[isthar]

Was watching a video of the M3/M4 features, and I saw a feature whereby if you mash the accelerator to the kickdown point and then hit a downshift (in manual shift mode), the transmission jumped to the lowest gear for the current conditions -- does an M235 do this too? Do all the new bimmers do this, or is it only a true-M car thing?

[Diver]

I wonder if that would happen with the DCT in my 135i. (Remember, the M3/M4 has a DCT while nearly all other BMW's have a ZF 8 speed.)

[SDKevin]

Originally Posted by isthar

does an M235 do this too? Do all the new bimmers do this, or is it only a true-M car thing?

The M235i does it.

[abirmaher]

Originally Posted by isthar

Was watching a video of the M3/M4 features, and I saw a feature whereby if you mash the accelerator to the kickdown point and then hit a downshift (in manual shift mode), the transmission jumped to the lowest gear for the current conditions -- does an M235 do this too? Do all the new bimmers do this, or is it only a true-M car thing?

BMWs as long as I can remember have done this.

[hyperzulu]

Originally Posted by abirmaher

BMWs as long as I can remember have done this.

My 335is with DCT did this as well. Clicking downshift was not necessary though. Pedal to the floor and kickdown was annoyingly engaged

I say annoying because it often jumped to an un-usable gear that had me at 7k RPMs. Whole lotta power being generated at redline...............

[tke743]

This is confirmed on the M235i. This happens in both automatic mode and manual mode. 45mph, in 8th, use this mode and it grabs 3rd.

If you just try the kickdown by dropping the throttle only (same 45mph in 8th) it grabs 6th, then 5th, then finally 4th while hunting down for the correct gear.

[AWheeler]

Originally Posted by hyperzulu

I say annoying because it often jumped to an un-usable gear that had me at 7k RPMs. Whole lotta power being generated at redline...............

Agree with this. I get the point of the kickdown feature, but I rarely put the pedal all the way to the floor for this reason. In such a torque-rich engine, it almost seems a little overzealous sometimes.

[BarryJI]

Yeah, it's too much of a blunt instrument for me, too. I've learned how far and how firmly to add throttle input in order to get the car to downshift very swiftly through two gears and with this engine, the resulting torque will meet almost every challenge of road driving. This input-output dynamic varies according to the driving/suspension mode selected. In Sport + mode the car will downshift faster and further than in Comfort mode with the same throttle input. Cruising on the freeway in 8th at 80mph in Comfort mode (and therefore at a lower engine speed and in a higher gear than at 80mph in Sport) I have found it very useful to blip the left paddle twice to grab 6th gear in order to launch past a big truck going almost as fast. Lifting off the gas momentarily before engaging the shifter produces a smoother downshift, in my experience anyway, without spoiling the car's momentum.

I love the BMW 8AT but I do miss my old six-speed stick shift sometimes.

[3PedalMINI]

You know guys, there is a fix for this......