Auto vs manual gas pedal
 

On my Auto 318ti, the gas pedal has what I call 2 stages. The first 2 inches of travel are realtively light, and then after that, the remainder of the travel is stiffer, as if a second resistance spring has kicked in. In my quest for knowledge for a auto to trans swap, I would like to know from those with a manual, what is the gas pedal like? Smooth the whole way, or notched like on my auto. I think the manual would need to be smooth. The swapped 330ti is smooth.

That leads me to the next question? What is it that causes the notched gas pedal feel?

Thanks in advance for any help.

YOu have the normal gas pedal range of motion and the notch you feel all the way at the bottom is a switch...it should automatically down shift the car from 4th to 3rd, assuming you are in 4th gear while flooring it. that is what i have read, and it appears to do that on my auto TI, so thats my final answer...

with a manual car, you dont need a switch to down shift, so i would think it is smooth the entire way, but ive never driven a manual TI

mine is smooth all the way

(manual)

Auto chiming in,

Just before the point at which you are flooring it, there's that switch/resistance for passing.

I drive a manual and i'm not aware of the "knotched" feel so i guess its smooth the whole way.

I know exactly what you're talking about. Those other guys are talking about the kickdown switch and that's not it. My manual has this staged feel to it, my dad's manual has the stages, my old 318is manual has the stages. My dad claims not to notice it. I really like it, its set to a good cruising throttle setting so you can almost rest your foot on stage two of the pedal.

For you guys who dont notice it, its just increased resistance in the pedal. It is nowhere near flooring the pedal. Manuals do not have the kickdown switch obviously.

I've noticed it on my automatic car, but only if I push the pedal with my hand.

oh, OK then, i guess i misunderstood the 'increased resistance'...but just for the record, hitting the switch at the bottom is increased resistance! so i wasnt completely wrong!

now that naustin mentions it, i know what you are talking about now...i just thought he was referring to the switch at the bottom...my bad

Haha yeah i figured thats what y'all were thinking. So just thought i'd clarify! :wink:

So there are 2 smooths and 1 nothced on the manuals, and it seems notched on all autos. Personally, I think smooth is the prefered pedal travel for a manual. I'm going to look into how the two are different. I think I would prefer smooth for the auto also. There are times when the notch catches and you have to exert extra effort to get passed it, like it's binding or something. Usually on warm days, but very annoying nonetheless.

I think the stages are caused by the springs on the throttle body (butterfly valves) vs. the pedal itself. I popped the cover off the throttle cable attachment and moved the valve by hand. There definitely is two levels of resistance and you can even see one spring twist, followed by the second one as you open the throttle more.

Also, if I remember correctly, aren't there two butterfly valves in the throttle body? Maybe the first part of the resistance opens one, then the second part opens the other? Someone take their intake boot off and play around with it. My guess is the auto vs. manual cars the same.

CirrusSR22,

you're right. I just check the throttle body and there is a two stage spring mechanism. Mine kind of sticks if you stop between the two stages and I have felt it through the pedal itself. I may have to try to "rebuild" the mechanism to get rid of the stickiness. However, those with a manual, can you guys check your throttle body action for the two stages? Realoem states only one trhottle body part number for auto and manual.