Hello,

I've drifted over from the 7-series forum (last car was an E38 Sport) to ask a question about the 2008 Z4 3.0si paddle shift function for the Steptronic tranny.

My mother recently received such a car for her birthday and after my first drive in it yesterday I noticed that both paddles, while in M-manual mode, shifted the car up through the gears and never down. When slowing down or coming to a stop the transmission would automatically down shift.

I found this a bit odd as obviously, you couldn't shift down. The gear change knob seemed to work fine shifting the car down when you tapped it in the negative direction but not so much for the paddles.

Is this the normal functionality?

Mine shift up or down no matter what. I can left click my shifter to the + - mode and still us the paddle shifters either up or down. Of course an SMG might be different.

Should work both ways. Something's amiss. Altho be aware the tranny will override a downshift command if the revs are too high, and maybe that's the issue here...

Should work both ways. Something's amiss. Altho be aware the tranny will override a downshift command if the revs are too high, and maybe that's the issue here...

+1 - depending on if you push or pull the paddle, it should up or down shift. Something isn't right here.

I'm guessing he's used to the M3 configuration, where 1 paddle upshifts and another downshifts. If you PULL either paddle the car will upshift, while if you PUSH either paddle, the car will downshift.

I couldn't figure out how to work it either on my first test drive. :) 3k miles of SMG ownership later, I like this system better than the dedicated +/- paddles.

Yeah, the paddle-shifting works differently than the M3 we have at home.

For the M3 (SMG Transmission), if you pull the paddle on the left (-) it downshifts, and if you pull the paddle on the right (+) it upshifts.

It works differently than on the Z4. If you pull any of the paddles, the car will upshift. It doesn't matter which one you pull. However, you can push the paddles, and for the Z4 pushing the paddles downshift.

So, with the Z4 with you upshift and downshift all with one paddle.

It isn't the SMG tranny as I believe they discontinued it on the Z4 3.0si for 2008 and only offer the Steptronic option with paddle shifters.

I've figured it out though, you are right Brian. If you pull either you shift up, if you push either you shift down. Would never have guessed. My logic tells me one would be up and one would just be down. Interesting.

Thanks for the input though. It is an amazing car!