[d3l0n]

Do ECU upgrades help in speeding up the reaction times of steptronic? Steptronic its great, but not great enough. I know its auto and its not SMG, but for us steptronic owners it would be great to have quicker response times with 1st/2nd/3rd gears!

So this question is for you car tech savvy guys out there.

[just4kickz]

*shrugs* I'm never in 1st gear with step... its too jerky when it takes off--I hate that feeling.

[LOLrance]

If speed up steptronic reaction times means speed up how fast it shifts, then your answer is no.

[d3l0n]

Originally Posted by l4wr3nc3

If speed up steptronic reaction times means speed up how fast it shifts, then your answer is no.

ok if thats what it is...

[montreal_bimmer]

no can do....

[cgnahc]

Try playing with different combinations of the following: Drive, Drive sport, Step and DTC on, DTC off. Very small, if any perceived differences. I only notice that there is no millisecond delay from 1st/2nd with the DTC off when squeezing the accelerator. I think if you have the sport package, the top level speed limiter is set to 140 mph, and possibly the gear shift points may have been tuned differently also. Someone will need to check this.

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by cgnahc

Try playing with different combinations of the following: Drive, Drive sport, Step and DTC on, DTC off. Very small, if any perceived differences. I only notice that there is no millisecond delay from 1st/2nd with the DTC off when squeezing the accelerator. I think if you have the sport package, the top level speed limiter is set to 140 mph, and possibly the gear shift points may have been tuned differently also. Someone will need to check this.

worth a try i guess, but i doubt there will be any noticable difference, i think the step already shifts pretty fast for a full auto transmission

[jbake]

Drive sport definately speeds up the reaction times and throttle response

[uhaulball]

its slow possibly because you either drive too passively, the car has a memory and it adjusts to how aggressive you drive. add that to the possibility that you drive with D mode instead of DS mode, and the car can be pretty sluggish. i always drive in DS mode, there is no reason not to.

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by uhaulball

its slow possibly because you either drive too passively, the car has a memory and it adjusts to how aggressive you drive. add that to the possibility that you drive with D mode instead of DS mode, and the car can be pretty sluggish. i always drive in DS mode, there is no reason not to.

wouldnt driving in DS mode increase fuel consumption?

[uhaulball]

Originally Posted by ehhhwik

wouldnt driving in DS mode increase fuel consumption?

no it actually decreases. my proof? i drove ~300 miles from my college to home, and ~300 miles from home to college. For the past year, during those trips, i always drove in D to "save gas." The result, i would use about 3/4 of the tank and have a quarter tank left - just at the large quarter dial mark. But the latest trip i took, i drove the entire length in DS, cuz i got tired of slow accel and delayed throttle response. Lo and behold, when i got home, i had my needle almost pinpoint on the half tank mark. I filled up before the trip back to school, and same result. That is enough proof for me. Im never driving in D anymore.

[ctgazer]

Originally Posted by uhaulball

no it actually decreases. my proof? i drove ~300 miles from my college to home, and ~300 miles from home to college. For the past year, during those trips, i always drove in D to "save gas." The result, i would use about 3/4 of the tank and have a quarter tank left - just at the large quarter dial mark. But the latest trip i took, i drove the entire length in DS, cuz i got tired of slow accel and delayed throttle response. Lo and behold, when i got home, i had my needle almost pinpoint on the half tank mark. I filled up before the trip back to school, and same result. That is enough proof for me. Im never driving in D anymore.

interesting....how i may do the same now too

[SteveMD]

Of course the mpg is lower. It holds the transmission in a given gear for longer and prefers 5th to 6th at interstate speeds.

The step on the 335 is much faster. 100ms shifts.

[uhaulball]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

Of course the mpg is lower. It holds the transmission in a given gear for longer and prefers 5th to 6th at interstate speeds.

The step on the 335 is much faster. 100ms shifts.

hmm. so why the consistent higher MPG for me when im in DS mode. for me interstate speed is 80-90mph. maybe thats why?

[canucklion]

I find that true for me as well
I actually get better mileage while in DS mode

Originally Posted by uhaulball

hmm. so why the consistent higher MPG for me when im in DS mode. for me interstate speed is 80-90mph. maybe thats why?

[cgnahc]

Originally Posted by uhaulball

no it actually decreases. my proof? i drove ~300 miles from my college to home, and ~300 miles from home to college. For the past year, during those trips, i always drove in D to "save gas." The result, i would use about 3/4 of the tank and have a quarter tank left - just at the large quarter dial mark. But the latest trip i took, i drove the entire length in DS, cuz i got tired of slow accel and delayed throttle response. Lo and behold, when i got home, i had my needle almost pinpoint on the half tank mark. I filled up before the trip back to school, and same result. That is enough proof for me. Im never driving in D anymore.

Interesting, I want to believe it....physical proof is a good thing. You use the same premium grade gas...and no tailwind? Ha. Try it with that DTC off. Hold button for about 5 sec. I really like the peppie feel. Feels like I just flashed the chip for added low end torque.

[ctgazer]

Originally Posted by uhaulball

its slow possibly because you either drive too passively, the car has a memory and it adjusts to how aggressive you drive. add that to the possibility that you drive with D mode instead of DS mode, and the car can be pretty sluggish. i always drive in DS mode, there is no reason not to.

hey but when you say that, will the car remember how i drive in DS too? cause even in DS, i dont plan on driving it too aggresively...just the same as i would normally do it in D

[Evan@Creative]

Dinan had an automatic transmission software for the E46. I don't remember if they just upped the shift points or if they increased gear shift speeds. Maybe they will be doing the same for the E90's

[cgnahc]

Originally Posted by Evan@Creative

Dinan had an automatic transmission software for the E46. I don't remember if they just upped the shift points or if they increased gear shift speeds. Maybe they will be doing the same for the E90's

I'm anticipating their ECU release.

[SteanLV]

what is ds mode? cause when i shift it does to m1 m2.. or d1 d2 whichever i forgot lol.. but is it same thing as automatic? but more aggresive

[tctic]

Originally Posted by rizal

what is ds mode? cause when i shift it does to m1 m2.. or d1 d2 whichever i forgot lol.. but is it same thing as automatic? but more aggresive

DS is when you push your gear selectore to the left. It will shift automatically but in a more aggressive manner. If you push/pull the gear selector up/down, it would shift according to your commands (if appropriate and safe). To go back to DS, you would then have to select D and then go back to DS.

[ZeusPsu]

Originally Posted by uhaulball

its slow possibly because you either drive too passively, the car has a memory and it adjusts to how aggressive you drive. add that to the possibility that you drive with D mode instead of DS mode, and the car can be pretty sluggish. i always drive in DS mode, there is no reason not to.

Interesting...I was feeling that the car was a little sluggish in 1st gear into 2nd. Maybe I just need to put it in DS mode....hmmm. Let me go have some fun! I'll if it works because, to tell you the truth, I hate the amount of time it takes to get out of 1st gear and into 2nd coming off a red light. I expect quick shifts! And I don't expect to look silly as my car jerks into 2nd gear! I expect my car to go smoothly as possible from 1st all the way into 6th gear! Were there enough exclamation points? That's my word. :rocks: