanks.

Just do a quick press and put in in "traction" mode. You don't need to fully turn if off to see an improvement in throttle response.

Coi wrote

Just do a quick press and put in in "traction" mode. You don't need to fully turn if off to see an improvement in throttle response.

Oh I see. Thanks. I'll try it next time I drive.

I'll probably be switching between On and traction since I do use driver assist during regular driving. Only in the morning when merging on to the busy street in the morning is when I notice the issue. Thanks