CDV - that's it

Aramel · 08-02-2009, 01:31 PM

I've got an appointment at Bimmersport for Tuesday. After reading up on the DIY I decided it was better to let them do it, especially since it only costs $40. I'll post my opinion after its done.

dassub · 08-02-2009, 03:00 PM

Looking forward to the followup. How long have you been driving so far without the CDV delete?

normancw · 08-03-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aramel

I've got an appointment at Bimmersport for Tuesday. After reading up on the DIY I decided it was better to let them do it, especially since it only costs $40. I'll post my opinion after its done.

Is this for the CDV delete (to remove it) - or for hollowing out your existing CDV?
Thanks

Aramel · 08-04-2009, 07:17 AM

I'm pretty sure that they're just going to hollow it out. From what I've read, that seems like the easiest way to handle it.

I've had the car since December 2008. Ironically, in the last few weeks I've felt like the shifts have become smoother. I think this is partially due to the fact that I've been shifting first to second at lower RPMs. Otherwise, I've been having psychosomatic shifting issues and that's too weird for me to think about. From what I've read, the most dramatic improvement should be how the clutch engages going from first to second because that weird lag that happens when shifting at over 2000rpms should be gone.

We'll see...

normancw · 08-04-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aramel

I've had the car since December 2008. Ironically, in the last few weeks I've felt like the shifts have become smoother. I think this is partially due to the fact that I've been shifting first to second at lower RPMs. Otherwise, I've been having psychosomatic shifting issues and that's too weird for me to think about. From what I've read, the most dramatic improvement should be how the clutch engages going from first to second because that weird lag that happens when shifting at over 2000rpms should be gone.

We'll see...

I also had it done at Bimmersport this afternoon. Lucky me - I happened to be in Toronto this week when I read this thread, called this morning, and got an appointment this afternoon. Charlie from Bimmersport told me they do about one CDV a day - I was in and out it 15 minutes.

Previously, I was also compensating by shifting at lower RPMs - now I feel I can be much more aggressive

Thanks all for the heads up about the CDV and Bimmersport

MMachines · 08-04-2009, 06:59 PM

So was it $40 and they hollowed out the one that was in the car? I too find that the 1-2shift is always crummy and it looks like I can't drive or somethin'.

dassub · 08-04-2009, 07:03 PM

This all sounds good, I think I'm going to order a hollowed out CDV and bring it over.

MalM3 · 08-04-2009, 07:10 PM

is there a link to a DIY hollow out of the CDV ?

Aramel · 08-05-2009, 01:59 AM

You can definitely feel the clutch engage quicker. It's not "night and day" but if you're used to how other vehicles feel you'll notice it. In an odd way I feel like I removed something that was a bit luxurious from the car. However, it's nice to feel like I'm shifting again.

I still find first to second a bit strange but it's better. I think I need to unlearn some of the adjustments I've been making.

A note on Bimmersport though. I needed a vehicle safety inspection done so thought I'd have them do it while they were doing the CDV. The car is still practically new so he didn't have to inspect it and spent more time filling in the form than actually looking at the car. The bill for the inspection was $80. This felt like a massive rip-off for what was less than ten minutes of work. I can understand how this is a reasonable price on an older vehicle with rusted brake drums, etc. and the process takes an hour. But this was not the case. I half expected him to give me the safety for free as he clearly hadn't inspected the car. I'm very loyal to mechanics and felt that Bimmersport would be a good place to take my car after the warranty expired. Not anymore.

MMachines · 08-05-2009, 09:24 AM

I understand where you're coming from with the cost of the safety paper, however those papers cost him money too. It sounds like you gave him $40 of business, not $4000, and you expected a free safety? When he was under the car doing this CDV work I'd say it's entirely possible that he did a large portion of this inspection.

bolty · 08-05-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aramel

A note on Bimmersport though.

Enjoy your car dude! THeres worse things that could of happened. I think any place would have done the same thing.

FWIW, i prolly wont be going back there either. Its far, and I dont feel like going back a 3rd time to get what should have been done properly the first time

And no, its not the cdv.

Aramel · 08-05-2009, 01:13 PM

Listen, I paid. I didn't make a big deal out of it. And I didn't actually expect a free safety. But he didn't do the safety while he was doing the CDV. He'd forgotten to do the safety, then when I reminded him he walked back to the car, filled in the VIN and kms, and that was about it.

You're probably right that the MOT is charging him to write safeties. $80 is still exorbitant though. It's not that hard to get a safety done for $50. And like I said before, those safeties usually involve some actual work. For example, the wheels are taken off and the brakes inspected.

Aramel · 08-05-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

is there a link to a DIY hollow out of the CDV ?

Here are a few links I looked at even though I didn't do it myself. The second one has a pretty good review. It largely echoes how I feel. The first one promises more dramatic results than I experienced. The third one has the most detailed DIY and it's for an e90.

http://www.zeckhausen.com/CDV.htm
http://www.bmw325i.net/rev_cdv_removal.shtml
http://www.billswebspace.com/BMWCDVMod.htm

westcoast_cowboy · 08-07-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normancw

Does anyone know of an Ottawa shop that does this?

Thanks

Does anyone know a shop in Calgary that will do this? Seems like an easy DIY but I don't own a pressure bleeder and don't want to buy one just for this.

I'm going to order my CDV from Zeckhausen right away...

These bad shifts are driving me nuts!

gimmethemuumuu · 08-07-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mallard

is there a link to a DIY hollow out of the CDV ?

Hey, Mallard,

I decided to look this up since I haven't yet done my CDV mod and was thinking about doing so very soon. I'd ordered an extra CDV frrom Tischer and intended to follow the instructions in a post of this DIY for hollowing it out. Here's the post in the context of the DIY:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1016892

Hope this helps

normancw · 08-12-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normancw

I also had it done at Bimmersport this afternoon. Lucky me - I happened to be in Toronto this week when I read this thread, called this morning, and got an appointment this afternoon. Charlie from Bimmersport told me they do about one CDV a day - I was in and out it 15 minutes.

Previously, I was also compensating by shifting at lower RPMs - now I feel I can be much more aggressive

Well, it's been a week since I had my CDV hollowed and I've had time to get used to it. Before last week, I had driven with a CDV-equipped BMW since 2004.

In combination with changing my shift knob to a shorter weighted e46 M knob, the shifting has improved "night and day" for me

Aramel · 08-14-2009, 11:10 AM

Now that it's been a week I've been able to get more driving in. I think the change definitely is preferable although I wouldn't say that rough shifts between 1-2 have been completely eliminated. That said, I'm having to unlearn all the adjustments I started making when I had the CDV. The more I shift like I used to, the better the car drives. That short shift knob sounds like a nice addition to a CDV mod.

Bibosbimmer · 08-19-2009, 12:21 PM

Might want to try Continental Auto in the NE, ask for Phil.
They did great work on my E46 (when I had it) and they were recommended to me by a friend who has always taken his BMWs and Porsches to them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by westcoast_cowboy

Does anyone know a shop in Calgary that will do this? Seems like an easy DIY but I don't own a pressure bleeder and don't want to buy one just for this.

I'm going to order my CDV from Zeckhausen right away...

These bad shifts are driving me nuts!

08-02-2009, 01:31 PM	#23
Aramel Private 6 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2008 323i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (1)	I've got an appointment at Bimmersport for Tuesday. After reading up on the DIY I decided it was better to let them do it, especially since it only costs $40. I'll post my opinion after its done.
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08-02-2009, 03:00 PM	#24
dassub Captain 63 Rep 965 Posts Drives: '14 328xi sport line Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1) Garage List 1981 Fiat 124 Spider [0.00] 2014 F30 BMW 328xi [0.00] 2006 E90 BMW 325i ( ... [0.00] 1988 Audi 90 Quattr ... [0.00]	Looking forward to the followup. How long have you been driving so far without the CDV delete?
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08-04-2009, 07:17 AM	#26
Aramel Private 6 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2008 323i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (1)	I'm pretty sure that they're just going to hollow it out. From what I've read, that seems like the easiest way to handle it. I've had the car since December 2008. Ironically, in the last few weeks I've felt like the shifts have become smoother. I think this is partially due to the fact that I've been shifting first to second at lower RPMs. Otherwise, I've been having psychosomatic shifting issues and that's too weird for me to think about. From what I've read, the most dramatic improvement should be how the clutch engages going from first to second because that weird lag that happens when shifting at over 2000rpms should be gone. We'll see...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-04-2009, 06:59 PM	#28
MMachines BMW Owner 46 Rep 532 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 M3, 2006 4Runner Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon iTrader: (1)	So was it $40 and they hollowed out the one that was in the car? I too find that the 1-2shift is always crummy and it looks like I can't drive or somethin'.
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08-04-2009, 07:03 PM	#29
dassub Captain 63 Rep 965 Posts Drives: '14 328xi sport line Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1) Garage List 1981 Fiat 124 Spider [0.00] 2014 F30 BMW 328xi [0.00] 2006 E90 BMW 325i ( ... [0.00] 1988 Audi 90 Quattr ... [0.00]	This all sounds good, I think I'm going to order a hollowed out CDV and bring it over.
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08-04-2009, 07:10 PM	#30
MalM3 4 pot warrior 38 Rep 1,307 Posts Drives: E90 318I Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: DENMARK iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 e90 [10.00]	is there a link to a DIY hollow out of the CDV ? __________________ Been there, done that, wanna do it again
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08-05-2009, 01:59 AM	#31
Aramel Private 6 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2008 323i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (1)	You can definitely feel the clutch engage quicker. It's not "night and day" but if you're used to how other vehicles feel you'll notice it. In an odd way I feel like I removed something that was a bit luxurious from the car. However, it's nice to feel like I'm shifting again. I still find first to second a bit strange but it's better. I think I need to unlearn some of the adjustments I've been making. A note on Bimmersport though. I needed a vehicle safety inspection done so thought I'd have them do it while they were doing the CDV. The car is still practically new so he didn't have to inspect it and spent more time filling in the form than actually looking at the car. The bill for the inspection was $80. This felt like a massive rip-off for what was less than ten minutes of work. I can understand how this is a reasonable price on an older vehicle with rusted brake drums, etc. and the process takes an hour. But this was not the case. I half expected him to give me the safety for free as he clearly hadn't inspected the car. I'm very loyal to mechanics and felt that Bimmersport would be a good place to take my car after the warranty expired. Not anymore.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-05-2009, 09:24 AM	#32
MMachines BMW Owner 46 Rep 532 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 M3, 2006 4Runner Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon iTrader: (1)	I understand where you're coming from with the cost of the safety paper, however those papers cost him money too. It sounds like you gave him $40 of business, not $4000, and you expected a free safety? When he was under the car doing this CDV work I'd say it's entirely possible that he did a large portion of this inspection.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-05-2009, 01:13 PM	#34
Aramel Private 6 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2008 323i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (1)	Listen, I paid. I didn't make a big deal out of it. And I didn't actually expect a free safety. But he didn't do the safety while he was doing the CDV. He'd forgotten to do the safety, then when I reminded him he walked back to the car, filled in the VIN and kms, and that was about it. You're probably right that the MOT is charging him to write safeties. $80 is still exorbitant though. It's not that hard to get a safety done for $50. And like I said before, those safeties usually involve some actual work. For example, the wheels are taken off and the brakes inspected.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-14-2009, 11:10 AM	#39
Aramel Private 6 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2008 323i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (1)	Now that it's been a week I've been able to get more driving in. I think the change definitely is preferable although I wouldn't say that rough shifts between 1-2 have been completely eliminated. That said, I'm having to unlearn all the adjustments I started making when I had the CDV. The more I shift like I used to, the better the car drives. That short shift knob sounds like a nice addition to a CDV mod.
	Appreciate 0 Quote