2008 6-speed transmission shift points

[Roadster44]

Heeeey guys - I will absolutely butcher my question, so please bear with me here. Has anyone figured a way to get the transmission to downshift at a less aggressive accelerator pedal push? My thing is that I got a V8 in my X5 and yet when I merge onto a highway, I absolutely have to stab the pedal to get the transmission to wake up and downshift so I can get adequate acceleration.

[pshovest]

If you want a less violent downshift, use paddle shifters. Trans will return to auto in a few seconds.
No paddle shifters, use shift lever to force a downshift.

[ard]

using the accelerator to downshift is absolutely transmission abuse-


you are ramping up engine torque at precisely the time you are forcing the tranny to use the clutches, slipping the wear materials, then re-engaging under load.....



As above, shift the trans- either paddles or pop it over into manual- and THEN accelerate

[Maruzo]

Originally Posted by ard

using the accelerator to downshift is absolutely transmission abuse-


you are ramping up engine torque at precisely the time you are forcing the tranny to use the clutches, slipping the wear materials, then re-engaging under load.....



As above, shift the trans- either paddles or pop it over into manual- and THEN accelerate

That's pretty good tip. Manual downshift using the paddle shifter. I'm sure that's one of the main reason BMW engineered it onto their auto transmission SUVs.

I'm just so used to downshifting using the accelerator, since paddle shifter hasn't become popular until the last 15 years or so.