Z4 3.0si manual – smoother shifting tips

[martinsnajdr]

Hello,

I have recently bought E86 Coupe. I have bit of a trouble to shift up / down smoothly, because compared to my 2017 Ford Focus, the revs drop so quickly. I need some tips, because I'm bit worried about my transmission / clutch.

1. The most problematic for me is shifting 1st to 2nd gear. To shift smoothly, I need to be as quick as 1 second or really really slowly let the revs come up at the clutch bite point. I have read about upshift rev matching, but I'm not sure about that.
2. Sometimes when I'm just driving at 1000-1500RPMs at 1st gear and press the clutch, the car jerks and I hear clunking noise. Am I pushing the clutch too slowly? Do I need to be quicker? Or maybe improve timing between releasing the accelerator vs. pressing the clutch, because engine breaks really hard at lower gears?
3. When I'm slowing down in 2nd gear to like 12km/h and trying to shift to 1st gear while slowing down more, I feel this weird sensation of "something rotating inside" the transmission and not allowing me to shift to first. First I thought that I'm too harsh and pushing the shifter past the first to reverse, but I have really focused on that and no – I'm really trying to shift to 1st gear. Do I need to be fully stop to shift to 1st or?

I know my questions sound stupid. I'm used to drive manual car, I drive very smoothly in my Focus, but it's 10 years younger car.

I have read some posts about removing CDV, installing clutch stop etc. But I would like to learn how to drive the car as smooth as possible before making some modifications.

Any tips would be appreciated. I am gonna get transmission fluid / differential fluid changed this month. But maybe it's gonna need more. I'm trying to find what's my lack of skill and what's the car issue.

Thanks!

 

[paddy wright]

There is a clutch delay valve between 1st and 2nd. It’s much easier once you’re used to it. Some people remove them for smoother gear changes. Simple enough job if that’s the way you chose to go

 

[enuff_zed]

There is a clutch delay valve between 1st and 2nd. It’s much easier once you’re used to it. Some people remove them for smoother gear changes. Simple enough job if that’s the way you chose to go

To be completely accurate the delay valve works on every change as it simply restricts the speed of the fluid leaving the clutch slave cylinder to prevent ‘dumping the clutch’ and shock loading the drive train.
So many people swear by removing the valve to give more direct feel but I guess it must be down to personal taste as I tried it on one zed and couldn’t tell any difference? Possibly down to my upbringing being on 70s RWD Fords?
But removing it had no detrimental effect so may as well give it a go?