I have a 2007 328 xi and was wondering if shifting in steptronic mode is bad for the car. I do not perform engine breaking. A buddy of mine said that shifting can be harmful. I know how to drive a stick, and I am shifting at the correct time. Also, sometimes I shift the steptronic while letting of the gas, just feels more like a stick, is that ok? Thanks guys!

it shouldn't really hurt anything... the car won't shift if it will hurt something. you may see a decrease in gas mileage though depending on how hard you're pushing it.

Im not pushing it at all. Sometimes I just like the feeling of shifting and I even let out the gas, reminds me of a stick. I actually had to get an auto. So even letting off is ok?

I have a 2007 328 xi and was wondering if shifting in steptronic mode is bad for the car. I do not perform engine breaking. A buddy of mine said that shifting can be harmful. I know how to drive a stick, and I am shifting at the correct time. Also, sometimes I shift the steptronic while letting of the gas, just feels more like a stick, is that ok? Thanks guys!

It is very bad to use the steptronic. I also heard that depressing the accelerator pedal more than halfway will also hurt the engine and adjusting the power seats while the windshield wipers are running will put unduly strain on the battery causing premature wear and tear.

Also don't forget that if the nav feature asks you to turn left and you make a right the system will be distraught and psychologically humiliated and will stop working. :nono

Oh s***! What will happen when I use my active cruise control for the frst time?... :eek:

Oh s***! What will happen when I use my active cruise control for the frst time?... :eek:

Simple. Your car will "lock" onto the first mac truck and blast off full speed, killing everyone in a crash.

The STEP will prevent you from lugging or overspeeding the engine -- shift away...

As for the active cruise control, you must try locking it onto a slow moving car next to you, then setting the speed to 100mph. When the car in front of you turns off to the next street, you get your surge of acceleration:evil2

Guys I was making sure that using steptronic too much wont damage the car. Thanks for making me look like a fool.

Guys I was making sure that using steptronic too much wont damage the car. Thanks for making me look like a fool.
Seriously, try to think about it: the car comes with a 4yr, 50K mi. warranty. Would BMW design a feature into the car that would damage the car, thus increasing warranty costs? That would be self-defeating, and I don't think any manufacturer would stay in business very long if that was their design philosophy. Even if you did damage the car by using a feature that is designed by the manufacturer, the worst that could happen is that you get a new transmission. If you do like 80% of the people on this forum, you lease and at the end of four years you trade it in and get a new car anyway.

Driv3er-
I have used the feature in my past car and now my current one. Haven't had any problems and I use it all the time driving in the city. You don't need to let off the gas when shifting it.

Enjoy that Stepronic. My Dad has it in his 545i and doesn't even know what it is. LOL

Guys I was making sure that using steptronic too much wont damage the car. Thanks for making me look like a fool.

Sorry but I think you did that on your own.

Well worrying about a 40,000 dollar car isnt really foolish. Thanks for the polite response Pduron.

i'd worry more about not changing the oil & filter for 15k miles not the ds reliability

i'd worry more about not changing the oil & filter for 15k miles not the ds reliability

Why do you say this? The engine is cast - its not like they'll be any shavings or debris anywhere in the system. Personally I think that the technology of oil and the engines ability to utilize if efficiently is great. Its hard to change peoples minds when they've been used to something for so so long though.