Hello. I searched through the forum and only found one review mentioning the MSCa won't downshift to M1 at full stop. I tried using the SD tonight and noticed it did that everytime. I had to push the stick to get to M1. I don't believe this little 1.6 does 2nd gear start at stops (like what you could do in a Corvette), especially it's in SD which is supposed to give full power launch in 1st gear. Does anyone else with MCSa have the same experience? Thanks.

 

in my x3 it does, should do the same in the mini.

 

not only does the MCSa do this, but the automatic coopers do also.

 

Why would anyone design a car with an automatic transmission so that it doesn't use 1st gear? Lexus pulls that trick too. Why brag about having a 6 speed automatic when you're only using 5 of the ratios? I think it's the wrong thing to do, but MINI isn't the only culprit. This looks like a good thing for the aftermarket "chip" makers to address.

Rawhyde

 

actually it can be gas mileage related AND if you press the pedal all the way down, it will downshift into first for more torque. if you think about it, it's really a good idea. especially in a decade like now. we need to find other sources of energy, usually best if they are renewable.

 

2nd gear starts would be OK if that mode was activated by a "snow" switch or something similar. Mercedes and some other makers do it that way. I still think that automatics should start off in first gear. Especially when in "Sport Drive" mode.

When the driver goes into "sport drive", performance is usually what he/she is looking for.

Rawhyde

 

Well that explains the hard downshift to 1st when I punch it from a full stop in SD.

 

So, if I purposely downshift it to M1 before coming to a full stop, that shouldn't hurt the engine or tranny, correct? It did feel a bit jerky.

 

well going from 20mph at 2nd to 1st gear is going to feel a bit jerky. In SD mode, there is a button under the throttle. So if you "floor" the car at a stop light it should go right into 1st even in the "automatic sd" mode. After about 20 launches like this the car should "program" itself to that driving style and should basically always start in first gear. Least thats what my x3 does O_o

 

By the way, many auto tranny cars including MINI, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, etc. start off in 2nd gear. Only if you manually put the car in 1st or accelerate hard enough from a standstill or a very slow speed will the car kick down into 1st gear.

 

Yup, all of the recent model step bimmers I've driven and now the MCS does this, I assume as a gas saving measure. The Dinan software I had on my 2000 328Ci cured this and had the car go to first gear at stops, but as of 01 the BMW ecu somehow changed things from what I heard, and people no longer got that benefit from Dinan.

Intially I thought I'd want that upgrade on the MCSa too, but since I find myself in manual mode 99% of the time and shifting on my own with the paddles even more then in the BMWs (well except for the SMG M3 ) I don't feel that I need it. Personally I would advise using the manual mode if you want sportiness, flooring it to tip the kick down mode from a stop is bound to just make you spin your wheels and activate the traction control.

 

Thanks guys. This is good to know that it's not something wrong with my car.

 

nope bmw just "programmed" in some "whussyness" to the car because of fuel savings. BLAH!