Dont Use Your Da** "M" Mode on Your Auto Trannies!! [Archive] - Bimmerforums

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E36M34life

04-16-2008, 11:43 PM

Just don't.

NAHSAYN

04-17-2008, 12:28 AM

tokbandit

04-17-2008, 12:30 AM

I use it all the time......with no problems, but I need an excuse to drop some cash on a 5sp swap........most of the time its not the button it's operator error.........

Outside Groove

04-17-2008, 12:57 AM

Never understood why anyone would want to manually shift an automatic. I mean isn't the point of getting the automatic so you DON'T have to shift it?

smurfdawg

04-17-2008, 01:01 AM

E36M34LIFE, You've admitted that YOU didn't switch it back to 'A' after switching it to 'M'. YOU caused the tranny problems. Why do you feel like transferring the blame to something else?

I use mine all the time with NO problems. :redspot But then again I always remember to go back to 'A' when the sport driving is over just as I always remember to wash my hands after I use the bathrooms.

TempCK318is

04-17-2008, 01:04 AM

Not a problem if you pay attention. course that is a biased opinion seeing as i drive manual and wont drive anything else but if you keep an eye on it nothing bad will happen (unless the switch goes out and your stuck in M then your screwed lol)

328iBMW10

04-17-2008, 01:31 AM

I hope you didn't hit the A button while your foot was pushed down on the gas. That could cause some issues right there. and 113k miles on original fluids? change that ASAP

geminiys

04-17-2008, 02:23 AM

The "M" mode on Auto trany should only be used on icy roads. What it does, the trany helps not to slip rear tires from a standing still position by start moving in the third gear (if i am not mistaken) insteat of first.
As far as your trany problem, I hope changing the fluid will help. That is what I would have done first. Make sure you change the filter too.

bmcq

04-17-2008, 08:45 AM

Grey Phox

04-17-2008, 09:08 AM

I use it all the time......with no problems, but I need an excuse to drop some cash on a 5sp swap........most of the time its not the button it's operator error.........

Blow the transmission. Theres your excuse. Problem solved.

duce110

04-17-2008, 09:26 AM

wait, how do u use the sports mode... i never knew that before... i got a 97 328i with that m option but what is this about 3rd gear... u can drive on it and not worry about messin up the tranny... let me find out, =)

deanbruhn

04-17-2008, 09:43 AM

Leave it in auto mode and then put your car into 3rd gear it activates sport mode for the tranny.

jumpin jack

04-17-2008, 10:37 AM

Change the tranny fluid asap!

bmcq

04-17-2008, 10:40 AM

Yeah the sport mode keeps you in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears at all time, and downshifts when needed and delays upshifts a bit to rev up to some higher RPMs. You can keep up with a lot of fast cars this way.

duce110

04-17-2008, 10:43 AM

and it won't hurt the tranny... thats only city driving right, not on the highway...

Xz Dark Star zX

04-17-2008, 10:51 AM

Ok, so im sure most of you have heard that using the M or Manual mode on the automatic trannies in E36 can cause problems, and I just want to let you know that I think its true.

So the other day I decided to use the damned M button to go up an on ramp in 2nd gear for a little bit of fun, and music to my ears, so I get up to speed and stick it in 4th but I forgot to now switch the button back to automatic mode. So im driving down the highway until I take the off ramp to go home, but the tranny was still in M mode in 4th gear! :mad So im waiting on the stop light and light turns green, I step on the gas pedal and nothing, I hear the motor struggling for about 2 seconds until I realize what I have done and I quickly press the Automatic mode and instantly 1st gear kicks in and I take off with no problems...............no problems yet. :(

So today a couple days later I experience my first slippage in third and second gear. My baby is sick :(. Before this, the tranny was perfect, shifted smooth and everything, im not sure what to do, wether to change it myself or take it to a shop.

The tranny fluid hasn't been replaced and it has 113K miles, so thats good news since it gives me hope that if I replace it, all will be well.

DONT USE YOUR M BUTTON!!!

i use mine all the time... and btw, there ISNT A 4TH GEAR IN M MODE!!

duce110

04-17-2008, 11:38 AM

and it won't hurt the tranny... thats only city driving right, not on the highway...

uncle

04-17-2008, 12:01 PM

Operator error!!

The Ripe Punani

04-17-2008, 12:02 PM

Yea...too bad my friends keep fucking around in my car and pushing the "M" button. They're like goddamn kids. "OOH! LET'S GO INTO M MODE!" :shifty

I guess they think that it means Motorsport instead of Manual. :rolleyes

E36M34life

04-17-2008, 12:05 PM

I understand it was my fault for forgetting to take it out of M mode, but im just saying to warn others as it was very very easy to forget, especially after you rev out the car and your heart starts pumping, changing it back to automatic mode just slipped from my otherwise great memory.

Also, I am planning for a 5 speed swap, but thats months away and I at least need the tranny to last that long.

duce110

04-17-2008, 12:25 PM

ok so nobody still hasn't answered my question... the sports mode (3rd gear) is it only for city or can it be for highway also... does it hurt ur tranny for driving on 3rd for long period of time...

GimmieSumMo72

04-17-2008, 12:33 PM

Change the tranny fluid asap!

no dont! if you dont know what the problem is and fix it first...

changing the tranny fluid will make it worse!

that's the 1st thing any good tranny tech will tell you!

Xz Dark Star zX

04-17-2008, 12:36 PM

ok so nobody still hasn't answered my question... the sports mode (3rd gear) is it only for city or can it be for highway also... does it hurt ur tranny for driving on 3rd for long period of time...

no, it wont hurt it at all, just dont push it too hard. why would u use the 3rd gear to cruise on the highway anyway? i understand to pass but... well any way, i hope that answers your question

duce110

04-17-2008, 12:47 PM

nah i was just askin cause u guys said sports mode so i just wanted to make sure... this is my first bimmer so im tryin to learn as much as i can... so pop the sucker to 3rd if in the city but not on the highway... m button, i won't touch anyway... i have once to see how it works and really didn't catch my attention...

E36M34life

04-17-2008, 12:50 PM

Yeah, thats the wierd thing, some say not to change the fluid, some swear by changing the fluid, its really confusing.

Im not going to worry about it though because the slippage hasn't happened again, so I dont know exactly what happened but whatever.

Pswirley

04-17-2008, 12:50 PM

I always thought the M button stood for "Magical" and when I pushed it my car would deliver me to a wonderful place filled with Leprechauns and Unicorns.

richbarn2

04-17-2008, 12:52 PM

I always thought the M button stood for "Magical" and when I pushed it my car would deliver me to a wonderful place filled with Leprechauns and Unicorns.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

bjm442

04-17-2008, 12:57 PM

I always thought the M button stood for "Magical" and when I pushed it my car would deliver me to a wonderful place filled with Leprechauns and Unicorns.

+1:buttrock

Xz Dark Star zX

04-17-2008, 01:00 PM

I always thought the M button stood for "Magical" and when I pushed it my car would deliver me to a wonderful place filled with Leprechauns and Unicorns.

you mean it doesn't!?!?!
:eek2 AHHHH i want a refund!! :eek:

BimmerChuck

04-17-2008, 01:07 PM

Forgetting to put it back to "A" mode shouldn't break it. I am sure manually shifting an auto is an increase on wear and tear just as is a heavy foot. Pay to Play. Auto trannies tend to act up in six figure mileage. Changing fluidand filter is a good idea before 100K miles. Changing it after you have problems will more often than not cause it to go ahead and die. Something on the lines of the sludge and shavings holding it together. This is a classic dilemma, and if it were me I would prepare for a rebuild or flush it while I have the means to replace or rebuild.

MJFX328

04-17-2008, 01:11 PM

Don't use the M button we all know. Looking down and seeing that you have the M buttun is where you went wrong in the first place.lol Get that 5speed and you'll be like Aladdin "it's a whole new world" IMO.

ahahahah. Putting it in "3" has also shown some problems.

"its a whole new woooorld" lol

drtweak1992325i

04-17-2008, 01:21 PM

It may still be an automatic...But if you use the M mode...

YOU STILL NEED TO DOWN SHIFT!!!

And taking off in 3rd shouldnt really hurt the engine! Yea it will be harder for it to take off..But i've some how "accidently" this M a few times because of the way i have my hand on ths shift (No arm rest) and i'd take off in 3 and be like whoops and i just drop it to first and take off...

Most of the time it is user error...But luckly you cant money shift with an auto. And be gentle on it when up or down shifting...I do notice it is kinda hard on the tranny...

roarf

04-17-2008, 02:10 PM

I always thought the M button stood for "Magical" and when I pushed it my car would deliver me to a wonderful place filled with Leprechauns and Unicorns.
:shifty

I think Sport mode will use 4th gear, but only if it reaches redline in 3rd, and by then you'll be doing 80+. I can't remember if this is true or not but I think I have done it before, it's been a while.

GimmieSumMo72

04-17-2008, 02:13 PM

samahel

11-18-2008, 05:31 PM

my 328 96 doesnt have an M button, it only have the S button, the E button and the SNOW buton... whrere is it?

mine doesnt have an A/M button, just have S/E/*(snow). And doesnt have 1-2-3-d, only 2-3-4-d.

MJFX328

11-18-2008, 06:41 PM

I think we only have 2,3,4. Snow must be a snow option. You might be lucky enough to have an LSD!

OptionlessM

11-18-2008, 06:44 PM

if you are ghey enough to buy an automatic E36, just stick it in Drive and worry about those two pedals and the steering wheel. you are still not "shifting" when you put it in M mode. unless of course its snowing, and various other odd exceptions.

itciai

11-18-2008, 06:53 PM

I've been tinkering lately with my Autotragic and have noticed that shifting an automatic has helped me learn what I can and cannot do in a 5-speed.

If you're going up a ramp in Drive, and you want to kick it down to 2nd Gear... Press the M button and it should downshift to 3rd automatically, then just pull it down into second. But make sure your foot is on the gas the whole time, otherwise it will buck/freak out on you. Also, you'll need to be prepared to downshift while you're moving if you're shifting in an Automatic. Just go drive it around and get used to it. If you tear it up, it's just an excuse to put a 5-speed in there.

mchkc240

11-18-2008, 07:04 PM

itciai

11-18-2008, 07:20 PM

DO NOT change the Transmission fluid!! I go to tech school and I just finished the transmission class. Dont change your transmission fluid. Because a lot of time the old transmission fluid is the thing that actually stick everything together(On transmission with slipping problem) So changing transmission fluid WILL make your slipping problem worse. + the transmission fluid can tell the trans tech a lot of stuff. So dont change it out until you get it check out. I know you want to get it fixed asap. But wait till you get it check out. Seriously. Goodluck man!

hope that helps

Bad advice. Your tech school advice is only as good as your instructor.
Changing the fluid is the best way to figure out what's going on in a transmission. When you change the fluid, take the old fluid in a bucket to a transmission shop and they can tell you what's going on with it, they can tell you if it's burnt or if it's old or what the hell is wrong.
Changing the fluid will not affect an Automatic transmissions' slip, if it's doing it badly enough. There are plenty of people out there who have changed their fluid and have had NO more slipping problems, end of story... But if their transmission is already slipping, and they change the fluid and it's still slipping, then it's either time for a 5-speed, replacement, or a rebuild. Changing the fluid, I believe, could only prove to be beneficial to the transmission.

Regardless of this, if you drive like a dumbass in an automatic transmission, then it won't last long no matter what you do.

sixspd

11-19-2008, 12:11 AM

i use mine all the time... and btw, there ISNT A 4TH GEAR IN M MODE!!
There is if you have a zf5hp18 out of an M3. The M Mode is only for holding a gear on a steep grade or for starting in 2nd for icy conditions only. That's it and that's all. I just leave mine in in drive with sport mode activated

Bad advice. Your tech school advice is only as good as your instructor.
Changing the fluid is the best way to figure out what's going on in a transmission. When you change the fluid, take the old fluid in a bucket to a transmission shop and they can tell you what's going on with it, they can tell you if it's burnt or if it's old or what the hell is wrong.
Changing the fluid will not affect an Automatic transmissions' slip, if it's doing it badly enough. There are plenty of people out there who have changed their fluid and have had NO more slipping problems, end of story... But if their transmission is already slipping, and they change the fluid and it's still slipping, then it's either time for a 5-speed, replacement, or a rebuild. Changing the fluid, I believe, could only prove to be beneficial to the transmission.

Regardless of this, if you drive like a dumbass in an automatic transmission, then it won't last long no matter what you do.

Actually he is pretty much dead on. Adding the clean fluid tends to dislodge the sludge that has built up and can lead to tranny failure. I would change it if it were mine though.

itciai

11-19-2008, 12:29 AM

There is if you have a zf5hp18 out of an M3. The M Mode is only for holding a gear on a steep grade or for starting in 2nd for icy conditions only. That's it and that's all. I just leave mine in in drive with sport mode activated

Actually he is pretty much dead on. Adding the clean fluid tends to dislodge the sludge that has built up and can lead to tranny failure. I would change it if it were mine though.

No. :nono

1. If the transmission has been abused to that point, then the transmission is in the process of failing anyway.
2. Also, there are transmission conditioners/cleaner fluids that are designed to break free that sludge.
3. ALSO, if you replace the filter and the fluid at the same time, then the sludge that is dislodged by the new fluid will be caught by the new filter.

I'm planning on changing mine.

sixspd

11-19-2008, 01:14 AM

No. :nono

1. If the transmission has been abused to that point, then the transmission is in the process of failing anyway.
2. Also, there are transmission conditioners/cleaner fluids that are designed to break free that sludge.
3. ALSO, if you replace the filter and the fluid at the same time, then the sludge that is dislodged by the new fluid will be caught by the new filter.

I'm planning on changing mine.

You are right but once that sludge clogs up up your brand new filter then your tranny will suffer fluid starvation then the end is near. Look I'm not saying I wouldn't change mine. I'm just saying that once you have waited that long then you have already shortened the life of the tranny. I am not someone that has faith in any lubricant lasting a lifetime. I change mine long before there is any sludge to contend with.

mchkc240

11-19-2008, 01:50 AM

Bad advice. Your tech school advice is only as good as your instructor.
Changing the fluid is the best way to figure out what's going on in a transmission. When you change the fluid, take the old fluid in a bucket to a transmission shop and they can tell you what's going on with it, they can tell you if it's burnt or if it's old or what the hell is wrong.
Changing the fluid will not affect an Automatic transmissions' slip, if it's doing it badly enough. There are plenty of people out there who have changed their fluid and have had NO more slipping problems, end of story... But if their transmission is already slipping, and they change the fluid and it's still slipping, then it's either time for a 5-speed, replacement, or a rebuild. Changing the fluid, I believe, could only prove to be beneficial to the transmission.

Regardless of this, if you drive like a dumbass in an automatic transmission, then it won't last long no matter what you do.

Damn I can feel the heat! Seems like you know exactly whats going on! Have you ever rebuild an automatic transmission? I dont know about you but I have. From the case all the way to complete transmission. How about you? I am not saying I know a lot of transmission but I dont like how you judge people with that kind of attitude. If you know what you are talking about, cool! Be a cocky bitch about it. But TOO BAD I believe I know more than you on this. Just FYI my transmission instructor is one of the BEST techs in the nation. He goes to different schools in the US to teach other techs and instructors. So your cocky ass "Your tech school advice is only as good as your instructor. " comment just makes you look like a TOTAL DUMBASS. Its ALWAYS a dumb idea to change out the fluid when you know something is wrong. Dont do it unless you know exactly whats going on or after you get it check out by a professional. Because it might just cover up the problem for a short period of time but the real problem will only get worse and worse. And in a lot of slipping cases. The trans tech will tell you "Just leave it and dont change the fluid" Because rebuilding auto transmissions just cost so much and its not even worth the money to rebuild it. You might as well get a used one instead. "Changing the fluid, I believe, could only prove to be beneficial to the transmission." Thats correct but not ALWAYS. And old transmission fluid will actually help your transmission to stick better when your transmission is slipping.

LOL! If you dont know whats up then dont give people attitude.

atlantisvip

11-19-2008, 10:45 AM

roarf

11-19-2008, 11:49 AM

Or you could just push the pedal to the floor and it will downshift for you.

OldCarGuy

11-19-2008, 12:15 PM

Damn I can feel the heat! Seems like you know exactly whats going on! Have you ever rebuild an automatic transmission? I dont know about you but I have. From the case all the way to complete transmission. How about you? I am not saying I know a lot of transmission but I dont like how you judge people with that kind of attitude. If you know what you are talking about, cool! Be a cocky bitch about it. But TOO BAD I believe I know more than you on this. Just FYI my transmission instructor is one of the BEST techs in the nation. He goes to different schools in the US to teach other techs and instructors. So your cocky ass "Your tech school advice is only as good as your instructor. " comment just makes you look like a TOTAL DUMBASS. Its ALWAYS a dumb idea to change out the fluid when you know something is wrong. Dont do it unless you know exactly whats going on or after you get it check out by a professional. Because it might just cover up the problem for a short period of time but the real problem will only get worse and worse. And in a lot of slipping cases. The trans tech will tell you "Just leave it and dont change the fluid" Because rebuilding auto transmissions just cost so much and its not even worth the money to rebuild it. You might as well get a used one instead. "Changing the fluid, I believe, could only prove to be beneficial to the transmission." Thats correct but not ALWAYS. And old transmission fluid will actually help your transmission to stick better when your transmission is slipping.

LOL! If you dont know whats up then dont give people attitude.

Actually, you are both right. If the transmission is "acting up" then there is something wrong and it needs to be checked out and possibly repaired. Changing the fluid can make it harder to diagnose- which usually means that it will get rebuilt when it may have gone a little while longer without a rebuild.

However, if the owner would go ahead and change the tranny fluid more often- like every 30K miles or so- instead of waiting for the tranny to break before changing it, then the tranny would live a lot longer without needing repair. Just like engine oil, old tranny fluid breaks down and causes much higher wear. Changing the fluid and filter is really not that hard and can double or triple the life of the transmission.

gettingthatflow

11-19-2008, 01:05 PM

auto to manual swap exscuse

samahel

11-19-2008, 01:40 PM

my car is exaclty like this,
http://www.bmwmregistry.com/faq/E36_M3_Auto_Shifter.jpgbut doesnt have the M (instead of the M button, have the * (snow) button
http://www.bmwmregistry.com/faq/E36_M3_Auto_Shifter.jpg
why the snow button is for (of course is for snow, but what this button makes to the car?) traction control? dont use all the gears?
thanks

MJFX328

11-19-2008, 02:03 PM

My switch doesnt even look that fancy. Just an M and A button. I never touch the damn thing. Just hope people dont realize you have an auto

samahel

11-19-2008, 02:29 PM

My switch doesnt even look that fancy. Just an M and A button. I never touch the damn thing. Just hope people dont realize you have an auto

thank you, you help me a lot!
by the way here 98% of bmw/mercedez is auto tranny.

spoonerDee

11-19-2008, 03:20 PM

I usually just hit M mode when I'm on the freeway and want to pass someone. It automatically switches down to third gear so it works out good. After I pass I just switch back to A and it automatically goes to 4th.

Mine does not do this. If i push M while i am in 4th it stays in 4th till i down shift.

I have never tried "sport mode" with putting it in third. But i used to use the M button to make passes, but as i said id have to push M then down shift.

As for roarf, why some of us do that is so that we DONT have to floor it to downshift dont have to waste gas or rev the engine allot more then needed.

espguitarist

11-19-2008, 09:53 PM

:shifty

I think Sport mode will use 4th gear, but only if it reaches redline in 3rd, and by then you'll be doing 80+. I can't remember if this is true or not but I think I have done it before, it's been a while.

Oh, it uses 4th, no question there...otherwise 3rd gear is capable of more than 105 mph.

I use sport mode all the time, although I did not know that pressing the M button while you're in D will downshift...I'm going to have to try that at some point.

cbell8

11-19-2008, 10:01 PM