[mortalic]

First, yes I did some searching, I found a few threads of people talking about similar issues. Most all were in reference to manual gearbox 235's.
I also let google do some work and found one article from, I think motortrend, describing the same behavior.

I've noticed that when I first get on the throttle about half the time the car just kinda pauses for half a second then starts moving. Of course you've tipped into the throttle a little more because it wasn't moving and now it really starts moving. I drive an X3 every other day and it's the silky NA 3.0 from the E9x platform and of course it's throttle response is instant.

Does anyone else experience this at all?

[Sypher]

I have the opposite experience as you. My parents owns a x3 (E83? it's an 07) and I found the throttle to be very laggy in that. On my 2, the throttle is much more responsive. In sport and sport+ (where I spend most of the time), it's pretty much instantaneous. There is a very slight delay in comfort, and a very noticeable one in eco pro (at least as I recall since I rarely use that mode).

[nike001]

We all do.

It's called you have a turbo.

[Grentz]

In comfort you will see more turbo lag as the car is not keeping the RPMs in the sweet spot for performance. Go into sport and it is much more instantaneous.

I dont know how you could not call sport instantaneous, the car really gos on a hair trigger.

[xantdieselx]

I use Comfort mode for the highway and Sport + for city driving. With that said, there have been instances in Comfort mode where the transmission seems to confused. You press the throttle, nothing happens, so you press it harder - there is a noticeable delay as if the computer is trying to figure out what to do - then bam here comes a rush of power. Often way more than you intended. It doesn't happen enough for me to be concerned about it.

My car is a 16' M235i with xDrive.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by mortalic

First, yes I did some searching, I found a few threads of people talking about similar issues. Most all were in reference to manual gearbox 235's.
I also let google do some work and found one article from, I think motortrend, describing the same behavior.

I've noticed that when I first get on the throttle about half the time the car just kinda pauses for half a second then starts moving. Of course you've tipped into the throttle a little more because it wasn't moving and now it really starts moving. I drive an X3 every other day and it's the silky NA 3.0 from the E9x platform and of course it's throttle response is instant.

Does anyone else experience this at all?

My M235i is the first turbo car I've ever owned. And yes, I immediately noticed a small amount of lag just off idle. I don't think this is unusual for a turbo car. That said, I think it is pretty easy to anticipate and deal with, once you get used to your turbo car. If you can't tolerate the little bit of lag, simply hold the brake pedal with your left foot, while holding a small amount of throttle with your right foot - probably just barely off idle will solve the lag, and off you go. Short of that, ignore it. No big deal. After all, this daily driving ain't no drag race.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by nike001

We all do.

It's called you have a turbo.

Ha I thought the same thing

[allthatisntnow]

Most of the hesitation will be down to the turbo. But also other things like being caught in the wrong gear. If you down shift manually before getting on it, it will help. I find kick down actually increases the lag a little and can be a bit ott with a multiple gear downshift. The only way to eliminate lag is to keep revs nearer 3k so the turbo is spooled. The N55 uses vanos and valvetronic instead of a throttle to try and increase responsiveness. Its a lot less laggy than other turbo motors because of this. i find it to be quite NA feeling most of the time tbh. The only numb spot is on occasion just off idle, but you just need to adapt your driving style to counteract this.

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Manual gearbox 235's?

Originally Posted by mortalic

First, yes I did some searching, I found a few threads of people talking about similar issues. Most all were in reference to manual gearbox 235's.
I also let google do some work and found one article from, I think motortrend, describing the same behavior.

I've noticed that when I first get on the throttle about half the time the car just kinda pauses for half a second then starts moving. Of course you've tipped into the throttle a little more because it wasn't moving and now it really starts moving. I drive an X3 every other day and it's the silky NA 3.0 from the E9x platform and of course it's throttle response is instant.

Does anyone else experience this at all?

[Grentz]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

My M235i is the first turbo car I've ever owned. And yes, I immediately noticed a small amount of lag just off idle. I don't think this is unusual for a turbo car. That said, I think it is pretty easy to anticipate and deal with, once you get used to your turbo car. If you can't tolerate the little bit of lag, simply hold the brake pedal with your left foot, while holding a small amount of throttle with your right foot - probably just barely off idle will solve the lag, and off you go. Short of that, ignore it. No big deal. After all, this daily driving ain't no drag race.

Anticipating is key in turbo cars. I came from an X5d that had a lot of lag on the initial press of the throttle, that said it would throw you back in your seat with all the torque as soon as the turbos kicked in.

Only way to drive it super smooth was to anticipate, which became natural after driving it for awhile.

[Tpeterson]

With my N20 engine I've found progressive,smooth throttle inputs work best. Mashing the gas even in Sport mode gives noticeable turbo lag.

[raleedy]

It ain't the turbo, folks. It is the transmission. There is no half-second or one-second turbo lag. That said, moving the AT lever left to "S" mode, if you are driving in comfort or Eco, will make this delayed downshift problem go away.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by raleedy

It ain't the turbo, folks. It is the transmission. There is no half-second or one-second turbo lag. That said, moving the AT lever left to "S" mode, if you are driving in comfort or Eco, will make this delayed downshift problem go away.

Read the 6th paragraph:

http://autoweek.com/article/car-revi...e-review-notes

Read the 9th paragraph:

http://www.autoguide.com/manufacture...ideo-3699.html

So yes, there is a bit of turbo lag, just off idle. No big deal, but it is there. And as I mentioned previously, easy to anticipate.

[kdog26372]

I had this issue with my old 2012 X3 with the same N55 engine. I could be in sport mode with shifter to the left and if I slowed down a bit going say 50 down to 30 and then tried to change lanes and go, there was almost a dangerous delay in acceleration. You would just be in the other lane and nothing for 1/2 second.

This for the most part has gone away with the 235i, but it's still there from time to time more so during rolling stop situations.

I had no issues with the N54 135i, so I don't know if it's the new 8 speed, the xdrive, or the N55 single turbo vs. the N54 twin turbo. My guess is it's the tranny or xdrive. Good news is the S3 and GLA45 amgs are loads worse, so at least we've got that going for us, whish is nice.

[mortalic]

Originally Posted by xantdieselx

I use Comfort mode for the highway and Sport + for city driving. With that said, there have been instances in Comfort mode where the transmission seems to confused. You press the throttle, nothing happens, so you press it harder - there is a noticeable delay as if the computer is trying to figure out what to do - then bam here comes a rush of power. Often way more than you intended. It doesn't happen enough for me to be concerned about it.

My car is a 16' M235i with xDrive.

This. This is what I mean. Better way of describing it than I did, thank you. Agreed, it's just annoying. It feels like a software issue waiting to be fixed.

[mortalic]

Originally Posted by raleedy

It ain't the turbo, folks. It is the transmission. There is no half-second or one-second turbo lag. That said, moving the AT lever left to "S" mode, if you are driving in comfort or Eco, will make this delayed downshift problem go away.

This does make sense.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

Read the 6th paragraph:

http://autoweek.com/article/car-revi...e-review-notes

Read the 9th paragraph:

http://www.autoguide.com/manufacture...ideo-3699.html

So yes, there is a bit of turbo lag, just off idle. No big deal, but it is there. And as I mentioned previously, easy to anticipate.

Probably so; but it is definitely not what the OP was describing.

[xantdieselx]

Originally Posted by mortalic

This. This is what I mean. Better way of describing it than I did, thank you. Agreed, it's just annoying. It feels like a software issue waiting to be fixed.

Glad I could help. My last F30 with the N26 had the same issue only it was worse. That car didn't have the sport auto trans and the shifting was much lazier.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by raleedy

Probably so; but it is definitely not what the OP was describing.

My solution: drive it in the Sport mode!

[nike001]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

My solution: drive it in the Sport mode!

Sport mode is fine with autos, but incredibly annoying with 6MTs IMO.

I usually drive around with the DSC/DTC button pushed once.

[vapore0n]

Originally Posted by nike001

Sport mode is fine with autos, but incredibly annoying with 6MTs IMO.

I usually drive around with the DSC/DTC button pushed once.

The problem as described in OP doesnt sound like turbo lag.
Turbo lag is more of a kick in the pants after the car has reached optimal RPMS. The problem is that the car is completely unresponsive. Happens to me all the time and has put me in tight spots. You cant predict this behavior, as it is not consistent.

Ive run with the DTC off (or on, idk, one push) lately and it has mostly solved the lack of responsiveness. Seems the car is trying to adjust to give you and your passengers a smooth ride by smoothing out inputs. Sometimes, when you are in an intersection and need to move out of the way, you dont want smooth inputs.

Ive run with DTC off during snow storms too and the car behaves more like I want it too.

[amw896]

Originally Posted by nike001

Sport mode is fine with autos, but incredibly annoying with 6MTs IMO.

I usually drive around with the DSC/DTC button pushed once.

how so? I'm in sport+ 99% of the time because there is like 0 lag