Question about Steptronic Mode

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hosagod

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Hi guys, I own a '04 330ci and I have auto w/ steptronic mode. I don't know how to drive manual so don't hate me lol. Anyways, my question is basically if you guys can inform me on how to use Steptr. correctly? I'm kinda scared to ever use it because I don't know when or where to shift up gear or shift down...Just let me know of anything that might help me ease my transition into that S mode [;)]
 
Wadula

Wadula

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you can´t mess it up. that is the most important thing for you i guess. if you get close to redline, the car will run into the rev limiter until you shift. that noise will scare the hell out of you the first time you hear it and make you shift right away. for the opposite case, downshifting, when you don´t it, the car shifts automatically to avoid stalling.

those facts given i suggest to get to manual mode and just play with it. you will notice pretty quick that it is piece of cake.
 
PuShAkOv

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One point: you should not race in Step.

One reason manual is faster is because of the weight factor... not because of shifting. A person can never shift as fast as a computer... so when you already have the weight it is just better to go auto... [thumb]
 
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NZL

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>One point: you should not race in Step.

>One reason manual is faster is because of the weight factor... not because of shifting. A >person can never shift as fast as a computer... so when you already have the weight it is >just better to go auto...

I didn't think the weight factor plays much influence in 'racing' with an auto transmission. I think the biggest impact between a manual trans and an auto (steptronic is just a fancy auto) is about power.

The auto transmission (perhaps to be more precise the torque converter) chews up a significant amount of power output between the engine and the wheels. In many cases this is around 10%, can be higher from what I hear.
 
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hosagod

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Well I was planning on using more for "excitement" once in a while, I don't race and never have [confused] . Thanks for the information guys.
 
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Toshi

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hosagod said:
Well I was planning on using more for "excitement" once in a while, I don't race and never have [confused] .
Click to expand...
Good for you hosagod. I am just like you.

The auto transmission (perhaps to be more precise the torque converter) chews up a significant amount of power output between the engine and the wheels. In many cases this is around 10%, can be higher from what I hear.
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NZL, or anyone, can you explain about it a bit more. No need for any exact engineer talk, but just kinda a general explaination. I have always wondered about this but dont get it. [???1] Where did the power disappear to between the engine and the wheels???
 
PuShAkOv

PuShAkOv

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hosagod said:
Well I was planning on using more for "excitement" once in a while, I don't race and never have [confused] . Thanks for the information guys.
Click to expand...
So you are saying if a ricer honda pulls up next to you on a red light and starts REVing its engineyou wouldn't woop its ass? [:(]
 
bmwrocks

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As far as power losses from the engine (flywheel) to the wheels, there is work involved when turning gears and moving fluids (transmission, rear end, axels). And this work takes energy. The energy to do the work is of course subtracted from the initial energy at the flywheel, therefore there is a loss from the power at the flywheel to the wheels.

The amount of loss varies and can easily be 15% in some cars. I am not sure what it is in our cars.

Hope this helps.
 
B

BAMA

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PuShAkOv said:
One point: you should not race in Step.

One reason manual is faster is because of the weight factor... not because of shifting. A person can never shift as fast as a computer... so when you already have the weight it is just better to go auto... [thumb]
Click to expand...
I'm not so sure about that. An auto takes power from the motor to make the changes, whereas a stick is ... manual. Software can compensate for this as I beat an '02 stick shifting manually, but he had me by a car from launch up through the end of 2nd. I also prefer the control of shifting a StepTronic; I think the computer shifts a touch too high.
 
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PuShAkOv

PuShAkOv

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Trust me.. you have to slightly let go of the gas pedal to shift the gear. Also, you cannot floor it in STEPTRONIC because it will do the shifting for you (so you cannot get max acceleration when you are in manual and you have to sacrifice valued time for a manual shift). I tried racing in STEP and in AUTO... AUTO was much faster even though I shifted fast at high REV. And since when you race you tend to floor it... it auto shifts at (or close to) max REVs anyways...
 
H

hosagod

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Yea...so I tried Steptronic last night and I was cruising at 30 mph and had it in 0....tried putting it in 1st and it jumped to 2 and the car sounded like it was constantly reving...

It was scary...so I put it back into Auto drive [:(]

I'll give it another go later when I get enough courage and when I feel like I wanna torture my car some more... [driving]
 
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