M2 AWD Issues: Rough Shifts and Warning Light Mystery

Hey there! I've got some experience with BMW's (medium car knowledge here). Actually had a really similar issue with my 2021 M4 Competition. The symptoms you're describing ring a bell, I went through something like this a few months back. Turned out the ABS module was acting up and causing all sorts of weird behavior with both the transmission and stability systems. Since these systems are all connected, one fault can trigger a chain reaction. The good news? It was covered under warranty in my case. Took it to the dealer, they ran diagnostics and sorted it out with a software update and recalibration of the ABS module. The whole thing took about a day. Could you share a bit more info about your car? Like when these symptoms started, if they get worse in specific conditions (cold starts, high speeds, etc.), and what exact warning lights you're seeing? This would help pinpoint if it's the same issue I dealt with. Also, have you scanned for codes? The specific error codes would really help narrow things down.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I've got 37397 KM on my M2, and just like your case, the problems seem pretty similar. The weird thing is that it started right after my latest service, which makes me wonder if something wasn't properly reset during maintenance. The issues are definitely worse during cold starts, and the warning lights mainly pop up when I'm pushing it a bit harder. I haven't pulled the codes yet, planning to get that done this weekend. Really hoping it's just a software glitch like in your case and not something more serious with the hardware. Did your dealer mention anything about long-term effects or preventive measures? I'm a bit worried about potential damage to the transmission if I keep driving it like this.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. Yeah, that timing with the service is super suspicious, definitely rings some bells. In my case with the M4, I actually had something similar happen after a routine service too. The cold start symptoms and behavior under heavy acceleration are really similar to what I experienced. I ended up finding out that during my service, they'd updated some control modules but there was a compatibility issue that wasn't properly addressed. The transmission and AWD systems are pretty sensitive to these kinds of software mismatches. Looking back, I probably should've gotten it checked sooner, but I drove it like that for about a week before taking it in. The dealer assured me no permanent damage was done, but they did recommend not pushing the car too hard until it's fixed. The software in these new BMWs is pretty good at protecting the hardware, it'll go into a safe mode before any real damage can happen. Definitely get those codes pulled ASAP. If it's what I think it is, it should be a pretty straightforward fix. Just make sure to document everything, especially since it started after service. Would love to hear what codes you find, might help confirm if it's the same issue I had. One piece of advice: even if it seems like just a software thing, don't wait too long to get it checked out. Better safe than sorry with these complex systems.

Thanks so much for all the details! Really helpful to hear about your similar experience with the M4. I've actually gone ahead and booked it in at the dealership for next week, didn't want to risk any potential damage to the car. The software mismatch theory makes a lot of sense, especially since these issues started right after service. I've been babying it since the problems started, keeping it out of sport mode and taking it easy on the throttle. Just pulled the codes this morning actually, got P0730 and P0748, which from what I've read could definitely point to a transmission control module issue. Think I'll mention your case to the service advisor when I take it in. Sounds like it could be the same underlying problem, and knowing it was resolved with a software update in your situation gives me some hope it won't be a major repair. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, definitely made me feel better about the whole situation. I'll update once I get it sorted out!