[VapoR]

i'm just learning how to drive stick. i've been driving some of my friends cars to practice and they said u shouldn't downshift into 1st gear while moving. obviously u shouldnt downshift to 1st when ur above 25 mph or so but what about when coming to stop? does BMW's mt have the same limitations. is there anyhing else i should know before driving my e92 off the lot in a few months?

[RightInTwo]

First gear is basically only there to get moving. I never go into first until after I've stopped moving.

[Nikki]

BMW is the only car I've driven that actually even lets you put it into first gear when you're not at a complete stop. You should only use first to get going, and if you're coming to a stop you can put it into first as you slow down to about 15 mph but leave the clutch engaged.

[timmerweb]

You may need 1st for some ultra slow corners if you're racing, but in everyday driving its only really needed for getting going, or perhaps in stop-and-go traffic.

I've never heard of a car that actually prevents you from going into 1st while moving, my VW GTI had no problem with it.


-Tim

[sstarch1]

Originally Posted by timmerweb

You may need 1st for some ultra slow corners if you're racing, but in everyday driving its only really needed for getting going, or perhaps in stop-and-go traffic.

I've never heard of a car that actually prevents you from going into 1st while moving, my VW GTI had no problem with it.


-Tim

I use first in my civic for going up ramps in the parking garage, not enought tourque.

But with a beemer, im sure you could go up pikes peak in 6th.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by timmerweb

You may need 1st for some ultra slow corners if you're racing, but in everyday driving its only really needed for getting going, or perhaps in stop-and-go traffic.

I've never heard of a car that actually prevents you from going into 1st while moving, my VW GTI had no problem with it.


-Tim

I've only had Honda/Acuras and they prevent you from going into first or reverse unless you're at like a dead stop.

[bavarian19]

I occasionally downshift to 1st. You have to be real good at rev matching though, and 1st is a tough one to get... I obviously only do so on some serious hairpin cornering... Even second gear is geared low enough to handle slower speeds...


Here is my general rule for my downshifts... take it for what its worth...

1st - 15mph or less
2nd - 40mph to 15
3rd - 60mph to 40
4th - 80mph to 60

with each of those, your at or about 4k rpm, and optimal for some get up and go... If your just downshifting while decelerating, then you can take each of those down 10mph or so...

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I've only had Honda/Acuras and they prevent you from going into first or reverse unless you're at like a dead stop.

I believe once your above 20mph, it is real hard to shift into first... not that ive tried to engage at that speed, but ive noticed it to be much more challenging ...

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

I believe once your above 20mph, it is real hard to shift into first... not that ive tried to engage at that speed, but ive noticed it to be much more challenging ...

Dead stop, like 0mph.

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Dead stop, like 0mph.

nikki, I can and have done it at speeds as high as 15mph in my E90...

[rchanou]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I've only had Honda/Acuras and they prevent you from going into first or reverse unless you're at like a dead stop.

I used to put my Civic into 1st.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

nikki, I can and have done it at speeds as high as 15mph in my E90...

Hondas/Acuras

[Nikki]

[bavarian19]

Nikki... who drives those anyway

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Nikki... who drives those anyway

you are funny lol

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by timmerweb

I've never heard of a car that actually prevents you from going into 1st while moving, my VW GTI had no problem with it.


-Tim

Funny you say that...

My ex from college used to drive a manual jetta... You certainly could get it back into first after moving... I found out the tough way... in hers, 1st and 3rd were VERY close to each other... I accidentally money shifted into 1st once after accelerating through 1 and 2 ...

But who cares... we are not together anymore :rocks:

[Nikki]

Yeah, I don't want anyone to misunderstand, when I say put it in 1st gear but leave the clutch engaged, that's not downshifting. You need to make sure you're still on the clutch the whole time. I just don't feel like waiting to come to a complete stop before I shift into first, and also that way you won't forget and then go to start in like third or something.

[danglez1234]

once you go down past 10 mph its safe to downshift to 1st. for BMW's at least.

[goldminer]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Yeah, I don't want anyone to misunderstand, when I say put it in 1st gear but leave the clutch engaged, that's not downshifting. You need to make sure you're still on the clutch the whole time. I just don't feel like waiting to come to a complete stop before I shift into first, and also that way you won't forget and then go to start in like third or something.

This is not really correct. The prinicpal potential for damage in a down shift into first is with the the cone clutches which are used as synchronizers in the transmission. Although, a forced downshift into first at very high speeds, or done very quickly, can overwhelm the synchronizers and also result in a crunching noise and a chipped gear tooth.

Synchronizers bring the two meshing gears to the same speed as the gears are engaged. Down shifting into first gear at any significant speed forces the two meshing gears to reach the same speed very quickly (as soon as the shifter is placed into 1st and before the clutch is let out). This causes excessive wear on the synchronizers. An MT will typically have double or even triple synchronizers on first gear for this reason as 1st is the most susceptible gear to the problem.

Downshifting into first should really only be done with a well executed double clutch shift or at very slow speeds as one is coming to a stop. Unless you feel like paying for a tranny rebuild at some point in the car's life.

[danglez1234]

yea what he said

[Nikki]

I don't do that anyways, I coast in neutral but I didn't realize going 10mph with the clutch in and putting the car in first was bad.

[BK]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I've only had Honda/Acuras and they prevent you from going into first or reverse unless you're at like a dead stop.

Meh, you can still slam it in there. They're Honda's, they can take it.