How many use the paddles to shift when in M?

[BMWMilan]

I must admit I never do. Sometimes I forget they're even there.

[beemarman]

Me 2. I never use it. The car to me is a GT and not an M3 or M6.

[southern6er22]

I play with them from time to time - particularly to increase the noise and decrease the polar bear count.

[dsad1]

I would use it more if each paddle had a plus and minus, instead of having to use two hands.

[neversummer78]

I use it frequently. It saves time from having to move arm down to gear lever and better steering control especially when entering high speed corner. But when exiting corner, I have to admit that Sport mode automatic shifting can shift much more efficiently than I can manually. One of the reasons is weak exhaust note inside the cabin which I need to gauge shifting without looking at tachometer. I wish they put tachometer on HUD which will help improve manual shifting in corners.

[southern6er22]

Originally Posted by neversummer78

I wish they put tachometer on HUD which will help improve manual shifting in corners.

The M HUD with the tack is pretty awesome. I don't have any video of it in action on the track, but there are some views of it in my M School videos. I rarely look at anything aside from the HUD, so the more info on that, the better.

I'm okay with the paddles as they are. I only use them for short periods (EfficientDynamics typically comes to rain on my parade and up shifts), and it's usually during "fully engaged" driving (i.e. when not in traffic and/or drinking coffee ). While I can see the merits of the + and - on the same paddle, there is something satisfying about "pulling the trigger"

Mounting the paddles to the steering column would be nice. It's very annoying to be mid corner wondering where the hell your paddle went.

[neversummer78]

Originally Posted by southern6er22

The M HUD with the tack is pretty awesome. I don't have any video of it in action on the track, but there are some views of it in my M School videos. I rarely look at anything aside from the HUD, so the more info on that, the better.

I'm okay with the paddles as they are. I only use them for short periods (EfficientDynamics typically comes to rain on my parade and up shifts), and it's usually during "fully engaged" driving (i.e. when not in traffic and/or drinking coffee ). While I can see the merits of the + and - on the same paddle, there is something satisfying about "pulling the trigger"

Mounting the paddles to the steering column would be nice. It's very annoying to be mid corner wondering where the hell your paddle went.

I totally agree with paddles on steering column instead of steering wheel. It was made so driver can shift in corner better, but they seem to work best when steering wheel is straight.

[WhyGeeGee]

I use them from time to time when I want to have my exhaust to pop and sometimes just for the hell of it.

[Mentos]

In sport mode I don't use them as often, but in comfort I often flick the paddle to correct the gear selected by the box, for example if I suddenly decide to overtake someone after some sedate driving.

The box, transmission, engine (640d) and logic provide one of the best auto box experiences I've had, so I could live without them. But I still know better sometimes I would add I'm used to driving auto clutch manuals, so using the paddles is second nature to me. Ironically I bemoaned the fixed position paddles on previous cars as they weren't good for gear correction when you still had some lock on.

[Bönz]

Odd. In my DCT M3 I never used auto mode. In my 6er I almost never use manual.

I will use the left paddle occasionally to downshift.

[BMWMilan]

Originally Posted by Bönz

Odd. In my DCT M3 I never used auto mode. In my 6er I almost never use manual.

I will use the left paddle occasionally to downshift.

Same here.

But I think I know why.

The M3 is really a manual (a clutch-less manual but a manual nonetheless), and should be driven like one. In Auto it was so herky-jerky that I would need Dramamine to drive it.

The 6er is an auto, that can be shifted manually. It has a true torque converter. And it should be driven like an auto.

[dsad1]

Whats the easiest way to get out of manual mode? I have been moving the lever back and forth, but is there a way to do it from the paddles?

[BMWMilan]

Originally Posted by djsaad1

Whats the easiest way to get out of manual mode? I have been moving the lever back and forth, but is there a way to do it from the paddles?

No. You just have to wait.

From the manual on top of page 69:

If the shift paddles on the steering wheel are used to shift gears in automatic mode, the transmission temporarily switches to manual mode.

If the shift paddles are not used and the vehicle is not accelerated for a certain time, the system switches back into automatic mode if the selector lever is in transmission position D.

[Bönz]

Originally Posted by ipsedixit

Same here.

But I think I know why.

The M3 is really a manual (a clutch-less manual but a manual nonetheless), and should be driven like one. In Auto it was so herky-jerky that I would need Dramamine to drive it.

The 6er is an auto, that can be shifted manually. It has a true torque converter. And it should be driven like an auto.

It was a rhetorical "odd". Your reason is exactly on point. I drove the M3 like I would a stick. With the 650, it was a conscious decision to mellow out. That's why I wanted a TC automatic and no M-sport.

[andreo]

Originally Posted by djsaad1

Whats the easiest way to get out of manual mode? I have been moving the lever back and forth, but is there a way to do it from the paddles?

You can't force a return to auto mode using the paddles. A quick way is to push your gear selector to manual and back again.

[southern6er22]

Originally Posted by andreo

You can't force a return to auto mode using the paddles. A quick way is to push your gear selector to manual and back again.

Another quick way is to keep the revs up for more than about 30 seconds and it decides I've had enough fun and switches back to auto (while simultaneously jumping up a few gears). This method sounds better :rofl:

[andreo]

Originally Posted by southern6er22

Another quick way is to keep the revs up for more than about 30 seconds and it decides I've had enough fun and switches back to auto (while simultaneously jumping up a few gears). This method sounds better :rofl:

Not sure about quicker but certainly more fun by the sound of it.

[24601]

When in M mode I always use the paddles.

[southern6er22]

Originally Posted by andreo

Not sure about quicker but certainly more fun by the sound of it.

Given that the 6er isn't a track-bred racer or a 458 Italia rival, speed is hardly my biggest concern. Sure, the power and torque are addicting and wonderful, but I've never sat in my car and thought, I wonder "what kind of lap time can this thing set?".

For me, it's all about the qualitative experienced rather than the quantitative facts. While at the PC going around corners sideways in an M6 on the track, I never once thought I'd prefer to be setting faster times staying composed in the corners because it wasn't nearly as much fun. I'm not and will never be a racing driver, so there's not too much to gain from having 0.6 seconds a lap on the next guy. The fun factor is what really matters.

That's why I go for the characterful, noisy option over the civilized route.

[Mrv10]

That's the only way I drive.

[dsad1]

I was testing it out today, i was going 60 mph downshifted to 6th gear and it was back into drive within seconds. I was kind of surprised how fast it kept switching back to drive.

[southern6er22]

Originally Posted by djsaad1

I was testing it out today, i was going 60 mph downshifted to 6th gear and it was back into drive within seconds. I was kind of surprised how fast it kept switching back to drive.

It really doesn't like to go below 6th, even in Sport mode. Given that I get about 11 mpg, it's probably a good thing I switches back to D pretty readily.