Steptronic question
 

OK, now that Ive figured out the wonders of the steptronic, I have one last question. Say I put it in sports mode and move it to gear 1. If I drive without changing the gears, will it auto change, or will it harm the engine?

It will upshift automatically when it gets to redline. Obviously, this isn't the best for your engine and will increase your fuel consumption by a lot and cause you to get oil changes every few thousand miles.

I was under the impression that it will downshift for you, but not upshift.

It does both.

Agreed - And I imagine it would be one hell of a drive...

I've read on E46 forums that steptronic is idiot proof, and can neither receive nor harm your car...

On a sidenote, I thought it shifted right below the red line (500 below)... maybe I was wrong

If you have drove the stick shift before then you would know what to do in sport Manual drive, it does harm your car if you don't drive properly, that's why there is an AUTOMATIC shift is available for you. If you plan to keep this car for a long time then shift it at 3000 rpm when up shift or down shift, don't let your engine pull above 3000rpm that would consum more gas and torqe. Before shifting let off your foot from gas pedal for a sec in that way prevent from wear and tear your gear teeth.

Thanks for correcting me. I assumed it worked the same way as my G35c, but I guess not ;)

Actually I find it rather annoying. I was coming down some very steep hills in the lake district in UK so I picked 1st but as soon as the revs got up a bit it would change. As it was a very steep hill it would launch itself forward as it changed and I had to get back on the brakes the rest of the way down. This change was no where near the red line I would guess at just over half revs. Also changing down to slow down invariably does not work as it won't. The display goes down a number but then immediately back up again.

I did try DSC and this worked fine but again used the brakes a lot and keeps it too slow for on road.

John

If you like Steptronic then this MOD will make you enjoy it more.

***Steptronic & SMGII Paddle Shifters***

Nothing is ever truly idiot proof because idiots are so ingenious. :)

Do you have HDC? I use it sometimes here in the city.

HI yes I meant hill descent control. It took us down the hill ok but I think more suited to off road.

John

Unless I am misinterpreting your post, I disagree that taking your foot off the gas between shifts will prolong the life of your vehicle.

:iagree: I'm pretty sure that taking your foot off won't save your car...the steptronic is all electronic so the computer still does the actual shifting...I do take my foot off sometimes when i shift because the car feels like it pulls harder when you get back on the gas..but it also feels that the drivetrain hits hard....anyway sometimes even when in steptronic (not just sport) and you shift right before red line, with the accelerator on the floor, the computer will override your early shift and drag out a few more rpm up to redline to get max performance..maybe its just me...but i think everyone should try!

I agree with Jeremy. Although I do lay of the gas when steptronic is shifting sometimes to get some feel that I am driving a manual - it does confuse the shifting software who sometimes takes a little while shifting from 1st to second.

This is the car normally shifting, versus putting it in 'M1' and pushing the gas until the redline - where the car will shift at the redline versus in the 'middle of the revs'.

Yes I've noticed this as-well. The accelerator does not necessarily need to be at the floor, but if you suddenly push it hard enough past 4000-5000 then this effect occurs.

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On another note, since I first got my X3 I originally got into the habit of downshifting into 1st while approaching at stops. While the car resisted at first, now it does so smoothly. Gear wear and tear or software, you guys think?

I had the car in M1 with everything off the pedals and it shifts up at about half revs going down a steep hill (why I am in M1 in the first place). Perhaps I have a fault?
John

Hmm that does sound peculiar. What happens when you try the same thing on flat ground?

[quote=xx3]Hmm that does sound peculiar...quote]

To me too.

Mine does not behave that way. In fact, locked in M1 I am lucky to roll at all with my foot off the gas.