[jummo]

The M3 is the first car that is my primary driver to not have a clutch.
I told myself I would use the paddles, but I don't much. Almost always in D2.
I do use the paddles on two lane mountain roads when driving in a spirited fashion, as it keeps the car from shifting when I don't want it to.
I do like being able to flick the paddle when in D to get the right gear before passing but otherwise they're just not very involving for me.
It's really the only disappointment I have with the car.

[jmg]

I'm in automatic most of the time in the city. At night when there is no traffic, when I'm in the canyons, or when I'm on the track, I'm paddle shifting in S3.

[yousefnjr]

Almost always in S3, and paddles when I need two hands on the wheel. On turns in town the paddles get lost when shuffle steering, much easier to use the shifter then

D3 auto when I’m holding a drink in one hand and D1 auto when I want to be smooth for a passenger

[mthreesixty3]

Originally Posted by Rodizzle

After I flashed to the CS trans file , no it stays on D1 90% of the time.

How is the CS trans?

Also - why wouldn't you want to be in paddle shift mode more as i'm told the CS trans tune makes the car more engaging & DCT like?

[KevinGS]

I toggle between all the settings based on mood and driving conditions. Sometimes I'm in efficient Drive (D) mode, just chillin'. And sometimes I'm in D3.

And other times I shift for myself for like 15 seconds because I feel like downshifting quickly myself. And sometimes I want to upshift to a higher gear myself. But unlike past DCT trannies, if you're in D (auto) mode and you manually shift (S mode), the S mode is temporary and it goes right back to D mode. I like that. So I use the paddles for a single shift sometimes, and then just let the tranny go back to D mode automatically.

And sometimes I want to stay in S mode so I move the lever over...and then maybe after a minute or two, I'll move it back to D mode.

And sometimes I shift using the paddles, sometimes I shift using the console lever.

Basically, it all depends...but I toggle between the settings, sometimes constantly. I have no standard setting. And I have no typical use of the tranny (paddles vs. shifter). I even toggle through my suspension settings often, depending on road conditions and my immediate intent at that moment. I'm all over the place, depending on the situation and mood.

[HeelToeShift]

Usually when in traffic I use D1 (MPG is better even than my G80 6mt was) but when I want to drive in a more spirited manner, M2 is Sport+ throttle, sport steering, sport brakes, and sport suspension and I use the paddles. The ZF8 is equal to the best I have experienced in other cars (Cayenne turbo GT and Alfa Quads).

[weingarm]

Originally Posted by jummo

The M3 is the first car that is my primary driver to not have a clutch.
I told myself I would use the paddles, but I don't much. Almost always in D2.
I do use the paddles on two lane mountain roads when driving in a spirited fashion, as it keeps the car from shifting when I don't want it to.
I do like being able to flick the paddle when in D to get the right gear before passing but otherwise they're just not very involving for me.
It's really the only disappointment I have with the car.

And that’s why I went back to the 6MT in the G80 after driving an F90 for 3+ years.

The stick / clutch makes even mundane journeys fun!

[TJR_///M3]

Full D1 auto until max rpm is allowed.
After that:
- Wife in car: stays in D1 auto
- Only me in car: S3, paddles

[1209582]

i use the d for the most part but will use paddles if it doesn't do what i want

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by weingarm

And that’s why I went back to the 6MT in the G80 after driving an F90 for 3+ years.

The stick / clutch makes even mundane journeys fun!

Had an F90 M5C and really didnt like it much.

Had a G80 M3 6MT and it was fun maybe 30% of the time and the rest of the time I just disliked the overall feel and engagement. Part of that is owning Porsche manuals which exacerbate how bad the BMW manual is.
Now having a G80 M3x I find that the change was more dramatic than I thought it was going to be and you can tell that the ZF was properly designed for this car and the extra 30 hp and 80 lb-ft are immense.

Neither right or wrong, but do find that the ZF is way better than the M5C was (software is certainly different now I assume) and really adds a level of fun and emotion to the car that wasnt there before in the same way.

[static_void]

D1 when cruising/warming up the car. S3 99% of the time.