I have searched the forum to learn about engine braking. I understand how you can change gear to use the engine to slow the car but what I want to know is how the E60 uses engine braking in everyday driving in D, without any input from me. Does it employ some kind of engine braking when you apply the brake? Could some savvy person give me a brief explanation??

thanks,

Cojo

 

Cojo,

Engine braking is the retardation of the car when you are off the throttle i.e instead of the engine driving the car, the car is driving the engine.
However, because you have an automatic gearbox, there is no engine braking available in D, as the engine will drop to tick-over and the gearbox will disconnect the drive from the engine. Hence the reason why Auto's use more brake pads than Manual cars, and that you cannot "bump start" an Auto.
If you knock your gearbox to M, then you will get engine braking.

Mike

 

Or the easy way to put it... the engine is dragging the car and slowing it down

 

Not 100% true. Both my e90 and e60 will automaticly down shift or hold the gear and use the engine to restrain the vehicle speed while costing down a hill.

 

The motor's compression is what ultimately is the source of the engine braking, and the clutch is what's holding it. It's often said that brake pads are cheaper to replace than clutches/transmission parts, so using your brakes to slow the car instead of the trans is the prudent choice.

 

Thanks for the replies. So engine braking is not employed when I brake.

 

actually, you can still feel some engine braking on D if you release the throttle at high revs just before the gear shifts...

 

I just got the car and noticed it feels like it breaks when I let off the gas, pretty cool feature, I like it.

 

Steptronic is an automatic gearbox so no engine braking

 

Is that still true for the new sport automatic? The torque converter is redesigned and does not have the "slop" of a normal auto. I know for sure when accelerating, the tach is in lock step with the speedo (not true for most autos). I'll have to test whether I feel engine braking with it. Should be simple. Coast from 60 mph in 6th gear and then try again in 3rd gear. If the engine & speed drags down faster, it does engine brake.

Come to think of it, I've always downshifted to engine brake when driving hard (on a track, etc) with a manual tranny. With the 550i sport auto I tap down a gear or two before entering a turn. I DO feel engine braking so I THINK its the same.