2 Hour Test Drive...shifter opinion

subtlestylez · 05-17-2008, 10:50 PM

I test drove the very nice and already legendary 135i today for 2 hours.

The power is amazing in this car. The handling is tight and the power delivery is smooth. Torque is available even in 5th and 6th which is amazing.

When cruising on the freeway on 6th it almost feels like an automatic because there's plenty of power to pass cars.

The only negative item I encountered was the shifter. I really had to try hard to get a smooth shift from 1st to 2nd. The one way to make a smooth shift is to stay on 1st gear only up to 3000rpm then quickly shift to 2nd.

Or to rev up 1st gear then shift slowly to 2nd.

The 2nd gear is the gear that launches the car anyway. I find that 1st gear doesn't push me back in my seat as much as 2nd gear does.

Overall I love this car and is a legitimate car on the road. Once you drive this car, it's impossible to get intimidated by the other fast cars on the road. You feel like you can take on anybody.

topvega · 05-17-2008, 10:55 PM

Yeah as I approach the end of break in and start to get on the throttle a bit more off the line I am noticing the annoying 1st to 2nd shift problem... CDV delete will be coming soon.. this shld solve the problem...

subtlestylez · 05-17-2008, 10:57 PM

Did you also notice that the shifter vibrates a lot?

topvega · 05-17-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subtlestylez

Did you also notice that the shifter vibrates a lot?

I actually have a habit of driving with my right hand constantly on the shifter but I have not noticed this at all... took a lil bit to get used to the knob after coming from my G35 which had a thicker leather knob...

JCtx · 05-17-2008, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topvega

CDV delete will be coming soon...

What the heck is 'CDV'? And can you elaborate about the 'delete'? Thx.
JC

GT3 · 05-17-2008, 11:28 PM

Does anyone know if B&M has a sts for the 135i yet?

Oregon · 05-17-2008, 11:33 PM

CDV, clutch delay valve - http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6329

Plus, a search for same will yield multiple results.

subtlestylez · 05-18-2008, 12:30 AM

Does the 128i have this valve too?

SlickShift · 05-18-2008, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subtlestylez

I really had to try hard to get a smooth shift from 1st to 2nd.

That's I very comment complaint about BMW stickshifts. Everyone who has driven my car says second is hard to engage smoothly(even with the CDV removed) and I alway read comments about it in magazines. Removing the CDV will help, but won't completely eliminate the problem.

subtlestylez · 05-18-2008, 12:49 AM

Why can't BMW fix this? Or is this problem more has something to do with the car's weight and power combination?

atr_hugo · 05-18-2008, 07:06 AM

topvega - get your hand off the shifter! The shifter is mechanically connected to the shift-forks in the tranny (and the more 'connected' the shifter is the more the shift lever will vibrate).

By leaving your hand on the shift knob you are applying dampening to the normal movement of the shifter that will put wear on the shift forks. I learned that lesson 30+ years ago on another 128 (a FIAT 128 ; -).

jbenington86 · 05-18-2008, 07:37 AM

is anyone with a 128i is having the same problem?

MTMnet · 05-18-2008, 09:50 AM

For what ever reason, the RPMs drop to low by the time you get it shifted into 2nd gear. This has been true with every BMW that I have ever owned. The newer and tighter the engine is, the worse it seems to be.

CDV removal will help as it did with my E46 M3, however speed matching (give a little gas as you let out the clutch) or just rev it up to 3.5-4K rpm (5K rpm in the M3) in first gear before shifting to second. By the time you get it into 2nd gear the RPMs should be about right for much smother shift.

Minor issue considering the joy of driving a stick!

raventattoo · 05-18-2008, 01:54 PM

Happy it's not just my car. I've been wanting to post this the past couple of weeks. I was really annoyed at the 'catch' shifting in to second gear, but I have noticed that as the car has 'broken in' that it has become much less noticeable and about half the time now, seems perfectly smooth. I have just over 1200 miles on it now.

Robert · 05-18-2008, 02:22 PM

I don't like first and second gear either, but most of my problem is first gear. Not sure if its because I learned to drive stick on this car. Sometimes from a stop 1st gear is so knotchy I am unsure if it's in gear, but 100% of the time it is.

Slow shift from 1 to 2, I'd have to get on gas a little early and softly to get a smooth transition.

05-17-2008, 10:50 PM	#1
subtlestylez New Member 2 Rep 29 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	2 Hour Test Drive...shifter opinion I test drove the very nice and already legendary 135i today for 2 hours. The power is amazing in this car. The handling is tight and the power delivery is smooth. Torque is available even in 5th and 6th which is amazing. When cruising on the freeway on 6th it almost feels like an automatic because there's plenty of power to pass cars. The only negative item I encountered was the shifter. I really had to try hard to get a smooth shift from 1st to 2nd. The one way to make a smooth shift is to stay on 1st gear only up to 3000rpm then quickly shift to 2nd. Or to rev up 1st gear then shift slowly to 2nd. The 2nd gear is the gear that launches the car anyway. I find that 1st gear doesn't push me back in my seat as much as 2nd gear does. Overall I love this car and is a legitimate car on the road. Once you drive this car, it's impossible to get intimidated by the other fast cars on the road. You feel like you can take on anybody.
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05-17-2008, 10:55 PM	#2
topvega Kinda sorta banned on N54 19 Rep 626 Posts Drives: 135 SGM JB3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NJ Exit 91 iTrader: (0)	Yeah as I approach the end of break in and start to get on the throttle a bit more off the line I am noticing the annoying 1st to 2nd shift problem... CDV delete will be coming soon.. this shld solve the problem... __________________
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05-17-2008, 10:57 PM	#3
subtlestylez New Member 2 Rep 29 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	Shifter Did you also notice that the shifter vibrates a lot?
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05-17-2008, 11:28 PM	#6
GT3 Track addict 5 Rep 233 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	Does anyone know if B&M has a sts for the 135i yet?
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05-17-2008, 11:33 PM	#7
Oregon NRA Life Member, BMW CCA 30 year member 181 Rep 2,614 Posts Drives: 04' M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oregon iTrader: (1) Garage List 1971 2002 [0.00] 2004 M3 [0.00] 2008 135i [0.00]	CDV, clutch delay valve - http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6329 Plus, a search for same will yield multiple results. __________________ Resigned 1ADDICTS Moderator “To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them.” – George Mason
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05-18-2008, 12:30 AM	#8
subtlestylez New Member 2 Rep 29 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	Does the 128i have this valve too?
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05-18-2008, 12:49 AM	#10
subtlestylez New Member 2 Rep 29 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	Why can't BMW fix this? Or is this problem more has something to do with the car's weight and power combination?
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05-18-2008, 07:06 AM	#11
atr_hugo No longer moderate 325 Rep 4,401 Posts Drives: '13 135i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: - iTrader: (0)	topvega - get your hand off the shifter! The shifter is mechanically connected to the shift-forks in the tranny (and the more 'connected' the shifter is the more the shift lever will vibrate). By leaving your hand on the shift knob you are applying dampening to the normal movement of the shifter that will put wear on the shift forks. I learned that lesson 30+ years ago on another 128 (a FIAT 128 ; -).
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05-18-2008, 07:37 AM	#12
jbenington86 Major 58 Rep 1,201 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i, 2017 Tundra Join Date: May 2008 Location: TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 M235i [0.00] 2008 128i [0.00]	is anyone with a 128i is having the same problem?
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05-18-2008, 09:50 AM	#13
MTMnet Private First Class 23 Rep 119 Posts Drives: E90 335i Manual Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	For what ever reason, the RPMs drop to low by the time you get it shifted into 2nd gear. This has been true with every BMW that I have ever owned. The newer and tighter the engine is, the worse it seems to be. CDV removal will help as it did with my E46 M3, however speed matching (give a little gas as you let out the clutch) or just rev it up to 3.5-4K rpm (5K rpm in the M3) in first gear before shifting to second. By the time you get it into 2nd gear the RPMs should be about right for much smother shift. Minor issue considering the joy of driving a stick! __________________ 2009 BMW 335i Sedan 6 Speed
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05-18-2008, 01:54 PM	#14
raventattoo Enlisted Member 1 Rep 32 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	Happy it's not just my car. I've been wanting to post this the past couple of weeks. I was really annoyed at the 'catch' shifting in to second gear, but I have noticed that as the car has 'broken in' that it has become much less noticeable and about half the time now, seems perfectly smooth. I have just over 1200 miles on it now.
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05-18-2008, 02:22 PM	#15
Robert Major General 417 Rep 6,968 Posts Drives: 135i -> is350 -> Tesla M3 perf Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Socal iTrader: (1)	I don't like first and second gear either, but most of my problem is first gear. Not sure if its because I learned to drive stick on this car. Sometimes from a stop 1st gear is so knotchy I am unsure if it's in gear, but 100% of the time it is. Slow shift from 1 to 2, I'd have to get on gas a little early and softly to get a smooth transition. __________________ - There's nothing in my pocket other than knives and lint
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