A/M Auto Manual button M button

[motorwerks]

i noticed this has come up in quite a few threads, and i thought i'd make it a little easier for those willing to search. (that's the deal with the thread title)
i copied this directly out of the e36 owners manual a while back, and have cut, and pasted it many times.
i hope this helps.

A/M button

E36 owners manual:
This program is for driving conditions under which the selected gear is to be retained. The transmission then remains in this gear both when starting off, and during acceleration. With this program you drive only in the 3rd gear in position D.

It is advantageous e.g. on slopes, or when towing a trailer, to drive in selector lever position 1 or 2, or in winter on slippery roads in the selector position 3, which enables gentle start-offs, and prevents undesirable shifting.

this is how the "sport" feature works

E36 owners manual: 3-sport program, direct control

This sport position is designed for performance-oriented driving, and features delayed upshifts for optimal utilization of the vehicle's power reserves.

When D is engaged, the transmission may respond to certain conditions by repeatedly shifting between 3rd, and 4th gears. You can select this position to suppress upshifts into 4th gear, and prevent the transmission from hunting this way.

[BMWALDO]

w00t. Now there is a thread to point the noobs to. Thanks.

[motorwerks]

w00t. Now there is a thread to point the noobs to. Thanks.

that's what i was hoping to accomplish. if we can't teach them to search, then at least we can make very clear threads to direct them to.

[briankern]

and why exactly is it so bad for the tranny to use m mode?

[AzNaLaN15]

^
ur not supposed to shift it like a steptronic, because it isnt one lol...

[thenewBMWguy]

i think alot of people get confused when they see A/M. they think auto and manual. maybe BMW shouldve used H/L, high and low? that would make more sense to me.

[DrTweak92325i]

Well when you have it in auto and in D. Its like a normal 4 speed tranny...

If you have it in auto and then in 3rd. Its in sport shift...Otherwords it wont hit 4th grear unless 3rd Redlines (I tired it I know). This allows you to have the power right when you hit the pedal because your in 3rd going 80. No needs for the tranny to downshift.

The M is like they said a stepstronic. Basicly when it is in M it only uses gears 1-3 but unlike the sport shift you CANT use 4th at all. If you put it in D it will stay in 3rd. But basialy if you have it in the M mode...And have it it in second gear on the shifter...It stays in second gear...will not shift up or down...or if you are in 3rd...or first...what ever gear you select is the gear it will stay in.

The sport shift though (A mode with it in 3rd) Will act like a normal auto. Just only up to 3rd gear until 3rd redlines then it will shift to 4th...)

[shortly99]

Well when you have it in auto and in D. Its like a normal 4 speed tranny...

Unless you have the 5-speed auto like my 323i

[motorwerks]

Needs bumped again...

[philip77o]

then I guess ill forget that one... i use to hate auto transmision... ill be force to wait until I found the good one ¯¯_____¯¯

[motorwerks]

another bump for the noobs

[riffman12]

free bump. motorwerks, wtf is your sig?

[motorwerks]

free bump. motorwerks, wtf is your sig?

From left to right- Little Otik, elongated glow worm, The boy with nails in his eyes.

[riffman12]

uhhh. why?

[1Clean318]

Is the A supposed to light up or only the M light up? My A does not light up.

[motorwerks]

Is the A supposed to light up or only the M light up? My A does not light up.

The A does not light up.

[whites14]

thank you for the info!!!!

[roarf]

The A does not light up.

The A is supposed to light up. If it doesn't, the bulb is burned out. It is dimmer than the M though. (meant to be that way)

[RascalKing]

My A doesn't light up either.

[roarf]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=997313

I recently replaced the bulb that lights up the A in mine.

[Pswirley]

So run this by me again. The M makes my car a manual right. Or is it M like M3 kind of like Vtech or something.

[roarf]

If you don't know by now.....










...

[sixspd]

So run this by me again. The M makes my car a manual right. Or is it M like M3 kind of like Vtech or something.

LOL. Your still hanging around here. I thought you'd be off to bigger and better things. The e46 forum. I hope to be there soon.

[MCBONIO]

i noticed this has come up in quite a few threads, and i thought i'd make it a little easier for those willing to search. (that's the deal with the thread title)
i copied this directly out of the e36 owners manual a while back, and have cut, and pasted it many times.
i hope this helps.

A/M button

this is how the "sport" feature works

Thanks for the info, my e36 didn't come with it's user manual so I've always wondered about the A/M button and how to get the most from it.

I do have a question however, on the console there is an unmarked black button with a circular depression between the drivers window button and the left hand passengers button. When you press it, it remains depressed. Anyone know what this does? See diagram below....

-----
| ˆ |
| | drivers window control
| ˇ |
-----

-----
| |
| 0 | unmarked black button
| |
-----

-----
| ˆ |
| | left passenger window control
| ˇ |
-----

Thanks,

[dogg325i]

Thanks for the info, my e36 didn't come with it's user manual so I've always wondered about the A/M button and how to get the most from it.

I do have a question however, on the console there is an unmarked black button with a circular depression between the drivers window button and the left hand passengers button. When you press it, it remains depressed. Anyone know what this does? See diagram below....

-----
| ˆ |
| | drivers window control
| ˇ |
-----

-----
| |
| 0 | unmarked black button
| |
-----

-----
| ˆ |
| | left passenger window control
| ˇ |
-----

Thanks,

Ejector seat.