I guess I am very fortunate, because I have been practicing downshifting for years and years and years and have never replaced a clutch or had a clutch problem. I can't remember having anything besides a manual transmission since my 1957 Super 88 Olds. I kept the last 540-6 spd for eight years and my son took over from there, and yep, he downshifts, too. With the Remus, downshifting is even more fun. BTW, the 540 still has the original brake pads, too. Nevertheless, I'll try to control myself from here on based on group consensus.

 

I downshift on the regular as well. Not when I'm approaching a redlight however, but I often downshift to 2nd or 3rd to prepare for a turn along with downshifting during regular driving to always have some revs.

If you properly rev match the downshift, it shouldn't be that hard on the tranny....yes?

 

No one is suggesting coasting to a stop in neutral....just not downshifting for the purpose of engine braking when coming to a stop....of course downshifting to set yourself up for acceleration out of turn is completely appropriate.

I think your downshifting for accident avoidance is a bad idea. Downshifting to keep the revs high will unbalance the car, so if you are really worried about keeping your full handling capabilities to dodge an accident for example, you wouldn't want to unbalance the car by using a downshift in that manner.
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No, No one is suggesting that, I was pointing that out... Down shifting for preperation of accident avoidance is not a bad idea... on the freeway or moving at speed the car is straight, thats the best time to unbalance the car, you do not want to unbalance the car when you are turning or after you completed your turn or whatever to get back into gear or select the proper lower gear, by then its a little late.

When I see cars slowing up ahead on the freeway I brake + downshift and keep the RPMs at reasonable speed so if i ever need to turn the wheel to avoid somthing and need to get on the gas again its there. Worse thing to do is fumble with the paddles or stick when something unplanned happens, this way it gives you less things to worry about. Doesnt matter how good you are if you are caught off guard you're useless.

 

I appologize to the OP for using the word "dumb." It definitely wasn't tactful and in fact asking for advice is smart!

The OP referred specifically to "downshifting to slow down." No one has been saying that it's never proper to downshift. If you need to slow for a turn, certainly to accellerate through and out of the turn you will have needed to have downshifted. With regard to downshifting in that case, the discussion would be 'when, using good driving skills, should I downshift.'

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Sure, rev matching does help avoid wear. The people I've encountered who don't know any better and downshift merely to slow themselves don't rev match -- they just let off the throttle, downshift, and let out the clutch. Even if one rev matches, downshifting merely to slow down is a really bad idea.

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Of course there are those who say "I've done that my entire life and I've never burnt a clutch." I view that the same way I view the 80 year old smokers. Just because they have lived to the age of 80, smoking for 65 of those years, doesn't take away anything from the fact that it's a really bad idea.

 

Wow thanks for all your input....guess I have to reduce my downshifting. Now what about downshifting and rev matching before I apply the brakes....that should clear out the problem of clutch wear right?? and it shouldn't unbalance the car right??? correct me on this one...

 

Downshifting withe SMG is just too much fun. Plus, I lease. I have no intention of downshifting any less.

 

I think downshifting is the best feature of SMG. I can downshift 2 gears to slow down and not worry about rev-matching. It does that automatically for you.

Now, regarding the 5 speed slowdown. I would let the car slow down in what ever gear it is on and shift to neutral at about 1200 RPM, short of stalling, and let it coast to stop. If I want to slow for a turn, I downshift and tap on gas to rev match with what ever gear I want to be in next. More rev for lower gear, or a little rev for the next lower gear.

I don't know what's the best down shift method, but rev matching is fun, and I never had to replace my clutch, it was at 125,000 miles before I sold my Acura and 78,000 miles when I sold the 328i.

In conclusion, using the friction of clutch to slow down can wear out your clutch plate and synchromesh. It's cheaper and easier to replace brake rotors and pads. After all, stoping is what the brakes were designed for

 

You kidding right, no downshifts....hahahaha! The point in getting a manual tranny is to just that, control every shift (up or down).

Oh, by the way moderate to hard accelerations will put un-needed stress/wear and tear on your ......... BS

Drive and have fun......it's the reason i got this car in the first place.

 

I agree... if we have to pay this much for a car, the parts have to be at least of high quality and shgould be able to withstand some spirited driving manouvers....

 

I notice the steptronic does a lot of "engine braking". Meaning it will downshift while I brake and I can feel my car slow down a lot faster because of the downshift.