Would be interested to hear experiences of how the 535d accelerates whilst in 6th gear.

My current E46 is a self shifter and despite a powerful engine (3 litre) when I try and accelerate in 5th gear (no 6th) it always changes down to 4th. This happens with the slightest acceleration and can make for a jerky ride. Hope the massive torque in the derv will help eliminate this.

 

Andy,

Acceleration in 6th gear (very high gear) picks up well from say from 70mph - no need to change down. When you get yours try selecting 4th gear in manual mode from around 40-50mph and hit the pedal, this is a great test for this wonderful car. The combination of the low down torque and gear ratio makes the car gather pace like theres no tomorrow. It just goes and goes.
The wierd thing about the 535d is that its eerilly silent at speed. You have to make the engine noises yourself Erm Erm Screech

Merv

 

Thanks Merv. I'll start practising now!

 

I find my 530d shifts down too readily at motorway speeds causing the jerky ride. That's why I often go into manual mode and ride the torque in 6th...

 

What I find in the 530D in 6th on the highway is that it pretty much stays there even accelerating after slowing for traffic unless you really mash the pedal to the floor and activate the kickdown switch.

I envy you, if only we could get the 535D in this country!!

Streak

My Landrover Horror Story

 

Merv, since you make the engine sound yourself, did you get the option of inside car windscreenwipers?

Colelj: The steptronic behaviour depends on how you drive your car. If you take it easy it will not change down, if you ride it hard for a while the steptronic goes into sporty mode and changes down earlier.

Most of the time on the highway i put it in M6 since i'm faster even in 6th than 90% of the other cars over here.

 

Garehaan,

The autobox on the 535d works in a different way to the 530d. The 530d's urge to shift down is far greater. Having driven both along the same stretches of road at the same speed using manual mode I have noticed that where the 530d would change down to M2 the 535d stays in M3 even M4. Even my fuel consumption is better due to the lower revs needed.
On the motorway I always had to keep the 530d in M6 otherwise in D mode when you called for more speed on the cruise it would change down and jerk all over the place. BMW must have changed something on the 535d because if you do the same thing in D mode it smoothly increases the speed whilst staying in 6th gear. The 530d easily has the torque to hold 6th gear - theres got to be something wrong somewhere.

 

That's one of the reasons why i prefer the Manual gearbox.