downshifting question
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Originally Posted by tomwid' date='Jun 22 2005, 01:18 PM
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.
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I think there's been a lot of misinformation here about the supposed stresses downshifting puts on a transmission.
I find the following article to be very useful. Downshifting is very necessary to master in appropriate situations:
http://www.318ti.org/notebook/shifting/
I find the following article to be very useful. Downshifting is very necessary to master in appropriate situations:
http://www.318ti.org/notebook/shifting/
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From: Massachusetts, USA
My Ride: X3 | 3.0 | 6-speed manual
Originally Posted by rfg17' date='Jun 22 2005, 05:13 PM
I think there's been a lot of misinformation here about the supposed stresses downshifting puts on a transmission.
I find the following article to be very useful.? Downshifting is very necessary to master in appropriate situations:
http://www.318ti.org/notebook/shifting/
I find the following article to be very useful.? Downshifting is very necessary to master in appropriate situations:
http://www.318ti.org/notebook/shifting/
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That is not one of the situations commented on favorably by the article you posted.
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Originally Posted by Bart001' date='Jun 23 2005, 04:03 AM
[quote name='rfg17' date='Jun 22 2005, 05:13 PM']I think there's been a lot of misinformation here about the supposed stresses downshifting puts on a transmission.
I find the following article to be very useful.? Downshifting is very necessary to master in appropriate situations:
http://www.318ti.org/notebook/shifting/
I find the following article to be very useful.? Downshifting is very necessary to master in appropriate situations:
http://www.318ti.org/notebook/shifting/
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That is not one of the situations commented on favorably by the article you posted.
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[/quote]Technicalities... as long as it has to do with downshifting at speed its alright.
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I may be way off here but has anyone watched F1 racing??? now yes I do know these are different cars but im sure the same would apply... the f1 drivers constantly down shift to slow down the car and try not to brake as much as possible.. personally I downshift all the time.. but I don't go from like 5th to first I slowy start prining the car slower and slower... I dunno im jsut pondering 
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If anybody honestly believes the same driving techniques should apply on the street as are used in F1, then I do not want to be on the highway at the same time.
Racing techniques are geared toward speed, speed, and more speed. Most of us balance that goal with the subsidiary one of keeping our car for more than 10,000 miles without its failing catastrophically.
Racing techniques are geared toward speed, speed, and more speed. Most of us balance that goal with the subsidiary one of keeping our car for more than 10,000 miles without its failing catastrophically.
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Originally Posted by MaxBuck' date='Jun 24 2005, 04:27 AM
If anybody honestly believes the same driving techniques should apply on the street as are used in F1, then I do not want to be on the highway at the same time.
Racing techniques are geared toward speed, speed, and more speed.? Most of us balance that goal with the subsidiary one of keeping our car for more than 10,000 miles without its failing catastrophically.
Racing techniques are geared toward speed, speed, and more speed.? Most of us balance that goal with the subsidiary one of keeping our car for more than 10,000 miles without its failing catastrophically.
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Well i dont think he ment "exactlly" the same as racing... but i have to say some rules do apply, actually A LOT of them do apply at a reduced scale... its all about smoothness and balance of the car... look at limo drivers... they do what racing drivers do but slower thats all.
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Originally Posted by speedracerF4i' date='Jun 22 2005, 09:18 AM
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
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
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From: Bucharest, Romania
Originally Posted by wolverine' date='Jun 25 2005, 09:08 PM
[quote name='speedracerF4i' date='Jun 22 2005, 09:18 AM']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
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
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[/quote]Hey hey hey, let's not get tragic here. Yeah u lose a bit of the control but unsignificant IMO! Most of the time (99%) u won't even feel it. If u leave it in a gear the car will brake better probably but don't think the car will run loose if u do it ungeared
. And btw when u heal and toe U CAN'T DO IT IN A GEAR!!! You have to press the clutch to do it...unless what are u doing? u brake and accelerate at the same time 
DD.
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