what will happen.....steptronic

[Stephanv]

hi guys.:=):

just a quick Q. Will i break or dammage my transmision if i drive it in the manual mode. Reason i drive it in the manual mode is i have more controll over it and the fuel consumption is also down a bit.

:ty:

 

[vylint]

That is indeed a very interesting question, I'm keen to read the responses to this question. When you come to a complete stop though, does the car go into N or do you put it into N yourself?

Cheers.
:=):

 

[P1000]

Nothing will happen. Just don't put it in neutral at the stop street, that will cause more wear than normal.

 

[Mike1]

Can just picture the argument in the design room...

"if ve install a manual mode it wil most certainly kill ze transmission no?"

"no no heinz, it wil only keel ze box if driven in manual all ze time ya"

Guys, seriously think about the answer its self explanatory. :idea:

 

[Stephanv]

That is indeed a very interesting question, I'm keen to read the responses to this question. When you come to a complete stop though, does the car go into N or do you put it into N yourself?

Cheers.
:=):

Bud if you dont change down yourself it goes into 2nd and stays there. then if you pull away normal it stays in 2nd no problem. if you pull away hard it goes to 1st and then 2nd etc....

+ it's lighter on fuel....:thumbs::joy:

---

Can just picture the argument in the design room...

"if ve install a manual mode it wil most certainly kill ze transmission no?"

"no no heinz, it wil only keel ze box if driven in manual all ze time ya"

Guys, seriously think about the answer its self explanatory. :idea:

please explain then.... :fencelook: i dont want to f up the transmission but why would they install it if you cant use it?

 

[abmi0000]

I use my manual option most times and have been doing so since my first BMW with no issues.

 

[Stephanv]

I use my manual option most times and have been doing so since my first BMW with no issues.

thanks for the reply. i also cant see why i couldn't be able to drive like this

 

[DTM]

Very good question.

I too have an E46 (320i) Steptronic and the fuel consumption is terrible!

I average about 12.6l/100km.

I dont really use the manual mode but should it bring down my fuel consumption without additional wear I'm all for that :rollsmile:

I do use the Sport mode on occasion though. Love how it holds the gears in the power band so I can access it immediately. :inlove:

 

[petrivanzyl]

If you wanted to always drive in manual, why did you get a steptronic.
:fencelook:

If you want to drive in manual sometime, then do it. It was made to be able to do it.

 

[Stephanv]

Very good question.

I too have an E46 (320i) Steptronic and the fuel consumption is terrible!

I average about 12.6l/100km.

I dont really use the manual mode but should it bring down my fuel consumption without additional wear I'm all for that :rollsmile:

mine was about the same as yours bud now its at between 11.2lt/100km to 12.2lt/100km. + there is also no hesitation and the car doesn't rev that high if you do manual shifts and you have more controll over the car i think.

 

[petrivanzyl]

In this regard the F30 8 speed auto box is so awesome...

 

[Ephraimramodike]

Stephan,

I don't think it's a case serious damage unless you change down at wrong speeds, etc....then you're risking breaking the thing.

Manual will work fine when changing up... You just need to be careful when changing down... (for example, changing from 4th to 2nd...while doing 100km/h or something like that)...then yes, you risk damaging your gears, etc.


Nothing will go wrong, just do it carefully and sensibly. Afterall, the Steptronic has a manual option... so it won't break just coz you use it often.

Just my 2 cents. :thumbs:

 

[DTM]

Very good question.

I too have an E46 (320i) Steptronic and the fuel consumption is terrible!

I average about 12.6l/100km.

I dont really use the manual mode but should it bring down my fuel consumption without additional wear I'm all for that :rollsmile:

mine was about the same as yours bud now its at between 11.2lt/100km to 12.2lt/100km. + there is also no hesitation and the car doesn't rev that high if you do manual shifts and you have more controll over the car i think.

I'll def give it a try for the next few drives and see what the improvement is.
I'll keep you posted on this thread.

 

[jeff_denning]

I drove my 525i in "manual" mode most of the time. The option is there, use it If it broke the transmission I'm fairly sure that BMW wouldn't have added it as a feature.

It's still using the same box, the same clutch system if you drive the car in auto/ "manual" it's all controlled by the ECU on when to change gears. As a driver you bypass that by shifting up/ down yourself.

Even if you're clocking at 180km/h and try and downshift to 2nd it won't. You'll probably drop 2 gears and it'll stay there until you slow down. Trust me when I say this, all car manufacturers thought about this properly before letting it lose on their cars :=):

 

[P1000]

Yup, the most autobox software is designed so that you are not able to over-rev the engine. Most will upshift itself if you reach the limiter, and also not allow you to downshift if it will over-rev the engine. It should also downshift automatically if your RPM is too low for the current gear.

 

[Stephanv]

If you wanted to always drive in manual, why did you get a steptronic.
:fencelook:

If you want to drive in manual sometime, then do it. It was made to be able to do it.

i was in a motorcycle accident (offroad) and my kniee was f'ed. so for me to depress a clutch the whole time is a :nonono:. thats why i got a steptronic(or clutchless manual). + i couldn't find a manual touring at the time.

 

[jeff_denning]

You can always buy a manual and mod a touring car racing sequential box to it :biglol:

 

[Stephanv]

Yup, the most autobox software is designed so that you are not able to over-rev the engine. Most will upshift itself if you reach the limiter, and also not allow you to downshift if it will over-rev the engine. It should also downshift automatically if your RPM is too low for the current gear.

:thumbs: thats what happens.

---

Stephan,

I don't think it's a case serious damage unless you change down at wrong speeds, etc....then you're risking breaking the thing.

Manual will work fine when changing up... You just need to be careful when changing down... (for example, changing from 4th to 2nd...while doing 100km/h or something like that)...then yes, you risk damaging your gears, etc.


Nothing will go wrong, just do it carefully and sensibly. Afterall, the Steptronic has a manual option... so it won't break just coz you use it often.

Just my 2 cents. :thumbs:

allway sensibly bud. it's a bmw if it breaks you . if it works you:joy:

---

In this regard the F30 8 speed auto box is so awesome...

hey petrivanzyl you showing off???:fencelook:

 

[Twinz]

If you have the paddleshift use it. I use it 99% of the time. In traffic i just keep it in D mode and let the box do the work.

But here is the most important issue performance wise:

The new autoboxes including DCT is "upshift" happy. You can test it. Put the car in D or DS mode. If you pull off slowly from a stop in first gear then in less than 50 meters the car would have upshifted to 4th or even 5th gear. It will choose the most economical, fuel efficient gear, which is normally the higher gears.

Now to put it in x35 language. Never race in DS auto mode. Because the car will upshift outside of the sweet turbo range when you need the power most. Manual must always be engaged if you want a spirited run. You will find yourself in the higher gears and left without the power of 3 & 4th gear, which you need in a street encounter.
:thumbs:

 

[Ephraimramodike]

Stephan... based on the good responses above!

Just drive the damn sweet ride in manual ! :biglol: :joy: