Who uses their paddle shifters?
 

Please don't laugh at me....

I've never used paddle shifters before. I started playing with them today. I have no problem downshifting but upshifting is awkward. Are you supposed to use your thumbs? Mine don't seem to be long enough, so I don't have enough leverage to push the paddles towards me. Am I doing something wrong?

I think you meant this for the E71 group... unless your making us feel like losers for not having any on the X5...LOL!

I thought the 2010 X5s came with paddle shifters too. I posted here because it gets more traffic than the E71 forum.

My bad - not sure if 2010 have any, I guess someone will chime in. Would be nice if they did, but I though only the X5M had them.

By the way, any likes or dislike moving to the X6 from the X5?

Yup you use your thumps.... pull towards you for downshift push for upshift
BTW you need longer thumps nails to do that... Tell you manicurist to extend those two thumps nails.:lmao:

If someone with a 2010 E70 would please chime in. I'll move the thread if the new X5s don't have paddle shifters.

Here's my 1000 mile post. All in all, I'm very happy. The rear visibility takes a bit getting used to though. Xoutpost.com - View Single Post - Introducing....cmyX6go

It's actually the opposite. Push forward to downshift and pull towards you to upshift. They changed that a few years ago. I'll play around with it some more, maybe I just need to develop some strength in my thumbs :rofl: Thanks :)

If you have to pull towards you to upshift, aren't you supposed to bring your fingers to the back of the paddle and push it towards you? From my computer game steering wheel, that is how I shift unless the BMW paddle shifter is a completely different layout.

That's why I'm asking. I only played around with it briefly but the thumbs seemed to be the more natural movement with my hands on the wheel at 9 and 3.

LOL at computer game steering wheel :rofl: Do you have the paddles on the 2010? Let me know so I can move the thread if I'm in the wrong place.

Oh well :dunno: time to move the thread. Thanks.

:dunno: What can I say? I need something to make it as real as it gets since I can't drive yet!

Are the paddles the same as this one in the first post of this thread?
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...installed.html If so, that is odd and I guess you do use your thumbs.

I was expecting something closer to the line of this. http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...-wheel-x5.html

They look like the link above. There are two, one on each side of the steering wheel. Both have the same function. I tried playing around a bit more on my ride home tonight. It is still very awkward. I have to get used to using my thumbs on the upshift. If I try to use my fingers to pull forward, I'm kind of twisting my hands so my fingers can reach the paddles.

http://burgertuning.com/images/BMW_p...hift_wheel.jpg

I found out this is how it looks like from the back. Can you not reach the big aluminum area on the back? If not, this seems like a huge design error from BMW.

L, use your two middle fingers to upshift and your thumbs to downshift. Once you get used to it, it's a blast to drive. If you place your fingers behind the paddles, you should feel a natural fit.......Phil

I won't be using mine but it will be a real challenge to stop myself from using them as fire buttons in traffic :D I've got good tone!

MINz guy - I'll try touching the back.

AlexK - I think I'll be using the shifter too. I like the concept of the paddles but the placement is a problem. I'm not happy. I was looking forward to playing with a new toy :mad:

Phil - Middle fingers don't work either. I think BMW designed the paddles for a guy with big hands. My fingers don't reach the paddles when my hands are in their normal driving position. I have to twist them in order to reach and when I do, I'm all contorted :rofl:

Tasker - Why won't you use yours?

I was always a manual guy, thought autos were terrible, just something for the older motorist, I was given an auto BMW by Porsche as a courtesy car and fell in love, I'm too lazy to go back now :)
Once in a blue moon I do take over the cog swapping so I might give the paddles a go but the car makes such a good job of gear changing anyway I really don't want to get in the way of excellence :bustingup

Incidentally, love your new car :thumbup:

Interesting. I'm the opposite. I'm a wuss, I don't drive a three pedal. I've been talking about calling a driving school for some time but haven't done it yet. I wish I had access to a car with manual to play around with. My dad said I should learn on the 1936 Ford. It's time I learn, I got the bug.

Thank you, I love it too. I'm starting to play with it now. It's fun to drive. Have I mentioned how much I love the exhaust note :rofl:

I do love a manual drive, if I go back to a performance/sports car it will be difficult to choose between auto and manual.

Problem solved
 

:doh:

You upshift from behind the steering wheel with your fingers. I didn't realize the back part existed. Thanks MINz guy. I would have found it sooner or later.

That's what I was telling you....you don't have to use the thumb notch on the top. As far as a manual vs. paddle, I seriously doubt that I'll ever purchase 3 pedals again.....Phil

But you didn't specify it wasn't the thumb notch. Do you now understand how contorted I was trying to reach the back of the thumb notch with my middle fingers....:tsk: :rofl:

I bet it was funny as hell to watch you try to change gears :bustingup

I did start the thread by saying don't laugh at me. I've never used them before. I was really thinking BMW made the paddles for monster hands. I'm just a girl, what do you want from me...;) I'm glad I can entertain you guys with my idiot questions.

Now wait a minute, you are not just a girl......I don't know "just a girl" that enjoys driving a beast as much as you do. Once you get comfortable with the paddles, you won't drive any other way. DTC off, sport button engaged and paddles in hand are the only way to drive a BMW.......Phil

I forgot I can get away with that "I'm just a girl" line here ;)

Now I can have some fun with those paddles. Thanks all.

The X5 M is the only one that gets the paddle shifters in the X5 range !! :-)

I'm also on the same boat wanting to learn how to drive a manual with no manual cars to play around with. The fact that we just bought a new X5 doesn't help with me trying to get one. I'll probably learn on a manual at a driving school, but drive around in all our automatic BMW's until I get a job that pays enough to buy my own car.

Anyway, glad you figured out how to paddle shift!

go to carmax. You'd be suprised when I was looking for cars how many sales people recount stories where the client had no fookin' clue how it works.

Can you please post a clip of exhaust note for the benefit of other members. You can record with your iphone.

You're talking to me :confused: I still multitap to text on my KRAZR. :bustingup

I'm going to see Phil Saturday, I'll ask him to do it for me.

The Challenged One

This thread is hilarious! :2thumbs:

I still don't understand the point of paddle shifters in a car with an automatic gearbox. And I still don't understand the point of an iPhone.

Laura with an iPhone?! The iPod she got back in 2006 is still in the box! :thud: :rofl:

That's a much better idea. Or should I say:

TAPTAP
8-44-2-8-7777 2 6-88-222-44 22-33-8-8-33-777 444-3-33-2-1
/TAPTAP

TAPTAP
22-444-8-222-44 :p:

:bustingup :bustingup :bustingup :bustingup :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

226 843 7378 63 8447 847323 23 46 827 827 3676???

:iagree: - I needed a good laugh!!

Hope all is well, L :)

8-777-999 2-66-3 55-33-33-7 88-7, 22-2-777-666-66 :nanana:

9-666-9!, 444 222-2-66-8 22-33-555-444-33-888-33 9-33 2-777-33 4-666-444-66-4 8-44-444-7777, 555-2-88-777-2! :rofl:

444'-6 8-2-7-7-444-66-4!:tapping: :p:

999-666-88 4-444-777-555-7 44-2-888-33 66-666 555-444-888-33-7777 !

(freaks! :p:)

After reading this thread I have been trying to drive in manual in my automagic 3 series, it is absolutely nothing like manual, if you are looking to learn manual driving get a real manual car, it's much easier over here in the UK most cars are manual.

6 7777-8-2-777-8-33-3 444-8 :rofl:

Welcome to my world. Do you have any idea how long it takes me to reply to a text...

I'm glad I amuse you all :D

All is well here :wavey:

Dad said I should play around on the '36 Ford. I'm going to call a driving school....anyday now. Did you know my picture is next to the word procrastinate in the dictionary? :rofl:

I don't do SMS messaging. In the rare instance I have to, it takes hours.

One word, three syllables = Blackberry. :stickpoke (notice the punctuation before the smilie's.)

Black-ber-ry. Three syllables. :bustingup

I don't know what your talking about....:rolleyes: :cool: :p: