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BMW 1 Series: 7-speed dual-clutch (Getrag 7DCT300) low-speed judder and clutch-pack wear (F40 116i/118i/120i/116d)

7-speed dual-clutch (Getrag 7DCT300) low-speed judder and clutch-pack wear (F40 116i/118i/120i/116d) is a common transmission fault on the BMW 1 Series on the 2019 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $700 to $8,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 50 documented faults on the BMW 1 Series.

Vehicle
BMW 1 Series
Years
2019 onward
Gearbox
dct
System
Transmission

This page covers the BMW 1 Series as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All BMW 1 Series faults50 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The front-wheel-drive F40 1 Series pairs its smaller engines with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox instead of the torque-converter automatic used in the rear-drive cars. Cold, it shunts and hops at walking pace and can feel as if it is about to stall as you brake to a halt; warm, it should be smooth and almost undetectable. A car that has spent its life in stop-start city traffic wears its clutch packs, and the difference between a fluid service and a clutch or mechatronic unit is thousands of dollars. BMW released gearbox control-unit software updates for the F40 and F44, so a car that has never had them can feel worse than it needs to — worth establishing before you assume the worst.

What you would notice

  • Jerky, hopping take-up from rest, worst in the first few kilometres from cold
  • Shunting or clunking while creeping in traffic or manoeuvring
  • Revs flaring between first and second under load
  • Burning smell after a long crawl or repeated hill starts
  • Transmission warning message after heavy low-speed use

How to check it

Where to look. Transverse gearbox mounted to the left-hand end of the engine driving the front wheels — the clutch packs sit inside the bellhousing at the engine end.

  1. Drive the car from completely cold and concentrate on the first two kilometres — some low-speed shuffle when cold is normal for this gearbox, but repeated hard jolts, hopping, or a shudder you can feel through the seat is not.

  2. Find a slope and do three or four hill starts one after another, then a slow parking manoeuvre, and check that nothing starts to smell hot.

  3. Once fully warm, take-up from rest should be smooth and light-throttle shifts should be almost undetectable.

  4. Ask whether the gearbox control-unit software has been updated and whether the fluid has ever been changed, with invoices for both.

  5. Ask whether the car has spent its life in city traffic, because that is exactly what wears these clutches.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$700 to $8,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the gearbox control-unit software been updated?”
  • “Has the gearbox fluid ever been changed, and at what kilometres?”
  • “Has the car mostly done city driving or open road?”

Now check the BMW 1 Series you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • Baby BMW Forum — 'F40 118i DCT Clunks'
  • Baby BMW Forum — '118i automatic hops in low revs?'
  • Baby BMW Forum — 'DKG software recall for F40/F44'
  • Euro Premium Parts — 'BMW 1 Series F40 Reliability Guide'

BMW 1 Series buyer questions

Is 7-speed dual-clutch (getrag 7dct300) low-speed judder and clutch-pack wear (f40 116i/118i/120i/116d) serious on a BMW 1 Series?

We rate it major and common on the BMW 1 Series. The front-wheel-drive F40 1 Series pairs its smaller engines with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox instead of the torque-converter automatic used in the rear-drive cars. Cold, it shunts and hops at walking pace and can feel as if it is about to stall as you brake to a halt; warm, it should be smooth and almost undetectable. A car that has spent its life in stop-start city traffic wears its clutch packs, and the difference between a fluid service and a clutch or mechatronic unit is thousands of dollars. BMW released gearbox control-unit software updates for the F40 and F44, so a car that has never had them can feel worse than it needs to — worth establishing before you assume the worst.

How much does it cost to fix on a BMW 1 Series?

$700 to $8,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which BMW 1 Series years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2019 onward BMW 1 Series. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Drive the car from completely cold and concentrate on the first two kilometres — some low-speed shuffle when cold is normal for this gearbox, but repeated hard jolts, hopping, or a shudder you can feel through the seat is not. Find a slope and do three or four hill starts one after another, then a slow parking manoeuvre, and check that nothing starts to smell hot. Once fully warm, take-up from rest should be smooth and light-throttle shifts should be almost undetectable. Ask whether the gearbox control-unit software has been updated and whether the fluid has ever been changed, with invoices for both. Ask whether the car has spent its life in city traffic, because that is exactly what wears these clutches. Look here: Transverse gearbox mounted to the left-hand end of the engine driving the front wheels — the clutch packs sit inside the bellhousing at the engine end.