Is deleting the CDV worth it?

sorin1987 · 08-22-2018, 02:58 AM

I saw a lot of mixed opinions about the CDV (Clutch Delay Valve) delete. Some people say that it's not much of a difference, others that the car feels totally different to drive (better), but I don't understand what the difference should be. Is the clutch suppose to engage earlier?
I am thinking about doing this since this is my first car that has a CDV and it doesn't actually feel any different than the others. When I first got the car it felt slightly jerky when changing through the first gears until I got used to the clutch but after a couple of minutes I got used to it. But if I can make the car drive better with such an easy mod I will do it.

Jashan90 · 08-22-2018, 04:02 AM

I just did mine and from my experience it's worth it. Press the clutch before you do it just to get a feel for it and then go ahead with the removal. Clutch engagement is much better in first and second gear. If you launch your car you'll also know that it will definitely feel different as well. I used to own a e46 m3 and now it feels much like it.

tadaska · 08-22-2018, 05:13 AM

yes

neilvan · 08-22-2018, 07:09 AM

If you are really unsure if you should do it then go drive a car with a single mass clutch and no delay valve. I almost guarantee you'll go jack up the car and grab some tools right after.

sorin1987 · 08-22-2018, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilvan

If you are really unsure if you should do it then go drive a car with a single mass clutch and no delay valve. I almost guarantee you'll go jack up the car and grab some tools right after.

Unfortunately there is no easy way for me to find such a car

My oil change is coming up next month and since the car is going up in the air anyway I will take the CDV out since it is such an easy job to do.

blau iii · 08-22-2018, 10:12 AM

yes! first mod i did any wouldn't have it any other way.

i went from an e46 with the CDV gone to my e90 and was miserable at first..

El Cheapo Loco · 08-22-2018, 10:36 AM

Overrated. I've been driving MT for 30 years and honestly can't feel any difference.

ctuna · 08-22-2018, 10:40 AM

Yes it's less spongy.
Only manual cars for 50 years.

hassmaschine · 08-22-2018, 10:55 AM

I presume there's some difference but it doesn't bother me enough to want to crawl under the car for an afternoon.

Biginboca · 08-22-2018, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

I presume there's some difference but it doesn't bother me enough to want to crawl under the car for an afternoon.

Having done the delete I agree it’s not worth the trouble of jacking the car up just to do it... unless you are someone tracking or racing the car. Then it’s worthwhile even as a stand alone.

It’s definitly 100% worthwhile as a companion to other work for everyone though. If you are under the car already, like changing the oil or doing other work, then definitly invest the 5 mins into this free mod.

It makes a felt difference and all for the better.

chris82 · 08-22-2018, 12:02 PM

absolutely yes. Driving a car without this deleted sucks.

hassmaschine · 08-22-2018, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Having done the delete I agree it’s not worth the trouble of jacking the car up just to do it... unless you are someone tracking or racing the car. Then it’s worthwhile even as a stand alone.

It’s definitly 100% worthwhile as a companion to other work for everyone though. If you are under the car already, like changing the oil or doing other work, then definitly invest the 5 mins into this free mod.

It makes a felt difference and all for the better.

I don't crawl under the car really to change the oil though. It's not like I'm pulling off all those plastic panels. I just get it high enough on ramps to stuff a drain pan in there, open the drain plug, and that's as far as I go.

Maybe it would be different if I owned a lift...

ctuna · 08-22-2018, 12:26 PM

If it doesn't make a difference why do they not have these
on M3's and at one point they didn't put them in the coupes.
(E46)

CTinline-six · 08-22-2018, 12:58 PM

To me, having it makes the clutch bite point feel more vague. I mean it makes it smoother for newer drivers, but in my opinion removing it makes the shifting more precise.

Jashan90 · 08-22-2018, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

I presume there's some difference but it doesn't bother me enough to want to crawl under the car for an afternoon.

It literally takes less than 5 minutes

hassmaschine · 08-22-2018, 01:46 PM

It takes like half an hour just to get the car high enough that I can crawl under it. Then I have to remove all the annoying plastic covers, remove it, and bleed the clutch. sorry not happening in 5 minutes.

Jashan90 · 08-22-2018, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

It takes like half an hour just to get the car high enough that I can crawl under it. Then I have to remove all the annoying plastic covers, remove it, and bleed the clutch. sorry not happening in 5 minutes.

Lift = 5 min

hassmaschine · 08-22-2018, 02:43 PM

Well obviously, but I don't own a lift, so...

srey · 08-22-2018, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

It takes like half an hour just to get the car high enough that I can crawl under it. Then I have to remove all the annoying plastic covers, remove it, and bleed the clutch. sorry not happening in 5 minutes.

Why does it take you 30 minutes to jack up the car? No hydraulic jack? I can have the front of my car lifted and on jack stands high enough for me to access that part of the underside in about 5 minutes. Maybe a couple more if I'm putting it up on 4 jack stands.

BravoJohny33 · 08-22-2018, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srey

Why does it take you 30 minutes to jack up the car? No hydraulic jack? I can have the front of my car lifted and on jack stands high enough for me to access that part of the underside in about 5 minutes. Maybe a couple more if I'm putting it up on 4 jack stands.

None of my jacks have ever cleared to reach the jack point. Its a huge pain for me to jack up this car. I ruined 2 of my jack point where you are not supposed to jack up the car.

srey · 08-22-2018, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BravoJohny33

None of my jacks have ever cleared to reach the jack point. Its a huge pain for me to jack up this car. I ruined 2 of my jack point where you are not supposed to jack up the car.

That sucks. Yeah, I can see it taking a while if you have to use a scissor jack or something to get it all lifted up. Ramps are cheap and help get it high enough for a jack, though, so I would invest in some if my jack couldn't get to the jack point.

hassmaschine · 08-22-2018, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srey

Why does it take you 30 minutes to jack up the car? No hydraulic jack? I can have the front of my car lifted and on jack stands high enough for me to access that part of the underside in about 5 minutes. Maybe a couple more if I'm putting it up on 4 jack stands.

yeah, I don't believe you. I've spent a lot of time under various cars with jackstands. Also you can't get even a jack under my car without driving it up on ramps first.

I stick by it's probably a noticeable difference, but I don't care enough for it to be worth the effort. I prefer my mods to be done with a laptop and a cable, because I'm old and crawling around on the ground hurts.

08-22-2018, 02:58 AM	#1
sorin1987 Private First Class 38 Rep 109 Posts Drives: BMW 520i G31 MSport Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Is deleting the CDV worth it? I saw a lot of mixed opinions about the CDV (Clutch Delay Valve) delete. Some people say that it's not much of a difference, others that the car feels totally different to drive (better), but I don't understand what the difference should be. Is the clutch suppose to engage earlier? I am thinking about doing this since this is my first car that has a CDV and it doesn't actually feel any different than the others. When I first got the car it felt slightly jerky when changing through the first gears until I got used to the clutch but after a couple of minutes I got used to it. But if I can make the car drive better with such an easy mod I will do it.
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08-22-2018, 04:02 AM	#2
Jashan90 First Lieutenant 145 Rep 334 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	I just did mine and from my experience it's worth it. Press the clutch before you do it just to get a feel for it and then go ahead with the removal. Clutch engagement is much better in first and second gear. If you launch your car you'll also know that it will definitely feel different as well. I used to own a e46 m3 and now it feels much like it. __________________ JP
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08-22-2018, 05:13 AM	#3
tadaska Major 114 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 320D ES Join Date: May 2016 Location: Eastbourne iTrader: (0)	yes
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08-22-2018, 07:09 AM	#4
neilvan Major 858 Rep 1,363 Posts Drives: 09 E90 335i M-Sport 6MT RWD Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW E61 530xi [0.00] 1993 Mazda Miata [0.00] 2009 BMW E90 335i [0.00]	If you are really unsure if you should do it then go drive a car with a single mass clutch and no delay valve. I almost guarantee you'll go jack up the car and grab some tools right after.
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08-22-2018, 10:12 AM	#6
blau iii Lieutenant 128 Rep 451 Posts Drives: 2008 335i schwartz on scwartz Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (0)	yes! first mod i did any wouldn't have it any other way. i went from an e46 with the CDV gone to my e90 and was miserable at first..
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08-22-2018, 10:36 AM	#7
El Cheapo Loco douchebaggo 186 Rep 972 Posts Drives: stick Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (1)	Overrated. I've been driving MT for 30 years and honestly can't feel any difference.
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08-22-2018, 10:40 AM	#8
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,104 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	Yes it's less spongy. Only manual cars for 50 years.
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08-22-2018, 10:55 AM	#9
hassmaschine Major General 3973 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	I presume there's some difference but it doesn't bother me enough to want to crawl under the car for an afternoon.
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08-22-2018, 12:02 PM	#11
chris82 Brigadier General 827 Rep 3,856 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NY NY iTrader: (8) Garage List 2009 BMW 128i [9.80]	absolutely yes. Driving a car without this deleted sucks.
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08-22-2018, 12:26 PM	#13
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,104 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	If it doesn't make a difference why do they not have these on M3's and at one point they didn't put them in the coupes. (E46)
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08-22-2018, 12:58 PM	#14
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6848 Rep 3,000 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	To me, having it makes the clutch bite point feel more vague. I mean it makes it smoother for newer drivers, but in my opinion removing it makes the shifting more precise. __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
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08-22-2018, 01:46 PM	#16
hassmaschine Major General 3973 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	It takes like half an hour just to get the car high enough that I can crawl under it. Then I have to remove all the annoying plastic covers, remove it, and bleed the clutch. sorry not happening in 5 minutes.
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08-22-2018, 02:43 PM	#18
hassmaschine Major General 3973 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	Well obviously, but I don't own a lift, so...
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