[Rags2Rags]

I wanted to ask fellow i28 owners if they've and/or are currently experiencing this with this SUV:

Any time I come to stop and I'm about to take off again, I press on the gas, the engine revs, making you think you'll take off but nothing happens for a few seconds and then there's a substantial jerking motion as the clutch finally seems to engage. This makes trying to have a nice smooth ride virtually impossible. It happens all the time and is consistent. I drive in "personal mode" and haven't tried sports mode but I don't really want to do that since I feel SM keeps the gears way to high for too long for day to day driving.

It drives fine the rest of the time. I find it's even worse the first few stops in the morning but is always there.

Anyways, I was curious if this is just how DCT works or if I'm experiencing something that's not normal.

I was planning on asking my dealership soon about it.

Out of all the annoyances I've had with this SUV, this is by far the most enjoyment sapping one. :-(

[MontyB1]

Give the forum a search, very common problem for the US models that don't have the Mild Hybrid solution in most other geographies.

It's an issue with the clutch engagement really rather than anything throttle related it seems, long standing element that so work around, others hate and sell the car other barely notice it with there driving style.

[John27]

As MontyB1 says, doesn't seem to be a problem on the UK version of the X1 with mild-hydrid power-trains. However, many VW owners with dual clutch transmissions have reported the same issue.

For VW's, the reason apparently is to help the car meet emission standards and I assume, this is the same for BMW? Putting the car in sport mode should largely remove the issue but an alternative to consider is perhaps fitting a pedal box such as
https://www.pedalbox.com/en/bmw/x1-u.../pedalbox.html I am not recommending this pedal box (as I've never used it) but a number of people on the VW Tiguan forum have reported good results using this item. Undoubtedly, the same or similar product will be available in Canada? Just an option to consider if you can't live with this - certainly cheaper than changing the car.

[markronnie]

As mentioned in several threads the FTC married to the Auto Start Stop function in the new generation x1 & x2 in North America, with the ICE engine, is an issue for the reasons you’ve experienced. Some say it’s gotten a little better with recent 07/2024.40 software update.

Personally I got in the habit early on to deactivate the engine’s Auto Start Stop function when I start out so I have not experienced the problem. There are several methods to “DISENGAGE “ the function. If you like you can do so even before starting the engine. That’s what I’ve been doing since I picked up my 2024 in late December 2023.

BTW: if you like the slightly stiffer steering while in SPORT MODE but do not like the way the gears shift you can set up the Transmission to Normal & leave the other settings as sport. If you do this once, each time you put it in SPORT, thatwill be the setting. You’ll still need to “DEACTIVATE” the Auto Start Stop function.

[Rags2Rags]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions.

I totally forgot to mention that I ALWAYS disable the auto start/stop feature when I get into the car.

This is something else outside of the start/stop stuff.

[MontyB1]

It’s the way Auto manual / DCT can work simple as that.

[John27]

Originally Posted by MontyB1

It’s the way Auto manual / DCT can work simple as that.

Agreed. Start/stop may add an additional delay to pulling away where engaged, but the hesitation is the way the transmission is set up.

[justdriving]

Mine has always done the same. There’s the auto start stop delay, then when the engine turns back on, a transmission delay. Dealer says this is normal.
I think it’s bad programming, not a faulty transmission. Running in sport mode, the transmission engages flawlessly

[Rags2Rags]

Thanks for the info!

I'll be avoid any vehicle with DCT next time. I had read a bit about it beforehand but I didn't think it was going to be this bad.

[Jayte]

I feel your pain. I just returned from the BMW service center. My 2023 X1 has recently developed an issue where it hesitates from stop (with autostart off every time I start the car), then suddenly grabs. I've driven it for almost 11,500 miles without an issue, now, as the weather gets colder, it has developed.
This is my first BMW with an automatic. Four priors were all manual, but a recent mistaken foray into Mercedes as well as my sister's BMW 3-series automatics had a transmission problems with a $10,000 repair price tags.
So I got nervous. Service manager says they couldn't duplicate the issue, but that it is common. Great. My concern is that sudden grab is not only a pain, but over time, that has to hurt the transmission.

[Douggie]

It is a very old Bmw problem that randomly hits certain cars. It seems to be caused by the throttle control. Nothing to do with DCT.

Google search "BMW tip in delay" and you will find posts dated back to 2010 and many other models (with basically no real solution). My previous 5 series had this and it was the worst car that I ever owned. It had the 8spd ZF transmission

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by Douggie

It is a very old Bmw problem that randomly hits certain cars. It seems to be caused by the throttle control. Nothing to do with DCT.

Google search "BMW tip in delay" and you will find posts dated back to 2010 and many other models (with basically no real solution). My previous 5 series had this and it was the worst car that I ever owned. It had the 8spd ZF transmission

This is what I've been saying since I got the car. It's the throttle programming. Put it in sport mode and the delay is significantly reduced compared to Personal. Back on my older BMW's you could code the throttle to a different map and change the way it responds. I bet that toggle is there in the coding for the X1, but we have no way to code it. There is still a slight delay in sport mode due to the nature of the transmission, but not as bad as personal mode.

I will say, it has gotten better since the last OTA software update I had though, enough to notice the difference but it's still there.