[E90ice]

For the guys who have the STEPTRONIC transimission...have you ever noticed that in manual mode, the transmission idles in second gear...even when you stop. Is that normal?

And why is it that sometimes for no reason the computer shift gears for you when you are in manual mode.

The dealer told me that the computer should shift gears in manual mode ONLY when you floor it or when you reach redline or when the rpm is too low.

I was driving today in second gear (M2) at 3000 rpm and the computer shifted to third gear (M3).

Anyone had this problem before?

[BzsBimmer]

As far as I know the step will keep it in second gear and you will have to kick down to first.
Even though you put it manual mode the tranny will shift if the RPM's hit redline since it's still computer based. The only way to change that is to chip the tranny

[Brunotheboxer]

Originally Posted by E90ice

For the guys who have the STEPTRONIC transimission...have you ever noticed that in manual mode, the transmission idles in second gear...even when you stop. Is that normal?

And why is it that sometimes for no reason the computer shift gears for you when you are in manual mode.

I was driving today in second gear at 3000 rpm and the computer shifted to third gear. Why the hell is it called manual is the computer shifts gears for you for no reason?? Is this normal?

The dealer told me that the computer should shift gears in manual mode ONLY when you floor it or when you reach redline.

Anyone had this problem before?

if you wanted total control of the car, why didn't you get the 6mt?

[nyyankee]

Originally Posted by Brunotheboxer

LAMO

[E90ice]

Thank you for your help! Your comment was awesome. That was not the point!!

[diesel007]

Originally Posted by nyyankee

LAMO

Nice sig!

[hkj]

Hey guys, don't laugh. I once read a post asking about how to rev-matching when shifting with steptronic....



E90ice:

In manual mode the car auto downshifts to 2nd gear when below certain speed. You'll have to manually downshift to 1st.

It also auto upshifts at redline, and auto downshifts when the rev is too low.

But auto upshift from 2nd to 3rd at 3000 rpm doesn't sound right. See if it happens again.

Have fun with your steptronic.

-hkj

[tctic]

Everything agreed with hkj. But regarding hte 2nd to 3rd change, were you in "DS" mode and then you upshift while the transmission was about to change to 2nd from 1st? If that is the case, my steptronic also skips to 3rd after being in 2nd momentarily. Otherwise, I'd say see if this upshift from 2nd to 3rd happens again. Because it shouldn't be like that.

[kabhatti]

Yes, my 325 does the same, always starts out in 2nd when using the manual mode.

What I thought was interesting is also that the car downshifts for you automatically and arrives at M2 when at a complete stop.

[E90ice]

Originally Posted by tctic

Everything agreed with hkj. But regarding hte 2nd to 3rd change, were you in "DS" mode and then you upshift while the transmission was about to change to 2nd from 1st? If that is the case, my steptronic also skips to 3rd after being in 2nd momentarily. Otherwise, I'd say see if this upshift from 2nd to 3rd happens again. Because it shouldn't be like that.

I was in M2 at 3000 rpm when it upshifted to 3rd gear (M3) for no reason. It has done that before a couple of times in the last month.

And when I stop it is always in M2. If I dowshift in M1 it upshifts back to M2 in I don't take of within 30 sec.

I don't know if thats normal. The dealer looks like he doesn't know whats happening. He said that you are supposed to take off with the second gear (unless racing) because the ride is smoother.

[hunt55]

The dealer actually is not stiffing you. M2 is normal for smoother take off unless you need the torque and takeoff at M1. The BMW trans. is programmed to shift to prevent redlining. Not a bad feature. GM made manual/auto shift transmissions in the late 60s. The Pontiac GTO had 3 gears in manuel but, if you were not careful you could redline the engine since there was no safety feature to avoid redlining (hence the tachs sitting on the dash). The GTO 123 step was used mainly for racing-so you shifted gears based on the tach.

[cobradac]

Originally Posted by E90ice

I was in M2 at 3000 rpm when it upshifted to 3rd gear (M3) for no reason. It has done that before a couple of times in the last month.

And when I stop it is always in M2. If I dowshift in M1 it upshifts back to M2 in I don't take of within 30 sec.

I don't know if thats normal. The dealer looks like he doesn't know whats happening. He said that you are supposed to take off with the second gear (unless racing) because the ride is smoother.

Now that does not sound right. I've not heard of one instance of that behaviour (put in M1 and have it shift back to M2 if not moving in certain amount of time) in any E60 8 or 6 cyl or in a E63 8 cyl. I've been at extreamly long lights sitting in M1 - probably on order of 2-3 minutes. Consider yourself lucky as in the V8s with STEP most only down shift to M3. So automatic down shifts from M6 to M3 for me at about the same RPM points (I'm sure it is the same program) as in D. But, as others have already stated, ONLY upshift at REDLINE from any M gear to next M gear.