Second Gear

bmwboyi8 · 04-15-2010, 08:03 AM

Anyone find second gear to be really 'snatchy' i.e. you feel your not in control of the car? I always tend to find this when I turn in somewhere. It seems like the driver has to do an awful lot of work with the clutch! When you gently ease your foot off the clutch the car almost leaps forward uncontrollably! I also found this when waiting in a queue of traffic on the motorway in second. The car idles along quite quickly which pretty much forces you to change up to first so you feel your actually in control of the car again! Interested to hear your thoughts on this.

Jeef Beef · 04-15-2010, 08:11 AM

Not quite sure what you mean by 'not in control of the car' but I do agree that the change from 1st to 2nd can be quite jerky unless you do it very gently. Also, idling in 2nd is usually too fast for traffic jams. I usually go to first if I'm crawling.

I always rev-match or heel toe when I need to drop to second gear for a corner, so I can pop the clutch and still don't feel the 'leap' forward.

bmwboyi8 · 04-15-2010, 08:31 AM

Sorry I don't mean the change from 1st to 2nd but instead when you are changing down to second just before you turn into a junction for example. When you are controlling the cars speed with the clutch then release/depress the clutch, the car seems to leap forward. I agree the car idles too quickly in traffic so I do the same and drop down into 1st.

Jeef Beef · 04-15-2010, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nr7489

Sorry I don't mean the change from 1st to 2nd but instead when you are changing down to second just before you turn into a junction for example. When you are controlling the cars speed with the clutch then release/depress the clutch, the car seems to leap forward. I agree the car idles too quickly in traffic so I do the same and drop down into 1st.

Yep I get what you're saying now. Again, I always revmatch my down shifts so I don't get any leaping motion. Clutch in, blip the throttle as I slot the lever into 2nd, clutch out. Smooth as silk.

I think the 1er's clutch is very 'snatchy' if you don't revmatch the shift and try to just slowly release the clutch pedal. I never do it that way.

As for controlling the car's speed with the clutch? I don't ride the clutch, all I use it for is to change between gears. So not sure about that.

mad chemist · 04-15-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nr7489

Sorry I don't mean the change from 1st to 2nd but instead when you are changing down to second just before you turn into a junction for example. When you are controlling the cars speed with the clutch then release/depress the clutch, the car seems to leap forward. I agree the car idles too quickly in traffic so I do the same and drop down into 1st.

nr7489,

Sounds to me like you need to remove the CDV (clutch delay valve). I did mine after only a month of ownership and the gear changes are much better - changing down from 3-2 and especially up from 1st to 2nd.

Mad.

bmwboyi8 · 04-15-2010, 01:54 PM

Thanks Mad. I will take your advice on board!

moff · 04-15-2010, 02:29 PM

I did the CDV, installing a Riss Racing one, but there isn't a great change from 1st to 2nd, but there is 3rd to 4th or 4th to 5th at high speed, high rev, fast changes.

mad chemist · 04-16-2010, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moff

I did the CDV, installing a Riss Racing one, but there isn't a great change from 1st to 2nd, but there is 3rd to 4th or 4th to 5th at high speed, high rev, fast changes.

Moff,

Agreed, but the improvements are definitely there, but certainly more noticeable going up/down other gears as you suggest. I did also notice a slight improvement after my 17,000 mile brake/clutch fluid change (@ 2 yrs), so either I got a few air bubbles in the system from the install (unlikely as I used professional hose clamps) or more likely due to the fluid absorbing moisture over 2 years of ownership.

Mad.

Jeef Beef · 04-17-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad chemist

nr7489,

Sounds to me like you need to remove the CDV (clutch delay valve). I did mine after only a month of ownership and the gear changes are much better - changing down from 3-2 and especially up from 1st to 2nd.

Mad.

Right the CDV, completely forgot about that part since I had it replaced with a non-restrictive one 3 weeks into ownership.

Sorry about that OP, madchemist is right. Get that thing replaced and see how it goes

Anyway, I see you have a 118d. You must be loving the fuel economy!

Dackelone · 04-17-2010, 10:47 AM

Hi nr7481,

YuP! Sounds like classic CDV. Do the delete and you won't regret it! I did the delete and LOVE the way the 1st/2nd gear change now feels. MUCH better now. Its how the car should have come delievered to us perfomance people.

mad chemist · 04-17-2010, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Hi nr7481,

YuP! Sounds like classic CDV. Do the delete and you won't regret it! I did the delete and LOVE the way the 1st/2nd gear change now feels. MUCH better now. Its how the car should have come delievered to us perfomance people.

+1

bmwboyi8 · 04-17-2010, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeef Beef

Right the CDV, completely forgot about that part since I had it replaced with a non-restrictive one 3 weeks into ownership.

Sorry about that OP, madchemist is right. Get that thing replaced and see how it goes

Anyway, I see you have a 118d. You must be loving the fuel economy!

That's one of the main reasons I bought the 118d and the very cheap road tax! Absolutely loving it!

Lopster · 04-19-2010, 01:17 PM

Is there also a bit of a diesel factor coming in here? I.e. Very torqu-ey engine tends to quite eager in 2nd, i used to manage to not use the throttle in traffic at all in my diesel.

bmwboyi8 · 04-19-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lopster

Is there also a bit of a diesel factor coming in here? I.e. Very torqu-ey engine tends to quite eager in 2nd, i used to manage to not use the throttle in traffic at all in my diesel.

I'm glad you mentioned that because I was starting to think along the exact same line! I think that definitely has an effect on the idling speed.

nads · 12-19-2012, 11:44 AM

OMG! I thought it was just me as i've driven automatic cars for the last few years and thought I just had to get used to it, but I bought a 118d manual 4 months ago and have the same problem. Is removing the CDV a simple job?

mad chemist · 12-19-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nads

OMG! I thought it was just me as i've driven automatic cars for the last few years and thought I just had to get used to it, but I bought a 118d manual 4 months ago and have the same problem. Is removing the CDV a simple job?

It is if you have a pair of hose-clamps so you don't loose any brake/clutch fluid.

Here you go:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=209440

Good luck.

Mad.

04-15-2010, 08:03 AM	#1
bmwboyi8 Perfectionist! 5 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 118D M Sport Coupe Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Second Gear Anyone find second gear to be really 'snatchy' i.e. you feel your not in control of the car? I always tend to find this when I turn in somewhere. It seems like the driver has to do an awful lot of work with the clutch! When you gently ease your foot off the clutch the car almost leaps forward uncontrollably! I also found this when waiting in a queue of traffic on the motorway in second. The car idles along quite quickly which pretty much forces you to change up to first so you feel your actually in control of the car again! Interested to hear your thoughts on this.
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04-15-2010, 08:11 AM	#2
Jeef Beef Lord Captain Commander 110 Rep 3,093 Posts Drives: a sleeper Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	Not quite sure what you mean by 'not in control of the car' but I do agree that the change from 1st to 2nd can be quite jerky unless you do it very gently. Also, idling in 2nd is usually too fast for traffic jams. I usually go to first if I'm crawling. I always rev-match or heel toe when I need to drop to second gear for a corner, so I can pop the clutch and still don't feel the 'leap' forward. __________________ E82 135i M-sport: SGM/6MT/Black
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04-15-2010, 08:31 AM	#3
bmwboyi8 Perfectionist! 5 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 118D M Sport Coupe Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Sorry I don't mean the change from 1st to 2nd but instead when you are changing down to second just before you turn into a junction for example. When you are controlling the cars speed with the clutch then release/depress the clutch, the car seems to leap forward. I agree the car idles too quickly in traffic so I do the same and drop down into 1st.
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04-15-2010, 01:54 PM	#6
bmwboyi8 Perfectionist! 5 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 118D M Sport Coupe Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Thanks Mad. I will take your advice on board!
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04-15-2010, 02:29 PM	#7
moff Colonel 1363 Rep 2,495 Posts Drives: X4M Competition Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nottingham GB iTrader: (0)	I did the CDV, installing a Riss Racing one, but there isn't a great change from 1st to 2nd, but there is 3rd to 4th or 4th to 5th at high speed, high rev, fast changes. __________________ Arrived! 2022 X4M Competition, SPY + Black Merino Gone: 2019 X3M Competition, Toronto Red, Adelaide Grey.
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04-17-2010, 10:47 AM	#10
Dackelone European Editor 10528 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Hi nr7481, YuP! Sounds like classic CDV. Do the delete and you won't regret it! I did the delete and LOVE the way the 1st/2nd gear change now feels. MUCH better now. Its how the car should have come delievered to us perfomance people.
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04-19-2010, 01:17 PM	#13
Lopster Petrol Power! 4 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 125i MSport, SGM/Coral, AT Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London/Herts iTrader: (0)	Is there also a bit of a diesel factor coming in here? I.e. Very torqu-ey engine tends to quite eager in 2nd, i used to manage to not use the throttle in traffic at all in my diesel.
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12-19-2012, 11:44 AM	#15
nads Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: BMW 118d '57 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: London iTrader: (0)	OMG! I thought it was just me as i've driven automatic cars for the last few years and thought I just had to get used to it, but I bought a 118d manual 4 months ago and have the same problem. Is removing the CDV a simple job?
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