One problem related to clutch pedal/linkage has been reported for the 2009 BMW M3. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
This complaint is for a 2009 BMW M3 coupe with the dual-clutch transmission (dct). I am experiencing major shift lag trying to reaccelerate after slowing down. Basically, the 2nd gear will fail to catch / engage when I put my foot on the gas pedal causing the car stall for a second or two. After that, the gear will engage abruptly and I will be pulled violently forward. This has resulted in several near-accident situations: 1. I almost rear-ended someone when the gear engaged abruptly with the car jerking forward at a stop light when it turned green as I was approaching, slowing down to 2nd gear. 2. I was almost t-boned at a non-regulated intersection. I was slowing down when approaching the intersection. The car downshifted to 2nd gear for me and about 1/4 way into the intersection, I saw a vehicle speeding down towards the intersection on my left. I tried to accelerate to get out of the intersection but the transmission failed to engage for a full 2 seconds. I barely missed the vehicle t-boning into my car. There is no apparent events that have led up to the failure. The car behaves like that on the first day I bought it. This failure would happen every time I leave the car in automatic mode, so that the car's computer will downshift for me. I already brought the car to the dealership twice complaining about the issue and the potential safety ramifications, but the dealership's service department claimed that BMW north America has issued a statement claiming that it is normal transmission behavior and there is nothing that they can do to correct it. Obviously, this is a major safety concern for me and I am astonished that BMW will not do anything to rectify its problem.