2nd gear launch

[blklacker]

Since the 1er hits it's sweet spot on torque around 1400rpm, which is amazing, I launched my car from 2nd and compared it with launching from 1st and it felt like launching from 2nd gear was more effecient and faster. Could someone else with this car try this out and let me know if you feel the same way. Maybe it was becuase it was night.

[x97Melbourne]

I am confused, you are trying to "launch" an automatic...can you expalin more....

[topvega]

Originally Posted by x97Melbourne

I am confused, you are trying to "launch" an automatic...can you expalin more....

+1:iono:

[Numb3rs]

Originally Posted by x97Melbourne

I am confused, you are trying to "launch" an automatic...can you expalin more....

Hunh..?

No, when a car has alot of toque you really don't need first gear, thus you can start from a stand-still in second gear. In my Vette, I used 2nd gear all the time to race Mustangs, ones it hooks up you can just pull hard.

[rcracer_tx]

you can hit the gas and the brake at the same time right till the point the tires are about to spin the release the brake and get a "launch". i think thats what he means

[gizmo]

Originally Posted by rcracer_tx

you can hit the gas and the brake at the same time right till the point the tires are about to spin the release the brake and get a "launch". i think thats what he means

In 2nd gear?? Won't the auto drop down to 1st even when in manual mode when the car isn't moving?

Maybe I'm naive - I've never driven an automatic bmw.

[moff]

If you plant the throttle in 2nd gear in the auto it will kick down to 1st.

[rcracer_tx]

I was saying thats what I think he's referring to... My car on order is a manual .

[gizmo]

Originally Posted by moff

If you plant the throttle in 2nd gear in the auto it will kick down to 1st.

So it isn't really a 2nd gear launch????

[ARES45]

I think it will stay in m2 at a stop because it doesn't need to go down to 1st.

[painter]

I have been experimenting with using the paddles in town. When I first got my car, in D I was experiencing rough downshifts from 2 to 1 during a gradual stop at intersections, causing the sensation of a surge forward.

I have found that using the paddles to switch into manual mode when stopping keeps the tranny in 2 at stoplights. I think this is gradually modifying the D mode to learn to stop gently, because now when I stop in D, the surge problem does not occur.

As a side benefit, I have noticed that the starts in 2 are smoother and seemingly more powerful than "launching" in 1.

FWIW

[Johnnyr135]

I went to the dragway on Wednesday night and starting in 1st in the steptronic and using the paddles is the way to go for faster times. I tried letting the DS do it for one run and is was nothing to talk about

[993 911]

How would DS be any slower than you pulling the paddles? I think the computer can react a little quicker.

[roadburn]

The auto trans shifts mechanically the same whether it's initiated by a computerized DS shift point or a finger-flick on the paddles. Using the paddles doesn't make anything shift "faster."

The only difference would be that, with manual shifting, you can initiate a shift earlier or later in the rpm range than the DS computer is programmed to do. That might possibly be an advantage at times.

None of this applies to the regular "Drive" setting, by the way, which was added to the car especially for your grandma.

[roadburn]

Originally Posted by painter

I have been experimenting with using the paddles in town. When I first got my car, in D I was experiencing rough downshifts from 2 to 1 during a gradual stop at intersections, causing the sensation of a surge forward.

I have found that using the paddles to switch into manual mode when stopping keeps the tranny in 2 at stoplights. I think this is gradually modifying the D mode to learn to stop gently, because now when I stop in D, the surge problem does not occur.

As a side benefit, I have noticed that the starts in 2 are smoother and seemingly more powerful than "launching" in 1.

FWIW

Make sure you have your gearshift selector in "Drive" around town, and not in the performance-oriented DS setting, which is in sort of a Twilight Zone spot between Drive and Manual.

If your auto trans is like the 328i that I drove (as a loaner), it should never drop into 1st in normal around-town use in "Drive." As you pull up to a light, it'll only drop down to 2nd, even at a full stop. Then it will take off in 2nd.

If you want 1st, you'll have to manually kick it down into M1, or else leave the trans in the harder-shifting DS setting, which does make use of 1st.

[ArBrnSnpr]

I'm still stuck on the 2nd gear launch of an Auto??????? Put in "D" and press the gas - they make 6 speeds if you want more than that.

[painter]

[quote=roadburn;144158]
If your auto trans is like the 328i that I drove (as a loaner), it should never drop into 1st in normal around-town use in "Drive." As you pull up to a light, it'll only drop down to 2nd, even at a full stop. Then it will take off in 2nd.
[quote]

I think you are wrong about this. If I leave it in "D" and come to a stop, then flick the paddle, I can feel it shift up from "1" into "2" ...... and I'm not sure this does have the same tranny as the 328i.

Still, the problem of a hard downshift into "1" seems to be resolving with time.

:smile:

[F0Bman]

2nd gear launch? Doesn't launch control help you out at all?

[2high2aim]

wtf i dont get how you launch an auto tranny car plz explain....

[sndprssr]

Originally Posted by 2high2aim

wtf i dont get how you launch an auto tranny car plz explain....

You won't get too high of an rpm (maybe 2000 - 2750 max.) due to the stall converter but...
-put the car in M2
-put your left foot on the brake and right foot on the gas
-make sure the brake is pressed in and give it A LITTLE gas
-when you're ready to take off, let off the brake and push the gas

Yes, this is pretty hard on the brakes and the tranny but unless you do it all the time or push it to the limits of the converter a lot (which would just result in a bunch of wheel spin in this car), it shouldn't hurt much...

[MZWIE]

Actually all you need to is have the tranny in DS. When ready just stomp on the gas past the kick down button.

Hold the pedal down. This does some seriuos launching....remember that the tranny responds to how hard you press the pedal, meaning it will hold the gear to much higher RPM's before shifting.

BTW, mine has never down shifted into 1st by itself. In fact I found 1st to be too short. Had to shift out of it too low in the RPM's. Second works much better.

[d1ez3]

Originally Posted by e34m5

Actually all you need to is have the tranny in DS. When ready just stomp on the gas past the kick down button.

Hold the pedal down. This does some seriuos launching....remember that the tranny responds to how hard you press the pedal, meaning it will hold the gear to much higher RPM's before shifting.

BTW, mine has never down shifted into 1st by itself. In fact I found 1st to be too short. Had to shift out of it too low in the RPM's. Second works much better.

Is the kickdown really quick? say you're going 45mph in 5th gear and mash the pedal, does it shift down to 2nd very quickly? most autos ive driven have a few seconds of lag before it makes the shift and power