[Skinbc]

Anyone know if it’s possible to go from automatic to manual without a shift up or down to enter the mode? In other words, go from automatic to manual and hold whatever gear your in.

[Bimmerfun82]

No. In the true M cars this capability is possible with the M1/2 buttons, but not in the Z.

[Argo]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

No.

Wouldn't moving the shifter to the left do that?

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by Argo

Wouldn't moving the shifter to the left do that?

That puts the transmission in sport auto. To get to manual, shifting up or down required. Or use the paddles.

[bacampbe]

Originally Posted by Skinbc

Anyone know if it’s possible to go from automatic to manual without a shift up or down to enter the mode? In other words, go from automatic to manual and hold whatever gear your in.

Assuming it works the same way as my M240i and former m340i, if you are sitting still in 1st you can hit the downshift paddle and go into manual mode without an actual shift.

I've also been known to do a quick up/down combo shift to make the transition when I didn't want to (noisily) rev the engine with a normal downshift.

[bacampbe]

Originally Posted by Argo

Wouldn't moving the shifter to the left do that?

Again, if it's like my M240i, that puts you into S mode which is still auto. You have to click a paddle to get from that into M mode.

[Living Dead]

Originally Posted by Skinbc

Anyone know if it’s possible to go from automatic to manual without a shift up or down to enter the mode? In other words, go from automatic to manual and hold whatever gear your in.

Only when you are at a stop, shift lever down or down paddle, you'll still be in first since there's no 0th gear.

Personally, shifting an automatic manually is the automotive equivalent of masturbation, it may get the job done but it's no where near as fun as the real thing.

[Balr14]

Originally Posted by Living Dead

Personally, shifting an automatic manually is the automotive equivalent of masturbation, it may get the job done but it's no where near as fun as the real thing.

It's kind of like Sheepshead or Bridge... if you have good hand, you don't need a partner, you can go alone!

[bacampbe]

Counterpoint:

I drove manuals[1] for 35 years, and swore I'd never get an auto. But it was about being able to select the gear, never about the clutch. When dual-clutch trannys first came out, I really wanted one. But then my wife got a 2012 328i with the ZF8, and I loved it. I could select the gear, it shifted faster than I can, and had none of the slushiness of previous autos I had driven in rental cars.

In my m240i I spend most of my time in manual mode. I will occasionally put it in auto on long interstate drives. I find comfort auto to be too conservative, but sport auto holds the gears too long for everyday driving. Manual mode does whatever I want it to. My only gripe is that sequential shifting makes it harder to remember what gear you are in without looking at the display.

I do not miss the clutch.

[1] Datsun (really) 310, 2 Integras, and 4 Miatas. All but the first had excellent shifters.

[Bimmerfun82]

Yeah the ZF8 is really good. But there’s no substitute for engagement with three pedals.

[Balr14]

Originally Posted by bacampbe

Counterpoint:

I drove manuals[1] for 35 years, and swore I'd never get an auto. But it was about being able to select the gear, never about the clutch. When dual-clutch trannys first came out, I really wanted one. But then my wife got a 2012 328i with the ZF8, and I loved it. I could select the gear, it shifted faster than I can, and had none of the slushiness of previous autos I had driven in rental cars.

In my m240i I spend most of my time in manual mode. I will occasionally put it in auto on long interstate drives. I find comfort auto to be too conservative, but sport auto holds the gears too long for everyday driving. Manual mode does whatever I want it to. My only gripe is that sequential shifting makes it harder to remember what gear you are in without looking at the display.

I do not miss the clutch.

[1] Datsun (really) 310, 2 Integras, and 4 Miatas. All but the first had excellent shifters.

I drove manual transmission cars for 60 years. I don't miss them unless I am driving a classic car... something from the 30s or 40s.