[bimmer456]

I have perfected the technique for shifting manually the SAT. Unfortunately, BMW has gone with steering wheel mounted paddles rather than column mounted ones. This makes it harder to shift when cornering. I figured out to use the console shifter in this case and steer with one hand, like driving a stick shift. Once I'm going straight or relatively straight (can still turn somewhat but not 90 degree turns) I can switch back to paddles. Still getting used to the column shifter having up shifts by pulling rather than pushing which is for down shifts, sometimes I have to look down to confirm the + and - signs, and to pull on the lever to up shift during and just after turning. What's your technique with the SAT? I noticed on Mercedes with their AMG cars with paddles, that's all you get as the shifter is column mounted and doesn't have the shift gate so you're out of luck there. I do notice when driving manually that the car drives much better, I can get the power down better when I need it rather than having the computer guess which gear is the best for the situation as it can't see the road ahead or traffic or what I'm trying to do. It's also more satisfying being in control and really driving the car to get the most out of it. Some folks will say a true manual is still better as using paddles feels like a video game, to each their own.

[eluded]

#ShouldHaveBoughtA6MT

They don't seem to have these issues

[AudiA4]

I'm a 6MT guy myself, but regarding your questioning the up/downshift pattern of the console lever; by most every account, BMW has it set up properly: pull for upshift, push for downshift.

[JollyRodger]

Even thought the directions are probably right, I still sometimes shift the wrong way with the console shifter, even after 3 years with my wagon. Probably because my old Passat with dsg was exactly the other way and I drove it for close to 8 years.

I usually go with downshifts on the wheel and upshifts with the console lever. Sure, not like a MT but what you going to do if BMW won't sell you a manual wagon?

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

I'm a 6MT guy myself, but regarding your questioning the up/downshift pattern of the console lever; by most every account, BMW has it set up properly: pull for upshift, push for downshift.

They changed it in the F30 where one side is - the other side is +. My old e92 had the pull/push.

I honestly never use it. The car shifts better than I do anyway.

[rlmesq]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

I'm a 6MT guy myself, but regarding your questioning the up/downshift pattern of the console lever; by most every account, BMW has it set up properly: pull for upshift, push for downshift.

It's like GP shift on a motorcycle, where you push down to upshift. Makes a lot more sense because you can just step on the shift lever when accelerating, and you slip your toe under the lever to downshift when you're sitting up while braking.

The standardization of up = higher gear and down = downshift happened in the seventies, I think.

It does get confusing. My dirt bike is standard shift, but everything else is converted to GP. Had a really startling moment at a trackday at Laguna Seca a few years back on a brand new Yamaha R1 that hadn't been converted yet, when I inadvertently downshifted from second into first under WOT on the front straight coming out of turn 11.

[Emcee]

Shouldn't you be in the correct gear before the turn, as in while braking you're downshifting?

Then once you hit the apex you're on the gas already in the correct gear?

Now if you're talking about going manual around town, then yeah getting out of first while turning is a bit tricky but on a track I hardly see how this is a problem.

[CalCarNut]

When I bought the car, I saw the paddle shifters and wen't 'meh'...never use them. WRONG. I love the damn things. If I want to shoot a hole in traffic I'll use them to both downshift and upshift. Since the car is a x28, dropping the extra gears quickly comes in handy to spool up the boost.. I haven't used the shifter to do anything yet other than to put it in a gear.

[elistan]

If I'm, say, sliding a low-speed corner and need to shift from 1st to 2nd, I find that the wheel mounted paddles are in the wrong place, so use the console shifter like you do. I'd imagine I'd have the same issue at an autocross.

But I like, and vastly prefer, having to pull back to upshift.

I haven't done a track day where I'm, say, in a corner at 80mph needing to shift from 3rd to 4th, so perhaps in that situation the wheel mounted paddles are perfectly placed.

Driving around town I pick and choose between auto, paddles and console shifter depending on what mood I'm in.

[AudiA4]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

They changed it in the F30 where one side is - the other side is +. My old e92 had the pull/push.

I honestly never use it. The car shifts better than I do anyway.

We're talking about the console lever shifter, not the column mounted paddles, correct? Or at least, that's what I was referring to...

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

We're talking about the console lever shifter, not the column mounted paddles, correct? Or at least, that's what I was referring to...

Oh. Well I'm confused then. Ha

[Budget M3]

I use the shifter in the center console, too, especially in a turn or other times when the paddles are inconveniently located. Same thing with my wife's e46 M3 with SMG.

I had an e46 325ti with SMG when I lived in Europe a few years ago. It had paddles too, however, BOTH paddles could either up shift or downshift--pull for upshift and push for downshift. I found that design much more intuitive and wonder why BMW discontinued it in the newer cars.

[JamRWS6]

Proper 3 & 9 technique would have your hands always right by the paddles; that's how they were designed. I actually prefer the gear shift lever myself. I guess old manual transmission habits die hard.