Is engine hesitation normal for a BMW 2 Series?

I bought a 3 year old BMW 2 Series Active Tourer with 17k miles on the clock. Getting away from rest gently is not the smoothest but I can live with that. Trying to get away smartly into traffic is bad news - first it hesitates then goes into wheel spin. The BMW dealer has reprogrammed the gear box but is saying it’s the way the 1.5L 3 cylinder engine is the way it is. What are your thoughts?

Asked on 19 March 2026 by

Answered by David Ross
You should be able to pull away smoothly without hesitation or wheelspin regardless of engine type, and the fact that the dealer has reprogrammed the gearbox would suggest they know it is not working as it should. If the dealer is refusing to acknowledge there is an issue you may need to make a complaint or seek a second opinion from another dealer, but if this is the supplying dealer and the vehicle is still under warranty it is worth pursuing with them in the hope that any rectification work required will be carried out under warranty.
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