Sluggish acceleration from dead stop?

[rickf325]

Hi all.

Just got back from my ED experience and a week of driving around Europe. Unbelievable experience, but that is not what this post is about.

One thing I noticed with my brand spanking new DCT M5 was sluggish acceleration from a dead stop (when in D1 / D2 / D3, Efficient). I'd hit the gas, and the engine would rev a bit but it almost felt like the car took a little bit to drop into gear before getting moving. Is this normal?

Can the car even be driven slowly...

> Maybe the issue is that I am going from a 6MT E46 M3 where I control the clutch and gas pedal, so things feel "instantaneous."
> Maybe this is normal?
> Maybe there is something wrong with my car?
> Maybe I just need to stop being a wuss and step on the gas

I played around with putting the throttle response up to Sport and Sport+ and it does help, but I don't particularly like the idea of a shortened/non-linear throttle just to help the car get moving.

Thoughts?

[URBAN LEGEND]

Are you in MDM or TC on? TC on is too restrictive. Try MDM and see what happens.

[rickf325]

Originally Posted by URBAN LEGEND

Are you in MDM or TC on? TC on is too restrictive. Try MDM and see what happens.

MDM does change things quite a bit. However, I think my note above wasn't clear---I'm trying to figure out how to have the car feel responsive at relatively slow speeds (0-10). (Think parking lot).

[URBAN LEGEND]

550i stage 4s excel in that area.

[Tourbillon]

Originally Posted by URBAN LEGEND

550i stage 4s excel in that area.

OP, I know exactly what you are talking about. It feels like a manual car slowly engaging the clutch from a standstill. It's a characteristic of the car I'm not particularly a fan of, but have gotten use to it.

The odd thing is that it's only at very low speeds. If you stomp on it from a standstill, there is no lag and the clutch engages immediately.

[rickf325]

Originally Posted by Tourbillon

OP, I know exactly what you are talking about. It feels like a manual car slowly engaging the clutch from a standstill. It's a characteristic of the car I'm not particularly a fan of, but have gotten use to it.

The odd thing is that it's only at very low speeds. If you stomp on it from a standstill, there is no lag and the clutch engages immediately.

Exactly. Though, stomping on it when trying to navigate a tight parking lot is probably ill advised. Does anybody else have this "feeling", and any thoughts on how to resolve / work around it? I don't have my car for 6 weeks, but now it is stressing me out !

> How about S1, same feeling?
> What's the deal with the "D" learning modes I keep hearing about... can I teach it that in D1 I'd like the gear to engage much faster?

Thanks!

[BIG~BLUE~BMW]

I feel the same way. I leave my car in sport mode. That helps with the throttle response. Thats how I drive around town.

[johntomferg]

For me, limo/parking mode is Sport/Sport/Comfort/D1.
Even then, you must be patience when you are going from 0-4 mph for slow maneuvers. If you push too much initially, then backoff, then push again because you over-corrected: you can lunge the car forward (accidentally).

You must re-train your foot/mind. (I decided this was better than writing "your foot and mind must become one...")

Once you have adapted, you will become very adept at low speed maneuvers in the car.

[rickf325]

Agreed. It's like "once the car is in gear, it is going to GO." I wish there was a way the car would know that "he is at a stop, next press on the gas means he wants to go, so be quick about getting into gear and moving forward but keep the clutch only partially engaged."

Sort of what my mind/hand/feet do when I drive a manual. I can give it lots of gas, but manage fine grained control of speed with the clutch.

[brainblade]

yes i notice the sluggishness in standard mode which is traction control--when i select mdm i get the traction control hazard sign as well as though traction is off-is tractionoff completely inthis mode and is there a way to be in mdm with without having the traction hazard?-is that normal because i did not get that on my e60 nor my m6. i also lost the rear end for a second in normal traction as well. am i missing something here?

[sfm5]

Definitely one of the things I hate about this generation M5. You can get used to it, and use "creep mode" (Tap the accelerator from a stop to get the car moving 2-3 mph) to get around tight spots. But driving the F10 M5 in the city can be maddening in Comfort Acceleration and D1 shift mode.

I've noticed that in D2 it's a bit better, but it'll hold the revs for longer, which is not what you want when lofting around on the street.

On the track, the DCT was amazing. But around town, it's very difficult to jump into a hole in adjacent lanes without doing a little "hail mary" that the thing will respond like you want it to.

[lumberman]

its the character of this gear box, whenever come to complete stop, it will goes to N automatically, and if you release the brake, it will actually roll if you are on a slope

it takes a little bit of time from pressing the accelerator to the clutch engage, and when it does, you can really feel it on the gear housing

the way I work around this is to pull the hand brake whenever comes stop, and just press the gas paddle when I need to go, by the time the hand brake disengage, the clutch would have already engaged too, it feels like a normal automatic again

[nugent]

I wonder if what you are referring to is the turbo lag before the engine hits 1500RPM, after which it will tend to lurch forward on you and keep pulling hard. If you look at torque curve for this engine, this is where peak torque is available.

[mhh]

The slow and jerky throttle tip-in on the M5 is reminiscent of the dreaded SMG. I'd rather have the idle creep and quick takeup of the PDK for example. The M5 is a clumsy low speed car. Just as well it is sensationally good at high speed.

[rickf325]

Hmm.. Idle creep like the PSK would be nice. I wonder if there is a way to have it automatically engage the "low speed assistant" when letting off the brake after a full stop instead of having to blip the throttle. Can this be done by coding? Anyone?

[nugent]

I actually like that it doesn't creep after a full stop. feels more like a clutched car that way. plus I don't want to wear out the brake lights.

[avlnch]

Originally Posted by rickf325

Hmm.. Idle creep like the PSK would be nice. I wonder if there is a way to have it automatically engage the "low speed assistant" when letting off the brake after a full stop instead of having to blip the throttle. Can this be done by coding? Anyone?

No, not possible via coding.

[avlnch]

Originally Posted by nugent

I actually like that it doesn't creep after a full stop. feels more like a clutched car that way. plus I don't want to wear out the brake lights.

+1. I only wish that it wouldn't go into what everyone calls "creep mode" after you press the throttle from a dead stop.

[rickf325]

Originally Posted by avlnch

+1. I only wish that it wouldn't go into what everyone calls "creep mode" after you press the throttle from a dead stop.

Agreed that it does feel more like a clutched car without creep mode. I can't wait for my car to show up from ED so I can figure out how to drive it in a parking lot... Throwing it around the track is going to be straightforward...

[py0413]

I don't mind the ride feels kind of "lazy" when all settings are in the softest mode. sometimes just don't want the aggressiveness especially being stuck in traffic at 5-6pm.

[Carl L]

Originally Posted by PusheMeKuratz

This is called turbo lag.

Er, nope.