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  #1  
Old 04-09-2019, 11:42 PM
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how do you work the steptronic transmission again?

ok. I don't dirve my e53 often. I only drive it in the winter to go skiing.



So if you are in drive push the shifter to the left and you are in sport mode. At that point if you push up and down you are in manual.



If you push the shifter to the righ again you are in the "normal" mode.



So my questions is if you are in the manual mode can you go straight back to sport mode again without going to normal mode first??



thanks
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Old 04-09-2019, 11:57 PM
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Here's what the owner's manual says. I don't think so.
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Old 04-10-2019, 12:09 AM
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You have to go back to normal drive first. Not sure its really worth it to use steptronic in the E53; its not very responsive (unlike in the new 8HPs). Its fun to rev out the gears and get that instant power with valvetronic, but otherwise M/S is just better suited for "spirited" driving. Not sure what car we are talking but ive noticed with the 6HP it helps to downshift with slight throttle. Ends up shifting smoother.
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Old 04-10-2019, 02:48 AM
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I learned a long time ago back when my 323i was an automatic steptronic before I modified it to a manual transmission that the computer did a TON better job shifting the automatic than I could do.

This is two fold.

One it can jump more gears than you can since it can go from 5th to 1st if it wants to. You cant.
You can go from 5th to 4th and then 3rd etc.
But you cant go from 5th to 1st.
So this simple formula means that you cannot EVER shift as fast as the computer can.
I know you think you can.
But you can't.

So the best positions for that shift is as follows.

P for park
R for going backwards
D for driving forward

Anything else and your hurting performance
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Old 04-10-2019, 02:55 AM
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Oh I forgot the 2nd part of the two fold part.

The second reason is as your lining up to look good turning into a parking lot fast or passing someone ahead of you. Life will throw a wrench at you when you least expect it making that downshift you setup for the wrong gear and while your struggling to figure out which gear is the best gear your photo op moment of coolness becomes a overrevving embarrassment or lugged out missed chance at power.

Sure it goes right most of the times but it will get you eventually.

At least with a stick shift you can work with the clutch to correct the issue. Its just not the same with the automatic.

Now the 8 speed in my E70 is a totally different animal. You far more in control with that one than the ones in the E53. Its still not quite the same thing. Even with paddle shifters(in other cars I have tried) and the 8hp you still can't make as good a changeup as you can with a manual.

Still the best forward setting with the steptronic is d for drive
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2011 535xi auto
2013 X5 xdrive35 Turbo
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Old 04-10-2019, 12:44 PM
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That all being said and is true, there are perfect examples when to use manual shift.

Example one: gentle rolling hills: where the auto will try to stay in 5th and the engine groans op the hills, a forced 4th works much better.

Example 2: on ramp to expressway where there is traffic so you can't got it hard, car will pick 5th you want to be in 3rd. I will hold in 3rd until I'm clear to hit the throttle hard and I'll push it back to D to take over.

Example 3: steep downhill, use engine braking.

Example 4: congestion; when going 15-25 constant the car will always pick a useless gear for getting out of a slow lane, it always will be quicker and smoother to be in a lower gear when you get an opening to change lanes but need to accelerate to match the faster lane

Example 5: coming up to a speed trap; engine braking a little less obvious than hitting the brakes to wave to the cop "hey look here I'm slowing to the speed limit"

So: in moderation and at the right time the m/s is fantastic. The car will stay in the current gear when flipping to m/s and in the majority of cases I want the next gear down so I do prefer paddles but I'm accustomed to pull left and back to engage the next gear down as I switch to m/s. (annoyingly the direction is opposite in the 328 of my client's car so I usually shift the wrong way first in his car)
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