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Thread: Tips for drivers with auto tranny on Auto-X

  1. #1
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    Tips for drivers with auto tranny on Auto-X

    I went to my first Auto-X last weekend, and I had a great time. I defintely want to do this more, but I wanted some tips on driving an auto-X with an auto transmission. I put my car in the manual mode and in 2nd gear, but I found that I wasn't getting that much acceleration. I tried starting in 1st and then shifting to 2nd, but I wasn't sure when and where to shift. If anyone has any suggestions, fire away!

  2. #2
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    The problem with the auto transmissions (other than weight and powerloss due to extra drag), is the fact that the ratios are spread out much more.

    This means that your second gear can go to a higher speed (75mph) versus that of the manual transmission (60mph). As a result, you don't get that low end punch.

    First gear for most manual transmission cars is only used for the initial start in autocross and up to it's top speed of 35mph. After this, you usually don't shift even if below 35mph) unless it is a REALLY slow turn. The first gear on an auto is good to about 42mph.

    So, first gear doens't go high enough and second gear goes too high to be effective for autocrossing. I've usually found it best to let the car shift on it's own, but it's becomes quite a sloppy endeavor with the car constantly shifting when its least convinient.

  3. #3
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    anyone else have any tips?

  4. #4
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    If you're new to autocross I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just launch in first and pick a spot to shift to second then leave it. You will do much better concentrating on driving than shifting.

    I have an 01 325i with Steptronic, which is a little easier to deal with. In M mode I launch in first and more often than not it hits redline and upshifts to second right about where I would anyway. I do feel the lack of torque coming out of some of the low speed corners in second, but it seems like I lose more time downshifting than if I just deal with it in second.

    I have also experimented with the kickdown, but it doesn't work very well. You need to really nail the gas pedal to get it to drop down to first, then when it kicks in you are at full throttle. More than half the time I tried this I ended up spinning out of the corner.

  5. #5
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    PM or e-mail "318power" thru bimmerforums. He is one of our teammates and autoxes an E36 318i auto. He does VERY well and places well in the standings. He might be able to give you some tips.
    What would Crockett and Tubbs do?

    1994 E36 Hellrot/Black 325is
    2007 E92 Jet Black/Saddle Brown 335i

  6. #6
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    awesome, thanks for the tip...

  7. #7
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    waddup

    I've had the same issues with the tranny shifting when putting the car in automatic mode in D and 3 (which BMW specifies as the sport gear). I don't bother using the M button (manual) and shifting, it shifts too slow and you end up having to shift 500-700 rpm before redline (I usually end up hitting the limiter, which equals wasted time), I found that leaving the car in A mode and putting the transmission in 2 allows the car to start in 1st gear and not go higher than 2nd (which you never have to go above anyway). This method also allows you to go back into first without shifting yourself.

    Another good pointer is being early on the gas when coming out of turns, depressing the gas pedal beyond the kickpoint before the end of the turn allows you to be high in the rev range or drop a gear if necessary. I've got a 318 so being aggressive is possible, in other words I don't have to be afraid of losing control.

    In summary, to be successful with the automatic like any other car the revs should as high as possible all the time and you've really got to "get on it."

    I hope this helps, see if you like using 2nd in Automatic mode! Experiment and tell me what you think.

    Jason

  8. #8
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    Speak of the devil!

    Jason-you going to be at any autoxes soon? Check your e-mail too.

    team.BAR dat shyt!
    What would Crockett and Tubbs do?

    1994 E36 Hellrot/Black 325is
    2007 E92 Jet Black/Saddle Brown 335i

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by 318power
    I've had the same issues with the tranny shifting when putting the car in automatic mode in D and 3 (which BMW specifies as the sport gear). I don't bother using the M button (manual) and shifting, it shifts too slow and you end up having to shift 500-700 rpm before redline (I usually end up hitting the limiter, which equals wasted time), I found that leaving the car in A mode and putting the transmission in 2 allows the car to start in 1st gear and not go higher than 2nd (which you never have to go above anyway). This method also allows you to go back into first without shifting yourself.

    Another good pointer is being early on the gas when coming out of turns, depressing the gas pedal beyond the kickpoint before the end of the turn allows you to be high in the rev range or drop a gear if necessary. I've got a 318 so being aggressive is possible, in other words I don't have to be afraid of losing control.

    In summary, to be successful with the automatic like any other car the revs should as high as possible all the time and you've really got to "get on it."

    I hope this helps, see if you like using 2nd in Automatic mode! Experiment and tell me what you think.

    Jason
    Thanks for your insite !!!! I have a e36 m3 and I find myself driving on th highway in 4th a lot so that makes all the sense in the world, I do have the "S" mode but I think a comp upgrade would allow the rev limit increase. Now I have to find an Autox close to me. How far from Balt. is the track you guys run ?

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by 318power
    I've had the same issues with the tranny shifting when putting the car in automatic mode in D and 3 (which BMW specifies as the sport gear). I don't bother using the M button (manual) and shifting, it shifts too slow and you end up having to shift 500-700 rpm before redline (I usually end up hitting the limiter, which equals wasted time), I found that leaving the car in A mode and putting the transmission in 2 allows the car to start in 1st gear and not go higher than 2nd (which you never have to go above anyway). This method also allows you to go back into first without shifting yourself.

    Another good pointer is being early on the gas when coming out of turns, depressing the gas pedal beyond the kickpoint before the end of the turn allows you to be high in the rev range or drop a gear if necessary. I've got a 318 so being aggressive is possible, in other words I don't have to be afraid of losing control.

    In summary, to be successful with the automatic like any other car the revs should as high as possible all the time and you've really got to "get on it."

    I hope this helps, see if you like using 2nd in Automatic mode! Experiment and tell me what you think.

    Jason
    Thanks for the tips

    I will try this at the Auto-X school in late July, and let you know what I think of it.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by myavus318ti
    anyone else have any tips?

    just leave it in 2

    focus on maintaining speed by taking good lines and keeping the car at the limit through the turns and you won't need to accelerate so much.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by M3fun43
    Now I have to find an Autox close to me. How far from Balt. is the track you guys run ?
    A lot of the autoxes we run are closer to the DC area (45 min - 1 hour away from Baltimore). However several us have run with the Philly SCCA Chapter and Porsche Club at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen MD (about 30 min north of Baltimore)-big lot and fairly new.

    As for actual tracks/road courses, the closest one is in WV-Summit Point Raceway-about 1 1/2 hours away. Beaver Run is about 3 1/2-4 hours away and VIR is about 4 hours away.
    What would Crockett and Tubbs do?

    1994 E36 Hellrot/Black 325is
    2007 E92 Jet Black/Saddle Brown 335i

  13. #13
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    I do not know how BMW Auto trany's work, but I've seen a couple of people (non-bmw drivers) leave their autos in 1st and just drive. Their trany's will automatically upshift if needed, and then it drops back down to 1st when needed.

  14. #14
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    All automatic BMW's I've driven will stay in 1st when let there.

  15. #15
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    Thumbs up

    I have the steptronic 5 speed in my Z4. I use manual mode and shift just like I did with the e46 325i stick. There are usually 1 to 2 places that I need to shift into third gear because 2nd gear redlines about 65 or so. Sometimes I just let it shift at those points when it needs to.

    I have found that downshifting before the turn while still braking (like I would with a stick) is the fastest and smoothest. That way the hesitation of shifting is when you have the brakes on. Having the car downshift for me at the apex is not smooth and takes longer because it hesitates right when you don't want it to. If it does try to catch first gear because I mashed the pedal too hard, I will then have to back off throttle to compensate for the extra power boost it gets from first gear so as not to oversteer out of control.

    One plus of the auto (if there is any) is that when you want to get in first gear it will do it for you. Where as I did not have the skill level with heal toe and rev matching etc. to get the 325i into first, so just left in second.

    I am a newbie autoxer with only 5 events so take my advise accordingly. I do have one first place and one second place though.
    (Make that 3 first places now)
    Last edited by tmachine; 09-29-2004 at 02:43 PM.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by tmachine
    I have the steptronic 5 speed in my Z4. I use manual mode and shift just like I did with the e46 325i stick. There are usually 1 to 2 places that I need to shift into third gear because 2nd gear redlines about 65 or so. Sometimes I just let it shift at those points when it needs to.
    Wow that is a really fast auto-x course...

    I've never taken my Bimmer out there (daily driver) but the MR2 visited once or twice

    Keep the tips coming! My daily is an automatic and for some reason if I decide to take it out there all of this is useful! =)

  17. #17
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    I wonder if we can get this thread "Parked"

    Edit: Awesome it already is!
    Last edited by bellavus; 06-18-2004 at 05:10 PM.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Quiksilver7
    Wow that is a really fast auto-x course...
    The local San Diego BMW Club puts on a great course at the Qualcomm stadium parking lot. Usually a little over a mile long with times averaging in the 80 second range. The size of the course depends on what part of the lot they get for their event.

    I went to watch an SCCA autox in the same lot, and they setup much smaller courses.

  19. #19
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    Check out Dinan to see if they have a chip for a 318 auto. I think this would helpalot as well.
    MAB

  20. #20
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    Leave it in 2 and punch the launch !!

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by MAB Badgerbimmer
    Check out Dinan to see if they have a chip for a 318 auto. I think this would helpalot as well.
    It's like $400 for 9 horsepower

  22. #22
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    I went to the auto-x today, and I tried out the tip to leave the car in 2-A. It worked very well, and I improved on every single run.

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by myavus318ti
    It's like $400 for 9 horsepower

    Not the engine chip the auto transmission chip. Makes a huge difference in the performance of the auto tranny.
    MAB

  24. #24
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    I have a 4 speed auto tranny, how much of a difference would that make in comparision to the 5 speed tranny shift points? The 4 gears already shift kind of hard right now.

  25. #25
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    i appeciate all these tips, i have an AT as well and am gonna start autoxing soon...
    95 cosmos black metallic m3/2A ///M3 Cc 83
    <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/95cosmom3/IMG019.jpg">
    cf hood ert cp cosmos racing intake trans chip (all for sale by the way)

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