[roman]

Hi all

Quick question from a new 1-series owner. I used to drive a 2004 mazda3 which was very tolerant to slowing down in high gear when coming to a stop, and just switching to neutral at the very last moment as I completely stop the car. With the 1 series, if I slow down when approaching a stop in 3rd+ gear, it will labour and stall really easily as compared to the 11yr old mazda. I would have thought that newer cars would become more and more tolerant in this respect, but instead the bmw forces me to down shift or go into neutral a lot earlier to avoid stalling. Is this something anyone else has noticed? I am assuming it is normal with bmw1 and just the way it is, I'm already used to it, just thought it was a bit odd!

 

[damian1M]

Manual or automatic?

 

[marco_polo]

:? You're the first person to have ever mentioned this.

If it's a manual, I'd try not to let the revs drop too low / labour the engine, and definitely not stall it. Particularly harmful to the expensive Dual Mass Flywheel.

 

[Gez27]

Is your BMW a diesel and was your Mazda a petrol?

Modern diesels (and petrols too) have longer gearing than old cars to maximise economy, so your 2004 Mazda would be much happier in 3rd gear at 10mph than a modern 1 series because of this. In 2004 emissions/economy wasn't such a big deal.

 

[roman]

So both the bmw and mazda are manual and petrol. I just got used to approaching stops in whichever high gear i was in and switch to neutral at the last second before stopping, the mazda never gave me any "bad feedback" let alone stalling, the bmw does labour/stall unless i down shift or switch to neutral and coast earlier than before.

Its not really a big issue, from your replies it seems that this is perfectly normal and i'm more than happy to adapt!

 

[seamaster]

For the diesel you really really do need to change down at lower speeds.

I found for example when turning into a side road even being in second could be problematic.
The anti stall would give you a big shove to keep the revs up as you made the turn so you
could suddenly find yourself going a bit too fast.

Don't know if petrol manual also has anti stall.

 

[andyc1988]

If it helps the "advanced driver"/"road craft"/"high speed driver" way of coming to a stop involves braking then dipping the clutch just before the car starts to judder, holding it down until you know whether you want a go gear (e.g. 1st/2nd) or neutral. This avoids coasting as you are braking at all times while the clutch is dipped.

This might make you feel more comfortable with dipping the clutch sooner as the brake prevents free wheeling. I remember on a test drive putting an older 120d into 6th at 40mph and it nearly stalled...very annoying.

 

[Slippers]

I always slow down with the gears even at low speed, always have done I ty to use the brakes as little as possible. Even if I'm in a gear for less than a second I still let the car use the gear to slow

 

[R88]

I tend to brake then down shift before slowing to a full stop so I am always in the right gear if I need to accelerate again. I use a combination of braking and engine braking.

 

[bobmoo79]

For the diesel you really really do need to change down at lower speeds.

I found for example when turning into a side road even being in second could be problematic.
The anti stall would give you a big shove to keep the revs up as you made the turn so you
could suddenly find yourself going a bit too fast.

Don't know if petrol manual also has anti stall.

Yeahs I've had that before. Very annoying.
Never noticed my petrol doing it.

 

[DezzieJ]

Hi Roman - I've just seen your post as I have exactly the same problem (and my previous car was a 2003 Mazda - freaky)!! Mine is a brand new petrol 118i and has been doing the same - has your problem been resolved?

 

[sparkie1984]

I had this issue coming from my 57 plate 116i.

When I first got it I would go round a roundabout in 3rd or something and next thing it has stalled.

I also like to switch to neutral last knockings rather than engine braking and I find myself shuffling gears a lot in a 30 mph zone. 3rd seems like the revs are too high and 4th just labours the engine and stalls. (My car is a diesel now)

 

[southbynorth]

Hi Roman - I've just seen your post as I have exactly the same problem (and my previous car was a 2003 Mazda - freaky)!! Mine is a brand new petrol 118i and has been doing the same - has your problem been resolved?

I have a 118 as well and have noticed its very very easy to stall. It may be driver error (i.e. me) as I have moved from an auto 135 to a manual 1.5

 

[roman]

Hi Roman - I've just seen your post as I have exactly the same problem (and my previous car was a 2003 Mazda - freaky)!! Mine is a brand new petrol 118i and has been doing the same - has your problem been resolved?

No, as per the other comments (and mine being also a 118i), it appears that's the way it is on this car.

I am used to it now and push the clutch in earlier when slowing down to avoid stalling. I brought it up with the dealer back in the day and they gave me some (presumably)BS about gear ratios with it having 6 gears vs my old car's 5. But yeah, at least you know it's not a problem with your car, they are all like this.

 

[marco_polo]

Do not stall your cars guys and girls, you'll seriously feck up your DMF's.

 

[Fran24]

Hi,

I am also having this issue. I picked up my 118i a couple of weeks back. I have moved from a 4 year old Astra GTC and never had the issue before.

I would normally slow down and go round most corners in second gear but I am finding I am having to shift down to first otherwise it stalls. Which I think is pretty dangerous as someone could go in the back of you. I also notice that in 30 zone I am mostly driving round in 3rd gear as it struggles if I put it in 4th.

Surely this isn't right, is it just the 118i petrol that it's happening on? I was going to go back to the dealer to ask? If it is just this engine wish I had gone for 120i now.

 

[Menace]

Hi,

I am also having this issue. I picked up my 118i a couple of weeks back. I have moved from a 4 year old Astra GTC and never had the issue before.

I would normally slow down and go round most corners in second gear but I am finding I am having to shift down to first otherwise it stalls. Which I think is pretty dangerous as someone could go in the back of you. I also notice that in 30 zone I am mostly driving round in 3rd gear as it struggles if I put it in 4th.

Surely this isn't right, is it just the 118i petrol that it's happening on? I was going to go back to the dealer to ask? If it is just this engine wish I had gone for 120i now.

Something ain't right if you genuinely feel the need to drop to first for some cornering.

The 6 speed box obviously has shorter gear ratios but you'll be used to that coming from the GTC.

You should be able to pull off from a stand still in 2nd.

What happens when in 2nd and scrubbing speed for a corner exactly? Are the revs simply dropping off or tailing off??

 

[Flukeymuch]

Feel I should speak on behalf of the ridiculously long-geared 116D ED Plus 2016.

I too am forced to drop it into 1st gear went entering tight roads. If I keep it in 2nd the car would judder and the torque would just drag you into the car too fast.

When coming to a stop at the lights, if I'm in 3rd, it's either chucking it into 2nd and then dipping clutch OR just dipping clutch and braking and shove it gear 1 or 2 which ever is needed.

If you slow down in gear 3 to about 10mph, you've had it. It'll judder till clutch is forced into play.

The takeaway - I'm coasting more so than actually driving lol.

 

[Gallois]

The loan car I had before I took delivery of my 120i M sport was a 118i sport. I was constantly stalling it in second for the month I had it. I've never had that in any other car. It doesn't happen in my 120.

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