My first automatic

obi604

Some of you will be delighted and over the moon and ecstatic to hear that I FINALLY bought a car - after months of messing around ; )

It's a 2007 BMW 320d AUTOMATIC.

it's the first automatic car I've owned so I'm looking for a few general tips.

As far as I can see you only use P when the car is stopped and you have to get out for some reason and leave the car running. Also used as well as when you switch off the car.

When do you use N ?

Had a first drive in it there. When I'm approaching lights and know I need to stop I just simply start taking my foot off the accelerator and then start braking when I get closer to the light, is this correct ?

Any more general tips for a first time driver of an automatic ?

coylemj

You use N when you want to roll the car backwards or forwards. Say you were driving uphill and came up behind a car at the lights, now say you decided that you were too close to him and wanted to go back a few feet. In D mode the car will hold you on the hill so I'd just stick it in N, keep my foot over the brake, let it roll back a few feet and then stop. Putting it in reverse might panic the guy behind you so I'd use N in that situation.

jayok

P = Park. Is only used when parking the car. This is not for while stopped at lights or similar. As it uses a locking pin in the gearbox and if you're rear-ended hard you'll break it (not cheap fix). Also use the handbrake when parking. Typically, I would apply the handbrake first, let it take the load and then move to P.

N = Neutral. As normal, not to be used for coasting though or excessive distance in towing. The drive is used to circular the gearbox fluid and you don't want to travel far with out circulating fluid. You don't tow your BMW, you get it lifted

D/S = Drive / Sport mode (if you have S). S keep the revs higher before changing gear

R = Reverse. Make sure the car is full stopped dead before moving from D to R!! There are lockout mechanisms to prevent this, but if the car was on a hill and rolled a little. No quicker way to fup the transmission

M1-M5/6 = Manual gear selection, you will be over-ridden though if you take the proverbial. Useful for hill decent or pulling stuff or just plain fun.


Other than that, keep it in D and go.

colm_mcm

This one always raises a few arguments.....


Personally, I'd put it into P if I knew the lights wouldn't go green for a good while, I'd only use the handbrake when leaving the car.

Those in the know say you should keep it in D at the lights and your foot on the brake. I find that tedious and it can be annoying for those behind you.

Others say that leaving it in P or N with the engine running does damage to the gearbox

Big Nasty

I'm just here for the lulz! :D:D

Matt Simis

coylemj wrote: »

You use N when you want to roll the car backwards or forwards. Say you were driving uphill and came up behind a car at the lights, now say you decided that you were too close to him and wanted to go back a few feet. In D mode the car will hold you on the hill so I'd just stick it in N, keep my foot over the brake, let it roll back a few feet and then stop. Putting it in reverse might panic the guy behind you so I'd use N in that situation.

Hmm, dont know how good an idea that is. Ive had loads of autos and generally the rule was they shouldnt be rolled anywhere except in an emergency. The idea of rolling backwards in particular is worrying!!

The only time Id consider N is when sitting in traffic for a long period of time. Putting it in Park would damage the gearbox if rearended and leaving it in drive presumably puts some wear on the torque converter etc.

jayok

colm_mcm wrote: »

This one always raises a few arguments.....

P is only used when parking. Serious damage can be done if sitting at lights and say you get shunted.

If you are sitting a lights the correct procedure is to apply the hand-brake and wait. The brake should be able to hold the load of engine drive in D. If not move to N. There's little wear in going from N to D - I mean really little.

colm_mcm

If someone shunts you it'd be their problem.

I agree with you though, but I would be one for putting it in P

Big Nasty

Have you tested it yet OP?

obi604

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Have you tested it yet OP?

Tested what now exactly MCM ?

MetzgerMeister

And I'm delighted and over the moon and ecstatic to tell you that the MPS is gone!

obi604

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

And I'm delighted and over the moon and ecstatic to tell you that the MPS is gone!

Oh be jaysus. Good man.

Hope ya got a decent price for it ; )

MetzgerMeister

obi604 wrote: »

Oh be jaysus. Good man.

Hope ya got a decent price for it ; )

Yep, I was very happy with what I got and even happier with the replacement!

Big Nasty

obi604 wrote: »

Tested what now exactly MCM ?

You know, tested her out? All that daysul torque and stuff?

obi604

So to sum stuff up after all the posts, this is my take on it
Im trying to figure out what peoples interpretation of " a long period of time " is

1. If I think im going to be stopped in traffic for less than 90 seconds, just leave the car in D, with my foot on the foot brake

2. If I think this time is probably going to go over 90 seconds, put the car in N and apply the hand brake, take my foot off the foot brake

Does that sound about right or is my 90 seconds figure wrong or right ?

Big Nasty

challengemaster

Depends how tired your foot gets after 90 seconds, really :P

jayok

obi604 wrote: »

So to sum stuff up after all the posts, this is my take on it
Im trying to figure out what peoples interpretation of " a long period of time " is

1. If I think im going to be stopped in traffic for less than 90 seconds, just leave the car in D, with my foot on the foot brake

2. If I think this time is probably going to go over 90 seconds, put the car in N and apply the hand brake, take my foot off the foot brake

Does that sound about right or is my 90 seconds figure wrong or right ?

A long time is a period that you find is too long to keep your foot on the brake anything from 1 second to 5 minutes

obi604

obi604 wrote: »

........

When do you use N ?

Had a first drive in it there. When I'm approaching lights and know I need to stop I just simply start taking my foot off the accelerator and then start braking when I get closer to the light, is this correct ?

........

I use N at some traffic lights, not all the time, just whenever I feel like it, probably more often than leaving it in D though I suppose. I never use P only when parked up. I never have it in D with the handbrake on as I spent my first 8 years driving in manuals so it just seems weird to me.

As soon as I take the foot off the accelerator to slow down I lean the foot on the brake just to let folks behind know that I'm slowing down, I wouldn't be actually braking, just slowing down.

obi604

jayok wrote: »

obi604 wrote: »

So to sum stuff up after all the posts, this is my take on it
Im trying to figure out what peoples interpretation of " a long period of time " is

1. If I think im going to be stopped in traffic for less than 90 seconds, just leave the car in D, with my foot on the foot brake

2. If I think this time is probably going to go over 90 seconds, put the car in N and apply the hand brake, take my foot off the foot brake

Does that sound about right or is my 90 seconds figure wrong or right ?

A long time is a period that you find is too long to keep your foot on the brake anything from 1 second to 5 minutes

Ok , but I'm thinking from the point of view of what's better for the gear box and not to put too much toil on the gear box.

i.e. is it bad for the gearbox to have the car in D and your foot on the brake for a whole 5 minutes

Voodoomelon

D the whole time for me. Maybe one in twenty times i'll stick it in N at long lights if I can't be arsed holding down the brake.

fox_1973

glad to find another automatic driver op I love mine, have had it for 7 years now and although i still have the oppurtunity to drive the OH's manual, I still love it!

I only use P for when Im parking or stopping for a few minutes (to let the sprogs out at school or something) I use N exactly for what previous poster has said, to slow down or coast sort of, otherwise I just drive!! Enjoy

fox_1973

fox_1973 wrote: »

glad to find another automatic driver op ............

there's quite a few on here

fox_1973

RoverJames wrote: »

there's quite a few on here

Maybe we should have our own auto thread

Voodoomelon

fox_1973 wrote: »

I use N exactly for what previous poster has said, to slow down or coast sort of, otherwise I just drive!! Enjoy

...I don't think anyone mentioned that, infact it's whats recommended not to do.

fox_1973

Voodoomelon wrote: »

...I don't think anyone mentioned that, infact it's whats recommended not to do.

my mistake, but **** I do it quite often, sitting in slow moving traffic just to slow down, habit i suppose

Voodoomelon

How does coasting in N slow you down? You loose the braking effect of the engine in D which would arguably be better at slowing you down.

Having the car in N, you have no control over the car if you need to accelerate out of trouble, you're waiting for the forward momentum of a 1.4 tonne+ car to run out and you could be sloshing your fluid about into a froth/not lubricating certain areas of the gearbox (depending on the transmission).

pajo1981

The thread is like, "a paddy's guide to automatics: finally autos hit the Emerald Isle"

fox_1973

Voodoomelon wrote: »

How does coasting in N slow you down? You loose the braking effect of the engine in D which would arguably be better at slowing you down.

Having the car in N, you have no control over the car if you need to accelerate out of trouble, you're waiting for the forward momentum of a 1.4 tonne+ car to run out and you could be sloshing your fluid about into a froth/not lubricating certain areas of the gearbox (depending on the transmission).

As I said, in my case its just habit I suppose, i just do it when I know I shouldnt, but I have never had any trouble with my car, but thanks for the advice

Dartz

I always used neutral and the handbrake at the traffic lights. It took the load off the gearbox when idling.

Driving a manual now though/. That gearbox died slow after water got into the loom.

If you're stopping for more than ten seconds, knock it into neutral.

Voodoomelon

fox_1973 wrote: »

As I said, in my case its just habit I suppose, i just do it when I know I shouldnt, but I have never had any trouble with my car, but thanks for the advice

Its an easy habit to kick. Just don't touch anything.

Eoin

Dartz wrote: »

I always used neutral and the handbrake at the traffic lights. It took the load off the gearbox when idling.

Does it not pretty much go into its own version of N when the footbrake is applied?

If it's getting dark I tend to use P when stopped at the lights for a while, but really just out of courtesy to the driver behind me as it can be annoying to have bright brake-lights in your face for a minute or two. Luckily enough I've only 2 sets of traffic lights in my commute though!

ShanE90

Also you mite not know that when in D the gearbox starts off in 2nd up to 6th and when in DS it's 1st up to 5th!

ShanE90

ShanE90 wrote: »

Also you mite not know that when in D the gearbox starts off in 2nd up to 6th and when in DS it's 1st up to 5th!

That's specific to the OPs car presumably? (and other ones too no doubt).
Snowmode behaves like that in most yokes.

Matt Simis

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Its an easy habit to kick. Just don't touch anything.

Yeah was just going to say that, sounds like a dangerous and pointless but easy to break "habit".

ShanE90

Yes BMW autos are set that way I'm sure many other cars too as the transmissions are made by ZF

Matt Simis

ShanE90 wrote: »

Yes BMW autos are set that way I'm sure many other cars too as the transmissions are made by ZF

Kinda, but the wording will be different. My old Merc has to have the stick slid down to "2" and over to "B" to 1st gear start.

ShanE90

The Transmission in OPs 3-series has a lock up torque converter and disengages when you stop so its not working against the force of the brakes holding it back! This would probably cut back on wear and tear!

sunnysoutheast

obi604 wrote: »

So to sum stuff up after all the posts, this is my take on it
Im trying to figure out what peoples interpretation of " a long period of time " is

1. If I think im going to be stopped in traffic for less than 90 seconds, just leave the car in D, with my foot on the foot brake

2. If I think this time is probably going to go over 90 seconds, put the car in N and apply the hand brake, take my foot off the foot brake

Does that sound about right or is my 90 seconds figure wrong or right ?

One thing to consider is that, if you are stationary with your foot on the brake in D, that if someone hits you in the back by reflex your foot will come off the brake and you can hit the car in front, which complicates the incident.

Personally, I always stick the car in N for anything but the most momentary of stops. If at lights etc. I put the handbrake on. I just don't like having the car in D unless I want it to move. I also move to N before starting the engine, always have! I never coast in N.

Esel

Stopping in traffic - foot on brake.

Stopping at lights - handbrake, relax foot/leg.

Only use P when stopped i.e. not planning to move for a while. Never in traffic.

Interested to know how many auto drivers use left foot braking?

fox_1973

Esel wrote: »

Stopping in traffic - foot on brake.

Stopping at lights - handbrake, relax foot/leg.

Only use P when stopped i.e. not planning to move for a while. Never in traffic.

Interested to know how many auto drivers use left foot braking?

Never

Bigus

It's most important when driving an automatic to use


D for daytime


And

N for nighttime

And

P for park






But then again I'm





















Blonde

Esel

fox_1973 wrote: »

Never

Surely you use your left foot when parking / manoeuvring etc.?

Esel

Esel wrote: »

Surely you use your left foot when parking / manoeuvring etc.?

I never use it either when driving an auto.

Voodoomelon

Would take skill to use your left foot. A mate jumped into mine a few years back to move it and nearly put his head through the windscreen. Never drove an auto before and was braking with his left.

Eoin

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Would take skill to use your left foot. A mate jumped into mine a few years back to move it and nearly put his head through the windscreen. Never drove an auto before and was braking with his left.

I'll admit - I tried it once, and the car nearly stood up on its front wheels.

Voodoomelon

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Would take skill to use your left foot. A mate jumped into mine a few years back to move it and nearly put his head through the windscreen. Never drove an auto before and was braking with his left.

Eoin wrote: »

I'll admit - I tried it once, and the car nearly stood up on its front wheels.

....the ole lad did the same in the zt r ecen tly, dunno what got into him.

Dartz

Eoin wrote: »

Does it not pretty much go into its own version of N when the footbrake is applied?

If it's getting dark I tend to use P when stopped at the lights for a while, but really just out of courtesy to the driver behind me as it can be annoying to have bright brake-lights in your face for a minute or two. Luckily enough I've only 2 sets of traffic lights in my commute though!

It was an old Laguna II with the 4-speed. You could feel it trying to pull if you left it in drive and held back in the handbrake. It was still generating torque and trying to pull the car forward. And when it couldn't do that all it'd do was stir up the fluid and heat everything up. I thought it'd overheat the box.

I always stuck it in neutral so it'd freely spin with minimal drag on the engine/torque converter.


Anyway, I'm driving a manual now because... enh.... because I got a good deal and it doesn't hurt.

Pkiernan

Neutral if there are pedestrians crossing in front of me.

And always remember, manual gear boxes are for poorer people.

moonage

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

Personally, I always stick the car in N for anything but the most momentary of stops. If at lights etc. I put the handbrake on. I just don't like having the car in D unless I want it to move.

This thinking seems to be a hangover from learning in and driving a manual.

I leave it in D almost all the time.

The Bishop Basher

Likewise... It stays in D for the whole journey unless I park up somewhere. The joy of an auto is not having to shift all the time. Can't imagine why anyone would use P or N. in 8 years driving auto's, I'd say I've used N about 3 times.