[Clemenza]

Picked up a 2009 335 step and I like to play around with the paddles, Does anybody have a chart showing the best gear (max acceleration) to use at a given mph (ie at40, 60, 80 etc....mph what would be the best gear to be in)

Thanks

[jopa489]

The best gear? That's a relative question, doesn't really work that way. With the torque curve on the N54, as long as you're in the power band it goes. Fast.

[Topless 335i]

Originally Posted by jopa489

The best gear? That's a relative question, doesn't really work that way. With the torque curve on the N54, as long as you're in the power band it goes. Fast.

+1 You just have to feel it, it depends on your speed, rpm, current gear and how fast you're accelerating

[BlueC]

Originally Posted by jopa489

The best gear? That's a relative question, doesn't really work that way. With the torque curve on the N54, as long as you're in the power band it goes. Fast.

+2

[Clemenza]

understand. Maybe i did not phrase correctly. For instance if I am in manual mode at 65mph at 6th gear, what gear would I drop down to to give me the best acceleration, 3rd gear?? Where is the max powerband??

I come from an e46 M3 smg and I would like to drop down to the 4-5k rpm range for best acceleration. There was a chart that showed gievn the mph, what gear to drop down to to put you right in the power band for that motor

thanks

[maswastage]

I don't know about any chart that lists specifics, but as a general rule of thumb, the automatic tranny will cruise 2 gears higher than the power range. So if you're driving along in D and you come up to a tractor you need to overtake, slap it into DS and downshift once (because putting it in DS automatically downshifts once, and you need to downshift once more) and you'll be good to go.

[Roowah]

This may sound naive coming from someone with a 6MT, but if you're looking for max acceleration, wouldn't you want to just floor it past the "click" point and have the automatic tranny select the best gear? I would think it would be faster than having to manually click through the gears with the paddles.

[jopa489]

Originally Posted by Roowah

This may sound naive coming from someone with a 6MT, but if you're looking for max acceleration, wouldn't you want to just floor it past the "click" point and have the automatic tranny select the best gear? I would think it would be faster than having to manually click through the gears with the paddles.

Completely correct. Using the paddles can be fun, but it's not the fastest way (in a straight line or around a track) with Steptronic. Slap it in DS and punch it.

[ToadHollow]

On the freeway (within the speed limit, of course) I will drop it to 4th to fly & 5th to pass ............ LOL ..... had a passenger say HOLY SH*T the other night after cruising @ 75mph and hitting 110mph in the time it took to pass someone.

Love it

[The HACK]

Where do you people come up with these questions?

It's an AUTOMATIC. Floor the pedal and the transmission will AUTOMATICALLY select the lowest gear for the fastest acceleration. It's call kick-down mode. There's nothing to it, you paid EXTRA for the automatic transmission, let it think and decide for you.

[VTECaddict]

Originally Posted by Roowah

This may sound naive coming from someone with a 6MT, but if you're looking for max acceleration, wouldn't you want to just floor it past the "click" point and have the automatic tranny select the best gear? I would think it would be faster than having to manually click through the gears with the paddles.

[pruettfan]

I suppose if you want the best gear you should leave it in auto mode and let the computer decide. If you shift on your own you should be able to get a feel as to what works best for what you are trying to do, it is very subjective.