automatic feels like i am down shifting
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I am new to bmw's ,actually new to nice cars.I have driven 2 chevy blazers over the last 15 years.I JUST BOUGHT THE 545 I ,SPORTS PACKAGE ,BLACK,premium stereo,head up display,cold weather package ,global navigation.I love it. What a beast,it is awesome.I was curious though.I have the automatic and when you let off gas to slow down ,its almost like i am downshifting with a standard stickshift.There is a drag .Is this normal ?.I dont mind it ,i actually like it but i have never driven a car in my life that does that. Thank you
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welcome aboard and congrat on your new toy! please post some pics. regarding the downshifting thing, it happens to me when i start the car and don't let it warm up a minute or two. the rpm is around/above 1k and have the same thing like you just described.
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Originally Posted by sleek545' date='Aug 23 2004, 09:13 PM
I have the automatic and when you let off gas to slow down ,its almost like i am downshifting with a standard stickshift.There is a drag .Is this normal ?.I dont mind it ,i actually like it but i have never driven a car in my life that does that. Thank you
I'm no Steptronic expert except to say it's probably the best and most advanced automatic on the market.
Could it be that what you are feeling isn't actually a downshift but instead just the car remaining in the gear you were in? Most automatics, in the circumstances you describe, would upshift immediately upon you letting off the gas. Maybe the step is holding on (correctly) to the best gear for the given speed, incline, etc.
If my assumption is correct, it might feel like a downshift to someone who is used to an automatic transmission in a Blazer or similar American car.
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My car does it too.. It gently downshifts before a turn to slow you down extra without having to use the brakes very hard. I am impressed the way the car does the downshifts (even in DS manual) you hardly feel the car shifting.. The only thing indicating something happened is the revcounter going higher.
