[Greatdane84]

So I just started testing out DS today after reading this thread. Only had car for about 2 weeks now. I instantly noticed the higher revs and slower shifting. Will be interesting to play with more. Seems like DS will be fun for spirited driving moments where I don't want to think about the steptronic.

(Flashing my car with Cobb as I type this so... We'll see what I like best this week.)

[nycbr]

BTW - I just found out that the kickdown still works in M mode!

[barkles]

The problem is that besides these two BMWs, I've always driven a manual. So the entire motion of me reaching for the gear shift puts my left foot into stomp on the clutch mode, resulting in 100% pressure on the brakes and me scaring the sh*t out of myself and making the people behind me very upset. Same thing goes for the blinker switch, I just can't get used to it.

My Z4 had paddles and I drove it 99% of the time in Manual mode. Got good gas milage too.

With the 328i I mainly keep it 45% DS, 45% Manual and 10% D.

DS is pretty jerky driving around town when it downshifts to first gear. So I usually keep it in D if I have a lot of stop and go — seems to keep it from going in 1st gear and really retards the throttle. DS also keeps it out of 6th on the highway.

[MrQuickR1]

80 mile round trip daily so it's in D maybe 95% of the time, sometimes in M or DS to get it to remind me what it can really do outside of granny mode

[andre1ka]

whats the point of keeping it in DS?

[Yvette]

either d the most and paddle shifters sometimes

[CUTigers]

Originally Posted by LordLev

Right now it's between 20-22 with pretty much all city driving and a smidge of spirited driving somewhere in between. The reason I say that my goal is over 200/tank is because the first tank I put in my car when I got it (in december) went that fast.

Needless to say, there was some interesting driving going on. It's all back to normal now though. I get 280-300 like you, at which point I usually have like less than 40 miles remaining and the gas light comes on.

Oo gotcha, ya thats right on par for me.

[barkles]

Originally Posted by andre1ka

whats the point of keeping it in DS?

DS makes the gas pedal more sensitive, holds gears longer, downshifts more aggressively, doesn't shift into 6th gear.

[iconfat]

Originally Posted by Meeni

You need to downshift to stay in the power band. The auto downshift is very conservative, and gets you in under-rev when you are hitting the gas mid-corner.

Now for stopping at a redlight I just let it do its stuff. I used to downshift it like a manual, but its pointless.

Thanks. I agree it's pretty jerky downshifting when stopping at a red light. Downshift with the 6AT are pretty useless in that scenario. No throttle blip to rev match. I guess that's where the DCT excels!

On the other hand, downshifting with your foot on the throttle gives a nice burst of power.

I still miss driving an MT though.

[kgroschi]

There is a D mode? lol. I am always in the Manual mode. Same when I had the E60 M5.

[e92ninja]

in the winter its D=95% DS=5%
in the summer D=60% DS=40% depending on the road or what auto might be beside me at the light on a good day

[Firebirdof06]

Originally Posted by LordLev

Right now it's between 20-22 with pretty much all city driving and a smidge of spirited driving somewhere in between. The reason I say that my goal is over 200/tank is because the first tank I put in my car when I got it (in december) went that fast.

Needless to say, there was some interesting driving going on. It's all back to normal now though. I get 280-300 like you, at which point I usually have like less than 40 miles remaining and the gas light comes on.

My MPG's in my e92 335ix is hanging around 18, no better, sometimes worse. When I even did the calculation at the gas station last time, it was like 17 even though the idrive was reading out 18

I'm mostly in D.....

[Crewchief05]

I just used DS mode for the first time today. I was hooked. I could get out of it lol. I never really thought about using it. But wow...Its like it has its own tune. huge difference in drive.

[Philz BMW]

Since I've owned my car I can count on one hand the number of times I've driven in DS mode. If I wanted a Manual I would have bought one?