[Markzombie]

HI,

I'm the new owner of a 2010 E90 318D Auto M Sport, a purchase prompted by a knackered left knee. My first ever auto.

I know that if you push the gear selector to the left you can drive it as a manual clicking up and down the gears sequentially but haven't tried it yet for fear of knackering it.

So to set the scene...

I'm stationary and have it in 'manual' in first. I set off and click the selector up through the gears, and click down as speed dictates.

When I slow coming to a stop do I have to click down into 1st as you would a manual or can I stop in any gear then click it down to first to set off ?

What would happen if I set off with it in 3rd or 4th for example ?

If when moving I push the selector to the left would it automatically go into the gear you're already in but just be in 'manual' mode ?

What would happen if I'm in the wrong gear for my speed i.e in 5th at 20mph ?

I've got a manual before anyone says RTFM but all it goes on about is the potential to select manually to heighten the driving pleasure!

Thanks,

[seanblee]

The box will still shift for you if you either rev out to the redline or you don't down-shift when you should and there's a risk of stalling. If you try to select 3rd or 4th when stationary, it'll shift back to 2nd for you. If you push the selector to the left from D then you'll be in DS (sport mode), then you'll need to push it back or forward to go into M (manual mode).

[Markzombie]

Thanks for reply.

It sounds like you're saying I'd have to try hard to break it ?

[seanblee]

Yep!

[nicktyler]

It won't let you break it. If it breaks it was going to happen anyway. Now stop worrying and enjoy the 'heightend driving pleasure'

[Markzombie]

Originally Posted by nicktyler

It won't let you break it. If it breaks it was going to happen anyway. Now stop worrying and enjoy the 'heightend driving pleasure'

Ha Ha.

Cheers.

[bmwak]

When you come to a stop it should automatically drop to 2nd. Autos pull off in second by default but you can drop it to 1st with the flappy paddles or the shifter (if a 320d) if you fancy a bit of wheel spin every now and again

[gangzoom]

I was the same when i first got my car, constantly fiddling with the paddles, these days I just leave it in D and forget about it.

95% of the time I have no idea what gear the car is in, the shifts are so smooth I have to concentrate and watch the rev counter to tell when the box is shifting...and that's on a 5 year old car, the new 8 speed autos sound even better.

I was always of the view auto's are for lazy people who cannot be bothered to drive/change gear, now am now of them

Cannot see my self buying another manual car again!!

[Markzombie]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

I was the same when i first got my car, constantly fiddling with the paddles, these days I just leave it in D and forget about it.

95% of the time I have no idea what gear the car is in, the shifts are so smooth I have to concentrate and watch the rev counter to tell when the box is shifting...and that's on a 5 year old car, the new 8 speed autos sound even better.

I was always of the view auto's are for lazy people who cannot be bothered to drive/change gear, now am now of them

Cannot see my self buying another manual car again!!

Me too, love the cruise sensation. Makes you lazy though as even indicating seems like an effort - contributing the typical BMW driver bad press

I regularly have to queue on the M62 and love to let it roll. In my previous car ( 118D ) the clutch would get hot and judder which drove me bonkers.

[Kuroblack]

Does anyone know if the Sport mode changes any other settings, such as throttle response? It may be just placebo (or an effect of the higher revs perhaps) but the throttle response in my 330d seems to be much quicker in sport/manual mode.

[bmwak]

Originally Posted by Kuroblack

Does anyone know if the Sport mode changes any other settings, such as throttle response? It may be just placebo (or an effect of the higher revs perhaps) but the throttle response in my 330d seems to be much quicker in sport/manual mode.

Sport/manual adjusts the gear changes for higher revs/spirited driving. It also shifts off in first as opposed to second in D mode (hence takes off more swiftly).

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

I was the same when i first got my car, constantly fiddling with the paddles, these days I just leave it in D and forget about it.

95% of the time I have no idea what gear the car is in, the shifts are so smooth I have to concentrate and watch the rev counter to tell when the box is shifting...and that's on a 5 year old car, the new 8 speed autos sound even better.

I was always of the view auto's are for lazy people who cannot be bothered to drive/change gear, now am now of them

Cannot see my self buying another manual car again!!

With alpina gearbox flash, it starts in D1 mode rather D2.
And it tells you in which gear are you.

It is so nice to have it and I wish that we could flash any car (d or i) with those gearbox flashes.

The other thing which I noticed was that in auto, transmission shifts so smoothly that you get a feeling of CVT.

[MrPogle]

Originally Posted by Kuroblack

Does anyone know if the Sport mode changes any other settings, such as throttle response? It may be just placebo (or an effect of the higher revs perhaps) but the throttle response in my 330d seems to be much quicker in sport/manual mode.

+1

My 330i is definitely sharper when not in D. It's most obvious when you pull away (2nd gear in both cases) you have to press the throttle much less to get going in M.

[anielsen71]

@Makkan00
Are you saying that not all cars can be flashed with the alpina gearbox update?
Is it only specific autoboxes or?

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by anielsen71

@Makkan00
Are you saying that not all cars can be flashed with the alpina gearbox update?
Is it only specific autoboxes or?

Its only for 335i cars mate.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Markzombie

HI,

I'm the new owner of a 2010 E90 318D Auto M Sport, a purchase prompted by a knackered left knee. My first ever auto.

I know that if you push the gear selector to the left you can drive it as a manual clicking up and down the gears sequentially but haven't tried it yet for fear of knackering it.

So to set the scene...

I'm stationary and have it in 'manual' in first. I set off and click the selector up through the gears, and click down as speed dictates.

When I slow coming to a stop do I have to click down into 1st as you would a manual or can I stop in any gear then click it down to first to set off ?

What would happen if I set off with it in 3rd or 4th for example ?

If when moving I push the selector to the left would it automatically go into the gear you're already in but just be in 'manual' mode ?

What would happen if I'm in the wrong gear for my speed i.e in 5th at 20mph ?

I've got a manual before anyone says RTFM but all it goes on about is the potential to select manually to heighten the driving pleasure!

Thanks,

LOL, you are thinking TOO much mate.

Just drive the thing, it's fool proof

[Markzombie]

Originally Posted by doughboy

LOL, you are thinking TOO much mate.

Just drive the thing, it's fool proof

Ha ha ...... I think you're right!

[Dan-danGT]

Makkan, can you do the alpine flash? I have a 2008 330d pre lci auto?

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Dan-danGT

Makkan, can you do the alpine flash? I have a 2008 330d pre lci auto?

Originally Posted by makkan00

Its only for 335i cars mate.

[anielsen71]

Originally Posted by makkan00

Its only for 335i cars mate.

Damit.....sounded like something I would like in mine.....

[deccauk]

Originally Posted by doughboy

LOL, you are thinking TOO much mate.

Just drive the thing, it's fool proof

Not quite.

In an absent minded moment when rolling downhill in neutral at speed (about 50mph), I pushed the stick forward into reverse instead of pulling back into drive. The gearbox made a horrible rattling noise, the engine shut down and a very serious warning message appeared on the idrive indicating gearbox malfunction - consult a BMW dealer urgently.

I truly thought that I might have destroyed the gearbox, but after calming down, I restarted the engine and 2000 miles later, haven't noticed any adverse effects.

Anyone else done this?

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by deccauk

Not quite.

In an absent minded moment when rolling downhill in neutral at speed (about 50mph), I pushed the stick forward into reverse instead of pulling back into drive. The gearbox made a horrible rattling noise, the engine shut down and a very serious warning message appeared on the idrive indicating gearbox malfunction - consult a BMW dealer urgently.

I truly thought that I might have destroyed the gearbox, but after calming down, I restarted the engine and 2000 miles later, haven't noticed any adverse effects.

Anyone else done this?

Foolproof like I said.