///// Steptronic Trans. Questions \\\\\\\\

1clean335i · 10-19-2007, 02:44 PM

why not just go test drive one for yourself?

Taittinger · 10-19-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fragadellic

Jesus Christ. Have there not been enough AT vs. MT discussions on this forum yet? Do we really need ANOTHER one?

You're not really going to pick a transmission based on what people HERE think, are you? Just go drive both and make up your own mind.

Tastes great!

Ausgang · 10-19-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Tastes great!

Less Filling.

Actually, I'm going to 'step' in here and disagree with many of the early responses. The step is great, and my 335 is so equipped, but if you are coming out of a good manual trans bimmer and live in an area where you don't feel like you're doing leg presses all day in traffic --- you may miss the manual more than you can imagine.

If it's an emergency the gf can take a cab or some other car. The best answer, though, was recently given, and that is to drive the step for yourself. None of us knows your commonly driven routes, so who's to know.

If I lived in the burbs or somewhere where the average cross-town speed was over 11mph, my 335 would have a stick. However, 600 clutch pedal depressions per trip in line for the Lincoln Tunnel is a different story.

(Incidentally, where are the manual trans police? They usually pounce on anyone considering a 'slushbox' of any kind.)

ChrisMT79 · 10-19-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ausgang

Less Filling.

Actually, I'm going to 'step' in here and disagree with many of the early responses. The step is great, and my 335 is so equipped, but if you are coming out of a good manual trans bimmer and live in an area where you don't feel like you're doing leg presses all day in traffic --- you may miss the manual more than you can imagine.

If it's an emergency the gf can take a cab or some other car. The best answer, though, was recently given, and that is to drive the step for yourself. None of us knows your commonly driven routes, so who's to know.

If I lived in the burbs or somewhere where the average cross-town speed was over 11mph, my 335 would have a stick. However, 600 clutch pedal depressions per trip in line for the Lincoln Tunnel is a different story.

(Incidentally, where are the manual trans police? They usually pounce on anyone considering a 'slushbox' of any kind.)

I guess I could be considered one of the manual trans officers, lol. But I actually chose the step even after ordering a manual. I love manuals but the step is very responsive, NOthing like any other auto bmw other than smg but its a different set up. I love the paddles which I will use most of the time and just overall a very nice setup. If your asking you need to drive for yourself.

Gregko · 10-19-2007, 07:37 PM

I have the STEP/paddle setup in my car and I struggled with the decision too - ultimately I went with a delivered vehicle vs a cutom order so I wouln't have had a choice anyway.

Let me start off by saying that I'm absolutely blown away by how good the automatic is. In D, your car is tame, sedate quiet and miserly with gas. Put the car in DS (drive sport) and everything changes - quicker downshifts, engine braking downshifts, higher revs per throttle position- holy crap - flick the stick over and suddenly I find myself really enjoying this car a lot. I particularly get impressed when it downshifts, accelerates too redline and then as you back off the throttle into a turn it stays in gear to slow you down and stay at revs until you get bak on the gas - it's totally unexpected how good this thing is; like it's reading my mind.

All that said, however, I regret every day that I don't have a manual in my 335 and this is coming from a guy that spends at least 50% of miles in stop and go. I would trade this thing off for a 6MT in a second.

Just me.....

Greg

achien · 10-19-2007, 07:43 PM

Let us know how long it takes the next time you shift from 3rd gear to 6th gear...

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWE90

The new steptronic transmission with paddles can shift faster than any human could in a manual. Get steptronic and paddles and you're set. I love mine and so do the people that test drove it.

Taittinger · 10-19-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by achien

Let us know how long it takes the next time you shift from 3rd gear to 6th gear...

Not sure when that circumstance occurs but the amount of time it takes to flick the paddle three times I imagine.

!Xoible · 10-19-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Not sure when that circumstance occurs but the amount of time it takes to flick the paddle three times I imagine.

ah! that's why i go on freeway on 3rd gear, just in case i need 3rd gear

just kidding

!Xoible · 10-19-2007, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Not sure when that circumstance occurs but the amount of time it takes to flick the paddle three times I imagine.

that's when a E46 M3 pulls next to you when ur going 70 on the freeway

samoe93 · 10-19-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Not sure when that circumstance occurs but the amount of time it takes to flick the paddle three times I imagine.

What about 1st to 5th?

!Xoible · 10-19-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samoe93

What about 1st to 5th?

in that case you're not looking for speed anyway. but ur question reminds me of elementary school, going thru all permutations possible?

Taittinger · 10-19-2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantis

that's when a E46 M3 pulls next to you when ur going 70 on the freeway

Still not sure why I would want to go from 3rd to 6th; is there a benefit to skipping 4th and 5th in that instance?

!Xoible · 10-19-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Still not sure why I would want to go from 3rd to 6th; is there a benefit to skipping 4th and 5th in that instance?

yah, sometimes say ur on a ramp, u want to get to 80 mph asap, so u go to 3rd (rpm like 5 or 6k whatever it is) but u dont go any faster and u want the engine to rest, so u just put it on 6th. when i had my stick i used to do a lot of 5th to 3rd, 3rd or 4th to 6th, 2nd to 4th... i almost always skip gears

Taittinger · 10-19-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samoe93

What about 1st to 5th?

Do you do that often?

samoe93 · 10-19-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantis

in that case you're not looking for speed anyway. but ur question reminds me of elementary school, going thru all permutations possible?

I'm just worried that my fingers would get worn out with all that paddle-shifting. When the MT, I just make one movement from 1st to 5th.

J/k. The original question (going from 3rd to 6th) made me LMAO for some reason. I can see skipping gears on the way down but on the way up is less likely...

Taittinger · 10-19-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantis

yah, sometimes say ur on a ramp, u want to get to 80 mph asap, so u go to 3rd (rpm like 5 or 6k whatever it is) but u dont go any faster and u want the engine to rest, so u just put it on 6th. when i had my stick i used to do a lot of 5th to 3rd, 3rd or 4th to 6th, 2nd to 4th... i almost always skip gears

I see. Thanks.

!Xoible · 10-19-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Do you do that often?

to me that's just stupid. coz first gear typically takes u from 25 to 35 mph. if u switch to 5th gear right away u'll be going at like 35 which is almost too slow for 5th gear. 1st to 3rd or 4th might be okay, but to 5th, that's retarded IMO

samoe93 · 10-19-2007, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantis

yah, sometimes say ur on a ramp, u want to get to 80 mph asap, so u go to 3rd (rpm like 5 or 6k whatever it is) but u dont go any faster and u want the engine to rest, so u just put it on 6th. when i had my stick i used to do a lot of 5th to 3rd, 3rd or 4th to 6th, 2nd to 4th... i almost always skip gears

Guess I was wrong; there is a good reason sometimes.

!Xoible · 10-19-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samoe93

I'm just worried that my fingers would get worn out with all that paddle-shifting. When the MT, I just make one movement from 1st to 5th.

J/k. The original question (going from 3rd to 6th) made me LMAO for some reason. I can see skipping gears on the way down but on the way up is less likely...

yah u know... it's all about what u need to do, and if u have the option to do it then you might. that's the beauty of stick, u get to do what u want. i usually like to push the car from 0-80 or 90 mph, then relax, so that scenario is normal for me. some people like to go to 120 mph or something, so those push the car in most gears...

u know, it's all about hearing the engine roar and how u like to respond to it, aka ur mood!

!Xoible · 10-19-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samoe93

Guess I was wrong; there is a good reason sometimes.

u never drove stick before?

samoe93 · 10-19-2007, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantis

u never drove stick before?

I have, but back when I was in high school and it was an old Pontiac Sunbird and so really, I was lucky if it went from 3rd to 4th. Then I went without a car for awhile and the next car I got was the current one, which is AT. I wanted a MT at the time but I moved from NYC to LA and seriously just needed a car ASAP and didn't have time to order a new one so had to take what I could get. Now with the LA traffic I just stayed with AT. So there's a lot I don't know. Thanks for the info though, I've learned my something new for today.

!Xoible · 10-19-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samoe93

I have, but back when I was in high school and it was an old Pontiac Sunbird and so really, I was lucky if it went from 3rd to 4th. Then I went without a car for awhile and the next car I got was the current one, which is AT. I wanted a MT at the time but I moved from NYC to LA and seriously just needed a car ASAP and didn't have time to order a new one so had to take what I could get. Now with the LA traffic I just stayed with AT. So there's a lot I don't know. Thanks for the info though, I've learned my something new for today.

well if u live in NYC all u need is 1st gear anyway

LA is pretty bad too. where in LA are you?

10-19-2007, 02:44 PM	#23
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10-19-2007, 07:37 PM	#27
Gregko Enlisted Member 4 Rep 32 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northwest iTrader: (0)	I have the STEP/paddle setup in my car and I struggled with the decision too - ultimately I went with a delivered vehicle vs a cutom order so I wouln't have had a choice anyway. Let me start off by saying that I'm absolutely blown away by how good the automatic is. In D, your car is tame, sedate quiet and miserly with gas. Put the car in DS (drive sport) and everything changes - quicker downshifts, engine braking downshifts, higher revs per throttle position- holy crap - flick the stick over and suddenly I find myself really enjoying this car a lot. I particularly get impressed when it downshifts, accelerates too redline and then as you back off the throttle into a turn it stays in gear to slow you down and stay at revs until you get bak on the gas - it's totally unexpected how good this thing is; like it's reading my mind. All that said, however, I regret every day that I don't have a manual in my 335 and this is coming from a guy that spends at least 50% of miles in stop and go. I would trade this thing off for a 6MT in a second. Just me..... Greg
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