Downshifting - Blowing out engine?

[nickia]

Hi please forgive me as this is a beginner question. I've never driven any manual cars but I understand you'll blow your engine if you downshift to a wrong gear at a high speed. However, since the C63 is automatic, should I be worrying about blowing out my engine when I downshift in manual mode? My 08' BMW 528xi has an auto-manual mode but I never dare try to downshift because I don't know what might happen... Thanks!

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[gravedgr]

Originally Posted by nickia

However, since the C63 is automatic, should I be worrying about blowing out my engine when I downshift in manual mode?

No.

Because the transmission is computer controlled, you cannot force it into an overrevving downshift (i.e. "money shift").

[hami]

what I do in my car is keep pressing the down**** and it shifts me to the right gear depending on my speed. just keep in mind that if your in manual mood you need to remember to shift up at redline :P

[nickia]

Originally Posted by gravedgr

No.

Because the transmission is computer controlled, you cannot force it into an overrevving downshift (i.e. "money shift").

Thanks. So I'm free to shift around gears as I wish? Is there any side effect besides annoying other drivers?

[nickia]

Originally Posted by hami

what I do in my car is keep pressing the down**** and it shifts me to the right gear depending on my speed. just keep in mind that if your in manual mood you need to remember to shift up at redline :P

So when I'm at manual mode, it won't auto-upshift when you redline it? Sorry about these questions because I'm too excited to pick up my baby tomorrow.

[hami]

Originally Posted by nickia

So when I'm at manual mode, it won't auto-upshift when you redline it? Sorry about these questions because I'm too excited to pick up my baby tomorrow.

yea when your on M you need to keep on eye on it unless you on the other moods they shift by themselves

enjoy

[miami1lt]

You can't just shift around "as you like"...if you try to downshift say from 5 to 2 at 80mph, it won't happen...it'll only take you into 4th...then if you slow down more, you can go to 3rd...it doesn't work quite like a stick. If it did, there would't be so much controversy over "stick vs. automatic".

Now, in S or C mode, you can HOLD the left paddle, and it will automatically shift to the lowest available gear (actually, I think M does it too). Same with holding the right one, it will go to the highest available gear (or resets S or C to fully automatic).

Enjoy...be safe.

[_AMG_]

No, it will not blow up. Feel free to downshift all you want.

If you had a car with a traditional manual gear box, and lets say you downshifted from 6th gear all the way to first, then you would have a problem.

[miami1lt]

Most manuals even have gear lockouts...I had an STI and more than once I had a friend that went from 4th to 1st inadvertantly when trying to downshift to 3rd, and it won't let you in...you can't even force through it. Where it could be close is if you are speed shifting from 4th to 5th lets say, and go up to 3rd, the lockout MAY not engage at that time. It's hard to blow up a tranny/motor these days...unless you are just plain STUPID with the car.

[_AMG_]

Originally Posted by miami1lt

It's hard to blow up a tranny/motor these days...unless you are just plain STUPID with the car.

[AlexCim]

Originally Posted by miami1lt

Now, in S or C mode, you can HOLD the left paddle, and it will automatically shift to the lowest available gear (actually, I think M does it too). Same with holding the right one, it will go to the highest available gear (or resets S or C to fully automatic).

REALLY? OMG, I did not know that! That's why I hated M-mode, coz it would be a pain to overtake cause I couldn't just go 7->3.

Also was annoying when I tapped down in C/S and it went to like S4, then I'd just have to keep clicking up, up, up to get back to C or S.

Will be trying this out tonight!

[Militia]

No blown up engines, but downshifting to brake will most probably wear the clutch out faster. Those pops DO sound nice though!

[patboyy]

Originally Posted by miami1lt

You can't just shift around "as you like"...if you try to downshift say from 5 to 2 at 80mph, it won't happen...it'll only take you into 4th...then if you slow down more, you can go to 3rd...it doesn't work quite like a stick. If it did, there would't be so much controversy over "stick vs. automatic".

Now, in S or C mode, you can HOLD the left paddle, and it will automatically shift to the lowest available gear (actually, I think M does it too). Same with holding the right one, it will go to the highest available gear (or resets S or C to fully automatic).

Enjoy...be safe.

mmm...did not know this b4. thnx

[Maverick1975]

There is nothing like the sensation of being in 5th gear or higher and holding down the downshift paddle while a few milliseconds later flooring the accelerator, the noise and the punch you get as you go straight into 2nd or 3rd gear means you almost have to literally hold onto the steering wheel. Its a wonderful feeling.

[e1000]

Originally Posted by Militia

No blown up engines, but downshifting to brake will most probably wear the clutch out faster. Those pops DO sound nice though!

huh? are you still talking about a C63?

[hami]

Originally Posted by Maverick1975

There is nothing like the sensation of being in 5th gear or higher and holding down the downshift paddle while a few milliseconds later flooring the accelerator, the noise and the punch you get as you go straight into 2nd or 3rd gear means you almost have to literally hold onto the steering wheel. Its a wonderful feeling.

+1
best feeling ever

[miami1lt]

Originally Posted by patboyy

mmm...did not know this b4. thnx

Yeah, the manual talks about it too.

That's ok, I didn't realize until like last month that if you went to S1 for example, it will hold that gear until you hit redline, and then shift...but it will then stay in S2 until the same...you can also select like S4 for example, and it will shift normally (S mode style that is) until you get to S4, then it will hold until redline...kinda nice if you are in and out of traffic, and don't want the tranny to keep shifting into a higher gear just for a few seconds...I use this alot in town, where I like to hold 4th gear up to 45mph....keeps the torquiness there...

[miami1lt]

Originally Posted by AlexCim

REALLY? OMG, I did not know that! That's why I hated M-mode, coz it would be a pain to overtake cause I couldn't just go 7->3.

Also was annoying when I tapped down in C/S and it went to like S4, then I'd just have to keep clicking up, up, up to get back to C or S.

Will be trying this out tonight!

Yeah, the tranny is quite interesting...there are plenty of shift options, not just 3. Like I said in the other post, play around...try selecting like S3 or S4 around town, you'll like that you can keep 2500-3000 RPMs in 4th gear, it lets you run hard when you need to...but if you stomp it, it WILL downshift automatically.

[_AMG_]

Originally Posted by Maverick1975

There is nothing like the sensation of being in 5th gear or higher and holding down the downshift paddle while a few milliseconds later flooring the accelerator, the noise and the punch you get as you go straight into 2nd or 3rd gear means you almost have to literally hold onto the steering wheel. Its a wonderful feeling.

Nothing beats that feeling. It always puts a huge on my face.

[AlexCim]

The only thing I hate about S1/2/3/4 etc mode is that once it hits redline when wheelspinning, it changes up gear, then bogs.

Annoying when in S1, then just some wheelspin off launch, then BANG, its in 2nd. Same for rolling in 2nd and then punching it, wheelspin, 3rd

Tried that holding down last night, its awesome, cheers for the tip

[miami1lt]

^^Hmmm, interesting...I've never had the bog after shifting...when just in S mode, I've had it shift out of 1st early, and cost a little time...I guess you are right, if you were in like S4 and were trying to go for a good launch, it would shift out early, because you are telling it "I want to go no higher than 4th, but want regular "S" shift points".

I do think that under hard acceleration, the "S" isn't very good (unless in "S1" for example), because it seems to want to shift out if you are trying to feather the gas to avoid wheel spin.

M or S1 for launch, but SX for anytime you are on the highway and want to accelerate from a certain speed/RPM range (25mph = S2/3500RPMs, 45mph = S3/3500RPMs, etc...). If somebody wants to race you from like 70mph, it's hard, because you will be like 6K RPMs in 3rd, but only 3K RPMs in 4th...always go from your power band.