[chenry]

Considering switching things up a bit on my 2011 Msport by adding factory paddle shifters (yes I know what's involved to add them) / that said I'm looking for your driving impressions of the 335d with paddles....I'm relatively happy with the driving experience of my car in Sport mode but I do enjoy playing with the paddles in our 435 gran coupe sooooo......tell me what you think / thanks

[BB_cuda]

At the end of the day: Shifting with paddles isn't that critical of a "have". Here's why. When you are in corners and thus have the wheel twisted around, it's not straight forward as to which is the upshift and the downshift paddle. When you're going straight, yes it is very simple for left hand down shift and right hand upshift. But the thing is, when you're going straight it is super simple to just bump the gear shift. I likely more often than not bump the shifter and drive the wheel one handed.

They look cool but I wished they were more usable in the corners. Perhaps there is a technique that the track guys know and I'm clueless. If anyone disagrees with me, that is fine but explain to me the technique please. When wheel is turned upside down, you have to think backwards to hit correct paddle. maybe if they were color coded like green for upshift and red for downshift. I dunno. I suppose its a selling point. When I was 335D shopping, the paddles were a "mandatory". This shows you what owning and driving the car will do for really telling you what the nice to haves are. The split rear folding seat was and still is a "mandatory" for me.

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

They look cool but I wished they were more usable in the corners. Perhaps there is a technique that the track guys know and I'm clueless.

The technique for me is: keep your hands in the same place the whole time, then the paddles are always just where you expected them to be. In corners that are so tight you need to shimmy on the wheel, you shouldnt be shifting anymore anyway by the time youre turning the wheel that far. Its possible some less flexible than me (hard to believe since my wrists are unreasonably inflexible) would have to shimmy on more high speed corners but I would be surprised. I dont think "paddle" I think "right hand" or "left hand" when using the paddles so upside down or right side up is no difference.

[Delta0311]

Have them. Don't use them often.

[32valves]

Yeah what they said, I only really use them to help slow the car down during braking but I need to use them more often tho.

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

The technique for me is: keep your hands in the same place the whole time, then the paddles are always just where you expected them to be. In corners that are so tight you need to shimmy on the wheel, you shouldnt be shifting anymore anyway by the time youre turning the wheel that far. Its possible some less flexible than me (hard to believe since my wrists are unreasonably inflexible) would have to shimmy on more high speed corners but I would be surprised. I dont think "paddle" I think "right hand" or "left hand" when using the paddles so upside down or right side up is no difference.

I'll give it a try but turning 180 degrees on wheel with forearms crossed sounds wierd. If I can hang on that, I see your point on left and right hands.

[anielsen71]

Retrofitted them and use them quite a lot.
Overtaking, accellerating on the highway.
I use them more than I expected to.....

[bvanlieu]

Have them both on the D and X1 3l and I use them almost all the time. I just enjoy controlling the car, being a manual trans person for all of my life (D was my first slushy).

I think I am not the norm with this, as many folks have them and seldom use them. My wife fits that category for example (and she does drive our manual cars as well).

The D is such a torque monster I have never felt the need to be shifting mid turn when driving spiritedly when my hands are not in the ideal position. On turn out, unwind, shift, rocket away.

- b

[kydiesel35]

Originally Posted by bvanlieu

The D is such a torque monster I have never felt the need to be shifting mid turn when driving spiritedly when my hands are not in the ideal position. On turn out, unwind, shift, rocket away.

- b

I agree. Seems like I make power at whatever rev.

Question. Do the paddles have the same shifting characteristics as the manual mode?

Example: Shift into lower rev then WOT. Will it drop the gear or will it hold ? I've found that manual mode can be pretty frustrating with this so I just leave it in drive and let it do its thing.

Is it a true clutch-less manual or does it still have a mind of its own?

[bvanlieu]

Not sure what you mean by characteristics. Manual is...manual. I think it will upshift at redline (honestly forget if it does: the last 500 RPM in stock form peters so I upshift manually myself and can't recall last time I hit redline).

Other then a shift that puts the RPMS past limits, the car will stay in the gear you tell it to when downshifting.

When in sport mode, the transmission is pretty good about holding gears and not short shifting IMHO, but not perfect hence my affinity for DIY.

As far as slushboxes go, the ZF unit is quite good otherwise.

- b

[Sti581]

Originally Posted by kydiesel35

I agree. Seems like I make power at whatever rev.

Question. Do the paddles have the same shifting characteristics as the manual mode?

Example: Shift into lower rev then WOT. Will it drop the gear or will it hold ? I've found that manual mode can be pretty frustrating with this so I just leave it in drive and let it do its thing.

Is it a true clutch-less manual or does it still have a mind of its own?

It has a mind of its own. I wish it was a true clutch less trasminssion like the SMG's. But no my friend she's a fake manual auto tranny.

I too have paddle shifters and seldomly use it. I'm more of a traditional guy. I do catch myself at times using the gear selector as my down and up shifts.

[kydiesel35]

Gotcha.

I really like the ZF. Holding up good even at higher power levels... Just don't slam on it on bumpy roads and everybody should be solid. Can't wait for TCU tunes, my final power mod.

[135i_vs_]

Love how they look, I only use when needed to launch from red lights..
Other than that, Sport Mode works just fine without any manual shifting.

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by kydiesel35

I agree. Seems like I make power at whatever rev.

Question. Do the paddles have the same shifting characteristics as the manual mode?

Example: Shift into lower rev then WOT. Will it drop the gear or will it hold ? I've found that manual mode can be pretty frustrating with this so I just leave it in drive and let it do its thing.

Is it a true clutch-less manual or does it still have a mind of its own?

Manual mode and paddle shift (which is just manual mode anyway) will both hold gear at low RPM as long as you dont hit the downshift button on the pedal.

[335dwanted]

I have paddles on my '09. I do use full manual mode with some frequency, but even then I often find myself shifting with the gear selector (what can I say, this is my first automatic and old habits die hard - no foot on the imaginary clutch pedal though). Having used them now I can definitely say that I would not spend any real level of $/effort to retrofit, but everyone has their own opinion on this. Using the gear selector would be just fine for me (I do that half the time anyways).

I am surprised by the description of operation by some of the earlier posters; my paddles are both the same on right and left; pull to upshift and push to downshift, seems some have a right to left operation mode. Was this different by years? Some kind of coding feature?

I know folks are often passionate about arguing the better operation mode between push/pull and left/right. My wife's Acura MDX has paddles in a left/right orientation and I much prefer the push/pull orientation. No confusion when turning the wheel if nothing else.

[Whitbread]

I use my paddles and manual mode often whenever I'm towing. Easier when the road gets twisty than reaching down for the shifter and taking a hand off the wheel. I find the transmission hangs gears way longer than necessary with a trailer in tow. Since mine is an 09, both of my paddles will up/down shift. I prefer that setup to one up/one down.

[BB_cuda]

2011 is pull only with right/upshift, left/downshift. In retrospect, I think I would like the setup Whitbread has as then I'd have no problem mid corner.

Anyone with a 2010, which way is your's please?

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

2011 is pull only with right/upshift, left/downshift. In retrospect, I think I would like the setup Whitbread has as then I'd have no problem mid corner.

Anyone with a 2010, which way is your's please?

Wasnt thinking about it earlier, mine is push/pull, its a 2010. Its pretty easy to use since you always have enough hands to make it work. Left/right would be a little harder I would think on this car with the steering ratio that it has. My understanding is that m-sport paddles are left/right and the others are push/pull

[GreekboyD]

Some info on the install here:

Link

[gavronm]

If you're thinking about tracking your car you're going to want them.

[Got_Diesel]

On a gas engine, I could see them being useful. On a diesel, not so much.

I use it sometimes to stay in top gear when accelerating so it doesn't downshift. sometimes to put it in a higher gear sooner and sometimes for downshifting going down a hill.

Oh and when I need to pull off in second gear.

I don't use them very often.

[fsd350]

The paddles are fun and somewhat useful in sport mode at times. Still a slushbox though and not much excitement to be had there. I use manual mode to keep it in 6th on the highway to roll on the torque. Sometimes a downshift will slow you down on a diesel.