E91 Straight Six Bearding
Discussion
stevesingo said:
Use the stick thing in the middle of the car.??
My 330i was an auto...and trust me I had my foot pinned flat to the floor! 
I was rocking in my seat to try to encourage it to go faster!
There just wasn't much shove even at the redline. Luckily I didn't buy the car for its performance though to be fair, so I quickly got over it. I did want something quicker after that experience though.cerb4.5lee said:
stevesingo said:
Use the stick thing in the middle of the car.??
My 330i was an auto...and trust me I had my foot pinned flat to the floor! I was rocking in my seat to try to encourage it to go faster!
There just wasn't much shove even at the redline. Luckily I didn't buy the car for its performance though to be fair, so I quickly got over it. I did want something quicker after that experience though.They're hell of a lot quicker; don't care what the 'statistics' say etc
Still; I'd rather have a petrol straight 6 over a diesel
cerb4.5lee said:
My 330i was an auto...and trust me I had my foot pinned flat to the floor!
I was rocking in my seat to try to encourage it to go faster! There just wasn't much shove even at the redline. Luckily I didn't buy the car for its performance though to be fair, so I quickly got over it. I did want something quicker after that experience though.
I suspect it's the Auto box that's the issue - didn't the ZF6 sap a noticeable amount of power unless it was in Sport mode? I was rocking in my seat to try to encourage it to go faster!
There just wasn't much shove even at the redline. Luckily I didn't buy the car for its performance though to be fair, so I quickly got over it. I did want something quicker after that experience though.I've tried a few similar experiments in my manual 125i with the remap - I can stay level with a RWD F30 330d and pull a decent gap on an XDrive. Slightly lighter car granted, but from recollection not as much lighter as you'd think...
cerb4.5lee said:
My 330i was an auto...and trust me I had my foot pinned flat to the floor!
I was rocking in my seat to try to encourage it to go faster! There just wasn't much shove even at the redline. Luckily I didn't buy the car for its performance though to be fair, so I quickly got over it. I did want something quicker after that experience though.
You’ve opened up a can of worms here Lee! I was rocking in my seat to try to encourage it to go faster!
There just wasn't much shove even at the redline. Luckily I didn't buy the car for its performance though to be fair, so I quickly got over it. I did want something quicker after that experience though.I think the biggest drawback to the 330 was the ZF6; it was fine most if the time but sometimes it’s so dimwitted. I’m eager to try my mates 330 touring with the mapped gearbox to see if it’s much better.
It’s less bothersome on my 335i because of the extra torque but there are times when it’s a bit annoying (especially having had the 140i with the ZF8).
The N52 in my 130i with a manual was a delight though. Chasing the redline and heel and toeing into corners was lots of fun.
d_a_n1979 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
stevesingo said:
Use the stick thing in the middle of the car.??
My 330i was an auto...and trust me I had my foot pinned flat to the floor! I was rocking in my seat to try to encourage it to go faster!
There just wasn't much shove even at the redline. Luckily I didn't buy the car for its performance though to be fair, so I quickly got over it. I did want something quicker after that experience though.They're hell of a lot quicker; don't care what the 'statistics' say etc
Still; I'd rather have a petrol straight 6 over a diesel
bmwmike said:
Petrol straight six with a zf8 is a good match. Mines in an f10 and its not slow but its easy to catch it out in the wrong gear and "no torque" scenario. Only way to get a proper shove on is use the manual mode on the box and keep the revs up. It is very good fun, especially on irish backroads last week. Not the last word in performance by a long stretch but even in the lardy f10 i'm surprised at how quick the n53 can shuffle it along, no doubt the extra torque spread offered by those extra cogs. The f10 handles well too, if you let it. Sorry i know this is a e91 thread but its also straight six content
That’s almost the best of both worlds; N/A straight 6 with a (still) modern gearbox.
Had that half engine management light come on under spirited driving weeks back. I was convinced it would be HPFP or similar. BMR found a stored code for misfire on cylinder 3 and replaced one coil and 6 plugs, they tested the injectors, which passed although they’ll need doing at some point as they’re index 9. Anyway, repeated Autovía usage (they’re quiet and curvy here in Northern Spain) has not brought back the issue. One small victory…
RelentlessForwardProgress said:
Had that half engine management light come on under spirited driving weeks back. I was convinced it would be HPFP or similar. BMR found a stored code for misfire on cylinder 3 and replaced one coil and 6 plugs, they tested the injectors, which passed although they’ll need doing at some point as they’re index 9. Anyway, repeated Autovía usage (they’re quiet and curvy here in Northern Spain) has not brought back the issue. One small victory…
Good stuff.Part of me wants to check my injectors to see which version they are, the other is happy in ignorance!
Court_S said:
bmwmike said:
Petrol straight six with a zf8 is a good match. Mines in an f10 and its not slow but its easy to catch it out in the wrong gear and "no torque" scenario. Only way to get a proper shove on is use the manual mode on the box and keep the revs up. It is very good fun, especially on irish backroads last week. Not the last word in performance by a long stretch but even in the lardy f10 i'm surprised at how quick the n53 can shuffle it along, no doubt the extra torque spread offered by those extra cogs. The f10 handles well too, if you let it. Sorry i know this is a e91 thread but its also straight six content
That’s almost the best of both worlds; N/A straight 6 with a (still) modern gearbox.I might be mental, but that's based on having lived with both. The ZF8 I found too fussy - especially at slower speeds. It seemed to always be shuffling about when there was no need. Nothing wrong with the ZF6 - properly plant it and it will kick down fine. It might be fractions of a second slower to actually shift but it's not that bad.
I find similar complaints with our DSG 7-speed as the ZF8 that preceded it - it's actually remarkably dimwitted at times, and at other times hugely over agressive. Yes it might be impressive when you've launched yourself to a ton in no time, but in everyday urban driving it's often quite annoying.
Swervin_Mervin said:
I don't like the ZF8. And I prefer the ZF6.
I might be mental, but that's based on having lived with both. The ZF8 I found too fussy - especially at slower speeds. It seemed to always be shuffling about when there was no need. Nothing wrong with the ZF6 - properly plant it and it will kick down fine. It might be fractions of a second slower to actually shift but it's not that bad.
I find similar complaints with our DSG 7-speed as the ZF8 that preceded it - it's actually remarkably dimwitted at times, and at other times hugely over agressive. Yes it might be impressive when you've launched yourself to a ton in no time, but in everyday urban driving it's often quite annoying.
I’ve had a ZF6 in a 330, a ZF8 in an M140i and am now back with a ZF6 in my 335i.I might be mental, but that's based on having lived with both. The ZF8 I found too fussy - especially at slower speeds. It seemed to always be shuffling about when there was no need. Nothing wrong with the ZF6 - properly plant it and it will kick down fine. It might be fractions of a second slower to actually shift but it's not that bad.
I find similar complaints with our DSG 7-speed as the ZF8 that preceded it - it's actually remarkably dimwitted at times, and at other times hugely over agressive. Yes it might be impressive when you've launched yourself to a ton in no time, but in everyday urban driving it's often quite annoying.
I never noticed my ZF8 shuffling about at lower speeds, I really liked it. It’s a much more responsive gearbox but I did find 8 gears was too much when using the paddles. I think it’d have been better with a head up display so you could see what gear you were in more easily.
By comparison I find the ZF6 pretty dimwitted at times, even is sport. I’ll often override it with the paddles.
Whilst a big fan of the ZF8, I’ve only ever driven it when mated to a bigger engine (my M140i, 330d, 335d). I don’t know if it’s feel different with a smaller engine.
Personally I prefer BMW’s DCT over both.
d_a_n1979 said:
As good as the 330i engine is; you'll never compete with the shove of the torque the 330D has to offer and the ZF8 box
They're hell of a lot quicker; don't care what the 'statistics' say etc
Still; I'd rather have a petrol straight 6 over a diesel
Bah, torque! The only torque figure that matters is that one at the driven wheels, and that means applying the multiplication factor through the gearbox and final drive. If you're in the correct gear flywheel torque is only relevant insofar as it creates power, otherwise I'd be hooking up a 1000Nm Makita impact wrench to the car and destroying supercars off the lights using an 18V battery They're hell of a lot quicker; don't care what the 'statistics' say etc
Still; I'd rather have a petrol straight 6 over a diesel
I think talking about performance is missing the point of these cars, they’re not sports cars, they are a prestige middle sized family car with sporting pretensions, they’re heavy, they have a dual mass fly wheel to make them more refined, so consequently they are for for slightly more enthusiastic drivers that like to perhaps press on, they’re not sharp handling track day weapons.
Alpina tune on the ZF6 is great, if anything, I wish it would hold 6th and not kickdown to 5th (say you’re at 80 and just want to hammer along faster). If I knock it into sport it will still do it. I’m sure my B3 3.3 with the 5 speed ZF would hold the gear.
Anyway, it’s responsive and very slick, though has just had a full gearbox service.
I’ve yet to try the ZF8 and surprised to hear it’s anything other than the holy grail of boxes!
Anyway, it’s responsive and very slick, though has just had a full gearbox service.
I’ve yet to try the ZF8 and surprised to hear it’s anything other than the holy grail of boxes!
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