[Jayf30]

Coming from an F30 335, I had kickdown in manual mode.

I was on the highway today and when I tried a kickdown while in manual mode, it didn't engage. I then cycled through all the various sport modes and still, nada. Is there no kickdown on this thing in manual mode? Is there a trick?

I will note that I didn't have the paddles in my F30. Is that the reason?

[MdW86]

Isn't that the whole idea of manual mode, that you can fully kickdown without it shifting down? Just like in a manual car..

[Jayf30]

Originally Posted by MdW86

Isn't that the whole idea of manual mode, that you can fully kickdown without it shifting down? Just like in a manual car..

Makes sense, but in any case it was there in the f30 and it was nice with the kickdown from M8 when overtaking slower traffic.

[TxHornX3M40iGuy]

Originally Posted by Jayf30

Coming from an F30 335, I had kickdown in manual mode.

I was on the highway today and when I tried a kickdown while in manual mode, it didn't engage. I then cycled through all the various sport modes and still, nada. Is there no kickdown on this thing in manual mode? Is there a trick?

I will note that I didn't have the paddles in my F30. Is that the reason?

I'm an idiot I guess, but what exactly are you asking? Are you asking if you're in manual mode, and punch the gas, will it shift from M8 to M5 for you to pass a car? If so, no...I don't think I've seen that happen. It does drop gears automatically when approaching a stop etc without you manually downshifting but I haven't seen that.

[Jayf30]

Originally Posted by TxHornX3M40iGuy

I'm an idiot I guess, but what exactly are you asking? Are you asking if you're in manual mode, and punch the gas, will it shift from M8 to M5 for you to pass a car? If so, no...I don't think I've seen that happen. It does drop gears automatically when approaching a stop etc without you manually downshifting but I haven't seen that.

That is exactly my question and that is exactly what happened in my old F30 in sport + manual mode.

Ok so I didn't really use it for overtaking necessarily.. I just used it for cruising the highway in sport at a lower RPM (M8) and when I'd see a car approaching fast from behind or just wanted to do a pull, I'd mash the pedal, you could feel the pedal sort of click in to initiate the kickdown, it would drop to M4 or M5 etc. and leave the rest to me.

I was a little bummed the other day because I had just passed the break in mileage on the highway and attempted one and nothing

[RF30A]

I can confirm my f30 with sport trans (paddles) does not kick down in manual mode. Even better, In sport plus it will bounce off the rev limiter if I don’t upshift in manual mode.

[titomi]

I'm sorry, but... arent manual mode and sport/sport+ different modes? And sport/sport+ are "half" manual and manual mode is fully manual?

[RocketRomeo]

I’m not sure why the box would kick down in manual mode... that would be automatic. If it’s convenience of a kickdown you like then auto modes are for you... sport/plus/adaptive/etc.

But all the cars I’ve had with an auto box or a double clutch have never kicked down automatically when in manual mode... kick down is a flick of a paddle

Interesting your previous car did this, you’ll have to flex those fingers!

[Jayf30]

Great, now I look crazy and I'm starting to miss my F30.. which is kinda a part of looking crazy. Lol

I know it makes no sense for the box to downshift itself in manual mode but think of it this way, like in a 6MT shifting down from 6 straight to 3 rather than 6 to 5 to 4 to 3. The translation of that one motion in manual mode in the auto would be me flooring it to the kickdown and the car throwing me into the lowest possible gear and then leaves the upshifts to me.. because manual mode.

The f30 had WOT without engaging the kickdown. The last little force of depress where you would feel a click (like pressing a button) in the pedal is when it would initiate a kickdown. That is not present in the M40i so I guess there's that

Just found this:

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1334772

I'm not crazy after all

It's what made me drive in manual mode literally all the time in my F30. It was a thing of beauty and sucks that none of you got to experience that.

Maybe there is kickdown blocker I have to remove or maybe I'm wishfully thinking.

Really wish the M40i had it but oh well.

[Jayf30]

Ok so when I got home, I turned the car off and depressed the gas pedal and definitely feel the kickdown.

It's just not possible in manual mode I guess. I rest my case unless someone knows how to activate it in manual.

[Jayf30]

Ok so according to the M40i owners manual, there seems to be 2(?) ways to initiate a kickdown in manual.

Not as simple as mashing the pedal but I'll take it!

Now I can cruise in low RPMs in sport/+ and have all that power readily available

[TxHornX3M40iGuy]

Originally Posted by Jayf30

Ok so according to the M40i owners manual, there seems to be 2(?) ways to initiate a kickdown in manual.

Not as simple as mashing the pedal but I'll take it!

Now I can cruise in low RPMs in sport/+ and have all that power readily available

Nice! I'm only seeing one way to do it, by pulling and holding the left paddle and mashing the gas...what's the second way? Let me know once you try these!

[DigiSage]

I just went and tried this. Pull & hold left paddle = kickdown. The button at the end of the gas pedal does nothing in manual mode, but pull & hold left paddle works great. Went from 8 to 3 with just one stop in the middle, pretty impressive.

[TxHornX3M40iGuy]

Originally Posted by DigiSage

I just went and tried this. Pull & hold left paddle = kickdown. The button at the end of the gas pedal does nothing in manual mode, but pull & hold left paddle works great. Went from 8 to 3 with just one stop in the middle, pretty impressive.

Awesome. Are you saying it stopped somewhere in the middle like 5th before then dropping to 3rd or was it a seamless kickdown to 3rd but the display showed a middle gear first?

[DigiSage]

Cruising in full manual mode, in 8th, I held the left pattle, and the display immediacy showed 3rd, however the RPMs changed once, then again when it settled on 3rd. It happens pretty fast.

[383vett]

Originally Posted by Jayf30

Ok so when I got home, I turned the car off and depressed the gas pedal and definitely feel the kickdown.

It's just not possible in manual mode I guess. I rest my case unless someone knows how to activate it in manual.

These cars are drive by wire. There is no mechanical linkage. The ecm gets its information from the pedal position sensor.

[DigiSage]

Originally Posted by 383vett

These cars are drive by wire. There is no mechanical linkage. The ecm gets its information from the pedal position sensor.

Um, yes, they are indeed drive-by-wire. Including the wires that are attached to the kickdown button at the bottom of the pedal travel.

[RocketRomeo]

Originally Posted by Jayf30

Ok so according to the M40i owners manual, there seems to be 2(?) ways to initiate a kickdown in manual.

Not as simple as mashing the pedal but I'll take it!

Now I can cruise in low RPMs in sport/+ and have all that power readily available

Ahaaaa now it all makes sense! Good work JayF30... your persistence paid off! I’m going to try this today!

[Tjalle]

I see your point, but…..

Overtaking in manual mode is one of few remaining manouvres, where some skill and planning, will help to achieve performance AND comfort.

I plan overtaking, by downshifting to 3000-3500 rpm, hence getting shortest overtaking with least noise/"bumps".


With the preferred kickdown, you get noise and "bump" - of course you don´t have to think.

[titomi]

Maybe it's good to mention that this applies to cars with sport steptronic transmission i. e. with paddles, not just M40i. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Jayf30]

Originally Posted by Tjalle

I see your point, but…..

Overtaking in manual mode is one of few remaining manouvres, where some skill and planning, will help to achieve performance AND comfort.

I plan overtaking, by downshifting to 3000-3500 rpm, hence getting shortest overtaking with least noise/"bumps".


With the preferred kickdown, you get noise and "bump" - of course you don´t have to think.

Yeah I corrected myself earlier haha

Unnecessary for overtakes but pulls, yes and messing with speeding cars, yes. Lol

[Jayf30]

Just tried it and it worked beautifully.

Cruising at 70 in M8, pedal to the floor and left paddle press/hold(it was so fast I don't even remember if I held it or not haha) threw me in M4.

Have fun and enjoy guys.