[TB///M3]

I used to own a 135i and had to let it go for personal reasons. I really really missed it, now this M235 really got me excited. I'm considering getting it.

What did annoy me on the 135 is the 1st gear into 2nd gear.
It feels like it doesn't want to go in and I have to kinda force it.

I'm wondering if anyone that previously had experience with the 135 that got the M235 share their thoughts about it.

[IEDEI]

FWIW there is a difference between the n54 and n55 (LCI) manual gearboxes in the 135. I loooove the 6 speed in my car and the 1M and LCI 135is have the same gearbox. The pre-LCI (n54) 135s I have driven were clunkier and not as smooth. I'm guessing the M235 is using the same/similar gearbox to the latter 135s and 1M. the ratios look identical in the spec sheet.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

FWIW there is a difference between the n54 and n55 (LCI) manual gearboxes in the 135. I loooove the 6 speed in my car and the 1M and LCI 135is have the same gearbox. The pre-LCI (n54) 135s I have driven were clunkier and not as smooth. I'm guessing the M235 is using the same/similar gearbox to the latter 135s and 1M. the ratios look identical in the spec sheet.

Interesting, I hadn't realized that the N55 cars got the newer 45BZ transmission. You're correct that the 1M and 135i (and is) shared the exact same tranmission, listed as the GS6 45BZ THD4. The N54 car had the GS6 53BZ TJGK and the M235i is listed as using the GS6 45BZ THY8.

[TB///M3]

I even changed it to the Bmw short shifter and that didn't really help.
I would go test drive one but not man dealers out there have the car and if they do, no manuals. I hoped to have someone here drove both 135's and the new M235 can provide input.

[bradleyland]

I absolutely loved the 6MT in my N55 equipped 135i. If the manual in the M235i is the same, I'm sure you'll like it.

[TB///M3]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

I absolutely loved the 6MT in my N55 equipped 135i. If the manual in the M235i is the same, I'm sure you'll like it.

Do you notice or feel the 1st into 2nd gear i'm talking about?
How can I explain,...there is a split second of hesitation going into 2nd.
I only felt it from 1st into 2nd. Didn't notice downshifting from 3 to 2nd.

[Bahuba]

Originally Posted by 2blue4you

Do you notice or feel the 1st into 2nd gear i'm talking about?
How can I explain,...there is a split second of hesitation going into 2nd.
I only felt it from 1st into 2nd. Didn't notice downshifting from 3 to 2nd.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I have a 08 135 and recently test drove a M235 (twice). I would say the 1-2 shift is noticeably smoother in the 2er. The shifts in the 2er feel more crisp and there is better feedback when a gear is engaged (less rubbery feel). On my first test drive it was the one thing I noticed right away.

[burnsniper]

I find my car's (1M) 1-2 shift clunky unless going full tilt - which is really only possible at the track. The gearbox is completely smooth and a different character all together when you wind it out and shift agressively.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

FWIW there is a difference between the n54 and n55 (LCI) manual gearboxes in the 135. I loooove the 6 speed in my car and the 1M and LCI 135is have the same gearbox. The pre-LCI (n54) 135s I have driven were clunkier and not as smooth. I'm guessing the M235 is using the same/similar gearbox to the latter 135s and 1M. the ratios look identical in the spec sheet.

Yawn.

[krispykreme]

Originally Posted by 2blue4you

Do you notice or feel the 1st into 2nd gear i'm talking about?
How can I explain,...there is a split second of hesitation going into 2nd.
I only felt it from 1st into 2nd. Didn't notice downshifting from 3 to 2nd.

It's called CDV. In order to protect the differential. BMW incorporated a clutch delay valve on the N54 135i.

Unless you did a CDV delete. The 1st to 2nd shift will never be smooth

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by 2blue4you

Do you notice or feel the 1st into 2nd gear i'm talking about?
How can I explain,...there is a split second of hesitation going into 2nd.
I only felt it from 1st into 2nd. Didn't notice downshifting from 3 to 2nd.

It was never more than I'd expect for a 1st to 2nd shift. Keep in mind that going 1st to 2nd is one of the more taxing shifts on a gearbox. The syncros have to do the most work for this shift, which is why it's so common to have worn out 2nd gear syncros.

Overall, I was very pleased with that gearbox.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by krispykreme

It's called CDV. In order to protect the differential. BMW incorporated a clutch delay valve on the N54 135i.

Unless you did a CDV delete. The 1st to 2nd shift will never be smooth

I thought the CDV only affected clutch engagement, not disengagement. That is to say, the CDV would prevent the clutch from engaging too quickly, but would not stop it from disengaging. As I understood it, it was to prevent you from damaging the driveline by side-stepping the clutch pedal.

[chris719]

CDV does not affect the 1->2 shift at all. I have personally removed one on a car with much worse 1->2 shift issues (Z4M) and while it really helps you modulate the clutch more accurately, it has nothing to do with gearbox feel. If you think 135i gearbox is bad from 1st to 2nd with the notchiness and denial, drive a Z4M. The 135 gearbox feels smooth as butter compared to that.

[Bee Pee]

I owned an n54 3 series with MT and CDV delete.

I have driven a manual M135i here in the uk and clutch / gearbox is much smoother and more user friendly.

[TB///M3]

Originally Posted by Bahuba

I know exactly what you are talking about. I have a 08 135 and recently test drove a M235 (twice). I would say the 1-2 shift is noticeably smoother in the 2er. The shifts in the 2er feel more crisp and there is better feedback when a gear is engaged (less rubbery feel). On my first test drive it was the one thing I noticed right away.

Thank you, exactly what I want to hear.

[TB///M3]

Originally Posted by krispykreme

It's called CDV. In order to protect the differential. BMW incorporated a clutch delay valve on the N54 135i.

Unless you did a CDV delete. The 1st to 2nd shift will never be smooth

It's not the CDV, I changed that out too. You'll have to own or driven a 135i to really understand the rubbery 1 2 shift.

[Wheelwright]

I only care about diagonal shifts (mostly 2-3 and 3-2 because lower gears are more commonly used). Those gears are the hardest to shift quickly. How does M135 or M235 handle quick diagonal shifts ?

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Interesting, I hadn't realized that the N55 cars got the newer 45BZ transmission. You're correct that the 1M and 135i (and is) shared the exact same tranmission, listed as the GS6 45BZ THD4. The N54 car had the GS6 53BZ TJGK and the M235i is listed as using the GS6 45BZ THY8.

Can you provide a reference? I am interested in learning more about this. Thanks!

FWIW, my f30 335i has one of the best manual transmissions I have ever experienced, better than my e46, e90 and e92 M3 have ever been. And yes, the 1st/2nd gear shift clunkiness is gone. Hopefully the M235i gets that same transmission.

[Red Bread]

Taken from RealOEM, you can search by model and year.

[Bahuba]

Originally Posted by BluF22

Do you notice or feel the 1st into 2nd gear i'm talking about?
How can I explain,...there is a split second of hesitation going into 2nd.
I only felt it from 1st into 2nd. Didn't notice downshifting from 3 to 2nd.

Having driven my M235 now for 2 months I've noticed this as well. This only happens when I release the clutch quickly and the RPMs are low. This was a sequence I did all the time with my 135 with no issues, but then again I removed the CDV in my 1er so I'm beginning to think this is a CDV issue.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by Bahuba

Having driven my M235 now for 2 months I've noticed this as well. This only happens when I release the clutch quickly and the RPMs are low. This was a sequence I did all the time with my 135 with no issues, but then again I removed the CDV in my 1er so I'm beginning to think this is a CDV issue.

CDV only affects uptake (engagement), not depression (disengagement). CDV prevents you from side-stepping the clutch and breaking the tranny, it won't prevent you from depressing the clutch quickly.

This, of course, assumes that when BluF22 says, "there is a split second of hesitation going into 2nd," they mean the actual shift lever action, not the clutch uptake.

Resistance on shift action isn't CDV, it's syncromesh related. The transition from 1st to 2nd is the most difficult for a transmission, although I'm surprised to hear about an issue at low RPM. Most shifting difficulties occur at high RPM. It could just be a characteristic of the syncro design in the M235i transmission.

Has anyone tried Red Line or Royal Purple MTF in their M235i yet?