kangaroo hop

scottie1979

Member
 Glasgow
I have been experiencing this problem since i got the car a few days ago. :oops:

It usually happens when going into 2nd gear from either 1st or 3rd. I select 2nd then come off the clutch and the car starts to kangeroo hop or judder under acceleration. Usually i just give it more gas and it pulls out of it.

Just wondered if anyone else has this happen to them?

I know it is probably my crap driving. Im used to coming of the clutch at a steady rate while applying the gas. But reading about the CDV perhaps i should just come straight off and let it do the work? New car requires new techniques....

Not after any driving tips just wondered if anyone else has had this? I would hate to do this with a mate in the car. Have my image to uphold ! 8)
 
scottie1979 said:
I have been experiencing this problem since i got the car a few days ago. :oops:

It usually happens when going into 2nd gear from either 1st or 3rd. I select 2nd then come off the clutch and the car starts to kangeroo hop or judder under acceleration. Usually i just give it more gas and it pulls out of it.

Just wondered if anyone else has this happen to them?

I know it is probably my crap driving. Im used to coming of the clutch at a steady rate while applying the gas. But reading about the CDV perhaps i should just come straight off and let it do the work? New car requires new techniques....

Not after any driving tips just wondered if anyone else has had this? I would hate to do this with a mate in the car. Have my image to uphold ! 8)

Is the engine cold and the kangaroo'ing stops when it warms up? Apparently the engine runs lean when cold to heat the catalyst up quicker and this causes a little hesitation and normal unleaded makes this a little worse.
 
I have this as well, more obvious when cold but can easily drive around that. It happens to me when pulling out of a junction in 1st, i think the traction is cutting in and out and amplifies the problem. I must be getting used to it now though as it doesn't happen as often. Replacing the CDV helps lots. :thumbsup:
 
Okay, I didn't have the opportunity to experience the car before the cdv was removed but I still get the 'kangaroo hop.' Not the humiliating bucking - I learned that lesson after the first time it happened, but a little jerking no matter what. It definitely improves as the car warms up. Also, my down shifts are really abrupt - mostly from 3rd to 2nd. I'm trying to learn the heel/toe to remedy this but I still have a long way to go.
 
Keep your RPM up. It's a very touchy clutch, and the car's gear are spaced in a way that if your up-shift point is above 4,000 RPM your shifts smooths out.

On down-shifts make sure you blip the throttle accordingly. If your engine's RPM matches wheel speed you will feel no jerkiness.
 
Good to know it isnt just me.

It can happen when the engine is hot or cold. I haven’t noticed any difference. Nothing to do with the traction control the light never flashes during.

Obviously the warranty is voided if i get the CDV replaced? Have many of you done this? Aint the best under the bonnet so perhaps i will just try and keep the revs higher.

Thanks for all your help.
 
You haven't got the sport mode on have you? Sport mode makes the car very prone to kangarooing around town.
Removing the CDV helps greatly too, you don't realise how wrong the clutch feels as standard untill you drive the car without a CDV.
 
Don't worry - it's a matter of practice . . or should I say getting used to the clutch/throttle settings. I drive with sports on most of the time and manage to drive quite smoothly - The first times were a kangaroo nightmare though.
 
Removing the CDV does help, but is not the total solution. I am now more concious that I need to lift clutch to full travel on the 1-2up shift, and as said keep the right foot "in" on revs. Rightly I suppose, the setup seems to favour an agressive approach. And yes, dont even think about Sport mode around town. I am still smarting from the humiliation of kangarooing off a roundabout, closley followed by four hysterical lads in a small Pug :oops:
 
The only solution once your hooping is to power out of it, but its not a great look!

I guess its a bit like a Tank wobble when on a bike, power out or hope for the best.

Cheers

PaulN
 
It's possible to compensate for CDV once you learn how to drive it more. After a year I don't even notice the issues.
 
Gauss said:
It's possible to compensate for CDV once you learn how to drive it more. After a year I don't even notice the issues.

I'll second that. You don't need the CDV removed to ensure smooth shifting, you just need to "get into the groove" and learn the feel of the transmission to get the best out of it.

Whilst i respect the decision of those that have, I personally wouldn't remove the CDV. Its there to reduce shock on the drivetrain and i'd rather trust this risk reducing design of the extremely capable BMW engineers.
 
It only happens to me when there is a good looking gal checkin' out my car. :| I'm sure it looks like a bucking bronco (or a kangaroo) as I make my way through the intersection.

I blip on all downshifts, even in my pickup truck ... so I rarely see it then. But from 1st to 2nd it is an issue, especially in sport mode.
 
No hopping on mine yet which is more than could be said for my M3 (which loved to hop). The car seems to react well to an active/aggressive driving style as others have mentioned (I find myself almost 'on top' of the pedals and gearbox at times if that makes any sense). Also, let the car sit for a bit when you start it. I've found this helps smooth things out as you shift from 1st to 2nd.
 
It sounds like this is nothing to do with the clutch or driver but more like the increasingly common hesitatant acceleration in 2nd and 3rd!
 
I have a 2007 Z4MC with 112K on it. I've had it for over 2 years. I've never had any manual transmission car start jerking like this on taking off or when going from 1st to 2nd gear. It doesn't seem to matter if the car is warmed up or not and it doesn't do it all the time, just when you need to quickly get going. My wife mainly drives it, so that bucking is a real issue when cars are behind you at a light and expecting this car to get after it when they are driving a stomp and steer automatic car behind you and right on your tail. This bucking in 1st or 2nd on take off is concerning as the car behind you might rearend you during the shift as the reaction is to slow down during the bucking.

I didn't realize it but it already had the CDV installed and I completely removed the CDV altogether, but this is still an intermittent problem. I could replace the clutch/pressure plate and flywheel, but I'm not so sure this will make much of a difference.

I have noticed that if dump the clutch pretty quickly, I don't think it occurs. I have lots of high HP cars and I do track some of them. I have never seen this type of issue. This problem sounds common for this car. Is there any mechanical way to resolve this? Could there be any oil on the clutch disc? Disc doesn't seem to slip though.

Thanks!
 
Talk about bringing a thread back from the dead! :rofl:

I think i only got that bunny hop a few times when i first got the car, removed the CDV which may have improved things. The way i start off with the Z4M is just to gently release the clutch without any throttle, the car starts moving and doesnt stall, then i give it some throttle. If i need to make a quicker getaway i balance clutch/throttle as you would. I guess you need to get used to it...
 
I also find 1st to 2nd unruly, more so if I attempt to shift quickly.

Not sure if mine has the cdv delete or whether it would help.

I’ve had a 3,0 and a 2.5. The 3.0 litre shifted similarly but the 2.5 was smooth.

Would a clutch stop be of benefit ?
 
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