Steptronic Shifting-2006 330i

I just purchase a brand new 06' 330i. This is my first BMW. What a joy to ride! I was told by the salesman that I should take it easy with the car until the "breakin period" . He claimed wait 1000 miles before fun stuff driving ... This is torture for I just can not stop "standing on it " if you know what I mean, redlining is good,right..

Anyway, is 1000 miles really the magic number or something fewer? I currently have 690mi. I tried the steptronic gear shifting breifly but I am not sure of the technique. From M1 to M2 I have to shift quickly. It appears that the 1st gear is almost useless. What do you guys think? When I start at M2 and go thru the gears it is much smoother. I find the 330i exhibits spirted performance when employing the steptronic method. While the auto transmission shifts are smooth and brisk..I prefer to master the other method..

What are your suggestion in how I can get more out of steptronic driving?

Reply » Steptronic Shifting-2006 330i

I have the 325i with step and its very good transmission. I really dont care for the manual mode since it simply cant shift as fast as a true manual and the electronic shifting is a tad slow. What I do use is the sport mode. That is fun for driving around winding roads where you'll be braking/accellerating frequently. It changes the rpms and shifting preferences to keep the engine in a much more aggressive stance. Just click the shifter to the left and your computer will show "S" which means sport mode. Manual mode will always shift at the redline anyway whether you shift or not and the sport mode will shift just as fast when you have it floored

Reply » Steptronic Shifting-2006 330i

I have wondering about M1 myself. It also seems that there is a lot of lag time after you shift from m1 to m2. I read someone on the e46 forum that it works better to start in second gear cuz of some torque doubling that the torque converter produces or something like that. Maybe that's why if you come to a stop without downshifting yourself, it ends up in M2 and not in M1. I suppose with the tighter gearing of a 6 speed, that 1st gear may have little use for the step.

I also agree with vortex that sport mode is the most rewarding mode for the step.

Reply » Steptronic Shifting-2006 330i

There is an amazing amount of info on this... try a SEARCH...

Use the words "Break in", "Break-in", "Breakin" for that issue...
... and/or "Steptronic" for the other. And maybe even "Auto"... if your feeling really sporty today.

Reply » Steptronic Shifting-2006 330i

Quote:

In my opinion forget the M1 setting.

Leave it in M2 when starting from stop - and get used to the shifting points based on your tach for M3 and upwards............The transmission takes care of the 'launch control' in M2. I found it a waste of time to downshift from M2 to M1.

There might be a slight difference using M1 - but I have found M2 to be almost identical.

That goes only for the slushie. I wouldn't think of starting in second in my manual.

As someone else mentioned the 'sports' mode does most everything you need in daily driving.

I like using M mode mainly for downshifting into corners.

Reply » Steptronic Shifting-2006 330i

Quote:

I find the 330i exhibits spirted performance when employing the steptronic method.

I find that 330i exhibits much more spirited performance when employing 6 speed manual.

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