[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Yeah you're still not quite getting it haha, but I'll try and help!
The ZF 8HP does not need to select or engage every gear.
To help, forget manual mode and think of the standard D or DS automatic mode. In this mode, the car can go from 5th to 3rd without selecting or "going past" 4th. It can just completely discount 4th and go straight to 3rd. A DTC or older gearbox cannot do this, and 4th must be selected in order to get to 3rd, although it does it super rapidly.

So, as ZF and BMW claim, the 8AT can go from 8th to 2nd in an extreme situation, but what I want to know is what situation might this occur?

I can't stand it when Im driving in D/DS mode though. I tried it out at the track and autocross - it does a really good job of holding gears and being predominantly in the right gear - it knows you are driving hard and will select the right gear. Only times are when you have to slow down extremely hard, hold and accelerate for the sweeper, then it gets confused. And it does jump to the right lower gear eventually but it is a tad late and really jerky. Yes it may have jumped straight into 2nd gear from 4th (or 3rd?) but it wasn't that impressive. It should have dropped to 2nd gear when braking hard. But it either stayed in 4th or dropped to 3rd ---> this would not have done the so called drop it into any gear.

In any case, I still don't know when this would happen and why this is even talked about. I think the DCT is still better. But the ZF is still great when I shifted manually on the track.

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Changing gears is extreme? I was thinking select R at 120MPH

wont work.

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

wont work.

HA! can;t even choose R with the door open at ZERO mph....what is that about?!

[Sephanite]

Go on a slippery surface. Gas the car and let it slip through the gears then let go of the gas. The car realises u are at 10 and not 150 so down shifts all the way. Record if u try this

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Sephanite

Go on a slippery surface. Gas the car and let it slip through the gears then let go of the gas. The car realises u are at 10 and not 150 so down shifts all the way. Record if u try this

Yep, or run it up an a wheel dyno and cut the hold down straps

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by pkim1079

HA! can;t even choose R with the door open at ZERO mph....what is that about?!

Saves the idiot from ripping his door off reversing out the garage

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Saves the idiot from ripping his door off reversing out the garage

but what about the dudes that stick their head out the door to park? lol

[bcl0328]

with the paddles, is there a way to go from 6th to 3rd?

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

with the paddles, is there a way to go from 6th to 3rd?

If accelerating just get to kickdown. If downshifting click three times?

[SomeRandomer123]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

with the paddles, is there a way to go from 6th to 3rd?

Not without selecting 5th and 4th.
It may kickdown straight to 3rd.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

You can try.

C'mooooon, be a sport

IN comfort mode my sport at will get to 8th soon after 40mph.
But, I can't pull the downshift lever or move the shift lever fast enough 6 times before the trans will start shifting.

I've got 4 gear downshifts. I'll try harder, er faster that is.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Yes, discount manual mode as you can only go through the gears sequentially, because you have UP or DOWN.
So we're only talking about D or DS automatic drive mode.
Therefore, I assume the "click" is the kickdown resistance switch on the gas pedal.

You can get multi gear down shifts non sequentially if you're fast enough with the paddles or lever.

Maybe if one combines a 3 or 4 quick paddle pull with a kickdown, then it can pull a 6 gear non sequential down shift.
But......why?
Maybe in a heavy braking situation like on a track coming from a 130mph straight down to a 40mph hard right, one could try coming from 8th to 2nd. But, if you're on the track, why would you want to use the 2 over drive gears?

ZF is likely pointing this out just to advertise how quickly the trans CAN do it, not necessarily that anyone would be in a situation to need to do it.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Not without selecting 5th and 4th.
It may kickdown straight to 3rd.

If I'm misunderstanding you, please correct.

With the paddles or lever you will have to move it 3 times, but the trans can do the shift with only one shift straight from 6th to 3rd.
Down shifting to a gear you want is not just for accelerating.
Coming from speed into a turn necessitates a lower gear.
You can't get that with a kickdown by going WFO.

[HighlandPete]

I've noted that if you are accelerating in 'D' (not using kickdown) and flick the stick to 'sport', the transmission will instantly shift a few gears. Not sure how many, either it block changes, or very fast sequential shifts. I'm sure it is far too fast to be sequential changes.

BTW, it isn't my typical way to do it, as I'd normally flick to sport ahead of a fast overtake.

HighlandPete

[MaestroAl]

I tried it today and it's easy to get 8-3 Just manually shift up in Sport mode like I said then kick-down and the software selects 3rd

[SomeRandomer123]

Just found something today guys!
I was stationary in M\S mode and you're quite free to flick through the gears with no issue or anything. So I shifted to M8, then pulled the left paddle thinking it would go to M7, M6, M5, etc...
No. It went straight from 8th to 1st without selecting the gears inbetween!

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Just found something today guys!
I was stationary in M\S mode and you're quite free to flick through the gears with no issue or anything. So I shifted to M8, then pulled the left paddle thinking it would go to M7, M6, M5, etc...
No. It went straight from 8th to 1st without selecting the gears inbetween!

yep. did the same thing in my 07 N54

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Just found something today guys!
I was stationary in M\S mode and you're quite free to flick through the gears with no issue or anything. So I shifted to M8, then pulled the left paddle thinking it would go to M7, M6, M5, etc...
No. It went straight from 8th to 1st without selecting the gears inbetween!

It would do that though, as it knows your stationary and you couldn't possibly set off in 8th so it selects the appropriate gear for the situation?

In regards from changing 8th to 2nd, when my Grandfather bought the GT when it came out I think it was the first BMW to have the ZF 8 Speed box, and the dealer was making a big thing about it. We asked em about the 8th to 2nd and they couldn't really give us a situation on why you'd ever need that change.

My only conclusion would be stopping in an emergency? Cause I doubt you'd ever use it in kickdown as second would be far too low for any situation.

[MaestroAl]

It's not important though. ZF just advertise that it can do it, not that it ever will in the real world. Like I said above, in my one and only attempt to get it to do a crazy gear change, I got 8th to 3rd so it's probably possible.

Still the best gearbox on the planet right now though

[SomeRandomer123]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

It's not important though. ZF just advertise that it can do it, not that it ever will in the real world. Like I said above, in my one and only attempt to get it to do a crazy gear change, I got 8th to 3rd so it's probably possible.

Still the best gearbox on the planet right now though

Well said.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Just found something today guys!
I was stationary in M\S mode and you're quite free to flick through the gears with no issue or anything. So I shifted to M8, then pulled the left paddle thinking it would go to M7, M6, M5, etc...
No. It went straight from 8th to 1st without selecting the gears inbetween!

That's because it was never actually in 8th gear when stationary.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

Still the best gearbox on the planet right now though

The best automatic gearbox on the planet, yes. It is a fantastic auto without a doubt but if you spent time with a DCT, I think you would agree it is better for sports driving. The DCT can effectively skip multiple gears with the shifter/paddles... if you are in 6th and click 3 times quickly, it immediately goes to 3rd. You don't have to actually wait for it to engage each gear (unlike my C63 where you have to let it go into each lower gear). The DCT also has the kick down feature.

It also shifts instantly up/down. I mean INSTANTLY. Click the shift paddle and the car is instantly in the next gear... aggressive shifting can actually be fairly violent as the tranny rams the next gear. It is actually what converted me (previously a 6MT only guy) into a true DCT nut. In full auto mode, I suspect the 8AT is better (as it wouldn't have some of the compromises of the DCT and would be smoother, etc) but in manual mode during aggressive driving, the DCT is simply amazing and cannot be beat. There is a reason BMW puts the DCT in the M3