1994 325is, how does the auto to manual tranny work.

[94BMW325isCoupe]

Ok my car didnt come with an owners manual, so could someone tell me how to use the auto to manual option on this car. its automatic and has the button to go into A or M?

[Emil]

By default, your car is always in "auto" mode when it starts (unless a sensor is messed up, then it might revert to manual mode and start from 2nd gear bypassing 1st...) so it provides smoother shifts and all.

If you feel like revving the engine a little higher before shifting gears, you press the manual button and the tranny computer shifts at higher RPM. That's all there really is to it from what I know, the "manual" option is not really manual in the true sense of the word.

[gettingthatflow]

i have a 94 325is too and have often wondered this question too, i have played around wiht it but have really found it useless. I also think its in a terrable spot to becuase if you dont look and go to roll down your window you can click it into manual on accident

[94BMW325isCoupe]

true true.
i think im gonna go play around with it now.
later

[94Bimm3r]

ok i have this as well and what it does is lock the torque converter in what ever gear you are in but keep in mind you have no drive or 4th gear it is alot of fun if used right i have kept up with some fast cars. for example on cold mornings when you dont want to rev it high i use it to keep rpms lower which is easier on the motor. say you are in 2nd gear and you smash the gas the car will not down shift like its should it will stay in what ever gear selected. even if you come to a stop light and you are in 3rd the car will not take off good unless you down shift to first can be used in snow to avoid spinning out. if you want to know more just let me know!

[ducky328i]

its a great way to break your transmission if you're out hotrodding around like your driving a stick.

that button is there so that your car wont shift out of a lower gear when you need the extra torque if you are driving in slippery condition like snow or ice, or are climbing or descending an extreme grade...

[94BMW325isCoupe]

ahhhh. i get it now. whatever gear u are in from 1-3 it will lock it in that gear like in manual until u change gears. alright alright thats cool. i was at a red light then pushed it on and now im fully aware that it stayed in first gear.
thanks man

[ducky328i]

if you want to "sport shift" your car, it has an option for that. leave "A" selected, and put the selector in "3". this is a factory installed sport shit mode...it delays the gear changes and all that neat stuff...

[94Bimm3r]

if you want to "sport shift" your car, it has an option for that. leave "A" selected, and put the selector in "3". this is a factory installed sport shit mode...it delays the gear changes and all that neat stuff...

+1 that is the best way if you want to tear on your car also known as spirted driving lol

[maharaj1]

When you put oyur transmission into manual mode it acts like a SMG transmission. You are able to shift gears without the use of a manually operated clutch. Only difference is that you have to execute all upshifts and downshifts. Pretty cool and can be used as an advantage by allowing you to keep rpm's low therfore burning less fuel

[456meyer]

tiptronic is the official term i believe.

[ducky328i]

When you put oyur transmission into manual mode it acts like a SMG transmission. You are able to shift gears without the use of a manually operated clutch. Only difference is that you have to execute all upshifts and downshifts. Pretty cool and can is an advantage by allowing you to keep rpm's low therfore burning less fuel

there you go...listen to this guy.

while yes you may be able to 'manually' shift gears, your transmission was NOT designed to be operated like that. if any of you know ANYTHING about your vehicles, you'll know that the automatic transimissions in E36's were built by Hydromatic, that is the SAME company that builds transmissions for GM, which is pretty much why your auto's have GM stamped all over them.

seriously guys, would you 'tip-tronically' shift your cavalier just because it has all the gears available? of course not! the transmissions were built with 'tip-tronics' or 'smg' or any of that garbage in mind.

the option is there for you to MANUALLY SELECT GEARS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS OR ON A STEEP GRADE. NOT FOR TACHING OUT EACH GEAR AND SLAMMING THE NEXT ONE. those trannys just aren't built for that. there is a factory fitted option for that. if you LEAVE YOUR "A" BUTTON SELECTED, AND PUT YOUR SELECTOR IN "3" YOU ENGAGE SPORT SHIFT. READ YOUR OWNERS MANUAL!!!!!!!!

if you choose to ignore me, blatantly thats your fault, and enjoy driving your car sans transmission. if you want a stick, buy one, or do the swap (its not that hard, ive done it because my tranny crapped out on me and no i wasnt driving it like a manual but 250k will do that)

/rant




n00bs :rolleyes

[Zander]

there you go...listen to this guy.

while yes you may be able to 'manually' shift gears, your transmission was NOT designed to be operated like that. if any of you know ANYTHING about your vehicles, you'll know that the automatic transimissions in E36's were built by Hydromatic, that is the SAME company that builds transmissions for GM, which is pretty much why your auto's have GM stamped all over them.

seriously guys, would you 'tip-tronically' shift your cavalier just because it has all the gears available? of course not! the transmissions were built with 'tip-tronics' or 'smg' or any of that garbage in mind.

the option is there for you to MANUALLY SELECT GEARS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS OR ON A STEEP GRADE. NOT FOR TACHING OUT EACH GEAR AND SLAMMING THE NEXT ONE. those trannys just aren't built for that. there is a factory fitted option for that. if you LEAVE YOUR "A" BUTTON SELECTED, AND PUT YOUR SELECTOR IN "3" YOU ENGAGE SPORT SHIFT. READ YOUR OWNERS MANUAL!!!!!!!!

if you choose to ignore me, blatantly thats your fault, and enjoy driving your car sans transmission. if you want a stick, buy one, or do the swap (its not that hard, ive done it because my tranny crapped out on me and no i wasnt driving it like a manual but 250k will do that)

/rant




n00bs :rolleyes

:urtheman

[ducky328i]

im really not trying to be a dick, just tryin to keep you guys from breaking your cars..:dunno

[nixbimmr]

Yeah, what ducky has to say is correct.

Although I did not know about the "A" and in 3 = sport shift mode. That is interesting.

For some reason I believe it to not only be bad for your transmission (if drivin like it's a 5 speed), but also for your coolant system.

[ArcticGrey94]

Duckys right, leave it in A and drop it to 3 position and your in sport mode. M is strictly manual. I had my car for a long time before I read my owners manual all the way through, plus the forum helped me to understand. Now I'm an enlightened being capable of amazing feats of automotive wizardry
:redspot

[m0isty]

tiptronic is the official term i believe.

Only if you own a Porsche!

[maharaj1]

appreciate ya ducky, ya its pretty much the same for all Bimmers that have the A-M switch my 740iL has the A-M switch and it is same concept. Jus remember that it will not make any shifts automatically even if you over rev it, and i think the term steptronic

[94BMW325isCoupe]

if you want to "sport shift" your car, it has an option for that. leave "A" selected, and put the selector in "3". this is a factory installed sport shit mode...it delays the gear changes and all that neat stuff...
so its ok to drive with it in this gear-"3" for some time if i just want to accelerate faster and go faster rather than just having it in D?

[HvK]

This is really interesting... On my 98 323i Auto I have three settings: << W|E|S>> Click the button forward for Sport, press down for Economy (which is the default) and push it rearwards for Winter mode.

Think what your describing as being Manual mode to be equal to Winter mode on my box...

[afghiranian]

its weird though i dont get it if A + 3rd is sport, then wtf is 1 and 2 for?

[Fitzer]

if you want to "sport shift" your car, it has an option for that. leave "A" selected, and put the selector in "3". this is a factory installed sport shit mode...it delays the gear changes and all that neat stuff...
hahaha.

[idriveastick]

Only if you own a Porsche!


Or VW.