So I was wondering if any other M5 owners could give me a little adivce on the 1st-->2nd--3rd gear shift. I just don't feel like I can get it right with a smooth transition. I always feel like I am either dropping it or smearing the clutch. It is as if the drop from 1st to second is unrealistically fast.
Little background: I have been driving subaru's a 02rs Impreza and 96 Legacy. The Impreza I was beastly on. Heel-toe, super quick, smooth, rally style. The Legacy didn't have a tack and I think I may have developed some bad habits cause it had a really soft clutch.
Also I know this car is VERY notchy, but as I am still in the nervous phase of ownership so I wanted to check in and see if anyone had some pointers.
I will be taking a BMWCCA course in July, so I would like to be smoother by then.
Coming from newer 24v BMWs, I find that the revs fall off very fast on the S38... When shifting slowly, I find I always have to feather the gas a bit to keep the revs from dying between gears... With an S50 you can go get a coffee and catch a movie in the time it takes for the motor to drop 1500rpm... This takes some getting used to.
The clutch travel is also long and very, very heavy - though I much prefer a heavy clutch in a street car.
Took me about 5000km of driving to get it to the point where I felt one with the transmission but I still botch the odd shift - especially when driving slow... These cars just aren't meant to be driven under 60mph....
Replacing the shift linkages/bushings and changing the tranny fluid made a world of difference too..
Don't worry about the car being fragile either... I find the clutch throw is so long that I'm the smoothest when I use the clutch quickly, almost like an on/off switch. You won't break it, have fun, and drive more.
one thing that helps me is to not lift my right foot entirely off the gas pedal during the shift. it took some practice, but now I can reduce the pressure just enough so the revs fall to where they'll be in the next gear rather than all the way back to idle. it makes for very smooth shifts and works when shifting slow and lazy or fast. gives a nice shove in the back when driving hard too.
Ahhhh. You guys make it much better . I figured that it must be a quirk of how the car is. Well off to work, I'll play with it some more and check in again. Thanks!
Coming from newer 24v BMWs, I find that the revs fall off very fast on the S38... When shifting slowly, I find I always have to feather the gas a bit to keep the revs from dying between gears... With an S50 you can go get a coffee and catch a movie in the time it takes for the motor to drop 1500rpm... This takes some getting used to.
The clutch travel is also long and very, very heavy - though I much prefer a heavy clutch in a street car.
Took me about 5000km of driving to get it to the point where I felt one with the transmission but I still botch the odd shift - especially when driving slow... These cars just aren't meant to be driven under 60mph....
Replacing the shift linkages/bushings and changing the tranny fluid made a world of difference too..
Our 3.6's came w/ a lightweight FW hence the rapid drop-off in revs.
Smoothness is key for around town puttering. Keep a little more gas in it like Roor mentioned.
If your clutch pack is healthy, its best to drive it like you stole it. Seriously, thats what the m5 prefers. This car really objects to any Camry style maneuvers.
Just make sure both the S38 and your tranny is up to operating temps before you manhandle the car.
i have a 6speed 1995 m5, and sometimes i engage reverse instead of 1st gear... the lateral motion from where you engage 1st to reverse is "too soft" ... is this normal , or is it something that needs to be ajusted /replaced ?
would the ucc short shifter cure this ?
my z4 has a "stop" where you engage 1st , and you have to pull it harder for reverse...
thanks
Last edited by GrandRoyaL; 19th June 2009 at 17:43.
GrandRoyal... mine is NOT soft at all...... check it
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'95 3.8 6speed ///M5
You wash your car like it was your firstborn child, you tend to its needs like it was your own body, you rotect it like it's your family, then you drive it like you stole it.
Some help with shifting
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