[Joe-BMW33]

Curious. I never do as they are too small and uncomfortable to use. It just does not feel natural. I also very rarely manually shift with this car because the tranny is so good, but when I do, I use the shifter. Feels more natural than the tiny paddles. I have had other cars where the paddles were bigger and better ergonomically placed that I did enjoy using. This was mostly on cars with smaller engines that had to work and downshifting manually was a better options than stepping on it to kick down.

[Bob in IL]

I rarely use them but in Nov we drove to NC and I used them quite a bit in the mountains and hills of Ky, WV and NC.

[ArchieV]

Recently started using them on occasional downshifts for sharper turns that require more than usual slowdown when doing a tad over speed limit 🙃

[I3LaZeN]

I use them here and there when I need to be out quickly on the highway or need to make a quick cut. I never used the shifter, oddly.

[beyondm3]

I use them often enough. Slightly off topic but I'm not a fan of the location of the comfort/sport/eco modes. I wish there were toggles on the steering wheel so my attention isn't taken away from the road so much when changing them.

[BBDDVV]

Almost every day, esp. for downshifting. Both up and down for some spirited driving ;-).
I only used the shifter once or twice, maybe as I'm still expecting a mechanical link?

[G30 B58]

Mostly to downshift to avoid using the brakes.

[Warp Ten]

I use my paddle shifters only occasionally on the 540xi, usually to avoid using brakes as does F32 N55, although the 3.0 liter six doesn't really offer much engine braking. On my 2016 Corvette Z06 automatic I use them regularly because I have a fairly loud exhaust when it is set in Sport mode (all the time!)
or Track (sometimes) and a V8, and I love the sound when I shift up or down. Also, in automatic mode the transmission shifts way too early for gas mileage purposes and makes the engine lug a bit, which is especially noticeable with the exhaust set to Sport/Track modes. I use the paddles to keep the engine to higher rpm points when shifting around town. Unfortunately the 540xi doesn't sound the same.--Bob

[Joe-BMW33]

I probably should have asked "do you use your paddles on your M550". But I am still interested, but more for M550 owners for the reason I stated about the transmission being so friggin smart and responsive. I certainly would use them a lot if I had a 530.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by beyondm3

I use them often enough. Slightly off topic but I'm not a fan of the location of the comfort/sport/eco modes. I wish there were toggles on the steering wheel so my attention isn't taken away from the road so much when changing them.

You can add those. They are small red paddles about the shift paddles like on the M5 that say M1/M2. The paddles and module are around $200 and it is plug and play.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid...16320835120895

[Warp Ten]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I probably should have asked "do you use your paddles on your M550". But I am still interested, but more for M550 owners for the reason I stated about the transmission being so friggin smart and responsive. I certainly would use them a lot if I had a 530.

And I should have added that if I had a V8 M550 instead of a 540xi M Sport, I probably would use my paddles more, especially if I had added a louder exhaust than stock. --Bob

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Warp Ten

And I should have added that if I had a V8 M550 instead of a 540xi M Sport, I probably would use my paddles more, especially if I had added a louder exhaust than stock. --Bob

You would think right? But the M550 in Sport+ mode with tranny in Sport+ really shift aggressively up and down, especially the hard kick downs.

We will see soon enough. Dinan exhaust on order, I am sure I will want to play around with it more than I do with the stock exhaust.

[admranger]

Only if I've been a very bad boy. Ooops, wrong forum.

On the car? Maybe in town to keep my speed from climbing too much on a downhill run.

[beyondm3]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

You can add those. They are small red paddles about the shift paddles like on the M5 that say M1/M2. The paddles and module are around $200 and it is plug and play.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid...16320835120895

I was kinda wondering this lately but never took too the googs to find it. Thanks for the info. Might go on my to do list for the spring.

[reu2]

I didn't use my paddles shifters often either. Mostly to shed speed on an off ramp. Although I recently learned you can hold the left paddle to down-shift into the lowest possible gear for your speed.

I got used to tapping the shifter a couple times, an 8 speed transmission doesn't give you as much torque as you'd expect in a manual 6-speed, it just feels sluggish. I forgot why I was in the manual but I learned you can hold the left paddle to max your torque, it's much more fun in an overtake situation. Give it a try.

Anyone know any other tricks?

[Gautam]

Originally Posted by F32 N55

Mostly to downshift to avoid using the brakes.

How effective/safe is this? I had a test drive where the dealer demonstrated transmission braking and encouraged me to try to not use the brakes. I didn’t have the nerve past a couple of attempts.

[reu2]

Originally Posted by Gautam

How effective/safe is this? I had a test drive where the dealer demonstrated transmission braking and encouraged me to try to not use the brakes. I didn’t have the nerve past a couple of attempts.

I grew up in Manual transmissions and also drove a lot of big trucks. It was common practice to downshift allowing the engine to help slow the vehicle.

That being said, automatic transmissions can wear faster if you shift too far. You shouldn't rev way up and it's not as effective as it was in the manual transmissions, especially with an 8-speed gearbox. Also, if you have the mild hybrid, the regenerative braking is already doing about as much as you should with the transmission.

The BMW manual does support the use of engine braking your automatic transmission, in the case of long decent in order to ease the use and wear and tear on your brakes. Even down to first gear if necessary. The gearbox has safety measures in place to prevent damaging itself.

[G30 B58]

Originally Posted by reu2

I grew up in Manual transmissions and also drove a lot of big trucks. It was common practice to downshift allowing the engine to help slow the vehicle.

That being said, automatic transmissions can wear faster if you shift too far. You shouldn't rev way up and it's not as effective as it was in the manual transmissions, especially with an 8-speed gearbox. Also, if you have the mild hybrid, the regenerative braking is already doing about as much as you should with the transmission.

The BMW manual does support the use of engine braking your automatic transmission, in the case of long decent in order to ease the use and wear and tear on your brakes. Even down to first gear if necessary. The gearbox has safety measures in place to prevent damaging itself.

Thank you for saving me all that typing. I'm not downshifting to redline .......

[Superjackson]

I use paddles on my m550i every time that I drive alone, the response and shifting is actually insanely fast for a torque converter. I don't like the weird shape of the shifter on bmw but I prefer using the ball shape shifter on my cayman compared to paddles. PDK feels like a sequential when yanking the shifter so I rarely use paddles on that car hehehe

[ztx84]

I use them a bit, not that often. Normally when going up an incline where I think the rpm is too low - e.g. around 1,000 or slightly above. Trying to avoid unnecessarily labouring the engine. Other than that the gearbox is so smart I don't need to bother!

[Joe-BMW33]

It looks like the responses on use or not use is driven by terrain. It's pretty flat in my here parts, but I guess I would use them coming down hills.

In terms of manual shifting vs. letting the AT do its thing....the first time I stepped on it in Sport+ mode entering the highway, I could not believe how fast this car shifted through the gears.. It was like a dual clutch PDK....bang, bang, bang 1-7 in seconds.

[beyondm3]

Originally Posted by reu2

I didn't use my paddles shifters often either. Mostly to shed speed on an off ramp. Although I recently learned you can hold the left paddle to down-shift into the lowest possible gear for your speed.

I got used to tapping the shifter a couple times, an 8 speed transmission doesn't give you as much torque as you'd expect in a manual 6-speed, it just feels sluggish. I forgot why I was in the manual but I learned you can hold the left paddle to max your torque, it's much more fun in an overtake situation. Give it a try.

Anyone know any other tricks?

thanks to trying this, if you hold the right paddle.... it puts you back in drive