Steptronic shifting early in manual mode?

135forthewin · 04-27-2009, 03:12 PM

Hey guys, I was doing some g-tech 0-60 runs the other day on a private road my friend owns and noticed something odd.
My car is a 135i steptronic w/ SSTT by the way.
Well, the car seems to shift early, even in manual mode. The shifts occur around 6700 RPM.
Any idea what this could be? Is there a way to fix this?

135forthewin · 04-27-2009, 04:02 PM

I just find it strange, because I thought it only upshifts in manual mode at redline (7000 revs).
I jumped on youtube to watch some acceleration videos and noticed some steptronic cars reaching close to 7200 rpm before the transmission shifted for them. interesting...

No234 · 04-27-2009, 04:36 PM

I have a 128 but from what ive seen on my car, if you put it into manual mode from DS mode it holds the gear till redline then it shifts if your just in DS it'll shift earlier but when manual its waiting for you to shift but if you don't shift it, it will eventually shift at redline.

DBFIU · 04-28-2009, 12:24 PM

You would run better times shifting at 6500 anyway.

BlackjackMulligan · 04-28-2009, 12:29 PM

How do you trick it to redline?

Midgad · 04-28-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate

The Step apparently can be tricked to hold the gear into the red, but there is no reason to redline because you are past the stock engines power band.

Noticed that too.
Seems if I really lean on the gas while in SD it stays in lower gear for longer time. If I am mellow shifts normally.
I think the 1 knows what Im thinking just by how hard I hit the gas!

Berduderunner · 04-28-2009, 05:55 PM

J.M. - what was ur best 0-60 time?

135forthewin · 04-28-2009, 06:03 PM

I tried again in manual mode today, starting in 1st gear. It shifts close to between 6500-6700. I know this is claimed to be faster, but I think I'd rather let the decision to be up to me if I decide to shift up before redline.
Berduderunner, I got her down to 4.56. Traction was pretty good, launched around 1800 RPM. I will try to get faster when it's cooler/less humid outside.

Bavarian MW · 04-29-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate

You asked for info and I'm trying to help. Check the following Dyno, do you see any reason to shift at redline? Good luck!

Reason: to achieve a certain (higher) rpm at the next gear.

I am not saying this is definitely quicker to hold the gear to the red in the 135, but I'm pretty sure that is why you would do it.

Bavarian MW · 04-30-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate

It's your ride

... I'm concerned about the direction of this thread so I have deleted all my posts.

Something else, if you know your engine you will not need a tach or a dyno to tell you when to shift, you can hear when it's over-revved.

Okay, not sure what direction you think a friendly discussion is going, but so the rest of the community knows what we were talking about:

A dyno was posted showing the clear drop off of torque and power in the revs above 6-6.5k. The point was made that it makes sense to shift the car before this point to keep the power up.

I suggest the reason to hold the gear higher (or to the red possibly) would be to land the next gear that much higher in the rev band.

What technique has been used and is showing the fastest 1/4 mile times?

BTW, mine is a manual. I have not raced it, and for street sport driving I rarely hit the red. I am just curious as to what actually is faster (albeit maybe by tenths of a second).

Tom K. · 04-30-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bavarian MW

What technique has been used and is showing the fastest 1/4 mile times?

BTW, mine is a manual. I have not raced it, and for street sport driving I rarely hit the red. I am just curious as to what actually is faster (albeit maybe by tenths of a second).

FWIW, when Road & Track tested a MT 135i, they indicated the best times were achieved by shifting from 1st to 2nd at 6,500 rpm "to keep from hitting the limiter". They reported 4.8" for 0~60 mph & a 13.4" 1/4 mile.

(Not at all sure if that answers your question!)
Tom

04-27-2009, 03:12 PM	#1
135forthewin Lieutenant 48 Rep 546 Posts Drives: sideways Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: U.S. iTrader: (0)	Steptronic shifting early in manual mode? Hey guys, I was doing some g-tech 0-60 runs the other day on a private road my friend owns and noticed something odd. My car is a 135i steptronic w/ SSTT by the way. Well, the car seems to shift early, even in manual mode. The shifts occur around 6700 RPM. Any idea what this could be? Is there a way to fix this? __________________ Legal Disclaimer: Anything I or anyone else says about my vehicle on this website(1addicts.com or any affiliated or nonaffiliated sites), pertaining to modifications, is only to gain acceptance from my/our peers, and does not actually represent anything actually existing on my car, and thus, cannot be held against me in any issues, i.e. warranty claims, that may arise.
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04-27-2009, 04:02 PM	#2
135forthewin Lieutenant 48 Rep 546 Posts Drives: sideways Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: U.S. iTrader: (0)	I just find it strange, because I thought it only upshifts in manual mode at redline (7000 revs). I jumped on youtube to watch some acceleration videos and noticed some steptronic cars reaching close to 7200 rpm before the transmission shifted for them. interesting... __________________ Legal Disclaimer: Anything I or anyone else says about my vehicle on this website(1addicts.com or any affiliated or nonaffiliated sites), pertaining to modifications, is only to gain acceptance from my/our peers, and does not actually represent anything actually existing on my car, and thus, cannot be held against me in any issues, i.e. warranty claims, that may arise.
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04-27-2009, 04:36 PM	#3
No234 Private 0 Rep 87 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I have a 128 but from what ive seen on my car, if you put it into manual mode from DS mode it holds the gear till redline then it shifts if your just in DS it'll shift earlier but when manual its waiting for you to shift but if you don't shift it, it will eventually shift at redline.
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04-28-2009, 12:24 PM	#4
DBFIU Crack Addict 84 Rep 759 Posts Drives: Fast Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hollywood, Florida iTrader: (0)	You would run better times shifting at 6500 anyway.
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04-28-2009, 12:29 PM	#5
BlackjackMulligan Most interesting Roadster 69 Rep 2,224 Posts Drives: '01 Z3.0 Roady;'10 C300 Sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Boston 'burbs iTrader: (5) Garage List 2010 Mercedes-Benz ... [0.00] 2001 BMW Z3 3.0 Roa ... [0.00]	How do you trick it to redline? __________________ I can't complain, but sometimes I still do........Life's been good to me so far. - Joe Walsh
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04-28-2009, 05:55 PM	#7
Berduderunner drk one 38 Rep 797 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tampa/Orlando iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 e90 335i [0.00] 2008 135i [0.00]	J.M. - what was ur best 0-60 time? __________________ Jet Black \| Coral \| HighGlossBlack \| Steptronic \| Premium \| Sport \| Comfort \| ActiveSteering \| Navi \| HiFi \| HD \| iPod \| SAT BMS JB3 v2.0 \| BMS DCI \| Berk Tech Sport Exhaust \| UR * DPs \| CoolingMist Meth Kit w/ CMGS \| H&R OE Sport Springs \| Breyton GTS-R \| Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Specs \| GP Thunder 8000K Low Beams/Angel Eyes/Cornering Lights \| LED Interior Light Kit \| Window Tint \| Smoked Tail Lights \| Smoked License Plate Cover
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04-28-2009, 06:03 PM	#8
135forthewin Lieutenant 48 Rep 546 Posts Drives: sideways Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: U.S. iTrader: (0)	I tried again in manual mode today, starting in 1st gear. It shifts close to between 6500-6700. I know this is claimed to be faster, but I think I'd rather let the decision to be up to me if I decide to shift up before redline. Berduderunner, I got her down to 4.56. Traction was pretty good, launched around 1800 RPM. I will try to get faster when it's cooler/less humid outside. __________________ Legal Disclaimer: Anything I or anyone else says about my vehicle on this website(1addicts.com or any affiliated or nonaffiliated sites), pertaining to modifications, is only to gain acceptance from my/our peers, and does not actually represent anything actually existing on my car, and thus, cannot be held against me in any issues, i.e. warranty claims, that may arise.
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