335d throttle/turbo lag

[stevenoid]

I just purchased a 335d that has a seemingly unsafe (certainly annoying) lag from when you press the pedal until you get any engine response. For instance, while traveling a constant 35 mph, depress the pedal (a little or a lot, it doesn't matter), count 1-1000, then the engine responds. I don't mean that it lacks power for a full second - I mean there is absolutely no engine response for a second. Has anyone out there experienced this???

[Beer Goggles]

It's pretty common in all of the car i think. I found that "rolling" the throttle produced better response than just stomping on the gas. Also Diesel I think are slower reacting engines anyway.

[acmaui]

let me see if I get this right, you have outrageous torque and you have to finesse it out of the blocks to get it to move? I never thought I say it, but I rather have "gas".

[powermd]

I have a gasoline 335i and experience a similar delay as you describe here. It's not just the diesel version that has this issue.

As someone stated, if you stomp the throttle, there is a half-second or so delay until you get an engine response. A little disconcerting at times, particularly when you need power NOW.

[vasillalov]

This is what we get from the Drive-By-Wire systems. Basically instead of having a traditional mechanical steel cable which is hooked up to the gas pedal, there is an electronic device integrated in your gas pedal. The idea is that the car computer takes measurements of the throttle pedal position, the angle of the throttle butterfly, the current engine output and the requested output. It constantly makes adjustments based on multiple factors. All these calculations take time which the driver sees as a lag. There are benefits to this drive-by-wire system. For an example, if the engine develops a boost leak, it will go into "limp" mode. Limp mode is nothing else but maintaining a predefined angle of the butterfly on the throttle body, so no matter how much you stomp on it, it won't allow more air to enter the engine. Less air, means less power. Less power means less chance of damaging the engine, (given that the computer has detected some sort of a problem)

[mryakan]

Are those AT cars? I have a feeling it is a computer/programming/transmission issue rather than a throttle response issue. Just a thought

[CHCcubs]

This is what we get from the Drive-By-Wire systems. Basically instead of having a traditional mechanical steel cable which is hooked up to the gas pedal, there is an electronic device integrated in your gas pedal. The idea is that the car computer takes measurements of the throttle pedal position, the angle of the throttle butterfly, the current engine output and the requested output. It constantly makes adjustments based on multiple factors. All these calculations take time which the driver sees as a lag. There are benefits to this drive-by-wire system. For an example, if the engine develops a boost leak, it will go into "limp" mode. Limp mode is nothing else but maintaining a predefined angle of the butterfly on the throttle body, so no matter how much you stomp on it, it won't allow more air to enter the engine. Less air, means less power. Less power means less chance of damaging the engine, (given that the computer has detected some sort of a problem)

I think that is what it is. My previous car (Acura CSX) also had a drive-by-wire throttle and I found a slight delay in that car as well.

[DnA Diesel]

While there may be a very slight delay (probably only a fraction of a second, if you were to time it) in the purest sense, I think this is the same kind of effect that any drive-by-wire engine will exhibit...short of a mechanical linkage and carbureted engine like earlier M-engines, I don't think you'll have "instantaneous" response. Perhaps you may be hyper-sensitive to the timing because you're thinking about the demand for power before the foot actually hits the pedal. My TDI and CRD both have lag, but the 335d has no perceptible lag, essentially the same throttle response rate as my M60-powered 540i.

Cheers
Duey

[shifterkart33]

I wonder if it's some type of torque management programming to protect the transmission.

[Beer Goggles]

Its worse with AT since there is more going on, but you can feel it. Rolling the throttle helps...so does downshifting (MT).

If our cars take 1 second to think, i think it's time to upgrade that processor. I can download lots of video in that one second..this is only figuring out maybe 5 things.

[TeaRoy]

I have a MT and I don't feel that I have much of a lag at all - certainly not any more than any other car I've driven. Could be the auto more than the manual as beer goggles suggested.

[fshubert]

I had this problem with my 2007 328ix. Hit the gas, and have a delay. Just got a new 2009 335i (no x-drive). Same lag (maybe a tad less). Now I'm used to it. Have AT in this also. May just be part of the drive-by-wire technology.

[Beer Goggles]

I have a MT and I don't feel that I have much of a lag at all - certainly not any more than any other car I've driven. Could be the auto more than the manual as beer goggles suggested.

There is a lag even with MT. If you are cruising in 3rd between 2-3K and stomp on the gas you will notice a delay in response.

[E92matt]

I noticed a little lag i drive an auto 335i but whenever i want to actually drive the car i am always in manual mode anyways so there is no lag on that side, you might want to try using the tiptronic opposed to just steping on the gas for gradification. also if your in tiptronic and you stomp the gas and release it will downshift for you. its pretty fun when you want to give someone a run for their money.

[Beer Goggles]

I noticed a little lag i drive an auto 335i but whenever i want to actually drive the car i am always in manual mode anyways so there is no lag on that side, you might want to try using the tiptronic opposed to just steping on the gas for gradification. also if your in tiptronic and you stomp the gas and release it will downshift for you. its pretty fun when you want to give someone a run for their money.

There is still a lag in fake-manual mode since it's an electronics delay.

[Jhunter]

I drove a loaner 335 AT yesterday and notice a little lag at first. If I rolled on the throttle as Beer Googles said it was a smooth application of power. I got use to it in the 20 miles I drove the loaner. I don't see an issue.

[E92matt]

there is a lag but like someone said earlier it seems much longer for those who anticipate it, your crain works faster than any proccesor so you "you" it seems like forever but in actuality it has been only second. Anyways i dont have a problem with my "fake manual" as you would say i enjoy my car. You are correct however to state that rolling into the throttle helps a bunch.

[Kevlar]

I wonder if it's some type of torque management programming to protect the transmission.
There is... not only to protect the transmission tho.

[HIREN]

Don't blame the Drive by wire (DBW). Its the programming that is at fault. DBW systems can be programmed to have a lag or instantaneous response. I had a 2000 740i that had DBW and a very slight lag, not noticeable. I have an STi that NO lag DBW. I've driven a new gen STi that has a switch to go from standard to sharp which noticeably sharpens throttle response, less lag in the DBW. I
've also driven an X5 35d and I noticed the lag right away. Its a bit scary and unsafe in my opinion. I'm about to pull out of a driveway into the street and want to get in between flowing traffic so I hit the gas and nothing, then a second later all of a sudden you're pushed back with overwhelming torque.
Does anyone make ecu tunes or upgrades for these cars yet, the diesels?

[Davidov]

If the car snapped into acceleration every time you put your foot to the floor, most people would complain that the car is too "rough".
The 335d has a break in period that lasts a few hundred miles, and will not put down full power in that time.
Every diesel engine has that sweet spot "morsel" of power, as Jeremy Clarkson stated.

[HIREN]

I test drove a 335i yesterday and didn't notice any lag. I'm having a hard time finding a 335d to test drive around here.

[tsmtdi]

with diesels you typically have to feed it, unlike a gas motor

regards

[Rich V]

Almost all modern diesels will have a more noticeable lag off idle, mainly due to the way the throttle is tuned for emission purposes. If you inject too much fuel before the turbocharger(s) spool up on a diesel, you will end up with black smoke which is a "no no"...