db545

Hi all

When I am using the steptronic in DS "manual" mode and changing gears myself, all is as expected until I approach a stop and let the box change down itself (yes I know that's lazy!). The transmission will only downshift to M3 ie 3rd gear when I would expect it to be M2 or even M1. In all other ways the transmission is fine.
Is this normal or do I have a fault? Can any other 545 owners comment?

Thanks for any help

sleepdoc

I have experienced this with my 545, too. It seems that perhaps the 545 only downshifts to 3, while the 6 cyl cars downshift to 2. I may be wrong, but that is what I have heard. It really doesn't make much difference, as the 545 will start off just fine in third, and you can drop down a gear (or 2!) if you want that extra ooomph.

Peter530i

That is weird. So the car has 3rd geard in it at full stop? Than while movig off it goes from 3rd gear again?

I will try today with my 530i

streak

And the 530D's stop in M2.

saurabh

Yes, technically it is possible for a car to move in 3rd gear, my father's Merc S500 has a button calls WD (winter drive) and if you keep it in that position, the car always takes off in 2nd gear to prevent the car from skidding at the time of take off.

You just won't take off as fast in 3rd gear as you would in 1st

Lomag

My 545 stops at M3. So.. speaking of DS mode.. there seems to be 2 different modes (for automatic atleast).

The first one is where you first shift the lever to the left and the screen reads "DS". The car up and downshifts for you, only at higher rpm's.

The 2nd mode is when you're already in "DS" mode and then you move the lever up or down to shift into the M2, M3, M4 etc.. gear modes. In that mode the car downshifts for you but it doesn't upshift -- you have to do it.

Does that sound right? Is there anyway to make it upshift for me in the M2, M3 etc.. mode? Sometimes I want to use that mode but I dont awlays want to play the upshifting game.

gwf545

It will upshift automatically in manual mode if you red line it. Not something you want to do all the time.

saurabh

Youre right. I'm not used to upshifting at all.. one day had it in manual mode and wanted to see the difference in take off at a red light...without realizing i did not upshift and everytime the RPM's went into redline, the car upshift automatically. I guess its some kind of a safety sensor built in.

gwf545

Yeah, that's what happened to me. I was in 1st, got a break in traffic, goosed it, got distracted and next thing I know I'm in second. It's much better than a lurchy rev limiter. I hate those things.

Lomag

Well -- I went out and tested it again to be certain on my way to the bank. It does upshift but not at the red line -- a little before. It'll change from 1 -> 2 ~5500 RPM and 2 -> 3 ~6000 RPM. Unfortunately I couldn't test 3 -> 4 since I was already at almost 70 mph on a local road, heh. I didn't want to push it further. There's a nice stretch here with few cars usually. So I guess it's normal "DS" mode for me. That's fine. Occasionally I like to downshift and get that extra umph but don't wan to worry about upshifting or flipping the lever back to the right and left again. It's really exciting to hear the engine rev when accelerating from M1 to M2 to M3 etc.. shifts a lot closer to the red line than in normal mode or normal DS mode even.

Something I'll play with later on the highway ...