[hammyoni]

So this is my 2nd BMW manual, and ever since I can remember, BMW has alwys beeen praised for its great manual transmissions. Well, my 330i doesnt feel impressive, in fact the last manual I drove, a late model A4 1.8 6 speed was snappier through the gears and had less of those odd chunky gear shifts. btw, I know how to drive a manual car properly, but im just trying to find out why the gears shift so perfectly one time, then the very next shift is sloppy (not specifically a 330i issue, ive noticed this on all manuals).

[ScheerSpeed]

its the damn clutch delay valve BMW puts in

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by ScheerSpeed

its the damn clutch delay valve BMW puts in

yea....

[hammyoni]

broken in for sure. and always noticed it. ON all my manual cars. Id say the one manual ivedriven that consistently snapped shifts over and over was the s2000...but id like to see honda do that with a higher torque engine.

what does that clutch valve do? how does that affect the shifts?

[ScheerSpeed]

it doesnt let out the clutch right, it makes it very choppy, my friend took out his and the shifts are much smoother

[espo]

I think the OP is talking about the feeling of the shifter going into the next gear (with the clutch fully in and disengaged). That should have nothing to do with the CDV. The CDV will only effect how the clutch is released once the transmission is in the next gear...

Back on topic, I do know what you mean. It only seems to happen on the 1-2 shift every once in awhile. The shifter feels notchy getting into second. It really happens first thing in the morning when the car is cold. I think it has to do with how hard you push in the laterial (side to side) direction and how directly you hit the 2nd gear gate. I also noticed, that if I try and rush the shift and don't give the syncros enough time to slow down the input shaft, it will really happen..

Hope that helps answer the originial question.

[BK]

I thought he was talking about jerky shifts, which would indeed be the CDV. Or I should say I guess it's the CDV because I haven't had a car with one before. This is my first Bimmer, but I've been driving MT for 20 years. It took me a while to get used to the BMW transmission, and it took my transmission a while to break in. But even now, sometimes the shifts surprise me as smooth one day and not so smooth another. I blame it on the CDV, not on the driver. CDV does seem to take away some of the clutch feel.

[hammyoni]

lol, i blame the car too, because its the first time im having trouble with smooth shifts as well.Sometimes, spot on, others...WTH!?

But Espo, you got it right, that is what I was refering to, the notchiness of the shifter itself. Gladim not the only one.

[rolling18]

this clutch/ shifter feel EXACTLY same as my 350Z,, notchy, heavy, not too smoothe... i swear thy are the same unit!!! i dont like it either..
its enough to make me go AT!!!!

[hammyoni]

I dont get it, the Z gets good reviews on its shifter as well...weird.

[hammyoni]

anyone improve on this with a SS? Imalways a little leary of them, but if its a huge improvement i might go for it.

[Lost Rider]

Operator error maybe?
Mine is smooth all the time, very consistent. Hasn't changed a bit.
Maybe your car was made on Friday..........

[hammyoni]

Doubt its the operator error. How hard is it to fully depress a clutch, and then move a shifter into its gear? There little margin for error there, especially when the car is fully stopped. Doesnt look like im the only one either.

[sstarch1]

Its always 2nd gear for me.
Sometimes i have to try again when shifting into 2nd. Its quite annoying, so im thinking about a CDV removal, if that may help.

[TEAShea]

A SS kit will certainly not make shifts smoother; quite the opposite, it would make it more difficult to be smooth.

TEAShea
from nebraska

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by espo

I think the OP is talking about the feeling of the shifter going into the next gear (with the clutch fully in and disengaged). That should have nothing to do with the CDV. The CDV will only effect how the clutch is released once the transmission is in the next gear...

Back on topic, I do know what you mean. It only seems to happen on the 1-2 shift every once in awhile. The shifter feels notchy getting into second. It really happens first thing in the morning when the car is cold. I think it has to do with how hard you push in the laterial (side to side) direction and how directly you hit the 2nd gear gate. I also noticed, that if I try and rush the shift and don't give the syncros enough time to slow down the input shaft, it will really happen..

Hope that helps answer the originial question.

I notice this between 1 and 2 as well. So you don't think it is the CDV? Wonder how to make this go away--seems to happen more if you are shifting slowly thru the gears--I don't seem to have this problem when I am winding them out.

[hammyoni]

i thought the issue was load dependent, but it seems to happen when im sitting still, or even full throttle shifts...just a notchy tranny i think.

[PMP]

My 3-4 is weird -- like the shifter wants to jump back to neutral. It is difficult to explain. You move the lever down and it just hesitates and then you have to double pump it to make it slide into fourth.

1-2 is just like trying to squeeze a square peg into a round hole. You can actually feel the resistance and a bit of a 'crunch' feeling as it slips in. Racing this car would be impossible. You'd have to be pretty strong to shift fast enough to get it into gear on time.

I'm hoping it is a break in thing -- only 3,500 miles on my car.

[therealm3]

I notice this too when the car is cold. It is not from the CDV as stated above. The CDV affects a smooth release and engagement of the next gear. Moving the shifter when the clutch is depressed is independent of CDV function. The issue is most likely due to cold tranny fluid not lubricating as well as it should. In my E46 this problem existed as well and it was almost completely cured by switching to RedLine. I still had it on very cold mornings or if the car sat for a long time, but it went away after a few shifts/miles.

Originally Posted by dmboone25

I notice this between 1 and 2 as well. So you don't think it is the CDV? Wonder how to make this go away--seems to happen more if you are shifting slowly thru the gears--I don't seem to have this problem when I am winding them out.

[hammyoni]

unfortunately not a break in thing, at least on mine. Who is the manufacture of the e90 manual tranny?

[saalim]

Its the CDV.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...&highlight=cdv

[espo]

Originally Posted by saalim

Its the CDV.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...&highlight=cdv

Please actually read the thread before you make a coment. The discussion is about the actual movement of the shifter into the next gear and has nothing to do with the clutch release.