[Bimmer07]

My e46 325i had it but my mt e92 doesnt...

[JasonDCarton]

"When you make contact with the little black button you remove her prude personality and turn her into a fierce pirate hooker" -Jeremy Clarkson

[pimp4cheddar]

MT here...

No button in my car.

[taranonline]

It shifts to the lowest possible gear. Love it

[AndyR83]

Is this any different from manually downshifting in DS mode? Seems like doing it by hand would be faster, more predictable, and allow you to have more control

[roundle]

BMW ATs have had the "kick down" button since the late 70s. Back when the big (3.5Liter) 6cyls were mated to 4 speed autos, it was great. In my 1998 328iA, the 2nd to 3rd shift at full throttle (without button pressed) is always 4300RPM; when the button's engaged, it's 6400RPM. I always appreciated the extra control that the kick-down button offered.

[DUI Elite]

I find it annoying as hell. I drive in manual mode all the time, so kickdown wastes times on a downshift that I foresee as being useless.

I stop right before the button.

[oshusttoley]

Originally Posted by brocklanders

this car doesnt have much turbo lag, unless maybe if you have a tune. what your noticing is probably the auto tranny, my 335 is a manual i rarely have to downshift to merge or pass, but when i drive my wifes x5 the auto downshifts and takes a second to gain power, its very annoying.

I never down shift on highway to gain speed. Never need to. I love it.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by roundle

BMW ATs have had the "kick down" button since the late 70s. Back when the big (3.5Liter) 6cyls were mated to 4 speed autos, it was great. In my 1998 328iA, the 2nd to 3rd shift at full throttle (without button pressed) is always 4300RPM; when the button's engaged, it's 6400RPM. I always appreciated the extra control that the kick-down button offered.

Extra control? F-/) thing takes a few seconds to kick down and by the time it does its too late. I hate that tranny.

[SaMaster14]

With all the torque in the 335is and the fact that I drive my DCT in 'M' mode almost always, I usually downshift myself when I need a little pick-up. The kick-down is fun sometimes, I don't use it all that often though, if I'm trying to go fast, I usually stop before the button.

About the lag... I've never had a BMW before, but there is barely any lag when I use the kickdown - probably the DCT?

[DVaughan]

I was actually about to post a question about this when I stumbled on this thread today. I had no idea that this button even existed until this past weekend when I discovered it accidentally.

I was stuck behind a semi-truck on a winding 2 lane road and when I finally got my chance to pass I knew it was going to have to be quick... As far as I could see there was no traffic coming but there was a blind corner that I couldn't see beyond.... So I pulled out and punched it hard. I thought I had it floored and then I felt a "click" and an unexpected downshift. As you all know I was flying in no time... 50 mph to about 110 mph in the blink of an eye... needless to say the semi-truck was behind me and I was safely back in my lane long before I got to the corner ahead

At first I thought the pedal was sticking until I got home and had a chance to take a peek. I have no idea how it took me over a year and 17,000 miles to find this little jewel but now that I know it is there it might come in handy.

[upstatedoc]

So I'm reading this thread getting psyched about trying the black button on the way home from work and I take my exit ramp at my usual 75mph, hit the black button, my trunk whips open and my groceries go flying out the back! WTF!

[MrQuickR1]

Originally Posted by kpjo4

it's the kickdown button for sure, sometimes it's not good.

here is a tutorial if you don't want to engage it http://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17569

Ok this is good for the 335 owner/operators, but for the 328 O/O's with the BMS power Box, if you keep from flooring it, how can we change maps for the pbx? Do we keep taking the modified piece of rubber out and back in?
Did Terry think this one through or just thinking for one specific model?

[Slavo335i]

why dont i have the kick down? 07 e92 6mt?

[Savage93R17]

the kick down is in autos because it shifts for you, the kick down just makes it shift to the best point for acceleration, in a manual your kick down button is a clutch and downshifting

[95325i]

Always knew there was something behind the pedal I just assumed it was bumper or something, I never tried pushing it. I did always notice the click the few times when floored in this and other BMW's I have owned in the past.

[e90335iftw]

This reminds me, that kick down feature made me crash my car
I was coming out of a exit on a highway and hit the accelerator. ended up spinning out and hitting the guardrail.

[bernard54321]

how is a manual going to have it if its job is to down shift?

[mugenKris]

i remember many many years ago when i drove one of my gf's old 735 i gave it some gas and it didnt go anywhere but then i floored it and whoooooosh i felt it click and a delay and then like a bat out of hell....I think its a pretty cool concept for the automatic BMW's since its a quicker way to down shift and do a take over or if need be get out of a hairy situation. Since us manuals have the shifter and the clutch on demand at our finger tips. SPEED BUTTON FTW

[mugenKris]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

So I'm reading this thread getting psyched about trying the black button on the way home from work and I take my exit ramp at my usual 75mph, hit the black button, my trunk whips open and my groceries go flying out the back! WTF!

lol wrong button???????

[SubzeroVR4]

I love the kick down mode. First experienced this driving a '98 328i.

Now, I had a Acura TL and tried to pass a car on a back road assuming it would hit passing gear. Instead it gave me 3rd gear at 60mph and it felt like forever until I hit the powerband (VTEC FTW)

[S3RI35]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

So I'm reading this thread getting psyched about trying the black button on the way home from work and I take my exit ramp at my usual 75mph, hit the black button, my trunk whips open and my groceries go flying out the back! WTF!

well done.