[Shovelman]

New 230i my first BMW and my first turbo. There's about a second of lag when going from closed throttle to solid torque at around 2000 rpm. Sport mode is only a little better. Disappointing.

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

New 230i my first BMW and my first turbo. There's about a second of lag when going from closed throttle to solid torque at around 2000 rpm. Sport mode is only a little better. Disappointing.

Engine warmed up presumably? Sounds right to me. Did you get the same feeling when you took one for a test drive?

[p912guy]

Didn't you test drive before you purchased / leased? I'd think something like that would have been quite evident in a pre-purchase test drive. I can't speak to the 230i but the turbo lag in my M235i is much less noticeable than it was in my 2011 MINI Cooper S. The power is much more linear too.

[crabu2]

Last week I had googled BMW turbo lag and found something on another forum about removing a filter of some type. I think it was on a 3 series forum and since I didn't understand what they were talking about, I just left it. From what I gather, it's something to do with the intake that allows for better air flow.

BTW, I test drove it and the turbo lag is real on the 230... I just figured I'd get use to it, so I ordered...

[Rayscott]

Originally Posted by crabu2

Last week I had googled BMW turbo lag and found something on another forum about removing a filter of some type. I think it was on a 3 series forum and since I didn't understand what they were talking about, I just left it. From what I gather, it's something to do with the intake that allows for better air flow.

BTW, I test drove it and the turbo lag is real on the 230... I just figured I'd get use to it, so I ordered...

If you want better air flow get a CAI. I just ordered one from Turner.

[BEM-S4]

Or buck up for a Stage 1 tune

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by Rayscott

If you want better air flow get a CAI. I just ordered one from Turner.

Please keep us updated on this.. I'd love to see if it makes any difference to the turbo lag.

I did do a google search for a CAI on the 230, but couldn't find one. I'm guessing we won't see much in after market parts till next year.

[Beartato]

Turbo lag, oh no the sky is falling.

I'm being facetious, but drive an older turbocharged car, one without a twin scroll turbo and non-DI and you'll see why it's hard to take these complaints serious.

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by Beartato

Turbo lag, oh no the sky is falling.

I'm being facetious, but drive an older turbocharged car, one without a twin scroll turbo and non-DI and you'll see why it's hard to take these complaints serious.

Bwahahahahahaha! I know what you mean... Still that lag is real. I had a '04 Ram 2500 with a Cummins. Not a hint of lag. I then bought a '14 Ram 3500 with the Cummins, which on paper put out way more power. I ordered it never having test driving one. When I got it, I was like WTH ... where did this dead pedal come from... It's like turbo lag, but with terrible tip in. I'm gotten use to it..

Come a month or so ago, I go and test drove the 230.. tip in was good and didn't really notice any lag, but I just drove it around a few blocks during rush hour. After that, I went and test drove a Mustang GT.. I was like WOW, this is quick with a bunch of power.. Still I couldn't get past it only being rated at 23 hwy mpg.. Went back for another test drive of the 230.. That's when I found the lag.. I went to pass and there was this aprox 1 sec lag before it took off.. I was a bit shocked...

I thought and thought about it... then came to the conclusion I'll get use to it... The CA had me go for another test drive but put it in Sport + mode. It was much better. But... I see it eating a lot of fuel because it basically kept the RPMs around 3000 when I let off the pedal.

Win some, lose some... Right now, with what's available, my order seems to be the best fit for my current needs..

[Mr Carrots]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Or buck up for a Stage 1 tune

Yup, either tune it or trade it in for a 235/240 if the lag bothers you.

I never drove a 230/228 as I was intending on buying a cpo m4 before I settled for the 240, but every other turbo 4 I tried felt a bit laggy, even the latest cla 45

[Benandluna]

hmm

I hear so much good stuff about the 228/230i.

I would imagine that a new intake wouldnt do much for the the 230i til you tuned the car. I would follow BEM's advice and get a tune if you are looking to rid some lag before grabbing a new intake.

Is the car fully broken in?

And yeah i am curious if u felt this in the test drive. When i test drove my m235i the car i purchased felt exactly the same. lol, cause it was. but anyways.

Are you sure u just are not over the wow factor.

After i tuned/intaked my car I was like OMG. then after 8 months i was like ok. cool. Then got the sport cat and was like yes!!!

and now im like maybe i need stage 4 haha.

[SteveAustin]

I find there to be zero to no trace of turbo lag....so surprised to hear this. It's one of the things that sold me on the BMW.

[caycep]

I think it is an ECU thing? Try it on sport+ or sport+ w/ DSC off?

[aerobod]

The turbo will need to be fully spooled to avoid lag, I would expect about 3,000 RPM for the 230i, based on driving other 2 litre turbo engines in a similar state of tune.

[BarryJI]

Originally Posted by aerobod

The turbo will need to be fully spooled to avoid lag, I would expect about 3,000 RPM for the 230i, based on driving other 2 litre turbo engines in a similar state of tune.

The turbo will spool up at about 2k RPM under throttle load with a Dinan S1 tune. That lower than stock value is very helpful to me in street driving, where I've learned to "ride" the low-end boost in my 228i. Bear in mind that some cheaper tunes, like Dinan's Sport product, do not tweak boost output.

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by aerobod

The turbo will need to be fully spooled to avoid lag, I would expect about 3,000 RPM for the 230i, based on driving other 2 litre turbo engines in a similar state of tune.

You're probably right. I say this because in Sport+ mode, the car was trying to hold just around 3000, when I let off the gas.

What doesn't make sense is that it can hit pretty much max torque below 2000 rpms.

[BEM-S4]

So I don't have the 228/230 I have an M235. But I do have the 228 engine in the sport wagon I bought my father. We went Dinan Stage 1 tune on that. The $299 or whatever sport tune wasn't available at the time, and even if it were saving what $1K or so wasn't worth f*cking with the warranty on a $60K car. Anyway...

With the tune it is NIGHT AND DAY different. The other thing, the 228 is really fun because you have to work at it a little bit. What I mean is it's not a point and shoot instant on weapon like the 235. Standing start not much you can do (aside from launch control but that's a toy at best), but if you're in manual mode and sport and are passing someone you can drop it a gear and step on it. It can actually be more engaging to drive than the 235 since getting it to perform like it's capable of doing takes more work from you.

Compared to my Stage 2 235 there's no way the car would stack up in a race, BUT I am constantly feathering my throttle and rarely using what I have available to me. There's something to be said for driving a slower car fast than a fast car slow, if that makes any sense.

[Tpeterson]

I think it's a DSC problem(?) I had a problem with my engine completely bogging down when attempting drag race-like standing starts. When using Sport+ there was hardly any intervention by the DSC and with DSC off,it was smoke the tires time.
And,of course, no engine likes WOT at low RPM's no matter how much torque it has. It's going to seem laggy.

[Rayscott]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

So I don't have the 228/230 I have an M235. But I do have the 228 engine in the sport wagon I bought my father. We went Dinan Stage 1 tune on that. The $299 or whatever sport tune wasn't available at the time, and even if it were saving what $1K or so wasn't worth f*cking with the warranty on a $60K car. Anyway...

With the tune it is NIGHT AND DAY different. The other thing, the 228 is really fun because you have to work at it a little bit. What I mean is it's not a point and shoot instant on weapon like the 235. Standing start not much you can do (aside from launch control but that's a toy at best), but if you're in manual mode and sport and are passing someone you can drop it a gear and step on it. It can actually be more engaging to drive than the 235 since getting it to perform like it's capable of doing takes more work from you.

Compared to my Stage 2 235 there's no way the car would stack up in a race, BUT I am constantly feathering my throttle and rarely using what I have available to me. There's something to be said for driving a slower car fast than a fast car slow, if that makes any sense.

Yes it does. I was thinking the sport tune for my 228ix but now you convinced me to go with the Stage 1 Dinan Tune. Is this the one on their website for around $1500. How hard is it on the smaller engine and it is covered under warranty right.

[cralmandi]

I have a 235 and i can't believe how it feels like a naturally aspirated engine. Almost zero lag. I had a STi before, now that thing had some turbo lag. I honestly kinda miss the spool up sound of the turbo and the sound of the blow off valve. It wasn't that fast but it was certainly dramatic.

[Y0tsuya]

Originally Posted by cralmandi

I have a 235 and i can't believe how it feels like a naturally aspirated engine. Almost zero lag. I had a STi before, now that thing had some turbo lag. I honestly kinda miss the spool up sound of the turbo and the sound of the blow off valve. It wasn't that fast but it was certainly dramatic.

Coming from other turbo'd cars the F22's N55 may feel like a N/A engine. But I came from a E46 and believe me the lag is there. Some of that may be due to ECU delay on throttle input, which got better after I installed a pedalbox.

And after a while I got used to it but in the beginning it bugged the hell out of me.

[nike001]

Originally Posted by Beartato

Turbo lag, oh no the sky is falling.

I'm being facetious, but drive an older turbocharged car, one without a twin scroll turbo and non-DI and you'll see why it's hard to take these complaints serious.

+1

Suck it up, OP.

Pro-tip: don't go from 0% to 100% throttle. Ease on, boost comes on faster.