I just bought a new 325i with a 5-speed. I have always driven a stick so that is nothing new to me. But I find the shifter a bit dificult to pull out of and put into gear, especially when cold, but also when warm. The salesman says, "yeah, they're a bit 'notchy', whatever that means. My other car is a '59 Triumph and it shifts great. What did Triumph know in 1959 that BMW hasn't fugured out in 2005? Otherwise I absolutely love this car. Is there something wrong, or does everyone have this problem?
Notchy? 5-Speed
- Thread starter tr3a59
- Start date
Well, your Triumph probably has a longer shifter throw than your 325i. Typically, shifters that have a shorter throw will take a bit more force to move in and out of gear - giving that "notchy" feel. BMW manual transmissions are also known to be a little harder to shift when the transmission fluid is cold.
There probably is nothing wrong - you're just not used to the very direct shifting mechanism in your 325i.
There probably is nothing wrong - you're just not used to the very direct shifting mechanism in your 325i.
Actually, the Triumph is shorter throw, but never mind that. Sometimes the BMW tranny will actually....hmmm, what's the right word..."grind" seems too extreme, but sometimes the shifter feels like it's bouncing off a gear tooth or two going into gear. As if the syhcros are quite doing their job or the clutch is not fully disengaging. If I'm driving the car hard I don't have this problem, only when shifting at low RPM.
You're probably trying to put it in gear faster than you should be (ie to soon after pushing in the clutch). The triumph probably has a wire clutch where as the bmw has a hydraulic clutch. The triumph also probably has less clutch surface left than the bmw, which would mean it would slip easier and sooner.
OR
You're just feeling the synchro's, which the triumph probably didn't have? [???1]
OR
You're just feeling the synchro's, which the triumph probably didn't have? [???1]
CDV is made to only create a delayed flow while the clutch pedal is being depressed... though I imagine if the CDV was faulty or simply not a good design, it would slow it down.
Isn't it nice to have an older bmw, without all those silly things like traction control, CDV's, etc.? I love being able to be 90% in control of my car (abs... though that certaintly helps...)
...This is MY traction control
![[hihi]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hihi.gif "Hi Hi [hihi]")
Isn't it nice to have an older bmw, without all those silly things like traction control, CDV's, etc.? I love being able to be 90% in control of my car (abs... though that certaintly helps...)
...This is MY traction control
Well, how notchy is it, and also, how many miles do you have on it? My 325i now has 2000 miles, and whether it's me or the transmission, it's less "notchy" than when brand new. I am still going back and forth between the BMW and my Passat 5 speed. The Passat is considerably less "notchy," also, less springy, and the clutch, with no CDV, feels quite different.
Howver, the Passat is also less "precise." Having driven the car for 60,000 miles, shifting it is second nature, but now, going back and forth, I have to think about it a bit more. The spring in the Passat is much less stiff. In the BMW, the spring plays a much bigger role in placing your shift--you need to be conscious of whether you are pressing left or right against it. I find I have no problem with first and second, but I sometimes forget to let the spring (or lack of spring tension) guide me into 3rd, and also that you need to press against the spring to get into 5th.
I find that after a day of driving the BMW, I FAR prefer its 5 speed, but I think it is partly a matter of getting used to it (in muscle memory), and it's harder if you are going back and forth to another car that feels different.
I also have a clutch stop. I'm not real crazy about the clutch. Others here they have trouble driving smoothly with the CDV. Now that I'm used to it, I think my shifting is actually smoother than with the Passat, but I still need to think about it, at least on the 1st to 2nd shift. I'm going to give it a few months, and if I can't get completely used to it, I may do the CDVectomy.
David
Howver, the Passat is also less "precise." Having driven the car for 60,000 miles, shifting it is second nature, but now, going back and forth, I have to think about it a bit more. The spring in the Passat is much less stiff. In the BMW, the spring plays a much bigger role in placing your shift--you need to be conscious of whether you are pressing left or right against it. I find I have no problem with first and second, but I sometimes forget to let the spring (or lack of spring tension) guide me into 3rd, and also that you need to press against the spring to get into 5th.
I find that after a day of driving the BMW, I FAR prefer its 5 speed, but I think it is partly a matter of getting used to it (in muscle memory), and it's harder if you are going back and forth to another car that feels different.
I also have a clutch stop. I'm not real crazy about the clutch. Others here they have trouble driving smoothly with the CDV. Now that I'm used to it, I think my shifting is actually smoother than with the Passat, but I still need to think about it, at least on the 1st to 2nd shift. I'm going to give it a few months, and if I can't get completely used to it, I may do the CDVectomy.
David
Ahhh, the CDV!
Thanks guys, yesterday I couldn't even spell CDV. This makes a lot of sense. It's hard to push the shifter into gear immediately after pressing the clutch pedal to the floor because the clutch is not actually disengaged! Duh! Jeez, do I actually have to push the clutch pedal to the floor and count "one potato, two potato" before shifting? My previous daily driver was a Prelude with a 5-speed. Also a hydraulic clutch and it shifted great. By the way, the TR-3 has full synchro.
Thanks guys, yesterday I couldn't even spell CDV. This makes a lot of sense. It's hard to push the shifter into gear immediately after pressing the clutch pedal to the floor because the clutch is not actually disengaged! Duh! Jeez, do I actually have to push the clutch pedal to the floor and count "one potato, two potato" before shifting? My previous daily driver was a Prelude with a 5-speed. Also a hydraulic clutch and it shifted great. By the way, the TR-3 has full synchro.
CDV does not explain anything. As eric stated above, the CDV should only delay, the movement of the clutch when letting go of the petal, not pushing the petal in. The clutch should disengage immediately with the petal pushed in. Right? I mean it would be quite ridiculous to delay pushing in the clutch petal no? How would you be able to pull off a quick shift otherwise?
Actually any CDV is stupid in my opinion but whatever.
Actually any CDV is stupid in my opinion but whatever.
Well, after 195 miles and a few more days of driving my new E46 manual, I discovered that if I shift with the engine at the correct rpm for the gear I'm shifting to, the stickshift is not notchy at all. In fact, if I shift it perfectly, the shifter goes into gear with no resistance at all - None. Keep in mind that I'm breaking the engine in, so I'm driving very casually. But the point is, as I get to know the car and shift it more skillfully, the notchyness goes away.
One other thing that I have noticed: The E46 manual is so much fun to drive it should be illegal!![[burnout]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_burnout.gif "Burnout [burnout]")
One other thing that I have noticed: The E46 manual is so much fun to drive it should be illegal!
