Manually Shifting W/ Automatic

[BlueM60]

As already stated, using manual mode on the auto is for just that, manually controlling the shifting. It can be used however you want. As far as downshifting for a stop I usually do so at fairly low speeds, below 30mph to start goin down from 4th. 5th gear is locked out in M mode so you have to be in regular auto mode for 5th. M mode only gives you 2nd through 4th gears. Drive your car they way you like, if the tranny is healthy you wont hurt it a bit.

-Ben

[wingman]

if anything your prolonging the life of your trans because your limiting the amount of excessive shifting.

-Ben

Absolutely. Why the hell would you have the options (4,3,2,1) if it was going to kill the tranny?(obviously use it within the handbook limitations...) Use it wisely and don't pretend that it's a manual and all should be fine.

[Michael999]

I live in a very hilly area, i tried to get used to using the car in ful auto mode, but in some areas the gearbox is just an idiot and doesnt know what i need it to do.
So into manual mode to get up the hill without labouring the motor (i hate driving up a hill at 1200rpm foot down and having the car decelerate, having to shove my foot into the floor to make it downshift isnt what i want).

Also down steep hills i now drop to 3rd or 2nd so that im not just riding the brakes hard.

Perhaps i should have gotten a manual for where i live, But there is no beating this auto for city driving or traffic on a hill, sure beats constant slipping of the clutch in order to maintain 5kmph up a slope bumper to bumper :P

[HDhandyman]

Absolutely. Why the hell would you have the options (4,3,2,1) if it was going to kill the tranny?

Because options (4 & 3) are for sport mode in the third and fourth gears.---Put it in S (if you have it) and use 3 & 4 or 3 in auto for us little guys.

Option (2) is for manual shifting through steep terrain like mountains where you need gear braking and added RPM climb. Put it in manual and use 1 & 2 to get over that mountain.

Conceptualy I guess that this is just confusing because of the option for sport mode.---It makes perfect sense to me in my 525i because I can't do sport in fourth and I don't even have a "sport (s)" option on my console, I have to get there by going to 3 in auto. I can see how looking at a layout like " 2 3 4" and having an option for manual would look like "sure, just throw it in manual and tool away", but that's not the deal. These cars have "sport" mode, not "sports shifters". This is just one way of laying it out.

[angrypancake]

AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH AHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA i add nothing to this thread but laughter.

[emw525E34]

Yep, the M20 motor seems to have a very accurate tranny program. Maybe it was due to the Siemens ECU design which was pretty darn good for its era. In my case, my 89 auto M20 motor had Apexi SAFCIII intake mod with 535AFM. When programmed properly (which I have done), I can drive almost like a manual except for 2nd downshift. Blip the throttle over 3500 rpm to shift up and when I back-off the throttle abruptly, it will downshift nicely. The M20 motor revs pretty quick for a 12value BabySix.
I tracked my car, so in one corner I had to "force" 2nd gear by pushing the shifter into 2. Other than that, most people people swears its a manual at the rate it drives!. Very nice.

Of course, I preferred a real manual, which is why I have a Euro manual E34 Touing/Wagon. Only the first 3 seconds of 1st gear does it feel slugguish. After that, it accelerates like a rocket (in E34 terms, of course) until redline. A Real fun car and much much easier to get the tail out in corners. Real sleeper even with 2.5 Single-Vanos M50 motor. I tried several E39 but found those way to slugguish for my liking. No 540 though, that might change my perspective on at E39.