1st gear judder 6MT

[trey100]

I know there are some older threads on this but wanted to check in to see if there is a consensus on what this may be.

I never had this issue but about 8 months ago, brought my car in for its 50k service and since I was having some random radio issues (in hindsight should have just ignored it as I'm sure now it has more to do with my IPhone/BMW Apps than anything else), I asked them to take a look. They updated my car's software as the "fix".

When I picked up my car I noticed upon take off a nasty judder that I hadn't noticed before as 1st gear engaged on roll out. I chalked it up to perhaps not releasing the clutch right or the new software effecting the clutch somehow. I drove home, and it seemed to get better but happened a few more times on the way home. Next day, no issues. Since then it has happened more often and now occurs each morning as I back out of my driveway and then move forward. Once going, car drives fine. At slow speeds I can put it in first and auto rev match picks up seamlessly. Sometimes I won't feel it the rest of the day. I assumed if it was something mechanical, it would happen all the time.

In any case, it's happening enough now that it is taking away from my joy of driving the car.

Does this sound like a clutch issue? I've been driving manuals my whole driving life and this is the first issue I've ever had so I'd like to think it's not that. Especially with others saying they've experienced similar issues. Could it have been the software change and can they change it back?

I plan on making an appointment with the dealership but my concern is it either won't happen when they test drive it and they'll send me home with just an investigation bill or they'll just default to replace the clutch and cost me a bunch of money. Someone else here had their clutch replaced under warranty as they were experiencing a similar issue and the clutch looked pretty good when they took it off.

Just some more info: have 54k miles and almost all is highway as I live in the suburbs and commute via highway each day. Very little city driving.

Any help is appreciated.

[Ravcik]

Maybe Better way is to record this judder and share this video with dealer first ?
We have to diagnose this, can you record this for us ?

[fackamato]

'17 M3 here, I think it's normal for these cars. Just give it a bit more gas or re-engage the clutch.

[trey100]

Originally Posted by fackamato

'17 M3 here, I think it's normal for these cars. Just give it a bit more gas or re-engage the clutch.

As someone who has driven manuals for a very long time, this does not seem normal. It is very different than the stutter you get when you are about to stall. It is definitely a kidder even under gas. Very strange. All other gears and driving is flawless.

[trey100]

Here's one of the original threads on this:


https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1359595

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Mine still happens now and then. Not enough to bother me. I wouldn't say it's getting worse.

[Alan l.]

my 18 only has the judder if i'm moving from standstill and do not give it enough revs. Not enough to stall but you can feel the clutch (pucks) barely catching. give it alittle more revs and its all smooth.

My old E46 use to have judders on initial engagement no matter what i did. Dealer ended up replacing the flywheel and clutch combo.

[trey100]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

my 18 only has the judder if i'm moving from standstill and do not give it enough revs. Not enough to stall but you can feel the clutch (pucks) barely catching. give it alittle more revs and its all smooth.

My old E46 use to have judders on initial engagement no matter what i did. Dealer ended up replacing the flywheel and clutch combo.

The only thing that seems to be in conflict is that it doesn't seem to be on the brink of stalling as if you under gas it. True though that if I ride the clutch by gassing it more than needed, it helps.

The other part is that it doesn't do it all the time. When it is not juddering I can easily drive in traffic without ever touching the gas. Just letting out the clutch slowly and it catches pretty smooth. If it's a mechanical issue, why wouldn't it do it all the time?

To me it seems that something in the programming drops the throttle sometimes as it engages (more than typical). I keep thinking that the new software they put on during my last service reprogrammed the throttle sensitivity somehow.

I've been more generous with the throttle when I sense it happening and then driving more normal when it is not.

The car is so smooth in all other cases....ugh.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by trey100

The only thing that seems to be in conflict is that it doesn't seem to be on the brink of stalling as if you under gas it. True though that if I ride the clutch by gassing it more than needed, it helps.

The other part is that it doesn't do it all the time. When it is not juddering I can easily drive in traffic without ever touching the gas. Just letting out the clutch slowly and it catches pretty smooth. If it's a mechanical issue, why wouldn't it do it all the time?

To me it seems that something in the programming drops the throttle sometimes as it engages (more than typical). I keep thinking that the new software they put on during my last service reprogrammed the throttle sensitivity somehow.

I've been more generous with the throttle when I sense it happening and then driving more normal when it is not.

The car is so smooth in all other cases....ugh.

I think it might be a strange interaction between the hill hold and the auto throttle when you start to engage the clutch. I notice it happens mostly when I'm on an incline or doing parking lot maneuvers. Otherwise I don't notice it much at all.

[trey100]

Originally Posted by NUTScapes

I think it might be a strange interaction between the hill hold and the auto throttle when you start to engage the clutch. I notice it happens mostly when I'm on an incline or doing parking lot maneuvers. Otherwise I don't notice it much at all.

Yes this is also true. I notice it backing out of my driveway and then moving forward into the street where there is a slight hill.

[9M71]

Can we turn off hill assist? Want to see it makes any difference.

'18 F80, 16k mi, also has a judder at times. I've found myself have to be a little bit more generous on the gas than compared to previous MTs.

[trey100]

Originally Posted by 9M4N71U

Can we turn off hill assist? Want to see it makes any difference.

'18 F80, 16k mi, also has a judder at times. I've found myself have to be a little bit more generous on the gas than compared to previous MTs.

Don't think so. I'm convinced this all started after a software update. The version that came on my March or so 2016 build did not have this all the way up to the day they updated my software. Noticed it the day I picked up the car from the dealership after the software update.

[zhurley83]

I'm in on this because I am sick and tired of the feeling. It's more embarrassing when at a stop light because it happens on a regular basis at random times, albeit earlier in the driving day. I would love a resolution to this because it is the only thing I hate about this car

[DocL]

I find that blipping the throttle a little and then letting out the clutch as the revs are dropping resolves this. The shudder is usually caused by not giving the car enough gas when starting from a complete stop.

[trey100]

Those saying it's about throttle application - in my experience it is not this. It is random and many times I don't need to use any throttle and no judder. I had a specialty shop tell me it was flywheel hot spot that happens. Doesn't really explain the random nature of it. One thing I will say, I had my plugs changed a little early by the same shop and I haven't had it happen in a couple of months. I will see if that changes come spring/summer when it warms up.

[N55Msport]

A little bit of jutter for me in first as well. But only in Sport Plus which is weird.

[mjrmatt]

also have the same thing happening in my 2015... super weird as sometimes its smooth, other days its juddery. Adding more throttle when taking off in 1st and slipping the clutch a few times seems to get it to smooth out a little bit, but its still a bit frustrating. I know my stick shift technique is solid, and its not near stalling... its gotta be something to do with the software or the auto throttle stuff. Have clutch warranty til 75k miles so might be seeing what the dealer has to say.