BMW X5: Shift paddles - Steptronic transmission

Shift paddles

Principle

The shift paddles on the steering wheel allow you to shift gears quickly while keeping both hands on the steering wheel.

General information

Shifting

The vehicle only shifts at suitable RPM and road speeds.

Short-term manual mode

In selector lever position D, actuating a shift paddle switches into manual mode temporarily.

After conservative driving in manual mode without acceleration or shifting via the shift paddles for a certain amount of time, the transmission switches back to automatic mode.

It is possible to switch into automatic mode:

• Keep the right shift paddle pulled until D is displayed in the instrument cluster.
• In addition to the pulled right shift paddle, pull the left shift paddle.

Continuous manual mode

In selector lever position S, actuating a shift paddle switches into manual mode permanently.

With the transmission version it is possible to switch into automatic mode:

• Keep the right shift paddle pulled until S is displayed in the instrument cluster.
• In addition to the pulled right shift paddle, pull the left shift paddle.

Steptronic Sport transmission

With the appropriate transmission version, the lowest possible gear can be selected by simultaneously activating kickdown and operating the left shift paddles. This is not possible in shortterm manual mode.

Shifting

• Shifting up: pull the right shift paddle.
• Shifting down: pull left shift paddle.
• Downshifting to the lowest possible gear: keep the left shift paddle pulled.

The selected gear is briefly displayed in the instrument cluster, followed by the current gear.

Displays in the instrument cluster

The selector lever position is displayed, for example P.

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