Silly BMW Clutch Delay Valve (CDV)
3rd February 2010
Looks like BMW does everything it can to ensure that their cars are not prone to costly warranty and maintenance repairs. When I picked up the M Roadster I noticed that my 1-2 shifts were really crappy. I thought it was just due to the fact that I was unfamiliar with BMW’s clutch engagement point. After doing some research and noticing I didn’t have the same issues when test driving a 370z and a MazdaSpeed 3, I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t me… it was the car! (I know everyone says this when it comes to driving manual lol).
Long behold a quick search on the internet showed that BMW uses a Clutch Delay Valve (CDV). I found that a company called Zeckhausen sells a modified CDV to replace the stock one so that you do not look silly driving your own car any more!
From their site:
“After the stock CDV is replaced with one of our modified units, you will be able to shift gears in your BMW just like a "normal" car. No more vague, inconsistent clutch engagement. No more jerky 1-2 shifts. You can actually chirp the tires when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear! Parallel parking becomes a breeze and your clutch will love you for it and last much longer. Best of all, your passengers will stop making fun of your driving skills.”
Will report back after I install the CDV, but everyone who has replaced it seems to highly recommend either removing the CDV completely or using a Zeckhausen’s to keep the "stock” look for warranty’s sake.