[bovino]

Hello all! Thank you for helping me figure out some of my confusions in the other thread. There is one question lingering that I can't seem to find an answer to, so hopefully by separating this thread future searchers can more easily find the answer. For the record I have a 2016 435i GC, but I am guessing this is relevant to any similar 2016 vintage with the SAT.

It appears that there are two modes for rapidly downshifting to zoom away when in auto (D or M/S auto):

1. Kickdown Button (past resistance on throttle)
2. Hold left shift paddle

The manual does not describe a difference between D and M/S in auto mode nor does it describe different behavior between driving modes. My take--and what I am looking to clarify or confirm--is the following:

1. Drive mode (sport, comfort, sport+) does not come into play in D or M/S auto mode in terms of how gears are dropped
2. Kickdown button works in both D and M/S Auto to downshift as far as possible
3. Holding left shift paddle will downshift as far as possible in D or M/S auto
4. WOT is required for kickdown button (have to floor it)
5. Any throttle position works with left paddle hold
6. There is no difference between how many gears down either method can drop, e.g. One is not superior to the other

Being in M/S Manual mode appears to be different, and I'm not discussing that. It seems well documented that kickdown + one left paddle in M/S manual mode will drop gears to the lowest. My question is what happens in D or M/S Auto.

Manual description of kickdown, which doesn't say much:

Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving performance. Step on the accelerator pedal beyond the resistance point at the full throttle position.

Manual description of gear selection using paddle. Note #3:

The shift paddles on the steering wheel allow you to shift gears quickly while keeping both hands on the steering wheel.

Shift up: briefly pull right shift paddle.

Shift down: briefly pull left shift paddle.

With the respective transmission version, the lowest possible gear can be selected by pulling and holding the left shift paddle.

I will pay it back in future posts if I can.

[bovino]

Update: the hold left paddle either doesn't work or in every instance only one gear down was the "lowest possible gear."

[kadify]

I don't think just holding the left paddle does anything except shift one gear lower. I think you have to be holding the paddle in conjunction with pressing past the kick down point for it to shift more than one gear at a time. I don't know how this changes in different driving modes though or whether it is different in D or DS/Manual mode.

[bovino]

Originally Posted by kadify

I don't think just holding the left paddle does anything except shift one gear lower. I think you have to be holding the paddle in conjunction with pressing past the kick down point for it to shift more than one gear at a time. I don't know how this changes in different driving modes though or whether it is different in D or DS/Manual mode.

Do intend to try that. Was hoping someone here could explain the difference. My understanding is the kickdown switch itself works fine.

The manual doesn't say anything about the combo when in D or M/S manual. Shrugs.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by bovino

Do intend to try that. Was hoping someone here could explain the difference. My understanding is the kickdown switch itself works fine.

The manual doesn't say anything about the combo when in D or M/S manual. Shrugs.

In D or M/S, without touching the paddles, kick-down will take over any way, if you go through the kick-down resistance point. If you have used the paddles in M/S position then you are in manual mode anyway and the manual block change procedure applies.

The user manual is specific that the paddle block change option does not work in D mode. I do wonder if it is the same in M/S, if you attempt a change with the paddle with the first paddle movement.

I've not got the feature in my car so can't try the possible options.

HighlandPete

[bovino]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

In D or M/S, without touching the paddles, kick-down will take over any way, if you go through the kick-down resistance point. If you have used the paddles in M/S position then you are in manual mode anyway and the manual block change procedure applies.

The user manual is specific that the paddle block change option does not work in D mode. I do wonder if it is the same in M/S, if you attempt a change with the paddle with the first paddle movement.

I've not got the feature in my car so can't try the possible options.

HighlandPete

So I did get to try it (happy new year all!) in Manual mode and I can't seem to replicate the "lowest possible gear" behavior the manual promises. Beats me.

Floor it!

[G30 B58]

2015 435i M-Sport

Cruising along at 45 in 6th gear, M/S, Sport (+), holding the - paddle downshifts one gear and one gear only. Nothing else. No magic.

[bovino]

Originally Posted by F32 N55

2015 435i M-Sport

Cruising along at 45 in 6th gear, M/S, Sport (+), holding the - paddle downshifts one gear and one gear only. Nothing else. No magic.

I can't find any combination where the manual's comment seems to work. Oh well.

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by kadify

I don't think just holding the left paddle does anything except shift one gear lower. I think you have to be holding the paddle in conjunction with pressing past the kick down point for it to shift more than one gear at a time.

In my 340i auto, I'm in Sport+/manual mode most of the time. (Yes, I frequently have regrets about not getting the manual, but that's another matter.)

I see the opposite of what you're describing; namely, holding the gas down to the floor doesn't do anything. A quick flick of the left paddle downshifts immediately, but holding it down for about 1.5s will downshift to the lowest possible gear, even if I don't touch the gas.

I do this often when approaching an intersection, since otherwise the car would be happy to continue lugging out in 5th/6th gear (but acceleration would be lackadaisical). As I approach, I hold down the paddle, instantly shift to 2nd, and accelerate out like a boss.

[aacabriolet]

We're also supposed to be able to hold the right paddle shifter in to go from M to D mode when you have pushed a paddle to go into M mode and want to go back into normal D mode, and don't want to wait the 10 sec or so for it to auto switch back to D, or manually switch the shifter to the left to S and then back to D again (tedious method...)

[strumbringer]

The left-paddle-hold works in conjunction with the kickdown when in Manual shift mode, I think?

(i.e. kickdown and hold left paddle to shift into lowest available gear when in Manual).

That's how it works on my F10 and how it worked when I test drove an F30... Holding down the paddle w/o kickdown did nothing.

[cryptocar]

Originally Posted by strumbringer

The left-paddle-hold works in conjunction with the kickdown when in Manual shift mode, I think?

(i.e. kickdown and hold left paddle to shift into lowest available gear when in Manual).

That's how it works on my F10 and how it worked when I test drove an F30... Holding down the paddle w/o kickdown did nothing.

My 2013 does nothing other than a single downshift holding the left paddle. It only kicks down when actually pushing the kickdown switch on the pedal regardless of what I do with the paddles.

[bovino]

I think the issue is "respective transmission" without defining what that transmission is. Someone here pointed out it could be a European feature not applicable but not noted as such. I can confirm that 2/3 bullets noted in my paste from the manual above regarding the shifter do not work.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by bovino

I think the issue is "respective transmission" without defining what that transmission is. Someone here pointed out it could be a European feature not applicable but not noted as such. I can confirm that 2/3 bullets noted in my paste from the manual above regarding the shifter do not work.

I assume you do have the SAT option.

[bovino]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I assume you do have the SAT option.

Correct. If they would just explain which applies to which transmission it would be helpful.

[cryptocar]

Originally Posted by bovino

Correct. If they would just explain which applies to which transmission it would be helpful.

I have SAT. Only kickdown switch actually kicks down more than a single gear under any circumstances. Left paddle hold is always ineffective.

[bovino]

Originally Posted by cryptocar

I have SAT. Only kickdown switch actually kicks down more than a single gear under any circumstances. Left paddle hold is always ineffective.

Glad it's not just me.

[F32Fleet]

You guys are really making this more complicated than it is.

Using left paddle is just like rev matching with a manual. Your speed won't really increase because the amount of throttle hasn't changed.

When using "kick down" you're now asking the transmission to select the lowest gear based on the increased throttle (ie more fuel)

That's it in a nutshell.

[cryptocar]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

You guys are really making this more complicated than it is.

Using left paddle is just like rev matching with a manual. Your speed won't really increase because the amount of throttle hasn't changed.

When using "kick down" you're now asking the transmission to select the lowest gear based on the increased throttle (ie more fuel)

That's it in a nutshell.

I don't follow. You say that we're making it more complicated than it is but you just added new information to this thread not previously mentioned regarding rev matching. The post began about whether or not holding the left paddle downshifts to lowest possible gear, same as the kick-down switch on the pedal. The info from the manual stated it did, and nobody in this thread has experienced this at least consistently.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by cryptocar

I don't follow. You say that we're making it more complicated than it is but you just added new information to this thread not previously mentioned regarding rev matching. The post began about whether or not holding the left paddle downshifts to lowest possible gear, same as the kick-down switch on the pedal. The info from the manual stated it did, and nobody in this thread has experienced this at least consistently.

Ahh okay. Well here's my own experience.

Left paddle did not result in lowest possible gear (either while accelerating or while braking) in any possible combination.

Comfort, Sport, Sport+ & either D, S-mode, or M-mode.

Perhaps the manual is talking about a feature of the DCT for the M's and it found its way in all manuals?

[cryptocar]

I have no idea since I haven't even seen where that citation is actually from it's just been mentioned a couple times.
On another note one of these things also said that in D mode and you change to MX by hitting a Paddle up or down, if you don't want to wait the 10s until it resets to D automatically or do a quick flip to S/M and back to D, it mentioned holding the right paddle will set back to D instantly.
I tried this today along with the left paddle again, and yet again neither of these proposed functions work on my 2013 ZF8.
I hope someone can provide a source for these functions.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by cryptocar

I have no idea since I haven't even seen where that citation is actually from it's just been mentioned a couple times.
On another note one of these things also said that in D mode and you change to MX by hitting a Paddle up or down, if you don't want to wait the 10s until it resets to D automatically or do a quick flip to S/M and back to D, it mentioned holding the right paddle will set back to D instantly.
I tried this today along with the left paddle again, and yet again neither of these proposed functions work on my 2013 ZF8.
I hope someone can provide a source for these functions.

It on pg 73 of my manual. TBH it seems like a duplicative and therefore useless feature. On the other hand if the left paddle down shifted into the lowest gear while braking. That would be something.