Is something wrong with my 135?

[sonicgrounds]

OK. I'm coming from an E39 M5 (year 2000). Although a heavy car, the V8 of my old M5 was glorious and the power is always instantaneous. I heard a lot of people say that the first gear in 135 is a real monster, like it’s waiting to take off, etc. But my car is just not like that. I only feel the turbo kick in around 2500rpm and I’m wondering if something is wrong with my car. Don’t get me wrong, the power is pretty good from then on. But I just don’t see the “waiting to Jump” kind of thing in the first gear. One explanation is that I’m used to the v8 of the M5 and I’m being too literal in my reading of 135 reviews. The other real possibility is that I bought my car with 300 miles on it from a dealership where I believe all sorts of people test drove it (or ripped it) without breaking it in slowly . Of course I got almost two grand off because of it, but I’m wondering if something could be wrong with it. I definitely feel the speed once pass 2500rpm and I think it’s as fast as the M5 from 0-60, but my question is about the first couple of thousand rpm? Any thoughts?

[plien69]

Maybe it's because you're really driving a 128i? :wink:

It's all relative, of course. There's less lag in the N54 than a lot of other turbo drivetrains, but I think there's still a little lag myself. It still isn't going to have the instantaneous throttle response of a naturally aspirated M car.

You may also be a victim of the 29.2 Progman version which purportedly changes the wastegate duty cycle.

[imported_Katera]

There's nothing wrong with your car. It is a 6 not an 8. It grabs just about everything out of the 6 it can, but the 8 should always have a little more low end grunt. The other thing to remember is throttle mapping. There is a plug in throttle remap that I've seen sold which is suppose to give you that instantaneous power feeling by elimining any throttle lag. It's like $300 bucks though.



Edit: Wait a minute, do you drive a 135i or 128i?

[Jumpman]

(edit) Is it a joke?

"Drives: 128i"

[PrimoM3]

I have this too... more predominant on warm days. I just figured it was due to having a March build with the new ECU. I've read that others state the wastegate is open until moderate/heavy throttle is applied so there is a slight delay in power.

Anyone care to clarify or add anything to this assumption..?

[sonicgrounds]

Thanks for the feedback. How do I remedy this->

"You may also be a victim of the 29.2 Progman version which purportedly changes the wastegate duty cycle."

[sonicgrounds]

What can be done to get the ECU upgraded? Just take it to the dealer?

[sonicgrounds]

I was wondering about the 128 comment and realized I didn't update my profile... yea I had a 128 for three months... just picked up the 135 last Sat... loads happier... I can finally sleep through the night...

[mistermojorizin]

Originally Posted by sonicgrounds

What can be done to get the ECU upgraded? Just take it to the dealer?

the question would be how to get it downgraded and you cant.

but, i've got a pre march car with the old ecu and old software and i still feel hesitation. not so much in lower gears, but in 4th and up, it just takes a split second for the car to respond from say 2,000 rpm. from 3,000 rpm there's still a lag but its a lot less pronounced.

fwiw, i've seen posts on other forums as far back as 2006 regarding 335's having the same issue at 2,000 rpm in 4th. Also, i previously drove a 335 and a 650 back to back, and on the 650 when it would downshift it would jerk you back i your seat, while in the 335 the power would come on smoothly after a downshift.

i think this is how bmw designed the car - the throttle response is slow and there's some, no matter how slight, turbo lag.

i'm looking into getting the aforementioned sprintbooster (the throttle remapping mod).

[avus]

the throttle lag is common on all 135s
it is just that some drivers notice it more than others (i am assuming those that notice it are those that have come from larger displacement vehicles)

i just got my 135 back from the dealer to check if there was anything wrong. there wasn't
i even had an opportunity to test drive a newer 135 (mine is a pre 03/08 version), and the throttle lag is still there

i will be spending the $300 for the accelerator mod -- the lag is too evident in city driving against cabbies

[sectos]

Originally Posted by avus

i will be spending the $300 for the accelerator mod -- the lag is too evident in city driving against cabbies

what does it do?

[xSegFaultx]

I am having the exact same experience as you. Perhaps it is because I am coming from a high torque Jeep Wrangler geared low. It used to put me right in to the back of the seat hard... right up to about 15 mph and not at all past that. :thumbup:

I also bought my 135i from the dealer with a few miles on it. Mine had 76, but I have no worries that those miles were any harder than the 350 or so I have put on it since I bought it. I'm hard on vehicles from the start. I subscribe to the break it in like you will drive it philosophy, mostly because I don't have the patience to wait to light it up. :wink:

[mielefan]

Quick question: is this $300 throttle mod available today? Dealer? Description or part available?

[Robert]

The power don't really kick in until 2000rpm and I had 4 miles on my car when I took delivery. My butt dyno says the car goes postal around 3krpm then keeps pulling till redline. I am not sure if this is turbo lag or characteristic of the gearing with the engine.

[Spook]

It is possible there is some perspective difference here. I'm coming from a turbo 4 that kicks in around 2700. The 135 feels like it is delivering from like 1400 up. Of course, maybe the ED folks get special programming (smiles).

[blklacker]

This problem must be inherently with manual 135i. I have steptronic, using DS mode or paddles I have never experienced this problem. Instead my car lunges even when I don't want it to and it seems to always have ready to go feel just like a N/A. march 03/08 build 2,4500 miles haven't notice any lag. I'm starting to see a pattern with manuals owners It seems thats were the complaints are stemming from.

* Most likely the reason why step 135i are average getting faster 1/4 times and 0-60 trap times

[mistermojorizin]

Originally Posted by blklacker

This problem must be inherently with manual 135i. I have steptronic, using DS mode or paddles I have never experienced this problem. Instead my car lunges even when I don't want it to and it seems to always have ready to go feel just like a N/A. march 03/08 build 2,4500 miles haven't notice any lag. I'm starting to see a pattern with manuals owners It seems thats were the complaints are stemming from.

* Most likely the reason why step 135i are getting faster 1/4 times and 0-60 trap times

you were onto something and then you started mixing concepts. I will address your last point first:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...take_road_test
6 speed manual gets 0-60 in 4.7 and 13.3 @106 qm. show me a quicker automatic please. the advantage of the auto is the shorter gear ratios and ability to hold boost between shifts.

As to your first point - I think you're right. the manual is set up to have the same throttle response as D mode. I've driven an automatic in DS mode and it definitely had no lag.

having said that, i did not enjoy driving the auto in D or DS or manual mode. it was either overly jerky or sedate and always boring.

i think that adding the sprintbooster to a car with manual, may prove to be the best option for this car.

[Brandon26pdx]

Comparing an N/A 5.0 liter 400 hp V8 with with what might have still had a mechanical throttle cable (not 100% sure on that one...) to a twin turbo 3.0 I6 with DBW throttle is going to feel a little different. The 135i is going to feel a little "wooshy" powerwise nomatter how lag free they say the turbo system is, compared to the instantaneous "WHAM!" of the big V8. It's just a different kind of feeling of "fast"

[blklacker]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

Comparing an N/A 5.0 liter 400 hp V8 with with what might have still had a mechanical throttle cable (not 100% sure on that one...) to a twin turbo 3.0 I6 with DBW throttle is going to feel a little different. The 135i is going to feel a little "wooshy" powerwise nomatter how lag free they say the turbo system is, compared to the instantaneous "WHAM!" of the big V8. It's just a different kind of feeling of "fast"

I agree but when the wham of the 135 using "step" (I cannot comment on manual because I don't own one) hits its power band starting @ 1400rpm its really hard for me to feel the differents when I compare it to my friends mustang v8 GT, I think the 135i is probably the best example of a turbo car that feels like a N/A car.

Side note:My 135i really out pulls his GT in ever notion of performance. Maybe its just my upgrades. I will shut up now sorry

[sonicgrounds]

Thanks for all of your input btw. It really made me feel a whole lot better about the "used" car I bought. I think the problem is not so much a problem but the difference in the N/A v8 vs the TT IL6. But I am interested in the "$300" upgrade everyone is talking about though. Anyone has the details of where/how to get it?

[Qube]

It's because you're coming from a 400hp beast. I'm searching for an Alpine White one to replace my 540 and can immediately feel the e39 M5 overpower the 135. The 135 is quick and nimble, but when you rip the M5, it feels like it will steamroll over everyone else.

[ihatepostmodernism]

the 135 needs a sport mode button. Does anyone have an idea how to do this? like a sprintbooster on demand.