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      01-05-2013, 07:02 AM   #1
Ben Lee
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Driving in Manual Transmission

Just curious, have anyone here driven your X3 in manual mode? Does it handle better or accelerates better compare to Automatic?
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      01-05-2013, 08:01 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben Lee View Post
Just curious, have anyone here driven your X3 in manual mode? Does it handle better or accelerates better compare to Automatic?
In DS mode i.e. the gearstick knocked over in to Sport mode- the gearbox logic will hold the revs higher for longer.
I only occasionally go into Full Manual mode- normally to use lower gear engine braking when slowing down. Once back on the clear road again I go back to full auto. I find the gearbox keeps me in the power band.
Using manual mode with an 8 speed gearbox is tedious- perhaps more so with a diesel engine
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      01-05-2013, 10:54 AM   #3
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I use the "manual" modes when coming to a stop and when I want more control. I use "ECO PRO" both in town and on the road to up the MPG.
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      01-05-2013, 11:33 AM   #4
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there is a manual mode?
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      01-05-2013, 12:59 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmeir View Post
there is a manual mode?
Knock the gearstick left while in Drive- engages DS mode. While in DS Mode move the gearstick forward or backward, gearbox is now in manual mode.

Last edited by philtrick123; 01-05-2013 at 01:07 PM..
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      01-05-2013, 04:14 PM   #6
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I use Manual Mode when I am towing a caravan. It allows me to save fuel by engaging a higher gear than the auto box would use. Plenty of engine torque but I am not interested in acceleration.

It is not quite manual gearbox as you normally don't have to change down a gear as you appoach a junction etc. (The box still changes down to protect itself from the driver). The driver only has to change up.

As said above - deliberately changing down is also useful when going downhill with a caravan - simple engine braking.
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      01-06-2013, 01:23 AM   #7
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How does the X3 drive as a "tug"? I've just moved to BMW from Volvo and dropped 20BHP, I would have liked the 3.0D but also liked all the toys so opted for the M Sport 2.0D. Have you got the factory fitted towbar or an after market type?
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      01-06-2013, 05:53 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogerbu View Post
As said above - deliberately changing down is also useful when going downhill with a caravan - simple engine braking.
Agreed, most useful for reducing/maintaining lower speed downhill. I also find manual useful on long motorway drives where I can keep in 8th gear but be in sport mode for the better steering feel and control which it gives, whilst maintaining economy. Engaging Sport mode at 80 mph increases revs by 25% from 2000 to 2500 on the 2.0D, so in manual I have the best of both worlds.
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      01-06-2013, 07:29 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scotta2 View Post
How does the X3 drive as a "tug"? I've just moved to BMW from Volvo and dropped 20BHP, I would have liked the 3.0D but also liked all the toys so opted for the M Sport 2.0D. Have you got the factory fitted towbar or an after market type?
I find the X3 a very good tug. I have the 30D but am very confident that the 20D would have plenty of torque. (I have a 1350Kg MPTLM van).

Having the extra 30D torgue meant that Alpine Passes were fun

Using the available 100KG of Noseweight limit the setup is the most stable I have had for many years - I had an Avensis saloon before and it was a hopeless match.

I would not go for the BMW factory fit towbar as it will not have the Fridge supply & return wired in. BMW's response was that it follows BMW's standards, not some funny ISO standard!!!.
One dealer offered to correct this for only £800!, others offered to correct it (extra relay and wires) at no cost. Either way it would have meant running extra wiring alongside the factory wires into the back of the 13pin socket; With a risk of water ingress.

If you get the dealers to fit a bracket it will usually be the Westfalia BMW OEM bracket and electrics.
Your local Towbracket fitter will usually offer the same bracket and electrics much cheaper that via BMW (In any case my BMW Dealer outsources towbracket fitting to the fitter I have used for all my cars over the past 30 years).

As it its BMW OEM fitting, the Westfalia bracket and electrics fully integrate into the X3's electrics. I am very pleased with Westfalia's detachable bracket.
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      01-06-2013, 07:35 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich4 View Post
Agreed, most useful for reducing/maintaining lower speed downhill. I also find manual useful on long motorway drives where I can keep in 8th gear but be in sport mode for the better steering feel and control which it gives, whilst maintaining economy. Engaging Sport mode at 80 mph increases revs by 25% from 2000 to 2500 on the 2.0D, so in manual I have the best of both worlds.
Also - on country roads with SHMBO next to me (ie not alowed fun!!). At 45-60 MPH in manual and 8th gear the car is cruising, quiet and relaxed but still has adequate acceleration. In auto the car would be using 6th and 7th gears.
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      01-06-2013, 07:52 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogerbu View Post
I find the X3 a very good tug. I have the 30D but am very confident that the 20D would have plenty of torque. (I have a 1350Kg MPTLM van).

Having the extra 30D torgue meant that Alpine Passes were fun

Using the available 100KG of Noseweight limit the setup is the most stable I have had for many years - I had an Avensis saloon before and it was a hopeless match.

I would not go for the BMW factory fit towbar as it will not have the Fridge supply & return wired in. BMW's response was that it follows BMW's standards, not some funny ISO standard!!!.
One dealer offered to correct this for only £800!, others offered to correct it (extra relay and wires) at no cost. Either way it would have meant running extra wiring alongside the factory wires into the back of the 13pin socket; With a risk of water ingress.

If you get the dealers to fit a bracket it will usually be the Westfalia BMW OEM bracket and electrics.
Your local Towbracket fitter will usually offer the same bracket and electrics much cheaper that via BMW (In any case my BMW Dealer outsources towbracket fitting to the fitter I have used for all my cars over the past 30 years).

As it its BMW OEM fitting, the Westfalia bracket and electrics fully integrate into the X3's electrics. I am very pleased with Westfalia's detachable bracket.

Thanks for the reply, it's reassuring that your outfit is stable and that the car copes well with towing a caravan. I will be towing 1600kg MPTLM which I know will be pushing the 85% recommended car to caravan ratio. I tend to load up the car rather than the caravan to help keep the outfit as stable as possible. I bought the car new from stock with the BMW electric towbar so I suppose I will need to think about the fridge power supply. Having said that I usually load up the coolbox into the car boot and use the 12v supply to keep food (and wine) chilled until we reach our destination.

Have'nt seen that many X3's towing caravans so it's good to hear first hand that I've not made a mistake getting rid of myXC60.
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      01-06-2013, 07:55 AM   #12
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Apology

Sorry OP, I did not mean to hijack the post into the topic of caravans!!
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      01-06-2013, 08:49 AM   #13
Ben Lee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scotta2 View Post
Sorry OP, I did not mean to hijack the post into the topic of caravans!!
No problem. I did tried Manual mode today but don't find any significant difference in the ride quality or control. Perhaps the road condition where I am driving, mainly tarmac roads, doesn't requires it.
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      01-06-2013, 08:59 AM   #14
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May be slightly off topic....but I've just sold my MB SLK which had the auto / tip gearbox and I only occasionally used it in manual mode. Can't say i noticed any increase in acceleration over the gearbox in auto.

I've decided to go for the manual 'box in mine - I just prefer the decision making to be mine and not the OBC.
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      01-06-2013, 11:53 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by am36 View Post
May be slightly off topic....but I've just sold my MB SLK which had the auto / tip gearbox and I only occasionally used it in manual mode. Can't say i noticed any increase in acceleration over the gearbox in auto.

I've decided to go for the manual 'box in mine - I just prefer the decision making to be mine and not the OBC.
Looks like a nice spec, I'm sure you will love the car when you get it, I certainly have not been disappointed.
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      01-06-2013, 12:32 PM   #16
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I also ordered the manual gearbox; somehow the reseller pointed out that 90% of all X3s were autos, but quite frankly, I'm not yet old/lazy enough to give up 'driving' the car.
On long journeys, it's often the 'driving' bit that get rid of the boredom, and I often will take the smaller roads just to have the pleasure of taking that or this corner 'right'... etc...

The car software will be allowed to do all the other bits tho :-)
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Last edited by buze; 01-06-2013 at 12:49 PM..
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      01-06-2013, 03:05 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scotta2 View Post
Looks like a nice spec, I'm sure you will love the car when you get it, I certainly have not been disappointed.
Cheers! should have it by this time next week, its been in the country since the 28th December at least, working its way up country!

Will try and work out how to get some photo's on here as there is a distinct lack of manual 'box X3's photo's (suppose due to the restriction of supply in the US and other markets).

Agree buze - the salesman I dealt with was very good - pointing out the pro's and cons of each. As I had the Merc with the tip 'box and we also have a CRV with a manual box I knew what was what anyway. Test drove both models (though getting hold of a manual was difficult) and much prefer the engagement that the manual gives you over the auto.
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      01-06-2013, 08:26 PM   #18
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I use Manual almost all the time with the 8speed Automatic.
I prefer to keep engine speed low and to be in the right gear depending on actual road conditions, and the road conditions that I see ahead of me.

E.g if I am in 5th gear and conditions are that I would go to 6th, but I see a bend in the road coming up, rather than going to 6th and going back to 5th in the bend, I keep it in 5th.

When going down slopes or slowing down for a junction, I use it for engine braking. Goes very smooth with the six cylinder I have. But between 3th and 2nd gear, there is a big gap. So I have to watch that I do wait going from 3rd to 2nd, until engine speed has gone down enough.

In situations with dense traffic, where I have to concentrate on the traffic, and where many gear changes are expected, I put it in automatic.

Even though I grew up with manual and like to drive mostly in manual, I like the automatic for pulling away from standstill, for preventing rollback on a slope.
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      01-07-2013, 05:31 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scotta2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogerbu View Post
I find the X3 a very good tug. I have the 30D but am very confident that the 20D would have plenty of torque. (I have a 1350Kg MPTLM van).

Having the extra 30D torgue meant that Alpine Passes were fun

Using the available 100KG of Noseweight limit the setup is the most stable I have had for many years - I had an Avensis saloon before and it was a hopeless match.

I would not go for the BMW factory fit towbar as it will not have the Fridge supply & return wired in. BMW's response was that it follows BMW's standards, not some funny ISO standard!!!.
One dealer offered to correct this for only 800!, others offered to correct it (extra relay and wires) at no cost. Either way it would have meant running extra wiring alongside the factory wires into the back of the 13pin socket; With a risk of water ingress.

If you get the dealers to fit a bracket it will usually be the Westfalia BMW OEM bracket and electrics.
Your local Towbracket fitter will usually offer the same bracket and electrics much cheaper that via BMW (In any case my BMW Dealer outsources towbracket fitting to the fitter I have used for all my cars over the past 30 years).

As it its BMW OEM fitting, the Westfalia bracket and electrics fully integrate into the X3's electrics. I am very pleased with Westfalia's detachable bracket.

Thanks for the reply, it's reassuring that your outfit is stable and that the car copes well with towing a caravan. I will be towing 1600kg MPTLM which I know will be pushing the 85% recommended car to caravan ratio. I tend to load up the car rather than the caravan to help keep the outfit as stable as possible. I bought the car new from stock with the BMW electric towbar so I suppose I will need to think about the fridge power supply. Having said that I usually load up the coolbox into the car boot and use the 12v supply to keep food (and wine) chilled until we reach our destination.

Have'nt seen that many X3's towing caravans so it's good to hear first hand that I've not made a mistake getting rid of myXC60.
Sorry to hijack again! Just so you know if you ask BMW they will put in the required wiring loom for the fridge etc. My Grandfather has caravans and always has it done at the dealer.

It's never really been an issue, first time it was £500 extra to have it done (5 GT) However on his second one (X5) they did it FOC. Think they ended up taking it to a specialist though.
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      01-10-2013, 09:20 PM   #20
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I have yet to try mine in manual mode after a month of usage. I think I am just too overly cautious, never really ventured into trying all the switches and buttons. LOL.
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      01-11-2013, 02:01 PM   #21
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I rather enjoy shifting in manual mode while under hard acceleration. The transmission seems to shift faster and I hear a satisfying pop on gear changes that I never hear while in normal+auto mode. Reminds me of the sound a dual-clutch tranny makes under aggressive acceleration (then again, maybe its all in my mind).
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