[michaelthepsycho]

After longing after a manual NA, I went with my friend yesterday who was shopping for a F10 528i to the dealership. After he did his drive, I asked to test out a 328i stick.
It was pretty fun and entertaining but I wasn't blown away or anything.

Pros:
- Very responsive engine/throttle - downshift blips were very easy compared to my "old" Lancer
- Fairly accurate gearshift lever

Cons:
- WAYYY too much clutch pedal travel. I'm an average 5' 11" but feel like the travel could be shortened substantially. I guess this could be fixed with an aftermarket clutch stop
- Pretty vague clutch takeup in 1st. The revs were strangely all over the place when taking off (maybe I'm just not used to the BMW clutch on a first test drive).
- Springy pedal/shifter. As resistance-less as they were, both had an artificial spring-loaded feel. The shifter really wanted to go back to neutral badly which made shifting weird.



Sitting through the rain-induced level-three rush hour after the test drive reconfirmed my feelings about AT vs MT. When there's no traffic, I enjoy my Steptronic but rush hour is more suited for stick (yes, you read right). Fucking bullshit constant-pressure on/off the brake/throttle pedal wears me out much, much more than driving stick.

[BMWinNorthdakota]

Always complaints about clutches in BMW's

[TheRox]

Originally Posted by michaelthepsycho

After longing after a manual NA, I went with my friend yesterday who was shopping for a F10 528i to the dealership. After he did his drive, I asked to test out a 328i stick.
It was pretty fun and entertaining but I wasn't blown away or anything.

Pros:
- Very responsive engine/throttle - downshift blips were very easy compared to my "old" Lancer
- Fairly accurate gearshift lever

Cons:
- WAYYY too much clutch pedal travel. I'm an average 5' 11" but feel like the travel could be shortened substantially. I guess this could be fixed with an aftermarket clutch stop
- Pretty vague clutch takeup in 1st. The revs were strangely all over the place when taking off (maybe I'm just not used to the BMW clutch on a first test drive).
- Springy pedal/shifter. As resistance-less as they were, both had an artificial spring-loaded feel. The shifter really wanted to go back to neutral badly which made shifting weird.



Sitting through the rain-induced level-three rush hour after the test drive reconfirmed my feelings about AT vs MT. When there's no traffic, I enjoy my Steptronic but rush hour is more suited for stick (yes, you read right). Fucking bullshit constant-pressure on/off the brake/throttle pedal wears me out much, much more than driving stick.

Yup 335 is pretty much the sam ething except engine is not as respnosive, and is laggy compared to NA.

BMW clutch takeup is wayy better than the 2.0T Audi A5 I test drove...but both are put to shame by my old (now RIPed) 1991 Honda Accord - best clutch takeup...so pure. BMW can't match that, takeup is vague, AUdi's takeup is even worse, the Lexus IS 250 I drove and Ford Mustang were pretty bad too.

I don't remember Infiniti G37 much...but I remember it having really nice cluthch takeup, but it bites very high.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by BMWinNorthdakota

Always complaints about clutches in BMW's

Clutch Delay Valve. Delete it yo.

[GreenThree]

Seems like the 328 6MT takes some getting used to. Two long test drives last week. Blast to drive. Alot more fun than my clunky AT

[mike-y]

Originally Posted by michaelthepsycho

When there's no traffic, I enjoy my Steptronic but rush hour is more suited for stick (yes, you read right). Fucking bullshit constant-pressure on/off the brake/throttle pedal wears me out much, much more than driving stick.

when sitting in traffic, do you drive in D or DS mode? DS mode initiates more engine braking, and requires a lot less brake input than when trying to negotiate traffic in D.

[dtc100]

Originally Posted by mike-y

when sitting in traffic, do you drive in D or DS mode? DS mode initiates more engine braking, and requires a lot less brake input than when trying to negotiate traffic in D.

Bingo! I am always in DS anyway, unless I am on the freeway crusing at above 60 for a fairly long stretch.

[hipnotic]

clutch is always on someone's mind

[michaelthepsycho]

Originally Posted by mike-y

when sitting in traffic, do you drive in D or DS mode? DS mode initiates more engine braking, and requires a lot less brake input than when trying to negotiate traffic in D.

Heavy traffic makes DS mode obsolete. I'm usually using first gear to creep and even that's not slow enough =_=. People don't get that every half a second you delay taking off, the time is amplified throughout the lane cumulatively. I'm a close follower, so I'm constantly on/off. That's why manuals are less tiresome in gridlocks (57 / 210). Doesn't help that SoCal's heavily populated...

[Michael Schott]

I've driven a 328i MT for over 3 years and find the clutch to have a lot of feel and no more travel than any other MT car I've owned. You may initially find the shifter notchy but it's very precise. If you don't rush the lever it finds the right gear every time. I think with a little time you'd find the 328i MT to be one of the best on the market.

[Bcube]

Originally Posted by michaelthepsycho

Heavy traffic makes DS mode obsolete. I'm usually using first gear to creep and even that's not slow enough =_=. People don't get that every half a second you delay taking off, the time is amplified throughout the lane cumulatively. I'm a close follower, so I'm constantly on/off. That's why manuals are less tiresome in gridlocks (57 / 210). Doesn't help that SoCal's heavily populated...

I drive the 57/210 almost every day. Back off the rear bumper a bit, - though not so far as too let another car jump in front - and use the throttle and the M1 gear creep (2-3 mph) to keep you from riding the brake. As you mention, the stop and go creates the accordion effect, look instead at how the 18 wheelers keep a relatively steady pace and hardly ever use their brakes.

[galahad05]

Originally Posted by Bcube

I drive the 57/210 almost every day. Back off the rear bumper a bit, - though not so far as too let another car jump in front - and use the throttle and the M1 gear creep (2-3 mph) to keep you from riding the brake. As you mention, the stop and go creates the accordion effect, look instead at how the 18 wheelers keep a relatively steady pace and hardly ever use their brakes.

+1

I saw a fascinating article/video some time back describing queuing theory and all that crap, as related to traffic management. Essentially, the slow and steady guy -- just ONE guy -- can unkink miles and miles of heavy stop and go behind him.

[hmmcolor]

Originally Posted by galahad05

+1

I saw a fascinating article/video some time back describing queuing theory and all that crap, as related to traffic management. Essentially, the slow and steady guy -- just ONE guy -- can unkink miles and miles of heavy stop and go behind him.

Yeah, but unfortunately, if you try to do that, inevitably people will cut into the space you're leaving in front of you and force you to hit the brakes.

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

I've driven a 328i MT for over 3 years and find the clutch to have a lot of feel and no more travel than any other MT car I've owned. You may initially find the shifter notchy but it's very precise. If you don't rush the level it finds the right gear every time. I think with a little time you'd find the 328i MT to be one of the best on the market.

+1

[MazdaFan]

My 2006 Mazda3 in some ways had a better shifter than my 328i. The clutch was ok on both cars but it was kinda worn out on my mazda so hard to compare.

[mike-y]

I dunno, I drive in L.A. traffic everyday, and it's quite comfortable in DS, and I hardly use my brakes compared to a lot of other people I see. This is after driving a manual for the last 13 years I've lived in L.A. It's all about managing your following distance to minimize brake input.

Then again, my car has a ZF trans, which may have different programming, I dunno.

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by michaelthepsycho

Heavy traffic makes DS mode obsolete. I'm usually using first gear to creep and even that's not slow enough =_=. People don't get that every half a second you delay taking off, the time is amplified throughout the lane cumulatively. I'm a close follower, so I'm constantly on/off. That's why manuals are less tiresome in gridlocks (57 / 210). Doesn't help that SoCal's heavily populated...

You have come very close to describing my version of hell.

[MusclezMarinara]

clutch stop and like ********* said CDV delete

[ninesixtwo]

I've had a short throw clutch pedal arm that you have to push to the floor. Feels great but not really that fun to drive all the time. You sit closer which is not great when you have short legs like I do. It is heavier of course too.

Clutch stop? Why bother. You don't need to know how far to push the pedal between shifts to fully disengage the clutch.

I've gotten stuck between first and third a few times on the 328i manual. We'll see how the performance short shift lever works out, I'm guessing pretty well. Also, the plastic knob really makes the shifts feel more chintzy---switching to a leather knob (M sport; or non-perforated leather non-M sport, which I got) made it feel a ton better even without the new lever.

[ninesixtwo]

I remember the G35S being pretty good. Though like other Nissans I noticed vibration through the lever and some through clutch pedal during engagement...

No problems with the 328i engagement at all. The only funny thing I notice is maybe the sound of the flywheel when accelerating from near idle in 2nd.