[markchen2008]

sorry for the stupid question, but I feel I never really knew the correct answer: How to accelerate your car (automatic transmission)?
yes, especially now having a M car, I have to know the answer : -)

specifically, two scenarios:

at speed of 40 MPH, you want to pass the other car as quickly as possible, what do you do?
A) Just press the gas pedal hard,
B) you downshift first (by pulling the shift paddle -), then press the gas pedal hard?

How about at speed of 70 MPH (highway), any difference?

Thanks a lot!

[jimbethesda]

Originally Posted by markchen2008

sorry for the stupid question, but I feel I never really knew the correct answer: How to accelerate your car (automatic transmission)?
yes, especially now having a M car, I have to know the answer : -)

specifically, two scenarios:

at speed of 40 MPH, you want to pass the other car as quickly as possible, what do you do?
A) Just press the gas pedal hard,
B) you downshift first (by pulling the shift paddle -), then press the gas pedal hard?

How about at speed of 70 MPH (highway), any difference?

Thanks a lot!

I always manually shift my car unless I'm in my neighborhood or in traffic.

Want try something really awesome?

In S3, floor it all the way, then downshift. The car will shift to the lowest gear possible.

Be careful!

[markchen2008]

Originally Posted by jimbethesda

I always manually shift my car unless I'm in my neighborhood or in traffic.

Want try something really awesome?

In S3, floor it all the way, then downshift. The car will shift to the lowest gear possible.

are you saying, actually the correct way is: push the gas pedal all the way, THEN downshift. (which means, do both, but the order is different from what i thought)

[forcefed]

There's no wrong answer, try both ways and see what you prefer.

[JDUNITNOW]

Depending on how much space I have I may just hit gas. Other scenario is hold the downshift paddle a couple of seconds and it automatically downshift to appropriate gear. Once I'm around other car, I hold the upshift and reverts back to normal mode. Do this in ideal weather, I can't imagine with a rear wheel drive and wet roads how it may turn out for you.

[The Nerd]

Originally Posted by JDUNITNOW

Depending on how much space I have I may just hit gas. Other scenario is hold the downshift paddle a couple of seconds and it automatically downshift to appropriate gear. Once I'm around other car, I hold the upshift and reverts back to normal mode. Do this in ideal weather, I can't imagine with a rear wheel drive and wet roads how it may turn out for you.

So if I'm cruising at 60 and want to accelerate as quickly as possible from a roll….you're saying to hold the left paddle down for a few seconds, then when you hear it downshift, floor it? How does it know what gear you want? It'll drop to lowest gear without redlining? Also, how is this different than just stomping the pedal in automatic mode? Does stomping the pedal not also pick the lowest ideal gear for accelerating?

[2011ninja]

Claus Johannes Luthe just turned over

[kjx]

You need to instinctively know what performance you can extract at what rpm in what gear.

Knowing that, you should always anticipate the power you’ll need 2 seconds from now at least and have the car always in the right gear and rpm range. So when you hit the gas, there is no downshift, just instant electric-car-like torque.

A shortcut to this is to just use D3 when you anticipate needing power. And switch to D2 when you want flexibility without fuel consumption. And finally D1 when your drivetrain is not yet warmed up to operating temperature. You can flip between all three modes using just the M1 and M2 buttons if configured correctly.

Even with D3, you can take over with the paddles when you really want to be involved in extracting the most possible.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by 2011ninja

Claus Johannes Luthe just turned over

You can't make this joke without context. Nobody knows who Claus Johannes Luthe is

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

You can't make this joke without context. Nobody knows who Claus Johannes Luthe is

It's funnier when you do the research 🥳

[KevinGS]

Even using the most aggressive ZF8 engine and tranny settings, there's still a slight delay when you just hit the gas pedal. And it won't always go down to the lowest gear possible. So then you may get a little lag in the downshift, and a little turbo lag while the revs climb.

So, I often manually shift if I need instant acceleration. And if you're on a spirited drive, like on back roads or the track, being in manual mode and shifting yourself is much faster over time than the ol' ZF8, which simply doesn't hold gears long enough...so you'll often won't be in the right gear to prevent downshift lag or turbo lag, especially after slowing for a turn/curve. The ZF8 definitely ain't as sophisticated as Porsche's PDK (and almost no auto tranny is). And the Porsche GT model PDK's are the absolute best at keeping you in the right gear all the time in "track" or "aggressive" mode...so then you never have to manually shift yourself. It will hold the highest gear at all times, so it leaves you in the best part of the engine's powerband, especially when entering and exiting curves.

The G8X ZF8 is sophisticated enough in it's most aggressive settings to hold gears longer on uphills...so you'll notice that the gear will hold for natural engine braking when going down a hill with the Engine in Sport Plus mode. And it will hold a gear going around some turns, but it's not consistent enough for you to count on it turn after turn. It's just not programmed to be super aggressive. The PDK is.

But in the G8X, if you just need fast acceleration (not instant), then just hammering the gas pedal will get you the results you want. Though for the fastest acceleration when needed, shift yourself...or hold the left pedal and hammer it, and it will kick down to the lowest gear available. Just flooring it MAY put you in the lowest gear available, but using the left pedal coupled with flooring it guarantees it. However, I wouldn't use the pedal + flooring it method too often (as fun as it may be), because it's the most violent shock to the tranny...and over time, could wear down the flywheel and hub faster, accelerating wear and tear on the ZF8 (more of an issue for longer term ownership).

[The Nerd]

Originally Posted by kjx

You need to instinctively know what performance you can extract at what rpm in what gear.

Knowing that, you should always anticipate the power you’ll need 2 seconds from now at least and have the car always in the right gear and rpm range. So when you hit the gas, there is no downshift, just instant electric-car-like torque.

A shortcut to this is to just use D3 when you anticipate needing power. And switch to D2 when you want flexibility without fuel consumption. And finally D1 when your drivetrain is not yet warmed up to operating temperature. You can flip between all three modes using just the M1 and M2 buttons if configured correctly.

Even with D3, you can take over with the paddles when you really want to be involved in extracting the most possible.

I appreciate the insight….and, I understand the basics of our transmission and how to know instinctively what gear to be in when. But what I was asking about was the unknown nuances of how the tranny works. Aside from the delay associated with the downshift when we mash the pedal in automatic mode…..is there any other difference between the gear chosen that way (mashing pedal in automatic mode)….vs…..holding the left paddle down, and then stomping the pedal?

[MassComp]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

You can't make this joke without context. Nobody knows who Claus Johannes Luthe is

Isn't he related to John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt?

[MassComp]

Originally Posted by 2011ninja

It's funnier when you do the research 🥳

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claus_Luthe

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by MassComp

Isn't he related to John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt?

🤣🤣😂🤣

I'm really laughing lol!!!!!

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by MassComp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claus_Luthe

Party's over 🤣

Man if the right people get wind of this. I'm saying it goes viral and hits Bimmerpost landing page.

[JDUNITNOW]

Originally Posted by The Nerd

So if I'm cruising at 60 and want to accelerate as quickly as possible from a roll….you're saying to hold the left paddle down for a few seconds, then when you hear it downshift, floor it? How does it know what gear you want? It'll drop to lowest gear without redlining? Also, how is this different than just stomping the pedal in automatic mode? Does stomping the pedal not also pick the lowest ideal gear for accelerating?

What KJX said, if you are just hooning and want to have fun, yes. Someone with more experience will chime in. I just k ow when I I hold the paddle down, especially in D3 setting, I got room for what's coming next.

[The Nerd]

Originally Posted by KevinGS

Even using the most aggressive ZF8 engine and tranny settings, there's still a slight delay when you just hit the gas pedal. And it won't always go down to the lowest gear possible. So then you may get a little lag in the downshift, and a little turbo lag while the revs climb.

So, I often manually shift if I need instant acceleration. And if you're on a spirited drive, like on back roads or the track, being in manual mode and shifting yourself is much faster over time than the ol' ZF8, which simply doesn't hold gears long enough...so you'll often won't be in the right gear to prevent downshift lag or turbo lag, especially after slowing for a turn/curve. The ZF8 definitely ain't as sophisticated as Porsche's PDK (and almost no auto tranny is). And the Porsche GT model PDK's are the absolute best at keeping you in the right gear all the time in "track" or "aggressive" mode...so then you never have to manually shift yourself. It will hold the highest gear at all times, so it leaves you in the best part of the engine's powerband, especially when entering and exiting curves.

The G8X ZF8 is sophisticated enough in it's most aggressive settings to hold gears longer on uphills...so you'll notice that the gear will hold for natural engine braking when going down a hill with the Engine in Sport Plus mode. And it will hold a gear going around some turns, but it's not consistent enough for you to count on it turn after turn. It's just not programmed to be super aggressive. The PDK is.

But in the G8X, if you don't need fast acceleration (not instant), then just hammering the gas pedal will get you the results you want. Though, for the fastest acceleration when needed, shift yourself...or hold the left pedal and hammer it, and it will kick down to the lowest gear available. Just flooring it MAY put you in the lowest gear available, but using the left pedal coupled with flooring it guarantees it. However, I wouldn't use the pedal + flooring it method too often (as fun as it may be), because it's the most violent shock to the tranny...and over time, could wear down the flywheel and hub faster, accelerating wear and tear on the ZF8 (more of an issue for longterm ownership).

Super helpful….thanks!

[Kminor2578]

Originally Posted by JDUNITNOW

Depending on how much space I have I may just hit gas. Other scenario is hold the downshift paddle a couple of seconds and it automatically downshift to appropriate gear. Once I'm around other car, I hold the upshift and reverts back to normal mode. Do this in ideal weather, I can't imagine with a rear wheel drive and wet roads how it may turn out for you.

You beat me to it 🤓

[Laguna01///M3]

Drop a gear, and disappear!

[TJR_///M3]

Use the paddle and enjoy it - I heard that with iD9 gear shifting will be by touchscreen button…
(Cue jokes about up sh*t creek without a paddle).

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by TJR_///M3

Use the paddle and enjoy it - I heard that with iD9 gear shifting will be by touchscreen button…
(Cue jokes about up sh*t creek without a paddle).

Wrong…

It will be voice activated

Hey BMW

Good morning

Please down shift