328 kickdown??

[nathand]

In the Z4 I have noticed that you can feel a click in the pedal when using the kick-down mode, however in my 08 328i with pedal travel all the way to the floor I don't feel the pedal click? The transmission acts the same and I assume I have hit the kick down mode but why no resistance point in the pedal? Does the 335 have that?

[desertdriver]

In the Z4 I have noticed that you can feel a click in the pedal when using the kick-down mode, however in my 08 328i with pedal travel all the way to the floor I don't feel the pedal click? The transmission acts the same and I assume I have hit the kick down mode but why no resistance point in the pedal? Does the 335 have that?

Yeah the 335i has it, but I never use it. The car is plenty fast without it, doesnt need to kick down. Its actually much more controllable shifting manually.

[nathand]

Yeah the 335i has it, but I never use it. The car is plenty fast without it, doesnt need to kick down. Its actually much more controllable shifting manually.

Can you feel a resistance point in the pedal?

I guess it doesn't matter since my car does do it but I simply wondered why the pedal had a different feel than the Z4.

[desertdriver]

Can you feel a resistance point in the pedal?

I guess it doesn't matter since my car does do it but I simply wondered why the pedal had a different feel than the Z4.

You feel a definite click when it hits kickdown, and then you get more than you wanted, mostly.

[AzNMpower32]

You should have a kickdown. If not, then you can bug the dealer about it. I know in early '06s, some throttle pedals were not installed with the right type; manuals do not have it, automatics do. There was a SIB that called for the correct pedal to be installed under customer complaint.

[Dotbear]

Ok...I am a newbie to all of this...what is a kick down?

[jwac]

Ok...I am a newbie to all of this...what is a kick down?

It's a button under the gas pedal that you hit when you floor it hard. It's only on Steptronic-equipped cars and its purpose when pressed is to command a downshift to the gear that would provide maximum possible acceleration.

[AJQ]

The OP has a 328 and those have no button under the gas pedal to initiate down shift (kick down) - I'm assuming the 335 with the non-GM transmission has this button? I don't feel any kind of click when flooring the accelerator in my 328, in fact I find it difficult to figure out how to reliably get the transmission to down shift under hard acceleration. Seem like if I'm already at a high rate of speed or in upper gears I can't get a down shift, but in 2nd or 3rd gear at slow speed, with just "medium" acceleration it will kick down. With 3-4 months under my belt I find myself leaning more and more toward moving to manual mode (or DS/sport) to get more aggresive shifting.
AJ

[nhhiep]

My 325 auto has Kickdown mode. I did once on highway in 6th gear (in M mode), and it dropped to 3rd gear right away.

[AJQ]

I know this is subjective, but... How hard would you say you have to stomp on the accelerator to consistently get a down shift? Is it:

a) press down steadily and evenly, a bit faster than normal (count 1-2-3 quickly)
b) press down very quickly (count 1-2 quickly)
c) press down very hard and fast (count 1)

Maybe the above is stupid but without some mechancial button or resistence how can you count on getting a down shift???
AJ

[AzNMpower32]

I know this is subjective, but... How hard would you say you have to stomp on the accelerator to consistently get a down shift? Is it:

a) press down steadily and evenly, a bit faster than normal (count 1-2-3 quickly)
b) press down very quickly (count 1-2 quickly)
c) press down very hard and fast (count 1)

Maybe the above is stupid but without some mechancial button or resistence how can you count on getting a down shift???
AJ
The kickdown resistance point at the full-throttle position is supposed to be there that tells the computer "Maximum power/acceleration, now!". However, you shouldn't have to hit the kickdown to get a downshift.

Ideally, the computer is supposed to determine if/how much a downshift is needed by measuring throttle position and the change in throttle position. IIRC, the computer measures pedal position 200x a second. That said, I find that with the '06 325i, it's lazier and hesistant to downshift part-throttle at any speed. At 60km/h, it likes to lounge around in 5th gear, and if I push it halfway rapidly to merge, the best it usually gives me is 4th unless if I floor it. SD improves things slightly, but it's still not as responsive as the 5-speed in my X3. I've basically resigned to just using the kickdown for merging onto freeway speeds. There does not seem to be a "50%" setting, just all or nothing. Don't mind revving 5500rpm because we ain't keepin it past 100k anyways.

In my X3, if you lounge around in top gear at 80km/h and quickly press the throttle to 75%, it will do a 5-2 downshift instantly and rev to about 5750rpm. No waiting required in my car.

[nathand]

When I give it the Full throttle command and the pedal is in it's proper position (touching the carpet) I get a very precise multiple gear kick down and a smile ensues. But glad to know I'm not the only 328 without the resistance button. I have noticed that at times the pedal needs a little more pressure to get a down shift but so far I am pleased with the engine / tranny. I have put 2,000 miles on the car in roughly three weeks of driving (out of town without the bimmer for spring break). I was glad to get past the break in point and bring the tach over the 3k rpm mark. The engine really does well in the 5-6k rpm range!

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

I have a 328 and I have the kick down button?

[AJQ]

Thanks AzN. I guess I'll need to experiment with it more. Like I said, I think it's much easier to get closer to the control you have with manual tranny moving the auto into manual shift mode (even though it will still override you occasionally). But I need to develop a feel for how to control the down shifts with just the accelerator.

I'll think of it as a fun "homework" assignment.:thumbup:
AJ

[CrazyJ]

I would have saved some time if mine didn't come with a kickdown:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112733&highlight=kickdown+delete

[AJQ]

A quick follow up to tell folks that I think I was wrong about there being no kick down "button" or trigger on the 328. Played around with on the way home (nice smooth open road by the beach) and made sure by looking at the accelerator that I was all the way to the floor, and yes I kept one eye on the road. I'm certain there was a click, kind of like pressing a button, that caused a down shift from 6th down to 3rd gear. I guess I wasn't standing on it hard enough previously; that's why I could not feel the click. Now I understand why CrazyJ needed to put a block under the accelerator; the kick down and RPM wind up in the 328 was fairly healthy, in a 335 I gotta believe it could get away from you real quick if you're not a good driver, to the point you might want to prevent it altogether.


Sorry for the confusion and if anyone else wants to try it confirm let us know.
AJ

[AzNMpower32]

A quick follow up to tell folks that I think I was wrong about there being no kick down "button" or trigger on the 328. Played around with on the way home (nice smooth open road by the beach) and made sure by looking at the accelerator that I was all the way to the floor, and yes I kept one eye on the road. I'm certain there was a click, kind of like pressing a button, that caused a down shift from 6th down to 3rd gear. I guess I wasn't standing on it hard enough previously; that's why I could not feel the click. Now I understand why CrazyJ needed to put a block under the accelerator; the kick down and RPM wind up in the 328 was fairly healthy, in a 335 I gotta believe it could get away from you real quick if you're not a good driver, to the point you might want to prevent it altogether.
You know, you could have just tried it with the engine off and the car in P. :rofl: I mean, the resistance point is mechanically there all the time. Glad to see you discovered most of the 215 horses under the hood though :)

You gotta admit, it's hard to see how 230hp isn't enough. Once the gearbox works properly and the engine's revved up, it's enough power. Now if only the gear ratios were a tad shorter.........yah I know I'm endlessly nitpicky!

[AJQ]

Just went out and tried it and AzN is right, you feel/hear a click when you push the accelerator to the floor... Yeah, I'm a dope.:tsk: But now I think somebody posted that you can get a downshift even without hitting the button, I can't recall that happening, seems like you just get a slow even increase in power. The kick down/pedal to the floor is more of an all out assault - turns out I've been babying the car too much, 4-5K RPM is where all the fun is, at least with this gearing.
AJ

[AzNMpower32]

Just went out and tried it and AzN is right, you feel/hear a click when you push the accelerator to the floor... Yeah, I'm a dope.:tsk: But now I think somebody posted that you can get a downshift even without hitting the button, I can't recall that happening, seems like you just get a slow even increase in power. The kick down/pedal to the floor is more of an all out assault - turns out I've been babying the car too much, 4-5K RPM is where all the fun is, at least with this gearing.
AJ
In D, depending on the speed, you can usually get 1 downshift if you push the pedal 75% of the way. Otherwise, it just relies on the torque to bring you up to speed in order to minimise fuel consumption. With this gearbox, there isn't much of an "in between". :thumbdwn:

Yes, 5000-7000rpm is where the motor comes to life. BMW motors are designed to work and sing. Let it do so! :thumbup:.

[cdm]

My 328xiT has the kick down -- just cleared 1200 miles and used it for the first time this week -- Wowzas!

chris