Does the 3-series have engine braking?

[timod14]

Ayone know if the 3ers have any form of engine braking, even if subtle?

[jummo]

Yes. If you lift your foot off the gas you will slow down.

If you lift your foot off the gas and shift into a lower gear you will slow down even more.

Strange but true.

jummo

[cwsqbm]

Yes. If you lift your foot off the gas you will slow down.

If you lift your foot off the gas and shift into a lower gear you will slow down even more.

Strange but true.

jummo

There's no engine braking if you shift into neutral, although I hear the middle pedal (on a propler 3-series, left pedal on those bastard two-pedal varities) can also retard vehicle motion.

[dubis]

That's weird - same thing happens on my 4-Runner.

[vadim]

That's weird - same thing happens on my 4-Runner.

Really? I don't think mine does that. I just have to stick my left foot out and drag it on the asphalt to come to a stop at a light. I will try the middle pedal idea tomorrow, though!

[upenndash8100]

engine Braking, yes. If you have an automatic, and you take ur foot off of the gas and your car shifts to a lower gearbto either, a: keep you a good rev portion in order not to stall and to have a decent amount of power at a lower speed. This process occurs when you approach a stop.

This is a position that I argued as a natural operation of nearly all automatics when a police officer pulled me over for "exhibition of speed"- this is simply how an automatic works. The tires would have chirped with me getting back on the gas as it would have shifted to a lower gear as I approached back a stop.

[desertdriver]

Ayone know if the 3ers have any form of engine braking, even if subtle?


The 335i steptronic operates with the torque converter locked just about all the time, so yes plenty of engine braking. In manual mode, the engine braking at 30mph in 3rd will easily spill your coffee. In regular auto, D mode, the throttle programming is conservative, not as much engine braking. The 328i also has it, but it doesnt feel as strong as the 335i, the torque converter feels more loose. With a manual, all cars have engine braking of course.

[AzNMpower32]

Actually, all the E90s with any automatic gearbox have the torque converter lockup characteristics that allow it to drive like a manual transmission, i.e engine braking when your foot is off the throttle.

The easiest way to tell is the energy control gauge under the tach. With a manual transmission, you are consuming 0 fuel when your foot is off the throttle and the car is in gear. With the automatics, the torque converter locks up after driving off and remains locked up until you slow down to about 30 km/h. That is why you notice the fuel consumption at 0 when you let off the throttle at higher speeds (over 30km/h). If you let the car coast, at about 30km/h, you feel the converter unlock and the consumption rises slightly.

This new AT technology contributes to the low fuel consumption of the new 3-series.

[desertdriver]

Actually, all the E90s with any automatic gearbox have the torque converter lockup characteristics that allow it to drive like a manual transmission, i.e engine braking when your foot is off the throttle.

The easiest way to tell is the energy control gauge under the tach. With a manual transmission, you are consuming 0 fuel when your foot is off the throttle and the car is in gear. With the automatics, the torque converter locks up after driving off and remains locked up until you slow down to about 30 km/h. That is why you notice the fuel consumption at 0 when you let off the throttle at higher speeds (over 30km/h). If you let the car coast, at about 30km/h, you feel the converter unlock and the consumption rises slightly.

This new AT technology contributes to the low fuel consumption of the new 3-series.


the ZF TU 19(335, only) differs in the torque converter lockup

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/08/11/018058.html

"Compared to the existing ZF 6 HP 19, as found in 2006 model year 3 Series Sedans and Sports Wagons, the TU has significant improvements:

***8226; More effective damping of torsional vibrations in the torque converter, which have made it possible to keep the converter's lockup engaged more of the time. This means less slippage; the resulting fuel economy improvement is about 3%, and the driver experiences sharper response to the accelerator pedal.

***8226; Quicker shifting response to the driver's performance demands - up to 40% quicker. This is satisfying to the driver, who experiences less lag between the time the accelerator pedal is depressed and the shift lever (or shift paddles) moved and the actual occurrence of a shift.

***8226; Quicker shifts. Once a shift is actually initiated, the time it takes to complete the shift is reduced up to 50%. This was accomplished via a new hydraulic shifting system and more sophisticated electronic software.

***8226; Finer adaptation to driving style and conditions. Within the Adaptive shift control, which adjusts shift characteristics to these variables, there are now three stages vs. the previous two. "

Having driven the 335(TU) and the 328(HP) autos, I noted the lockup of the 335i tranny was near continuous, greater than the 328 step in normal driving. The shifting was also notably quicker in manual mode, almost like an audi DSG.

[srobmw]

That's weird - same thing happens on my 4-Runner.

I have an '06 4Runner. It has the engine braking as well.
Good feature.:thumbup:

[TireSmoke]

In sport mode (DS on your dash) the engine braking is more pronounced than in regular (D) mode. You feel it right away when you are slowing down and the car is downshifting.

[timod14]

Thanks for the thorough responses from most.

To the wise guys, I wasn't referring to regular engine compression, but a higher level of engine braking technology as used in auto racing to reduce load on the regular brakes. And by the way I was referring entirely to manual transmissions, not autos.

In a Mercedes, for example, you would notice an extremely high level of engine braking.

[vadim]

Thanks for the thorough responses from most.

To the wise guys, I wasn't referring to regular engine compression, but a higher level of engine braking technology as used in auto racing to reduce load on the regular brakes. And by the way I was referring entirely to manual transmissions, not autos.

In a Mercedes, for example, you would notice an extremely high level of engine braking.And how do you think it is achieved? Do you think there is anything to it other than cutting air and fuel supply?

[AzNMpower32]

Having driven the 335(TU) and the 328(HP) autos, I noted the lockup of the 335i tranny was near continuous, greater than the 328 step in normal driving. The shifting was also notably quicker in manual mode, almost like an audi DSG.
I agree. The lockup on the 2006 (different AT to the 07, but same idea) occurs later than on the 335i. Needless to say, its pointless to argue because the 335i's AT is far superior.

The 325i locks up around 30km/h as mentioned, but that's really the only benefit. The GM 5AT in my X3 is lightyears better in every way except for the point discussed above.

[momo's_se\/en]

you guys goiing back and forward for somthing really simple, It aint rocker sceince ,its physics , any car man or auto you down shift you'll have high rpm and engin braking , its also a method for drifting.

[vadim]

you guys goiing back and forward for somthing really simple, It aint rocker sceince ,its physics , any car man or auto you down shift you'll have high rpm and engin braking , its also a method for drifting....or simpy remove the right foot from the gas pedal w/o changing gears.

[Cal99]

I actually dislike the engine breaking on my coupe. I can't "coast" to a red light like I do with my 4 runner (04). They both get around the same mpg.

[vadim]

I actually dislike the engine breaking on my coupe. I can't "coast" to a red light like I do with my 4 runner (04). They both get around the same mpg.
If yours is 6MT, you can take it out of gear and coast in neutral.

[Cal99]

No it's auto and I don't really know how to play with the transmission.

[pony_trekker]

Yes. If you lift your foot off the gas you will slow down.

If you lift your foot off the gas and shift into a lower gear you will slow down even more.

Strange but true.

jummo

Okay what page of the manual did you get that from? You're not implying that we should know how to drive before we get in these things, are you? For 40k, I am supposed to know that the long skinny pedal makes the car go forward?

[momo's_se\/en]

No it's auto and I don't really know how to play with the transmission.

you shouldn't, cuz automatics are more complicated and harder to fix easy to break , if its tip tronic go to 60 miles and turn off your DTC,DSC and down shift a gear or two, tell me how you like it , make sure you have room cuz your car will fish tail and if you dont know how to get it back straight don't even try.
FYI downshifting/engine braking apply pressure on the clutch so in the long run you will mess it up.