Switching Steptronic modes

Yangster · 12-03-2005, 02:48 PM

Can you switch Steptronic modes -- from D to DS or from M to D, for example -- at any time, regardless of engine speed?

David328M-Sport · 12-03-2005, 03:02 PM

yes anytime you dont cause the engine to exceed red line revs by dropping down the gear changing from d to ds. the car will not let that happen until it is safe to. changing fom m to d you can do anytime as d will chae to a higher gear, dropping the revs.

i change between all modes from time to time, the most enjoyable bei on uohill mountain roads in m mode. ds is great for windy country roads and for getting a quick head start oif you are first in line at the red lights as it turns green.

enjoy.

CALIF65GM · 12-03-2005, 04:35 PM

I went from D to DS to M pretty much anytime that I felt like doing it myself. This was in the Alps.

325 Baller · 12-03-2005, 05:02 PM

how do you get to DS? i cant figure it out for the life of me.

CALIF65GM · 12-03-2005, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 325 Baller

how do you get to DS? i cant figure it out for the life of me.

Move the shifter to the left once, that's DS. At that point if you start moving your shifter up/down then it moves into Manual mode.

325 Baller · 12-03-2005, 05:28 PM

o, i thouhgt that was manual. Nice. sport just holds the gears longer correct, well that and eats up alot more fuel?

CALIF65GM · 12-03-2005, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 325 Baller

o, i thouhgt that was manual. Nice. sport just holds the gears longer correct, well that and eats up alot more fuel?

No Manual is when you actually start shifting from the DS mode. It goes from D to DS in the display and then if you start manually shifting it shows for example M5.

Not sure, but I believe it does drink more gas in DS mode.

petefalzzz · 12-03-2005, 05:54 PM

alternatively you could have gotten a MT and shifted gears for real

ase2dais · 12-03-2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yangster

Can you switch Steptronic modes -- from D to DS or from M to D, for example -- at any time, regardless of engine speed?

heres the other threads that is useful, hope it helps:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=steptronic
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=steptronic
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=steptronic
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=steptronic

hope it helps you have more fun! gRRRRRRRRR

Yangster · 12-04-2005, 08:37 PM

Thanks for the replies to my newbie question -- I'm only halfway through the break-in on my E90, which is my first Bimmer.

And my apologies -- I had skimmed through most of the earlier Steptronic-related threads before I asked the question, but I see now that my it had already been answered in the exchange below.

Anways, thanks again! I absolutely LOVE my E90 and this forum has only added to my enjoyment and understanding of the car!

Quote:

Originally Posted by getopts

someone has to ask a stupid question, so let it be me.

Can you change transmission mode while the vehicle is in motion or you could only do it when the car is in a complete stop.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lux.sh

^ haha even I know that one.

You mean from D-mode to DS or M mode while your car is in motion?
Yes, anytime.

ward · 12-04-2005, 11:56 PM

make sure you're in neutral and stopped before switching into DS mode,
also to shift back you'll have to stop, put in neutral, shift to reverse, drive 10 feet backwards, then shift back to D

you don't want to damage your transfer case

David328M-Sport · 12-05-2005, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ward

make sure you're in neutral and stopped before switching into DS mode,
also to shift back you'll have to stop, put in neutral, shift to reverse, drive 10 feet backwards, then shift back to D

you don't want to damage your transfer case

Hey Ward,

You forgot to mention that you can also be travelling up to but not faster than 30kmh in a forward direction before putting the transmission in reverse.

Jon_Hanson · 12-05-2005, 10:20 AM

I think it's neat that you don't have to worry about down-shifting as you come to a stop, the transmission does it for you.

Yangster · 12-05-2005, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ward

make sure you're in neutral and stopped before switching into DS mode,
also to shift back you'll have to stop, put in neutral, shift to reverse, drive 10 feet backwards, then shift back to D

you don't want to damage your transfer case

Quote:

Originally Posted by David325Australia

You forgot to mention that you can also be travelling up to but not faster than 30kmh in a forward direction before putting the transmission in reverse.

Alright, alright -- It was a stupid question... The brake is on the left, right?

E90Fleet · 12-05-2005, 12:45 PM

You can go into DS from D any time, any speed.

All it does is change the software programme.

David328M-Sport · 12-05-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yangster

Alright, alright -- It was a stupid question... The brake is on the left, right?

yangster, youre a good sport. no, not a silly question, because if you dont know you ask. and you did.

ward, then i decided to do a little non offensive clowning around

enjoy the car.

JonMad · 12-05-2005, 06:22 PM

One thing I feel is a shame is that if you switch to DS you are able to manually change up and down the gears, but it doesn't tell you what gear you are in until you actually change either up or down, at which point it will tell you.

So if I knew I wanted to be in 3rd gear for a particular bend, I'd move the lever to DS then quickly up and down again to get it to display the 'M...' gear, but do that quickly enough that it didn't actually change the gear. (and move up then down, not down then up, just in case I didn't move the lever fast enough). Otherwise I'd be in DS but not know which gear I was in (and it wouldn't hold that gear for me either).

Jon.

12-03-2005, 02:48 PM	#1
Yangster Private 1 Rep 59 Posts Drives: E90 325xi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Switching Steptronic modes Can you switch Steptronic modes -- from D to DS or from M to D, for example -- at any time, regardless of engine speed? __________________ 325xi Steptronic / Arctic Metallic / Black Leather / Aluminum Trim
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12-03-2005, 03:02 PM	#2
David328M-Sport Brigadier General 101 Rep 3,566 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Estoril Blue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	yes anytime you dont cause the engine to exceed red line revs by dropping down the gear changing from d to ds. the car will not let that happen until it is safe to. changing fom m to d you can do anytime as d will chae to a higher gear, dropping the revs. i change between all modes from time to time, the most enjoyable bei on uohill mountain roads in m mode. ds is great for windy country roads and for getting a quick head start oif you are first in line at the red lights as it turns green. enjoy. __________________ 328i M-Sport, Estoril Blue, Carbon XP 35 Tint, front heated seats, black Dakota, Sports Suspension, Anthracite Headliner, HUD, Pro Nav, Sunroof, hk 600w, Bi-Xenon, 19" 403M wheels, Reversing Camera, DAB+, Xenon, BT Ext Connect, MST turbo intake pipe, MST Cold Air Intake, JB4 on Map 2 with Catless DP produces awesome performance in Sport.
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12-03-2005, 04:35 PM	#3
CALIF65GM Colonel 97 Rep 2,041 Posts Drives: e93-35 May08 ED Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 06 - Oct. 05 build ... [0.00]	I went from D to DS to M pretty much anytime that I felt like doing it myself. This was in the Alps. __________________ 5-2-08 e93-35 ED Montego w/Jade Grey, Step w/Paddles, PP, SP, CA, hot seats and iPod.Awaing re-delivery soon. Debadged 330xi ED 11/14/05 Auto/Mystic Blue/Gray leather with Alum/PP/SP/CA/Fold-down rear seats/Alarm. Sold to Carmax on 6/7/08 with 50,624 miles on clock
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12-03-2005, 05:02 PM	#4
325 Baller Colonel 264 Rep 2,576 Posts Drives: X3 28i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boca Raton, Florida iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	how do you get to DS? i cant figure it out for the life of me. __________________ ----------------------------------------------------
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12-03-2005, 05:28 PM	#6
325 Baller Colonel 264 Rep 2,576 Posts Drives: X3 28i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boca Raton, Florida iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	o, i thouhgt that was manual. Nice. sport just holds the gears longer correct, well that and eats up alot more fuel? __________________ ----------------------------------------------------
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12-03-2005, 05:54 PM	#8
petefalzzz Private First Class 5 Rep 163 Posts Drives: BMW 335d E90 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	alternatively you could have gotten a MT and shifted gears for real __________________ 335d / TiAg/ Black
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12-04-2005, 11:56 PM	#11
ward Major General 155 Rep 6,158 Posts Drives: F Join Date: May 2005 Location: T iTrader: (0)	make sure you're in neutral and stopped before switching into DS mode, also to shift back you'll have to stop, put in neutral, shift to reverse, drive 10 feet backwards, then shift back to D you don't want to damage your transfer case
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12-05-2005, 10:20 AM	#13
Jon_Hanson Private 4 Rep 98 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2005 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I think it's neat that you don't have to worry about down-shifting as you come to a stop, the transmission does it for you.
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12-05-2005, 12:45 PM	#15
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	You can go into DS from D any time, any speed. All it does is change the software programme.
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12-05-2005, 06:22 PM	#17
JonMad Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 235 Posts Drives: 320d SE;Mazda MX-5 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 1990 Mazda MX-5 [0.00] 2005 BMW 320d [0.00]	One thing I feel is a shame is that if you switch to DS you are able to manually change up and down the gears, but it doesn't tell you what gear you are in until you actually change either up or down, at which point it will tell you. So if I knew I wanted to be in 3rd gear for a particular bend, I'd move the lever to DS then quickly up and down again to get it to display the 'M...' gear, but do that quickly enough that it didn't actually change the gear. (and move up then down, not down then up, just in case I didn't move the lever fast enough). Otherwise I'd be in DS but not know which gear I was in (and it wouldn't hold that gear for me either). Jon.
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