How to drive a steptronic?

[Ash777]

Good day gents
I would love an opinion on driving technique for steptronic. Specificlly a 320d e90.
I tend to put it in drive, and go all the way home before taking it out of drive.
My mate however, pops it in neutral everytime he waits at a red robot.
what is the recommended norm for you gents?
How long should you sit on your brake in drive, in a traffic jam before waiting in neutral rather?
is the one preference more heavy on wear than the other?
Any feedback appreciated

 

[P1000]

It is an automatic. It is meant to stay in drive. Technically putting it in neutral every time makes for more wear, but that wear should be very little. But that would be really annoying having to move the lever that much - if that is what you wanted, you should have bought a manual. Actually, you should have bought a manual anyway :rollsmile:

You can sit in drive in traffic till the fuel runs out. That is what a torque converter is made for. As long as you don't rev while braking.

 

[Ash777]

P1000
that makes sense to me!
it just feels abusive to hold the car back with the break while in a traffic jam, im just not used to the norm as its my first auto.
yes I should have got a manual ;-)

 

[Pho3niX90]

The guidelines I received after replacing the auto on the X was the following:

When putting it in drive, wait until you feel it engage first before taking off.
When in traffic, take it out of drive as it causes stress on the torque converter if it stays in drive.

Since replacing a gearbox wasn't fun I just followed the above from the guys at zf

 

[tinovittee]

been wondering about this but just never got around to asking the question! Thanks Ash!

So according to the ZF guys... is it ok to put it in Neutral at a long red light? I imagine there are some decent fuel savings if you do a lot of stop-start driving. Not keen to save some fuel at the risk of damaging the transmission though!

 

[ChefDJ]

Leave it in drive, traffic or robot. The only time I ever use neutral is on a very long downhill towards the house, right down to the garage door, allowing me to "idle" the car before switching off. This also only on rare occasions after spirited driving.

 

[Bayn46]

Never heard about putting them in neutral at the robots, but have heard that, when parking (especially on a slope), you should put the car into neutral, apply the handbrake, then put it into park, to avoid using the box as a parking brake?

Sounds valid :dunno:

 

[ChefDJ]

Never heard about putting them in neutral at the robots, but have heard that, when parking (especially on a slope), you should put the car into neutral, apply the handbrake, then put it into park, to avoid using the box as a parking brake?

Sounds valid :dunno:

That's correct :thumbs:

So that you don't roll into gear.

 

[Pho3niX90]

Well I don't know, I just followed what they said to not void warranty. If I remembered correctly they said something in the lines of the gearbox is still receiving engine power and thus causing the torque converter to wear, it's basically "slipping", also to have it cool.

But I guess it all depends on how long you are waiting at a full stop, as they didn't specify the interval to wait before deciding to take it into neutral.

 

[FiRi@Rennzport]

Automatic is easy....P for park. D for Daytime driving, N for night driving and R for race mode

Sent from my SM-N900 using Tapatalk

 

[dvst8]

I always just leave in D, sometimes even in DS.

:rollsmile:

 

[RAArmstrong]

Clutch in Select first go forward clutch in select second and repeat... Oh... Hold on a second... :rollsmile::fencelook:

 

[MariusH]

Automatic is easy....P for park. D for Daytime driving, N for night driving and R for race mode

Sent from my SM-N900 using Tapatalk

:roflol::biglol::roflol::roflol::bravo:

 

[Henry330i]

I always leave mine in drive. As per the owners manual its not advised to switch to neutral. But then they also say its got lifetime oil. So I don't know.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[OppositeLockMT]

Personally, I always put in neutral when i come to a stop, it's just always made sense to me.

I also always drive in Manual as I hate the delay when I want to get a move on. I blip the throttle on downshifts too, makes it slightly smoother. I wouldn't drive the same way if my car was diesel though. All the torque would make driving in manual unnecessary.

 

[DieselFan]

Personally, I always put in neutral when i come to a stop, it's just always made sense to me.

I also always drive in Manual as I hate the delay when I want to get a move on. I blip the throttle on downshifts too, makes it slightly smoother. I wouldn't drive the same way if my car was diesel though. All the torque would make driving in manual unnecessary.

But its fun.

 

[RAArmstrong]

Personally, I always put in neutral when i come to a stop, it's just always made sense to me.

I also always drive in Manual as I hate the delay when I want to get a move on. I blip the throttle on downshifts too, makes it slightly smoother. I wouldn't drive the same way if my car was diesel though. All the torque would make driving in manual unnecessary.

But its fun.

It sure as hell is! I've come to realise this over the last week... M57 + Manual gearbox = FUN! :rollsmile:

 

[ChefDJ]

The auto box left to do its own thing tends to be more responsive and better performing, than if you change the gears yourself.

 

[andrewbuch]

My dad has had auto cars since i can remember, never had gearbox issues. He puts in D for drive and R for reverse and P for park. Doesn't ever use the handbbrake ever either unless on a really steep slope or driveway.

Sent from my GT-S5300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ChefDJ]

Doesn't ever use the handbbrake ever either unless on a really steep slope or driveway.

Sent from my GT-S5300 using Tapatalk 2

Same here. It's not needed.