[wj4]

Hey fellas, I'm very close to getting my 335i. I think it should be in 2 weeks max before it's actually in my garage

At the dealership today, I asked to test drive a manual BMW. They only had one manual 3series. It was a 328i coupe. I drove it to get a feel for BMW manual (took a while to get used to getting into reverse, lol, have to angle into it, but pretty cool!)

I noticed that as I went on the test drive, the shift knob was vibrating. I'm not sure if it vibrates the whole time of the test drive. But I certainly notices it when I was in neutral at red light stops. Is that normal?

[Hawkshaw]

I do find it vibrates more than my last two cars, but they were both Acuras so it could just be the manufacturer.

A tip I learned about as a member of e90post - don't keep it in neutral while stopped if possible, harder on the tranmission. The clutch pedal mechanism is much cheaper to replace than a transmission.

Enjoy your ride when it comes!

[txusa03]

It should have very slight vibration. However, if you are getting the manual, may i suggest that you do not use the shift knob as a hand rest. Dont touch it unless you have to shift, otherwise stay clear of it. I heard that if you rest on it, overtime it will cause additional wear and tear on the gear.

[2007/335i/coupe]

Just about every manual car I've had has a slight vibration, nothing to be concerned about.

Originally Posted by Hawkshaw

A tip I learned about as a member of e90post - don't keep it in neutral while stopped if possible, harder on the tranmission. The clutch pedal mechanism is much cheaper to replace than a transmission.

This is the first time I've ever heard of this. Why is it harder on the transmission? I have a 94 manual accord with over 210K miles and nothing is wrong with my transmission and I regularily leave it in neutral while at a stop light.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by 2007/335i/coupe

This is the first time I've ever heard of this. Why is it harder on the transmission? I have a 94 manual accord with over 210K miles and nothing is wrong with my transmission and I regularily leave it in neutral while at a stop light.

Yes, this first time I heard of this...I alsway put my gear in neutral at red light. Why is that bad?

[wj4]

don't keep it in neutral while stopped if possible, harder on the tranmission. The clutch pedal mechanism is much cheaper to replace than a transmission.

Really? From what I've been told and learned, is that it's ideal to not push the clutch pedal in unless you are shifting. Is it different for the e90?

I've driven plenty of high hosepower cars, (rx7's, turbo'd g35's, supra's, etc.) but I never get the vibration at the shift knob. Is it a BMW thing?

This is not my first manual, and it is the first vibration that I notice. It is a slight vibration, but still enough for me to noticed. This is also will be my first european car. I kind of grew out of the JDM scene so I'm moving on up

Even for the 328i, I was surpised of the power. It was a lot more than I thought it'd be. I drove an auto 335i and a stick 328i and kind of have to peice together the experience for a manual 335i, lol.

I do like the softness of the clutch though, lol. After 5 mins of driving, almost made me stalled when I went home in my Evo.

[rmorin49]

I always thought it was best to put the tranny in neutral and let the clutch out when sitting at a light.

[Hawkshaw]

I know I read it somewhere on here recently. I did a search but can't find the thread...anyone else remember what thread I'm talking about??

At the very least, I believe it's recommended to keep the car in gear in the unlikely event that you need to quickly move off to avoid an accident (a rear end I'm guessing).

[2007/335i/coupe]

Originally Posted by Hawkshaw

At the very least, I believe it's recommended to keep the car in gear in the unlikely event that you need to quickly move off to avoid an accident (a rear end I'm guessing).

Yes, I also heard it is recommended and even when riding motorcycles it is recommended to leave it on gear because of the situation you pointed out. However, I find that most drivers and riders tend to leave it in neutral and I suspect it doesn't affect the transmission in a negative way. Even if it did, it's probably so minute that you should not be concerned.

[wj4]

The only time I leave my car in gear is during steep incline, I just balance the clutch with the gas so the car stays in place. I heard even that is bad since it creates unnecessary stress on the car.
Anyone else getting a slight vibration with the shift knob? You can visually see it vibrating when you look at it.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by wj4

I noticed that as I went on the test drive, the shift knob was vibrating.

Was the car running?

Normal.

[Chesmu]

the vibration is normal. There was a thread on this a LONG time ago...I looked but can;t find it.

[wj4]

Originally Posted by KevinC

Was the car running?

Normal.

Yes, I noticed it from the moment I started the car. Ok, good to know it's normal

[2007/335i/coupe]

Originally Posted by wj4

The only time I leave my car in gear is during steep incline, I just balance the clutch with the gas so the car stays in place. I heard even that is bad since it creates unnecessary stress on the car.

Not the best thing to do, a better way is to leave it in neutral and pull the e-brake while you are waiting. When it's time to go, clutch in and put it in gear; begin to ease off the clutch and give it a little gas while releasing the e-brake. This is what us folks who deal with the dreaded San Francisco hills must learn and master in order to prevent hitting cars behind us

[evoi19]

Originally Posted by 2007/335i/coupe

Not the best thing to do, a better way is to leave it in neutral and pull the e-brake while you are waiting. When it's time to go, clutch in and put it in gear; begin to ease off the clutch and give it a little gas while releasing the e-brake. This is what us folks who deal with the dreaded San Francisco hills must learn and master in order to prevent hitting cars behind us

HAHA yeap! SF breeds some good manual drivers! Well with the new e90's you don't have to go through the trouble as much since there's a hill assist, right?

[Chesmu]

balancing the clutch and gas is a great way to waste the clutch.

[herbz]

never had a problem with going uphill. i can usually just keep my foot on the brake, and as the light turns green quickly go into first gear before my car has the chance to roll back enough to hit the guy in front of me.

[2007/335i/coupe]

Originally Posted by herbz

never had a problem with going uphill. i can usually just keep my foot on the brake, and as the light turns green quickly go into first gear before my car has the chance to roll back enough to hit the guy in front of me.

It's possible, but hills like these with cars and people on your ass, it's not worth the risk. We have hills that are at least 45 degrees with some exceeding that.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by 2007/335i/coupe

It's possible, but hills like these with cars and people on your ass, it's not worth the risk. We have hills that are at least 45 degrees with some exceeding that.

I can vouche those hills are real. Heck, I even have trouble climbing them. Also fun is trying to walk down those hills. No one knows what hills are like until you visit san francisco

[BK]

FWIW, I've driven MT cars all my life and always put it in neutral when stopped at a light. I put it in 1st once it looks like I'll need to get going. So far, never had a problem with a transmission.

Also, wj4 - riding the clutch on a hill is definitely the way to burn through it. If I lived in SF, I would rely on the BMW hill assist or start-off assist, or whatever it's called. With my older cars, I got good at using the e-brake when starting on steep hills.

[wj4]

Originally Posted by Chesmu

balancing the clutch and gas is a great way to waste the clutch.

I know the clutch wasn't going to hold on forever, specially with the power I was making:P

I never got around to doing this other method the user described. I will try with the E90 though, see how that works out.

What is this hill assist? LOL. This is the first I've heard of it. I live in SoCal, nothing like the bay area. I just use the balancing pedals upon getting off freeways where the traffic is backed up sometimes.

[BK]

Originally Posted by wj4

What is this hill assist? LOL. This is the first I've heard of it.

I think it's called start-off assist, because "hill assist" might be confused with the downhill descent assist thingy that xi models can do to go down steep hills without slipping.

Whatever it's called, it works. When you come to a complete stop on a hill, try this -- push in the clutch and put it in 1st gear. Release the brake but keep holding the clutch. You don't roll back. The car gives you around 2 seconds to engage the gear and get moving. Some here don't like it and prefer to do the e-brake dance or just be fast in releasing the clutch. But I like it.