[drob23]

Originally Posted by Elk

Yes; the car has plenty of power to maintain speed going uphill with a bit more throttle. Similarly, with an MT, I rarely shift down merely because there is a hill. ATs are overly eager to downshift with every slight load increase.

If one cares, the higher gear gets a bit better gas mileage due to the lower RPMs and greater thermal efficiency.

There are, of course, exceptions such as low speed on a very steep hill where a shift is required to avoid lugging the engine.

I've thought a bit about it and decided that fuel economy can't necessarily equate to engine RPM's, not sure about thermal efficiency. Consider the case where you're driving at 3k RPM in either 8th or 3rd gear. In both cases, in order to maintain the fixed speed you have to perfectly balance out the retarding forces such as air drag etc. Since you're going much faster in 8th gear at 3k RPM and air drag is proportional to speed squared, you will need differing amounts of crankshaft torque. I'm assuming this means in one case you'll have the throttle opened up more.

Overall question is why is staying in 8th gear when you need additional torque (such as up a hill) necessarily going to equate with improved MPG? Might it be possible a lower gear's mechanical advantage allows the engine to operate with less throttle and consequently less gas? The question might overly simplistic since efficiency requires comparing distance vs consumption, i.e. not instantaneous rate.

[jzcrna]

Originally Posted by DesertSmokeBBQ

I have the paddles and while I love the aesthetics (nice, chunky pieces of aluminum), I find that I use them a lot less than previous cars that were equipped with them. What I DO enjoy is Sport auto in Sport, Sport selected. I find this is the most pleading set-up 90% of the time.

You are absolutely right. I started driving like this most if the time. It certainly puts a smile on my face. If I want to take it easy I can just cruise along in 8th gear and then downshift easily as necessary.

[rconti]

One reason I've never wanted a paddleshift slushbox or SMG/DCT/DSG/whatever is that automatic mode is "good enough" at least 90% of the time -- even in truly dumb old automatics.

So, given the automatic option, I'd mostly let it do its thing, but then when it ends up in the wrong gear, it's already too late and requires another shift. Whereas when I'm shifting myself, it's just a no brainer -- I'm ALWAYS in the right gear. But given the option to fall back on the automatic I think anyone would get lazy.

[BruceOmega]

Originally Posted by drob23

..... Might it be possible a lower gear's mechanical advantage allows the engine to operate with less throttle and consequently less gas? .....

This is what I was thinking.

Bruce

[BNTLY]

Come in handy when running yellow lights

[antzcrashing]

Love them. Dont use 100 percent of time but I use them alot

[natesi]

Holy thread revival, Batman!

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by BNTLY

Come in handy when running yellow lights

Yes when slowing down almost to a halt at stop lights I notice the 8AT will tend to hold second so there's less pickup on takeoff. Shifting it to first gives the extra torque to get moving quickly. You can still use the console shifter on non paddle cars but the sport AT shifts faster. It can be coded however.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Situational - Paddles in Manual if I want maximum acceleration or shift down deeper for a turn than auto will or just a fast back road run.

Mostly drive in Sport or Sport+.

[kalien34]

Originally Posted by RPM90

If you've driven this new AT you may have noticed how direct and connected to the engine it feels even at low to moderate speeds.
This is achieved with a 1000rpm torque converter lockup, which essentially locks the converter at THAT LOW of an rpm, by using a clutch built into the torque converter.
ZF has managed to get this lock-up at 1000rpm, that's extremely low, and that's what gives this trans that 'connected' feel.

Since this thread's been digged up, wanted to ask you about ZF8's lock-up. One thing I'm not completely happy about this low RPM lock-up function is that at very low speed, there's a very noticeable jerk when the clutch lock up, e.g. at gear 1 or 2 and less than 10mph, if I put my foot on the throttle too quickly and hard, there's this jerk.
Did you notice the same? I wish BMW can continue to refine this transmission to eliminate this low speed jerk.

[natesi]

The only jerk I notice at low speeds is if I"m crawling along, super slow, and the car goes from 1st to 2nd gear.

BTW, does our car usually start in 2nd gear, from a stop? When I put the car in sport mode I feel something mechanical happen, through the seat. I have xdrive too -- not sure if that matters. like, maybe it is locking the diff at a certain ratio, or whatever?

[ig1983]

Originally Posted by LAnderson23

I personally drive a manual, and have no desire to have an auto DSG or otherwise. I have test-driven the sport-line with the paddle shifters, it certainly seemed better than my wife's gimmicky Acura shifting, I'll give it that, but from everything I've read until you actually go dual-clutch you can't really rival a standard. Perhaps BMW has massively improved their system compared to others, if so, good for them. I personally still want the standard manual transmission but as someone else has said, to each his own.

Now BMW is not offering manual transmissions anymore in the 3 series (or 4 series). Ridiculous.

[NoCrease DeQuis]

YES paddles are worth it. This is coming from someone who missed out on them. I drive my 328i (nonsport) pretty much exclusively in Manual mode (in sport of course). The basic shifter works pretty well with the 8zf, and the shifts are quick; however, I would appreciate some good ol' paddles, just as an option to use.

[Kailec]

Originally Posted by NoCrease DeQuis

YES paddles are worth it. This is coming from someone who missed out on them. I drive my 328i (nonsport) pretty much exclusively in Manual mode (in sport of course). The basic shifter works pretty well with the 8zf, and the shifts are quick; however, I would appreciate some good ol' paddles, just as an option to use.

You could just retrofit.

[thefitrise]

Hello, I was wondering if someone could please help me with my paddle shifter retrofit to my M-Sport Wheel for my 2015 F30 328i. I purchased the wheel from ebay and it does not have paddle shifters, however I will drill a hole for the shifters. Moreover, I have already ran a wire from the passenger footwell to the steering wheel (pin 5 in passenger to 3 in steering wheel) as my car is not prewired for paddle shifting.

Will I be able to plug and play if I just purchase these items?
Paddle shifters: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/61317847210/
Wiring harness: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...s/32307848335/

I also realize that I will have to code the paddle shifters, but I know how to do so using bimmercode.

Thank you!

[Snow_335]

Originally Posted by thefitrise

Hello, I was wondering if someone could please help me with my paddle shifter retrofit to my M-Sport Wheel for my 2015 F30 328i. I purchased the wheel from ebay and it does not have paddle shifters, however I will drill a hole for the shifters. Moreover, I have already ran a wire from the passenger footwell to the steering wheel (pin 5 in passenger to 3 in steering wheel) as my car is not prewired for paddle shifting.

Will I be able to plug and play if I just purchase these items?
Paddle shifters: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/61317847210/
Wiring harness: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...s/32307848335/

I also realize that I will have to code the paddle shifters, but I know how to do so using bimmercode.

Thank you!

I am doing the same currently on my 2015 335i, i believe you have all the correct parts. The wiring harness will plug into the paddles and then you code using bimmercode. Not sure if you have a back plate for your paddles?

[GenXer]

BMW paddle shifter is one of the best in the business. It's quick and a lot of fun. However, in my F36, it will only stay in gear in Sport Plus mode. In other modes, the transmission will over ride your gear selection. I guess BMW was kind enough to let the driver choose his own gear if you also don't mind having your traction control off.

[thefitrise]

Originally Posted by Snow_335

I am doing the same currently on my 2015 335i, i believe you have all the correct parts. The wiring harness will plug into the paddles and then you code using bimmercode. Not sure if you have a back plate for your paddles?

Hello, yes I do have a back plate! And that sounds great, thanks! Do you think the paddle shifters will work even though they are the M6 paddle shifters?

[Snow_335]

Originally Posted by thefitrise

Hello, yes I do have a back plate! And that sounds great, thanks! Do you think the paddle shifters will work even though they are the M6 paddle shifters?

That i am not sure about