downshift just as you would a manual. one gear at a time until you get use to going through the gears and feeling the transmission lowing you down.

 

Each paddle with shift up or down by pressing on the front or back of the paddle. You can also use the shifter tomove up and down the gears, which will read out on the gauges.
If you just use the brakes and stop, it will shift into first gear.

 

Proper use as explained above. BUT: Consider the cost of brake replacement vs. transmission, turbo, other engine repairs. Once a week or so, I use the paddles just for the pops and gurgles.

 

I don't know about your car but in my 05 MCSa you can't over down shift. If the car is above 4k it should not let you go to a lower gear. Also mine car never starts in first gear unless I down shift it manually.

 

got an owner's manual? explained in there .....

Shifting on the steering wheel*
The shift paddles allow the gears to be
changed rapidly and, above all, safely, since
both hands can remain on the steering
wheel.
To shift up or down with one of the two
shift paddles:
>Pull the shift paddle:
Transmission shifts up
>Press the shift paddle:
Transmission shifts down.
M1 to M6 appear in the gear indicator.
The transmission will only execute upshifts
or downshifts that will result in a plausible
combination of vehicle speed and engine
rpm, e.g. downshifts that would result in
excessive engine speed are not executed.

In the MINI COOPER S, with the selector
lever in position D, automatic
mode, you can shift gears using the shift
paddles on the steering wheel. The transmission
automatically switches to manual
mode. If you do not shift gears with the
shift paddles or accelerate for a certain
amount of time, the transmission automatically
returns to automatic mode.<

https://www.minimania.com/pdfile/2006_MINI.pdf

page 58 I believe

 

This is weird, as it should go to first, when you stop completely. At least my Justa car does!

 

Justa have a CVT transmission not the same thing.