Manual or Automatic mode....ever use it?

carcus

carcus

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Anyone ever use that mode on the left of the shifter on a Automatic? I have found no real use for it on level ground without snow when I could use a different gear start.....also.....does anyone actually turn off the traction control? I just leave mine on for safety reasons. Kinda curious about hearing what you guys ith automatics do. Is it just me, or do some of these features go unused alot. I never use manual mode, never turn off the ESC traction control, do not use the CPU except the temp and check engine function. Wondering what you all thing honestly.[confused]
 
Heresy

Heresy

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ill turn off traction control and put it into 3rd gear (kickass mode) if im in the mood to step on it. as far at the computer goes, i havent really used it all that much. the temp and the speed monitors are neat, but i havent used it seriously.
 
carcus

carcus

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Heresy said:
ill turn off traction control and put it into 3rd gear (kickass mode) if im in the mood to step on it. as far at the computer goes, i havent really used it all that much. the temp and the speed monitors are neat, but i havent used it seriously.
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I always use mine in 3rd also, unless I have to drive the Interstate for fuel economy. Never really turn off the traction control. Guess am not the only one who never uses the computer much. I use it for the temp more than anything since it is hot out here alot. I say the margin for error on the temp is plus or minus 3 degrees....just my experience. Does anyone use the manual mode for anything besides sonw? You can select the gear and stay in it. I never use it. Curious if anyone else does. I am considering taking out the CPU. I really never use it, just a gee wiz feature. The MPG always seems to read a bit over 19 MPG.....what are you all running? Memo serves no purpose. Distance....never use it......again, just want to hear what you all use this for on a daily basis. Maybe some of you could lean me towards keeping it. Would like to gut it.....put in a LCD. I could use that.[;)]
 
M

manuel

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i didnt know you could turn off the traction control, anyhow i dont use the manual mode at all. my mpg reads 19 as well. it doesnt change...i dont think my temp thing even works, reads something like -15...
 
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skandalous

skandalous

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I use the cpu quite a bit. I like the distance feature. That's nice. I also like the range feature. One time drove on "- -" and barely made it to the gas station. My temp gage is whack, though. It's off by a good 20 degrees once my car gets up and running. Like today, it was in the high 80's, but the temp gage read 112 [confused].

I don't think my car has traction control. It's only a '92. I could be wrong, though. So I can't turn it off. [;)]

I use the 3rd gear feature if I want more throttle control. I also use the manual mode for that, too, but very rarely.
 
M

MEIN RITT

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Yes I always use it. Since my car isn't a manual I use the manual setting, but I will soon be doing a manual tranny swap, because I hate automatic. If you dive the car in manual you will find that you will get better gas milage. I have a 328 motor and i am getting about 21mpg, although I do use 94octane which is a little pricey but I think she deserves it. And I use the cpu all the time. I have found that the actual spedometer is off on my car by about 5mph so it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to give it a check avery once and a while. I use everything on there except the limiter, and memo. but go aheahd and give it a whirl drive it in manual setting and then check you consumption. But when you first do it reset it and then check it again before you get out of the car. When i first got the car I was getting about 19mpg, then i started using a higher octane gas and shifting the car and it has improved by 2mpg which is a lot.
 
Tigas Bud

Tigas Bud

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I use the CPU for: clock, miles to empty, milage; more to see if for some reason the car's burning more than usual when I compare it to average MPH, temp and infrequently distance. Set the speed ding to 80 but that got old.
'94 325 convt. auto 'puter gives me 25 plus or minus 1 mpg. My commuter drive is 15 miles backroad, 20 miles freeway, and 2 to 3 miles city and town. 'Puter is usually 1 MPG low of manual calculations. Burn 89 octane 100% gas - no ethanol mix.
(couldn't tell I'm an engineer from all this data?)
Temp is good to 2-4 degrees of actual other than getting in the car in the hot sun. Car's blk/blk/blk and bleeping hot for me to get into then, too.
I use manual only for driving twisty roads and holding gear down steeps which doesn't happen much in my area. Since I just got an A6 with the tip manual I might try more manual shift driving with this car, since I'm getting into doing it in the Audi. For my ride I really wish the manual setting would include the top gear. Have driven a '96 with 5 spd with intent to buy but didn't find myself wanting to run the 3500+ rpms consistantly to make it worthwhile.
I've digressed enough...

... looking at all the bios I could be damn near all of your fathers'...but I'm sure I didn't know your mom[:D]
 
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Wadula

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when i got to drive one car that provides that feature, mine is manual, i sometimes use it. mostly when i want the car to shift gears down. for example on the autobahn when i chase someone and we both are stuck behind a big rig. when the truck pulls over and i floor it, the car takes a brief moment to shift down. with the gear preselected manually, this brief moment immediatly tunrs into power and not waiting. it is not really a thing that costs time, but it is better for the feeling.
 
Tigas Bud

Tigas Bud

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carcus, was the parked car ventilation available in your year car and do you have it?
Can't say I ever tried to make it work on mine but in the '94 you can't program it w/o the On-Board-Computer.
 
T

the dude

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Im pretty sure manual mode doesnt have much to do with snow, but is a precurser to the modern steptronic thats in new bmws allowing drivers with an automatic to mimic shifting. Which you have to do. On my friend's car if youre in first on 'm' mode the car wont shift even at red line until you notch up to "2" and also if you stop, are in 'm' mode, in 4th gear. the car has no power. so it really is trying to start in 4th. so thats what the 'm' or manual mode is for e36 bmw's
 
carcus

carcus

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Tigas Bud said:
carcus, was the parked car ventilation available in your year car and do you have it?
Can't say I ever tried to make it work on mine but in the '94 you can't program it w/o the On-Board-Computer.
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Never heard of the parked car ventilation, would like to hear more on it though. Out here stationed in Mississippi, it rains alot and need to keep the windows rolled always, never know when the rain will hit. A window shield does not help with the heat. Any info would be appreciated though. I love learning new things.[thumb]
 
carcus

carcus

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the dude said:
Im pretty sure manual mode doesnt have much to do with snow, but is a precurser to the modern steptronic thats in new bmws allowing drivers with an automatic to mimic shifting. Which you have to do. On my friend's car if youre in first on 'm' mode the car wont shift even at red line until you notch up to "2" and also if you stop, are in 'm' mode, in 4th gear. the car has no power. so it really is trying to start in 4th. so thats what the 'm' or manual mode is for e36 bmw's
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If I start mine in Manual mode, it feels like a 4th gear start and is gutless. I drive in the city and was wondering what I could make use of it. So far, not found any use. I really could use this in snow though with a slow start to avoid slipping from the start. But guess the traction control would help. Last base I was at, snowed alot, had the Z28 without traction control.....was not fun in the snow, with the Nitto tires....would get stuck in believe it or not, about 1"......well, the high stall Yank torque converter was part of the problem.....now that I got traction control, I never use it here. But I never turn it off just to be safe in the heavy rain.[;)]
 
T

the dude

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hmmm

hmm thats weird about when starting in manaul it feels like fourth. Im my expirience, i found starting and driving in manual mode to be overall more fun, and better than in regular (more control over shifts like a stick). Then again the car i was driving was fairly new (i think a 97) so maybe there was a difference
 
Tigas Bud

Tigas Bud

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Parked Car Ventilation System* (from the OM)
Can be run with the blower of the heating and air conditioning system to ventilate the car's interior and lower it's temperature (okay forgive me if I summarize and abbreviate 'cause my typing skills aren't.)
The starting time can be set (OBC program) Runs for 30 minutes. High current consumption don't program to run twice in a row w/o starting and running the car to recharge the battery. If temp outside is 60 or above it can be run, but not while driving.
Leave the blower control on 2 and leave the grills in the middle of the instrument panel fully open.
OBC programming:
Inputs are only possible with the clock working and the ignition key in position 1.
Programming switch on time; press the timer button twice, then press the 1000, 100,10 and 1 buttons to set the time then push the set/res button.
You can program a second time using the same sequence again.
To update or change a time; use same sequence as to program, After the input, a * is displayed and the LED comes on. During operation the led flashes. It goes out when the system is switched off.
To display a programmed time;
- for time 1 press the timer button twice
-for time 2 press the timer button three times

Maybe someday I'll see if this is on the car I have by trying out the sequence.
 
U

unamean

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is it safe for your tranny to use the manual mode and just selecting gears by yourself. i would think that this would strain your tranny. my whole family has bmw's. my dad has a 98 740il and my mom has a 93 740i, anyway my father says its bad. any info would be great.
 
T

tsupler

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I turn off the traction control when I want the back end to break out when I do aggressive driving around the twisty's. I hate a computer governing my acceleration when I want to get a little greasy. Also, you need to turn off the asc + T when you're starting out in the snow. As far as the sport/manual modes, I only drive a 5 speed:)
 
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