Lag in streptronic shifting - United Bimmer Community

**nightdevils** · 02-10-2006, 01:53 PM

Hey guys, so I recently bought a e39 '01 530i w/ streptronic transmission.. yeah should have bought a manual instead but the dealership didn't have one

Anyways, so I have noticed a 1-2 sec delay between the time I push the lever up and the time the car actually shifts to the higher/lower gear. I am wondering if this lag could be shortened any how.. new parts? or perhaps a performance chip would do the trick. Any ideas?

Thanks

Shawn

nick_318is · 02-10-2006, 02:59 PM

Uh, its steptronic and its slow, there is generally a second lag or so, my tip is learn how much time you need and anticipate early.

Welcome to ub.c

**nightdevils** · 02-10-2006, 05:19 PM

Hehe, thanks. Its a good feeling to be part of a bmw only community

Yeah, I think it will be kinda fun to learn when to shift just right to avoid the lag. However, other than losing clutch control, do you think it can still perform well on the track ( I mean yeah its not going to be the greatest but how bad is it)? I am wondering if anyone has ever taken a streptronic on the track and compared times with a manual of similar configuration..

**nightdevils** · 02-10-2006, 05:40 PM

My bro just told me that a sports mode or "kick down" mode might have faster shifting performance.. can anyone confirm this? my car is in the body shop undergoing body work after getting rear-ended so cant try :-/

http://flickr.com/photos/sdebnath/se...7594052645831/

DEATH2000 · 02-10-2006, 06:14 PM

^^ That sucks ur car got rearended. How bad is it? Any pics of the damage?

**Numark318i** · 02-10-2006, 06:57 PM

welcome to the community.
sounds like a nice car.
My moms 330 has steptronic, and to me it makes more sence to just use S mode instead of the manual mode. Seems to work better for me.

**nightdevils** · 02-10-2006, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEATH2000

^^ That sucks ur car got rearended. How bad is it? Any pics of the damage?

Yep pics @ http://flickr.com/photos/sdebnath/s...57594052645831/ can't wait to get it back! damage estimates came to about $14,300 about 53% of current car cost!

**nightdevils** · 02-10-2006, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numark318i

welcome to the community.
sounds like a nice car.
My moms 330 has steptronic, and to me it makes more sence to just use S mode instead of the manual mode. Seems to work better for me.

Do you know if the lag between when you shift and actual transmission change is any different in sport compared to manual mode (both in steptronic)?

**Numark318i** · 02-10-2006, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynamite

Do you know if the lag between when you shift and actual transmission change is any different in sport compared to manual mode (both in steptronic)?

you know to me it seems faster. Although i am very heavy on the gas. Ill have to take it out and see. From what i have noticed though it is faster.
I think what it is is that in S mode the car automatically selects the lowest possible gear. It just downshifts to that gear. While in Manual mode you have to shift it through gears.

For example at 65mph if you are in manual mode and want all the power u an get u have to down shift twice.
But in S mode it would automatically downshift to 3rd gear if you depress the pedal enough.

Of course even if you are in Manual mode you can put the pedal all the way down(theres WOT and then theres a small blip in the pedal) and the car would downshift to the lowest possible gear just like in S mode.

nick_318is · 02-10-2006, 07:39 PM

I dont know if you will get any really good preformance out of it at a track, without a smg or a real clutch to press your not going to have nearly the preformance, but you can still do it, its your ride and you should enjoy it.

**nightdevils** · 02-10-2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numark318i

you know to me it seems faster. Although i am very heavy on the gas. Ill have to take it out and see. From what i have noticed though it is faster.
I think what it is is that in S mode the car automatically selects the lowest possible gear. It just downshifts to that gear. While in Manual mode you have to shift it through gears.

For example at 65mph if you are in manual mode and want all the power u an get u have to down shift twice.
But in S mode it would automatically downshift to 3rd gear if you depress the pedal enough.

Of course even if you are in Manual mode you can put the pedal all the way down(theres WOT and then theres a small blip in the pedal) and the car would downshift to the lowest possible gear just like in S mode.

Sweet, now I can't wait to try it out

Keep me posted if you get a chance to try it out.

**nightdevils** · 02-10-2006, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick_318is

I dont know if you will get any really good preformance out of it at a track, without a smg or a real clutch to press your not going to have nearly the preformance, but you can still do it, its your ride and you should enjoy it.

You are up in MI eh? I am at Purdue, perhaps we could meet up sometime at a track

Storamin · 02-10-2006, 08:53 PM

right foot down... car goes. that's all you really need to know.

**Spieluhr** · 02-10-2006, 09:33 PM

your auto tranny is controlled by a computer as opposed to a manual which is just that, manual. The computer has to think for a second before putting in the gear you want, so you can't do anything about the delay. I have an autotragic 328is, and I prefer manual mode to S mode, much more control. Check Dinan out, they sell an auto tranny chip for the e36 M3, so they might sell one for your car as well. Look around, it might be out there. What it will do is reduce that delay, make the car more responsive, raise rev limiter, etc.

**BMWLotAttendant** · 02-11-2006, 12:26 AM

You will ALWAYS have lag. They are in the SMG cars too. M3, M5, 645Ci, etc.

Why are you suprised?