[doberzus]

Hi guys!

Just got my 2020 X3M in Donington Grey and had some questions about the ZF 8 speed automatic transmission. I posted this as a question in another thread, with no response. I thought I'd start a thread on this.

Does anyone know if the ZF 8 speed will let you keep it “on boil” in Auto mode (on most aggressive shift level 3) so it will automatically shift for you when doing a 2nd gear roll at say 40MPH?

Say you're driving down the street in 5th gear auto mode, in Sport+ in "D" mode shift level 3. Then you want to downshift to 2nd gear to keep the motor "on boil", then floor it and have the transmission *automatically shift for you.

My Audi’s all did this which was great for roll racing or overtaking in desired gear without waiting for the kickdown and the turbos/transmission to react..
I have not found a way this can be done in the X3M (or F80's, but that was DCT). In my F80’s I had to manually shift which was annoying on rolls.

I hope that makes sense. Can anyone confirm this?

[A1723]

Originally Posted by doberzus

Hi guys!

Just got my 2020 X3M in Donington Grey and had some questions about the ZF 8 speed automatic transmission. I posted this as a question in another thread, with no response. I thought I'd start a thread on this.

Does anyone know if the ZF 8 speed will let you keep it "on boil" in Auto mode (on most aggressive shift level 3) so it will automatically shift for you when doing a 2nd gear roll at say 40MPH?

Say you're driving down the street in 5th gear auto mode, in Sport+ in "D" mode shift level 3. Then you want to downshift to 2nd gear to keep the motor "on boil", then floor it and have the transmission *automatically shift for you.

My Audi's all did this which was great for roll racing or overtaking in desired gear without waiting for the kickdown and the turbos/transmission to react..
I have not found a way this can be done in the X3M (or F80's, but that was DCT). In my F80's I had to manually shift which was annoying on rolls.

I hope that makes sense. Can anyone confirm this?

I thought you can hold left paddle shifter and it will downshift to minimum gear available automatically.

[doberzus]

Originally Posted by A1723

I thought you can hold left paddle shifter and it will downshift to minimum gear available automatically.

Yes, but will it upshift automatically for you through the gears if you do not do it manually? That is my dilemma, getting it to shift automatically once you get down to that lowest available gear.

[A1723]

Originally Posted by doberzus

Yes, but will it upshift automatically for you through the gears if you do not do it manually? That is my dilemma, getting it to shift automatically once you get down to that lowest available gear.

If not, quick touch on right and left puddles. It will be switched to auto upshift.

[doberzus]

Originally Posted by A1723

If not, quick touch on right and left puddles. It will be switched to auto upshift.

Wait, so click the left paddle to get it down to the lowest gear, WOT, then click both L/R paddles at the same time and it will auto up-shift all the way through the gears?

Sounds like a hit or miss, hmm. Wish there was a definite way. The Hellcat/TTRS/S3- ZF auto/DSG shifted automatically if you were in D/Drive mode, clicked a paddle down, floored it, then it would put you in the lowest gear as desired, then auto upshift all the way through the gears.

Interesting how BMW won't let you do that?!

[Davids199]

Originally Posted by A1723

I thought you can hold left paddle shifter and it will downshift to minimum gear available automatically.

+1

[M3OW!]

in S+, D2 or D3, mine is holding gears almost annoyingly long, presumably to keep the boost up.

Ex. I'm on the highway and need to pass someone. Step on it, transmissions kicks down to third, holds third to redline, shifts to fourth and just stays in fourth. Same behavior at non highway speeds.

Does not behave that way in S, D1.

[doberzus]

Originally Posted by M3OW!

in S+, D2 or D3, mine is holding gears almost annoyingly long, presumably to keep the boost up.

Ex. I'm on the highway and need to pass someone. Step on it, transmissions kicks down to third, holds third to redline, shifts to fourth and just stays in fourth. Same behavior at non highway speeds.

Does not behave that way in S, D1.

Mine, will do the same thing. In fact the TTRS used to do this all the time. Drives me up the wall. You have to hit the Right + paddle a few times to get it back to the higher gear or it'll just "buzz" for a full 10 seconds.

[f4780y]

All you have to do to switch BACK to drive (auto) mode is pull and HOLD the right paddle...

[M3OW!]

Originally Posted by doberzus

Mine, will do the same thing. In fact the TTRS used to do this all the time. Drives me up the wall. You have to hit the Right + paddle a few times to get it back to the higher gear or it'll just "buzz" for a full 10 seconds.

I agree it's annoying AF...and encourages obscene displays of acceleration, occasionally at inappropriate times

[doberzus]

Originally Posted by f4780y

All you have to do to switch BACK to drive (auto) mode is pull and HOLD the right paddle...

Wouldn't changing back to D(3) Auto mode by holding down the right paddle, short shift a bunch of gears UP while accelerating?

[f4780y]

Originally Posted by doberzus

Wouldn't changing back to D(3) Auto mode by holding down the right paddle, short shift a bunch of gears UP while accelerating?

I'm clearly not understanding what you are after... You suggested you were dropping from 5th to 2nd gear manually from the most aggressive auto mode - this box won't short shift multiple gears up whilst accelerating in that mode (at least mine won't), even if you switch back to auto. But as I said, maybe I'm just not understanding what you are trying to do...

[doberzus]

Originally Posted by f4780y

I'm clearly not understanding what you are after... You suggested you were dropping from 5th to 2nd gear manually from the most aggressive auto mode - this box won't short shift multiple gears up whilst accelerating in that mode (at least mine won't), even if you switch back to auto. But as I said, maybe I'm just not understanding what you are trying to do...

No worries. I thought I explained it pretty thoroughly in the initial post, but maybe it's harder to explain over text.

Imagine you're doing a rolling race or just want to time an acceleration run from 40MPH in 2nd gear (or any other gear). You want to downshift it to hold the revs at the lowest gear (i.e. 40 mph in 2nd gear at approx. 4000+ RPM) then you want to floor it when you're ready to go and have the transmission AUTOMATICALLY continue shifting gears all the way through whatever speed you're going to.

Can anyone confirm if there is indeed a way?

[Transfer]

Audi usually won't let you truly redline and shifts at/near redline regardless of what you do. BMW makes you manage that on their M cars when in manual mode. On the M Performance vehicles I believe it will upshift automatically despite manual mode when in sport but not in sport+.

Why not just have it in D3, manually shift down to whatever you want then click the stick back to D when you've got it floored? I'm sure it will redline every shift.

[keha]

Originally Posted by M3OW!

in S+, D2 or D3, mine is holding gears almost annoyingly long, presumably to keep the boost up.

Ex. I'm on the highway and need to pass someone. Step on it, transmissions kicks down to third, holds third to redline, shifts to fourth and just stays in fourth. Same behavior at non highway speeds.

Does not behave that way in S, D1.

Originally Posted by M3OW!

in S+, D2 or D3, mine is holding gears almost annoyingly long, presumably to keep the boost up.

Ex. I'm on the highway and need to pass someone. Step on it, transmissions kicks down to third, holds third to redline, shifts to fourth and just stays in fourth. Same behavior at non highway speeds.

Does not behave that way in S, D1.

And I thought I was the only one who felt like in D2/D3 it was staying in gear a bit too long before a shift at times.

[keha]

Originally Posted by M3OW!

in S+, D2 or D3, mine is holding gears almost annoyingly long, presumably to keep the boost up.

Ex. I'm on the highway and need to pass someone. Step on it, transmissions kicks down to third, holds third to redline, shifts to fourth and just stays in fourth. Same behavior at non highway speeds.

Does not behave that way in S, D1.

Originally Posted by M3OW!

in S+, D2 or D3, mine is holding gears almost annoyingly long, presumably to keep the boost up.

Ex. I'm on the highway and need to pass someone. Step on it, transmissions kicks down to third, holds third to redline, shifts to fourth and just stays in fourth. Same behavior at non highway speeds.

Does not behave that way in S, D1.

And I thought I was the only one who felt like in D2/D3 it was staying in gear a bit too long before a shift at times.

[doberzus]

*Update:

I figured it out! So, if you’re in D3 in let’s say 5th gear and you click the left paddle down to 2nd gear. The (S3) will appear on the dash and you can keep the revs on boost until you’re ready to give it a go. Floor it and it will automatically upshift for you.

Glad it works! But why oh why does it LAG so hard from a dig. I love this car but that lag is slowly killing me haha

[Kief]

Originally Posted by doberzus

*Update:

I figured it out! So, if you’re in D3 in let’s say 5th gear and you click the left paddle down to 2nd gear. The (S3) will appear on the dash and you can keep the revs on boost until you’re ready to give it a go. Floor it and it will automatically upshift for you.

Glad it works! But why oh why does it LAG so hard from a dig. I love this car but that lag is slowly killing me haha

Glad you figured it out.
Yeah, the LAG/low down torque is what is discouraging me from unloading my X5M for an X3MC, as I really thought that would be the progression for me. I was underwhelmed during my M Town test drive.

[M3OW!]

Originally Posted by doberzus

*Update:

I figured it out! So, if you’re in D3 in let’s say 5th gear and you click the left paddle down to 2nd gear. The (S3) will appear on the dash and you can keep the revs on boost until you’re ready to give it a go. Floor it and it will automatically upshift for you.

Glad it works! But why oh why does it LAG so hard from a dig. I love this car but that lag is slowly killing me haha

If flick the paddles and you're in S mode, trans will not automatically up-shift, you have to wait for it to return to D mode (takes at least 30-60 seconds, haven't paid enough attention to be sure) or tip the stick right to reactivate D mode.

When in S+ and D2/3 and kick-down is activated the computer seems to be keeping the revs in the power band. I think the "lag" you are noticing is the torque converter keeping things in check.

[doberzus]

Originally Posted by Kief

Glad you figured it out.
Yeah, the LAG/low down torque is what is discouraging me from unloading my X5M for an X3MC, as I really thought that would be the progression for me. I was underwhelmed during my M Town test drive.

I LOVE the car overall. From a rolling start there is zero lag and it moves very quickly. But just taking off from a light in the real world is quite disappointing.

Why would BMW create an engine with virtually zero power under 2000-3000RPM? The low down torque in an AWD+500HP SUV is what I was looking forward to the most. On my test drive I could not floor it, etc as it was a new car with 5 miles on it.

Mine now has 500 miles and I have been playing around with it trying to keep it under 5500rpm. But just flooring it or easing into it takes a solid 2-3 seconds of lag before it even goes past 3K RPM.

F80 had too MUCH power off the line for a RWD that made full torque at 1200-1500RPM. This AWD + ZF auto has no torque at all.... This may be the issue down the line that will make me end up selling/trading for something else.

[doberzus]

Originally Posted by M3OW!

If flick the paddles and you're in S mode, trans will not automatically up-shift, you have to wait for it to return to D mode (takes at least 30-60 seconds, haven't paid enough attention to be sure) or tip the stick right to reactivate D mode.

When in S+ and D2/3 and kick-down is activated the computer seems to be keeping the revs in the power band. I think the "lag" you are noticing is the torque converter keeping things in check.

Hmm, odd. It auto shifted for me with no issues. I was in D3 in 5th gear at 40MPH, then flick it down to 2nd gear manually by clicking the left paddle down. Then you are "buzzing" in 2nd gear, floor it and it will auto shift for you the whole way. I had to try it out. Glad the X3M at least does this as my DCT F80 did not do this. You had to manually shift it. It's nice to have the option to do both.

[M3OW!]

Originally Posted by doberzus

Hmm, odd. It auto shifted for me with no issues. I was in D3 in 5th gear at 40MPH, then flick it down to 2nd gear manually by clicking the left paddle down. Then you are "buzzing" in 2nd gear, floor it and it will auto shift for you the whole way. I had to try it out. Glad the X3M at least does this as my DCT F80 did not do this. You had to manually shift it. It's nice to have the option to do both.

We didn't mention xDrive mode at all here which could also be a factor. I simply haven't done enough driving yet to offer an opinion on how this may impact the experience you've noted.

How much longer until you perform break-in service?