For all you steptronic people

[1013mm]

A few noobie questions...

- At what rpms/when do you downshift or upshift?
- What are you on at full stop?
- How's the mpg with step vs full auto?

[Feyd]

1. When it sounds right... I almost never look at the tac.
2. I think you are asking which gear. I'm usually in 1st when I'm in manual mode. Regular auto starts you out in "2nd" from a standstill so you can be there too depending on how aggressive you want to leave the line.
3. About 23-25 in mixed driving in full auto (lead foot)/14-15 in step (lead foot )

[moveswiftly]

1. Daily Driving 2-3k at most, aggresive: 6500 or whatever I want. Sometimes I want to hear the exhaust so i shift at a higher RPM.
2.Usually 1st gear.
3. 18-19 MPG Since I use step 99% of the time.

[1013mm]

when i upshift from 2nd at around 3500k it just seems like theres no power am i doing it wrong or is this normal? thats why i asked.

[BrokenVert]

1.) I hear it, just like a stick you can hear when it wants to shift.
2.) first gear.
3.) I see around 30mpg highway 17ish city. I do more city driving so like 24-25 combined in d.

[1013mm]

i just find it hard to be a 1st at a full stop since it goes up so fast once you hit the gas.

do you down shift when you are nearing a stop or downshift all the way at the stop? I do the latter.

[BSM 335I]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

1.) I hear it, just like a stick you can hear when it wants to shift.
2.) first gear.
3.) I see around 30mpg highway 17ish city. I do more city driving so like 24-25 combined in d.

+1 lol, I'm definitely used to a JB3 equipped exhaust note from my previous 335i so I go with the sound of the engine.

[Ajumepke]

Originally Posted by jzhang

A few noobie questions...

- At what rpms/when do you downshift or upshift?
- What are you on at full stop?
- How's the mpg with step vs full auto?

- What are you on at full stop?
2nd - I find 1st Gear is too jarring.

- How's the mpg with step vs full auto?
I tried to manipulate this with the Direct Shift - but it's pretty negligible - traffic density tends to affect this more than anything.

[heffergm]

I drive it the same way I would a manual.

[spyderx]

wow, I've been averaging about 17mpg. I'm at 800miles to date... does it get better?
Hard to believe some are getting mid 20's let alone 30!!!

And, I don't see how you guys are at 1st gear at stop unless you're downshifting all the time. I rarely downshift since the braking is so effective on its own and it resets to 2nd gear at stop on its own.

Transmission on auto seems vague at start up, seems to be lurching back and forth when its not warmed up...

By far, this steptronic is the most sports oriented and very effective...
that is until I tried DCT on 2011...that was bliping quick!

[IZAGLO]

I drive the 135i 99.9% of the time in Step Paddle Mode...the only time i put in DS is in traffic...NEVER NEVER in D....honetly driving this car with so much HP/TQ in auto D or DS on the street ruins this car to ME that is...we are all different.. my 1st auto in a long time and only like autos for traffic related issues and a MAIN reason for going Step is my left knee is bad and need surgery so no manny TS for a bit.....DS if you are doing the quarter mile run and just want to floor it as the DS may be a tad quicker than the Step with paddles...but for street alway's paddles
Car starts in 2nd in Step...agreed 1st is just to short, but will certainly kick you back in the seat for a quick wakeup...but usually i start in 2nd where the car automatically goes at a stop...

I shift up generally at 4-6000 and once in a bit to 6300 but although the car will sing to redline...going there is beyond its efficiency range of the turbo and really not necessary to me anyway...
If you are in Step and you shift at to low of a RPM the shift is not as clean as shifting higher...the car , my car tell me that it LIKES to be shifted at a higher rpm for best results...babying it will do no harm and maybe get a little more longevity out of it but to me its boring.

Downshift generally when the engine tell me to or if driving aggressivly i stay in the power curve....but usually if just driving casually i let the car downshift as i come to a stop...
Lastly,,,i love ripping this car through the gears in the "POWER" curve it's engine/exhaust note is highlight for me....i did not buy this car to baby it.

mpg....not sure...right now i do not care...this car was bought for fun!!

[Eyeman]

I don't have paddles but I pretty much never manually shift anyways. I drive around in D on the highway and if I'm just chilling off the highway. More of the time off the highway I keep it in DS.

I'm pretty sure that my car always goes to 1st at a stop. For sure how you drive and how your ECU adapted will make a difference. When I drive a 335 loaner it seems to perform similarly aggressive in DS mode to my D mode.

I consistently averaged 20.9 mpg untuned. Now with Procede I'm averaging 21.5 and that includes driving more aggressively as I'm having fun with it.

[1013mm]

Originally Posted by IZAGLO

I drive the 135i 99.9% of the time in Step Paddle Mode...the only time i put in DS is in traffic...NEVER NEVER in D....honetly driving this car with so much HP/TQ in auto D or DS on the street ruins this car to ME that is...we are all different.. my 1st auto in a long time and only like autos for traffic related issues and a MAIN reason for going Step is my left knee is bad and need surgery so no manny TS for a bit.....DS if you are doing the quarter mile run and just want to floor it as the DS may be a tad quicker than the Step with paddles...but for street alway's paddles
Car starts in 2nd in Step...agreed 1st is just to short, but will certainly kick you back in the seat for a quick wakeup...but usually i start in 2nd where the car automatically goes at a stop...

I shift up generally at 4-6000 and once in a bit to 6300 but although the car will sing to redline...going there is beyond its efficiency range of the turbo and really not necessary to me anyway...
If you are in Step and you shift at to low of a RPM the shift is not as clean as shifting higher...the car , my car tell me that it LIKES to be shifted at a higher rpm for best results...babying it will do no harm and maybe get a little more longevity out of it but to me its boring.

Downshift generally when the engine tell me to or if driving aggressivly i stay in the power curve....but usually if just driving casually i let the car downshift as i come to a stop...
Lastly,,,i love ripping this car through the gears in the "POWER" curve it's engine/exhaust note is highlight for me....i did not buy this car to baby it.

mpg....not sure...right now i do not care...this car was bought for fun!!

This is exactly my thoughts.

[NewYearsBoy]

When I first got the car I drove it in sport and manual mode.... When I noticed I was filling up my tank every other day I stopped doing it so much... But I am surprised I didn't get any tickets cus I drove this car hard... Knock on wood...

I shift and drive the car all by hearing the engine and just feeling the car....

[dragon1761]

1. 2k to save gas; 3.5 to 4 k to have fun
2. 2nd gear. With 2nd its enough to smoke anyone on take off.
3. 23- 25 mpg w /step 27-28 w D

[NewYearsBoy]

Wow a lot of u guys don't like 1st off the line... Just ease into the pedal...

Here is a little experiment... Can u get a lower 0-60 using 1st gear or using 2nd gear first...

[BSM 335I]

Originally Posted by IZAGLO

I drive the 135i 99.9% of the time in Step Paddle Mode...the only time i put in DS is in traffic...NEVER NEVER in D....honetly driving this car with so much HP/TQ in auto D or DS on the street ruins this car to ME that is...we are all different.. my 1st auto in a long time and only like autos for traffic related issues and a MAIN reason for going Step is my left knee is bad and need surgery so no manny TS for a bit.....DS if you are doing the quarter mile run and just want to floor it as the DS may be a tad quicker than the Step with paddles...but for street alway's paddles
Car starts in 2nd in Step...agreed 1st is just to short, but will certainly kick you back in the seat for a quick wakeup...but usually i start in 2nd where the car automatically goes at a stop...

I shift up generally at 4-6000 and once in a bit to 6300 but although the car will sing to redline...going there is beyond its efficiency range of the turbo and really not necessary to me anyway...
If you are in Step and you shift at to low of a RPM the shift is not as clean as shifting higher...the car , my car tell me that it LIKES to be shifted at a higher rpm for best results...babying it will do no harm and maybe get a little more longevity out of it but to me its boring.

Downshift generally when the engine tell me to or if driving aggressivly i stay in the power curve....but usually if just driving casually i let the car downshift as i come to a stop...
Lastly,,,i love ripping this car through the gears in the "POWER" curve it's engine/exhaust note is highlight for me....i did not buy this car to baby it.

mpg....not sure...right now i do not care...this car was bought for fun!!

Very well said!

Originally Posted by Stoutnj89

Wow a lot of u guys don't like 1st off the line... Just ease into the pedal...

Here is a little experiment... Can u get a lower 0-60 using 1st gear or using 2nd gear first...

Actually better 0-60 times are achieved when launching from 2nd gear, as first gear literally get's roasted. Now I personally like to start in 1st always, even when launching as I am one to feather the pedal. Though given this 3.9sec 0-60 run I would have to favor in starting in 2nd for best results.

[ad78]

I like downshifting when near stop.. I like the fart sound on 1er

[dragon1761]

Originally Posted by Stoutnj89

Wow a lot of u guys don't like 1st off the line... Just ease into the pedal...

Here is a little experiment... Can u get a lower 0-60 using 1st gear or using 2nd gear first...

i think thats bc we actually bought the car and not leased it. If i leased my car, i wouldnt care about breaking it in and floor my pedal without easing the pedal.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by BSM 335I

Actually better 0-60 times are achieved when launching from 2nd gear, as first gear literally get's roasted. Now I personally like to start in 1st always, even when launching as I am one to feather the pedal. Though given this 3.9sec 0-60 run I would have to favor in starting in 2nd for best results.

that video was a rolling start at about 15-20 mph

[NewYearsBoy]

BSM 335I... Thanks.. I love 1st gear in this car.... dragon1761... I did buy the car and when I pill up to the light the 135i sound AMAZING when u drop it down from 2nd to 1st...

Is it bad for the car to drive it like this??? (dragon1761 I think thats what your are hinting on)

[BSM 335I]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

that video was a rolling start at about 15-20 mph

Come on man your killing me here. lol

Pay close attention and you will see that he is simply brake boosting so he can launch. Look at the speedo you will notice that it's still in the 0mph position. You should know this man, you own a step!