shifting 1st to 2nd - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

M5@ksa · 29th April 2002, 23:49

when ever i try to get this right it never happen !!
what is the correct way to shift from 1 st to 2nd gear with out spinning the wheels and getting the most out of the big torqe . what i am facing here is every time i try to shift fast from 1st to 2nd the tiers spens or if i have my DCS on i lose the torqe and so i lose the race . HELP HELP

dwasifar · 30th April 2002, 00:04

The short answer is, learn some finesse.

Specifically, learn how much acceleration causes the tires to break loose, and then learn to come close to that point without going over. There's more to driving than just dumping the clutch and flooring it.

greg · 30th April 2002, 00:47

A little wheelspin is a good thing. A lot is bad. But if you're getting a lot, you've either got an above average M5, you're trying on slick surfaces, or you're declutching with your engine revs too high and too much throttle - the initial inertia of the flywheel breaks the wheels loose, the throttle keeps 'em broken. The good news is that to do this you are probably NOT slipping the clutch. (You ARE sure it is tire slip, right? The fact that DSC kicks in if you have it on is a good clue.)

Are you lifting your throttle foot when you shift? Are you letting the engine revs climb to a point higher than they will be once you're hooked up in the new gear before you get the clutch fully hooked up?

As I see it, you have two choices - if you're practicing to get the best possible time at a drag strip, or to try to duplicate the magazines' 0-60 times, you will need a reasonable amount of skill and a LOT of practice. In getting it you WILL ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY really thrash your car, and take a huge amount of life off your tires, clutch and drivetrain. And I can't help you - because I just can't bring myself to beat my car up like that.

If on the other hand, you want to drive "well" without serious risk to the car, then you can still expect very good (but not "best") performance with minimal clutch abuse (and without excessive slip on the 1-2.) If you haven't reviewed my "shifting videos", you might want to give them a look. They're posted at Virtual M5 Driving School.

By the way - you will lose some races. There are always better drivers, and there are always guys with faster cars. Period.

AJ · 30th April 2002, 04:27

huh? when i had mine i could barely squeak the 1-2 shift; given, my shifts are almost like an auto tranny shifting, but still... i could not spin the tires for more than say 5 yards or so...

i wonder, as greg said, if he is shifting on some slick surfaces or the tires are very cold... i dont think he has enough time to press the clutch, get out fo gear, rev and dump the clutch again (this will cause the 1-2 shift to be very very slow, but will spin the tires like he describes)...

alex
02 gts
few other car

chunpng · 30th April 2002, 04:29

Are you gasing up WHILE releasing clutch?

That's very common when you want to get a jump on 'flooring' the gas, unfortunately, your right foot goes down much faster than your left foot comes up.

Clutch slips, wheels spin, looses time. Not a pretty picture.

CP

Rezf · 30th April 2002, 04:41

I usually rev to 1500 rpm, turn DSC off, then let go and floor it smoothly. After shifitng into second, I immediately floor it. Granted I get a little chirp from the rear tires, but it would never be of significance. In other words, if I lose a race it would be because of a better driver or a faster car, but not from the tires chirping when shifting from 1st to second.

brutus · 30th April 2002, 05:52

Some data ... I have a fav place to practice my drag racing specifically the launch and 1st-2nd shifts, sticky blacktop, if the temp is good (50F - 90F) and I execute correctly I get the great feeling of a < 5s 0-60MPH run (verified by G-Force), but if to cold or too hot then DSC on is needed to get best 0-60 (low to mid 5s). If it's slick (i.e. rain) then DSC has always given me best results.

But, if I miss the 1-2 shift a little, usually from not matching RPM into 2nd, then the backend of the car will lift and I can smoke those tires real good (never stayed in it very long under these conditions but I'd bet I could smoke'm for many feet).

So I'd say that the critical part for me of the 1-2 shift is get'n the 2nd gear RPM matched.

Brutus.

Black M5 · 30th April 2002, 05:57

Reach down and switch off the DSC, then switch on the sport button. Rev it to a mere 1000 rpm (any higher and you'll smoke the tires) and come off the clutch quickly but don't immediately floor it... feed in the throttle progressively or you'll spin the tires too hard. grab second gear and feel the fat meats lay down another 20 feet of rubber on the upshift. Remember to shift just shy of the 7000 rpm red line to avoid touching the rev limiter, and if you perfectly nail third, there'll be another 10 feet of thread on tarmac for your teeth-gnashing foe to witness.

You've just run the 0-60 in 4.7 seconds, and blitzed the quarter mile in 13.2@107.4 and irritated the living hell out of your opponent.

- Motor trend Dec 99' issue

M5@ksa,

The most important thing you have to know is where exactly your clutch releases.. Then you just have to feed in the acclerator at that exact clutch releasing point. That is the perfect way to shift. Any more or less throttle and you will either loose momentum or spin your wheels more. As others have pointed out, its ok to spin the wheels alittle, thats becuase you have soo much power and torque. Dont forget you have mods and the 3.45 diff. So just try and concentrate on feeding the accelerator as the clutch releases. I think its pretty difficult not to spin the wheels. And you must have the DSC off for best results.