[illustrical]

I picked up my M340i a few days and just had a few questions as to if the ZF transmission can shift itself even in manual mode. I had a dodge charger scat pack before and in that car you could downshift using the paddles but once you step on the throttle “even though you in manual mode” the transmission will still shift for you unless you hit the paddle and upshift yourself. I was wondering if I was in sport or sport plus mode with gearshift still in D and I hit the downshift paddle which engages the manual mode to be in lets say 4th to 2nd gear and punch the throttle will the transmission shift itself as it gets close to the redline?

[BigSky702]

Originally Posted by illustrical

I picked up my M340i a few days and just had a few questions as to if the ZF transmission can shift itself even in manual mode. I had a dodge charger scat pack before and in that car you could downshift using the paddles but once you step on the throttle "even though you in manual mode" the transmission will still shift for you unless you hit the paddle and upshift yourself. I was wondering if I was in sport or sport plus mode with gearshift still in D and I hit the downshift paddle which engages the manual mode to be in lets say 4th to 2nd gear and punch the throttle will the transmission shift itself as it gets close to the redline?

Try slapping the gear shifter to the left? Shifter in S.

When you use the paddles or shifter to put it into M, you have to upshift. It will not upshift automatically.

[Bc2005]

If the shifter is in normal mode (to the right) you can use the paddles to upshift and downshift, but if you stop manual shifting and are not accelerating for a short time it will revert to normal drive mode. It’s useful to click the left paddle a couple of times to downshift before a merge or for more power coming out of a curve, or to click down to get engine braking.
If you move the shifter to the left it will initially just put it in sport mode for the transmission. You will get faster shifts overall, downshifting more aggressively as you drop speed, and usually a lockout of the overdrive gears (depends on speed).
However, if you are in sport mode and start using the paddles it will no longer shift automatically except to prevent engine damage. In other words, if you click it into 3rd or 4th and then drive at high speeds it will not upshift automatically. During practice for a a short auto cross course I put the trans in 2nd and ran the course multiple times with no shifting.

[illustrical]

Originally Posted by Bc2005

If the shifter is in normal mode (to the right) you can use the paddles to upshift and downshift, but if you stop manual shifting and are not accelerating for a short time it will revert to normal drive mode. It’s useful to click the left paddle a couple of times to downshift before a merge or for more power coming out of a curve, or to click down to get engine braking.
If you move the shifter to the left it will initially just put it in sport mode for the transmission. You will get faster shifts overall, downshifting more aggressively as you drop speed, and usually a lockout of the overdrive gears (depends on speed).
However, if you are in sport mode and start using the paddles it will no longer shift automatically except to prevent engine damage. In other words, if you click it into 3rd or 4th and then drive at high speeds it will not upshift automatically. During practice for a a short auto cross course I put the trans in 2nd and ran the course multiple times with no shifting.

https://youtu.be/88_TdXvQh-w Do you mind watching this right quick from 4:13 to 4:30. Notice how when you downshift to lowest gear possible and the punch the throttle it shifts for you even you on manual mode. Does the ZF has anything similar feature like that?

[Vmaxx]

Originally Posted by illustrical

https://youtu.be/88_TdXvQh-w Do you mind watching this right quick from 4:13 to 4:30. Notice how when you downshift to lowest gear possible and the punch the throttle it shifts for you even you on manual mode. Does the ZF has anything similar feature like that?

That’s not a feature, that’s a dumb automatic trans. Why would you want it to shift automatically if you’re in manual mode? That defeats the purpose of being in manual mode. Now if you are in D and use the paddles to manually shift it will go back to auto after a few seconds if you’re not heavy on throttle.

[Mason Hatcher]

If the shifter is to the right and you select either paddle it will temporarily enter manual mode

If you have the shifter to the left and select either paddle or changes gears with the gear selector it will stay in manual.

You can tell it is in manual only when the dash display shows M before the gear number.

Hope this helps

[illustrical]

Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher

If the shifter is to the right and you select either paddle it will temporarily enter manual mode

If you have the shifter to the left and select either paddle or changes gears with the gear selector it will stay in manual.

You can tell it is in manual only when the dash display shows S before the gear number.

Hope this helps

Is there a way when the shifter is to the right and I press and hold the downshift paddle and lets say im doing a 40 roll will the trans downshift to the best gear possible and when I punch the throttle will it shift itself?

[CCM11285]

Originally Posted by illustrical

Is there a way when the shifter is to the right and I press and hold the downshift paddle and lets say im doing a 40 roll will the trans downshift to the best gear possible and when I punch the throttle will it shift itself?

It sounds like you're describing sprint mode. Holding down the left paddle for a second will force it to drop into the lowest possible gear for acceleration purposes.

[illustrical]

Originally Posted by CCM11285

It sounds like you're describing sprint mode. Holding down the left paddle for a second will force it to drop into the lowest possible gear for acceleration purposes.

Correct! After it goes to the lowest gear can I punch the throttle and will it shift itself or would I have to do it manually?

[G30M]

it will upshift by itself in most modes other than if you're in manual mode in sport plus

[CCM11285]

Originally Posted by illustrical

Correct! After it goes to the lowest gear can I punch the throttle and will it shift itself or would I have to do it manually?

Yes it will

[k4sh_90]

Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher

If the shifter is to the right and you select either paddle it will temporarily enter manual mode

If you have the shifter to the left and select either paddle or changes gears with the gear selector it will stay in manual.

You can tell it is in manual only when the dash display shows S before the gear number.

Hope this helps

You'll know it's in manual mode when it shows M next to the gear number. S means Sport shifting

[Mason Hatcher]

Originally Posted by k4sh_90

You'll know it's in manual mode when it shows M next to the gear number. S means Sport shifting

Thanks, I got that ass backwards. Editing now...

[sikotic]

Originally Posted by CCM11285

It sounds like you're describing sprint mode. Holding down the left paddle for a second will force it to drop into the lowest possible gear for acceleration purposes.

Is sprint mode a new feature? Doesn't seem to work on my 2020 M340i. I've avoided all updates though, so not sure if that has anything to do with it.. But I was definitely holding the downshift paddle forever in different modes and nothing happens lol

[billnchristy]

It should always downshift to lowest gear available. In 4 series it also temporarily puts you in sports plus and still shifts automatically even though it says M. I still shift manually in sprint because it will ride out to redline.

[MTWO]

Originally Posted by sikotic

Is sprint mode a new feature? Doesn't seem to work on my 2020 M340i. I've avoided all updates though, so not sure if that has anything to do with it.. But I was definitely holding the downshift paddle forever in different modes and nothing happens lol

Sprint mode? Never heard of this