BMW M3 Sedan 2008 User Manual

Page 47

Β: middle position

N: neutral

+: shift up manually

–: shift down manually

D/S: change between drive mode and
sequential mode

The selector lever locks in position R. In other
transmission positions, it stays in the middle
position; the gear positions are engaged by
pressing lightly in the desired direction.
The gear position currently engaged is indi-
cated by LEDs in the selector lever.

Shiftlock

When the vehicle is stationary, press the brake
pedal before shifting out of N, otherwise the
desired gear will not be engaged.

R Reverse

Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.

N Neutral

If the driving situation demands, e.g. when
downshifting on a slippery road, the M dual
clutch transmission automatically disengages
and engages the clutch, i.e. it is not necessary
to manually engage the neutral position.

N engages when you open the driver's
door while the engine is running, your

safety belt is not fastened and you activate nei-
ther the brake pedal nor the accelerator. To
drive off after closing the driver's door and fas-
tening your safety belt, move the selector lever
to position N first and then to the desired drive
position.

N remains engaged even after the engine
is switched off if you leave the remote

control in the ignition lock. Use this function in
an automatic car wash, for example, refer to
page

S sequential mode

Shift up or down using the shift paddles or the
selector lever. You do not need to lift your foot
off the accelerator when doing so.

Shift from sequential mode to drive mode:
Press the selector lever to the right in the D/S
direction.
Shift back to sequential mode: shift using the
shift paddles or the selector lever, or press the
selector level to the right in the D/S direction
again.
On a level road, you can drive off in second gear,
e.g. on slippery roads.
The M dual clutch transmission assists you in
the following situations:

Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combina-
tion of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for
example, a downshift that would cause the
engine to overrev will not be executed by
the system.

When the vehicle stops, the transmission
automatically shifts down to first gear.

Shortly before the vehicle slows down to
below the minimum speed of the gear cur-
rently engaged, the transmission automati-
cally shifts down without requiring your
intervention.

Rapid downshifting: in sequential mode, you
can skip several gears to achieve optimal accel-
eration. To do so, press the accelerator past the
resistance point and pull the left shift paddle
once or press the selector lever forward once.

D drive mode

In drive mode, all forward gears are shifted auto-
matically.
Shift from drive mode to sequential mode: shift
using the shift paddles or the selector lever, or
press the selector level to the right in the D/S
direction.
Shift back to drive mode: press the selector
lever to the right in the D/S direction again.
Kick-down: to accelerate rapidly, e.g. when
passing, press the accelerator down past the
resistance point. This provides maximum accel-
eration.