2nd gear in 128i 6MT

[Captisock]

Here's another question about the car. This is the first manual car I drive/own, and I have no prior experience with any other car, but getting the shifter and the car into second gear from first is slow and 2nd gear has more mechanical resistance than all the rest of the gears. Has anybody been experiencing that same problem? Or is that normal?

Also, how can I get my car up to speed quickly? Any tips for doing that? When I turn right onto a road, getting the car from first to second to third is slow, and the car barely gets to 40km/hr in first.

Thanks!

[BlueforMonaco]

Install modified CDV

[Spitfire007]

Use more go pedal. First might be a little but low of a gear but put your foot in it hard till 4.5k then shift quick and shove your foot in it hard again

[Guildenstern]

My second gear sucks too. I was told by the dealer that it behaves normally. I'm sure it will be the first Synchro to bite the dust.

I've never had trouble getting the car going when I needed to be fast. But you can't fear the redline. (So obviously wait for the engine to warm up) Don't shift until you know you will be above around 3500 in the next gear. The meat of the power band is somewhere around 4000 rpm. No 1500rpm torque peak like in the 135.

[Dackelone]

Maybe you guys should change your trans fluid. Even if you have to pay for it yourself... it would be worthwhile.

[JimD]

I have Red Line MTL in the transmission of my 128i. It smoothed the shifts a little but didn't really change the resistance to going into gear. My guess is the OP is letting up on the clutch a little too early. That will make it hard to get the car into the next gear. Try making sure the clutch is completely disengaged while moving to second.

For a quick launch, I run the rpm up over 2000 before releasing the clutch in first and just let it go up near red line. I quickly shift into second and if necessary third before letting off. Second goes up to 60mph so for most public roads, you can't really keep your foot in it past the very early part of third gear.

I find it hardest to come down from third to second while near redline and cornering. I did an autocross last weekend nearly totally in second gear. I hit redline a few times and finally started shifting coming to finish line where I hit it the hardest. Acceleration in second up over 5000 rpm was nice. My time was much better than when I went back and forth from 2nd and 3rd. Bimmer didn't seem to care.

Those who think the 128i is slow need to experience it in the 5000+ range. It feels nice and strong to me. I've driven the M3, M5, and M6 on the same track as the autocross and my little 128i feels similar accelerating from turn to turn with the rpm up in its power band. Actually, I would say the M3 and 128i are the most similar. Both seem to leap from corner to corner. M5 and M6 not-so-much. I might have had them in too high a gear, however.

Jim

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by Captisock

Also, how can I get my car up to speed quickly? Any tips for doing that? When I turn right onto a road, getting the car from first to second to third is slow, and the car barely gets to 40km/hr in first.

Thanks!

I'm not understanding how your 128i coupe "barely gets to 40km/hr in first" as my 200 lb. heavier 128i 'vert will easily rush to redline (ca. 60 kph) in 1st. Are you getting any indication of engine malfunction such as a check engine light?

Also, for the best upshifting in the lower gears, allow the revs to drop for the next gear before releasing the clutch. for example, for leisurely (and smooth) acceleration, shift from 1st to 2nd around 3,000 RPM and release the clutch in 2nd when the revs drop to about 1,800. If you do this properly, the CDV will be irrelevant.

And if you are in a hurry, upshifting at the 7k redline should get you from 0 to 100 kph in about 6.0 seconds. If that isn't quick enough, you might consider a Steptronic 135i.

Tom