Tips on driving a Steptronic 335i?

Scimitar335i · 08-02-2008, 04:35 PM

Just want to see if you gurus can chime in with some tips on how to use the steptronic to its max potential. I have the paddle shifters and I can say that I have never used them. Any tips? Going at it on the freeway or just street driving?
-What are the BEST settings you use? ie Sport Mode etc?

I have a step auto

THANKS!!!

normtrum · 08-02-2008, 05:36 PM

Sport mode is the only way to go....if you don't mind terrible gas mileage that is! I pop mine over to DS the second I get up to engine temp. I rarely shift myself, but that's just me. I don't have paddle shifters.... never had any interest in them.

Scimitar335i · 08-02-2008, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normtrum

Sport mode is the only way to go....if you don't mind terrible gas mileage that is! I pop mine over to DS the second I get up to engine temp. I rarely shift myself, but that's just me. I don't have paddle shifters.... never had any interest in them.

Do you use DS mode on the freeway too? I really only use DS mode in city but if its good for the freeway then I am all good!

normtrum · 08-02-2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scimitar335i

Do you use DS mode on the freeway too? I really only use DS mode in city but if its good for the freeway then I am all good!

You know I will sometimes take it out of DS when I'm on a long freeway haul....and it's pretty much a straight, boring stretch of road....but not that often.

You may not want to use me as an example, I think I'm in DS a lot more then the average joe. I also get about 12-14 mpg too...so it's really a trade off.

McLuVan · 08-03-2008, 01:03 AM

hold onto the shifter in turns
this will not allow the computer to automatically shift for you

Rac3rX · 08-03-2008, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLuVan

hold onto the shifter in turns
this will not allow the computer to automatically shift for you

what do you mean hold on to the shifter??? i hate when it shifts my it self

Banker335i · 08-03-2008, 02:49 AM

If its just in DS it will shift when it needs to... if you put it into Manual Gears, it wont shift unless you click the button on the gass peddel. But ok DS is the shit i rock that 90 % of the time City and freeway, unless im on a long haul or i just dont give a fuck about power at the time. i used to role only Manual gears 24/7 but i also had to get a new Trans...i dont know if i abused them or it was just a bad trans. Padle shifters are cool, but i have only used them like 3 times. for like 3 shifts, lol they really arnt fun. and i dont like how they set them up, i would have loved if they set it up to where the left side was down shift and right side was up shift or vise versa instead of both being both, takes the fun out. pluss i like the nand shifter, fell way more in control.

nicknaz · 08-03-2008, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banker335i

i used to role only Manual gears 24/7 but i also had to get a new Trans...i dont know if i abused them or it was just a bad .

So using the 'manual' setting destroyed your gear box? details?

Banker335i · 08-03-2008, 03:12 AM

well, there is no way to prove that. i just know that i ran the fuck out of my car and ONLY used MAnual gears, ever where i went. smoaked the trans. 10 day fix had a AA V2 on it. witch may have cosed it, but i took it off before i took it in.

Banker335i · 08-03-2008, 03:14 AM

though i dont beleave i ran it too hard for the car, or a BMW but i did end up needing a new Trans. i dont know what was to blame.

Banker335i · 08-03-2008, 03:16 AM

i asked what may have cosed it, crossing my fingers they didnt say " well son you were Chiped!!!" lol ha you know, but they said, umm no clue, guess its just one of those things. lol i was like oh fuckin thanyou! lol .

Banker335i · 08-03-2008, 03:19 AM

all the gears slammed in and out and i had no reverse. it started as just a hard shift, and went to a a slight jump when under WOT shifting from 5th to 6th over 130 MPH then it hopped from 1st to 2nd, once it did that , it wasent an hr later that day it was just compleatley gone.

Banker335i · 08-03-2008, 03:21 AM

it progressed over 14 days or soo... 13 days were like hmmm thats weard....day 14 was FUCK MY TRANS! is was strange how it went.

LOLrance · 08-03-2008, 03:48 AM

I've had my car over 1 year and drive in manual mode 100% of the time without any problems. Sure some might say i should have gotten 6mt in the first place but in retrospect, i would probably have done a lot of things differently.

Banker335i · 08-03-2008, 01:07 PM

yeah same here....when i went to the dealer, the car i now have was on the show room flore. "I needed it then" you know, couldent wait too get the car i really wanted. but yeah same story. yeah so im thinkin that i just had a bad trans to begin with. cuz i dont think that using Mt mode did it. but who knows.

08-02-2008, 04:35 PM	#1
Scimitar335i Major 201 Rep 1,313 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (12)	Tips on driving a Steptronic 335i? Just want to see if you gurus can chime in with some tips on how to use the steptronic to its max potential. I have the paddle shifters and I can say that I have never used them. Any tips? Going at it on the freeway or just street driving? -What are the BEST settings you use? ie Sport Mode etc? I have a step auto THANKS!!! __________________ 2007 TiAg e90 335i sport. Yes, The e90 "Mustache" is cool!
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08-02-2008, 05:36 PM	#2
normtrum Colonel 52 Rep 2,225 Posts Drives: e90 335i, e46 330i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: PNW iTrader: (1)	Sport mode is the only way to go....if you don't mind terrible gas mileage that is! I pop mine over to DS the second I get up to engine temp. I rarely shift myself, but that's just me. I don't have paddle shifters.... never had any interest in them. __________________ 07 335i sedan \| Steptronic \| Black saphire \| Terra \| ZPP \| ZSP \| Cold Weather \| CA \| PDC \| Nav \| OEM Alarm
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08-03-2008, 01:03 AM	#5
McLuVan Lieutenant General 304 Rep 13,114 Posts Drives: ///M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Socal~818~ iTrader: (1)	hold onto the shifter in turns this will not allow the computer to automatically shift for you __________________
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08-03-2008, 02:49 AM	#7
Banker335i Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 271 Posts Drives: BMW 2008 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	If its just in DS it will shift when it needs to... if you put it into Manual Gears, it wont shift unless you click the button on the gass peddel. But ok DS is the shit i rock that 90 % of the time City and freeway, unless im on a long haul or i just dont give a fuck about power at the time. i used to role only Manual gears 24/7 but i also had to get a new Trans...i dont know if i abused them or it was just a bad trans. Padle shifters are cool, but i have only used them like 3 times. for like 3 shifts, lol they really arnt fun. and i dont like how they set them up, i would have loved if they set it up to where the left side was down shift and right side was up shift or vise versa instead of both being both, takes the fun out. pluss i like the nand shifter, fell way more in control.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-03-2008, 03:12 AM	#9
Banker335i Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 271 Posts Drives: BMW 2008 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	well, there is no way to prove that. i just know that i ran the fuck out of my car and ONLY used MAnual gears, ever where i went. smoaked the trans. 10 day fix had a AA V2 on it. witch may have cosed it, but i took it off before i took it in.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-03-2008, 03:14 AM	#10
Banker335i Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 271 Posts Drives: BMW 2008 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	though i dont beleave i ran it too hard for the car, or a BMW but i did end up needing a new Trans. i dont know what was to blame.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-03-2008, 03:16 AM	#11
Banker335i Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 271 Posts Drives: BMW 2008 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	i asked what may have cosed it, crossing my fingers they didnt say " well son you were Chiped!!!" lol ha you know, but they said, umm no clue, guess its just one of those things. lol i was like oh fuckin thanyou! lol .
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-03-2008, 03:19 AM	#12
Banker335i Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 271 Posts Drives: BMW 2008 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	all the gears slammed in and out and i had no reverse. it started as just a hard shift, and went to a a slight jump when under WOT shifting from 5th to 6th over 130 MPH then it hopped from 1st to 2nd, once it did that , it wasent an hr later that day it was just compleatley gone.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-03-2008, 03:21 AM	#13
Banker335i Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 271 Posts Drives: BMW 2008 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	it progressed over 14 days or soo... 13 days were like hmmm thats weard....day 14 was FUCK MY TRANS! is was strange how it went.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-03-2008, 03:48 AM	#14
LOLrance The Law. 301 Rep 14,283 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SF / OC iTrader: (17)	I've had my car over 1 year and drive in manual mode 100% of the time without any problems. Sure some might say i should have gotten 6mt in the first place but in retrospect, i would probably have done a lot of things differently. __________________
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08-03-2008, 01:07 PM	#15
Banker335i Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 271 Posts Drives: BMW 2008 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	yeah same here....when i went to the dealer, the car i now have was on the show room flore. "I needed it then" you know, couldent wait too get the car i really wanted. but yeah same story. yeah so im thinkin that i just had a bad trans to begin with. cuz i dont think that using Mt mode did it. but who knows.
	Appreciate 0 Quote