whats the switch on the auto for?

[rossco]

just tried posting this in tech but i cant find it now so i thought i would post here as well ,sorry if it is wrong todo this.
does any one know what the switch is for on the auto next to the handbrake and what does it do in 321 mode?thanks

[smithy318i]

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... uto+switch

I dont know!

[Widge]

It's a switchable auto box, my brothers 525 had it with 3 modes ice/sport/econ - self explanitary really. It holds the gears longer in sport and changes up really quickly in ice mode.

[MONSPORT42]

The 321 mode is for bad weather/slippery conditions. You have to change manually it will not change up or down automatically just stay in the selected gear.

[chu346]

Is it ok to use the 321 mode all the time?

[billyboy193]

In 321 it is basically a manual box requiring you to change the gears and it would,nt hurt to use it like this all the time but you have a auto so why not sit back and admire the scenery (summers coming ) and let the car do its own thing!

[MONSPORT42]

I remember think it might be a good idea to use 321 on track thinking it would give me greater control but I ended up boiling the ATF. I find that I just shift manually in Sport or Economy when I wantt to hold the revs up. In Sport mode the auto only works on 1,2 & 3. It won't change into 4th and lock-up until you switch back to economy. I felt it was all very complicated when I first got a switchable but I now like all the flexibility and options it gives.

[chu346]

In 321 it is basically a manual box requiring you to change the gears and it would,nt hurt to use it like this all the time but you have a auto so why not sit back and admire the scenery (summers coming ) and let the car do its own thing!

Yeah i know mate, but sometimes when the sun is out i like to give it some and i dont feel in control when i'm driving fast in sport mode. But don't get me wrong i do like to cruise.

I remember think it might be a good idea to use 321 on track thinking it would give me greater control but I ended up boiling the ATF.

Is there no way to get around that? Like a dedicated radiator.

I felt it was all very complicated when I first got a switchable but I now like all the flexibility and options it gives.

Thats the reason why i bought an auto. People say thet the best thing i can do is to change to manual. I disagree, i definately believe that auto is better than manual apart from the poor pull off.

[MONSPORT42]

The auto box is already cooled by the radiator but obviously not enough for hard track use. There are not too many older autos tracking so I doubt there's many off the shelf auxilliary radiators although I expect something could be made up out of an oil cooler. I get some very strange looks in the pits when people find out it's an auto! I know the E30 version is not that sophisticated but thats how all the really powerful cars are going - Ferrari, Porsche, BMW,etc - not a clutch pedal in sight.
I was tempted to change to manual when the autobox finally gave up the ghost at 186,000 miles but the rarity value of an auto Sport (see other thread) led me to opting for a rebuild. I'm really glad I did - it is really sharp now.
Mine's a 2.7 btw - the extra torque really marries well to the auto. No trouble with pull away! Like a rocket!

[Nostrils]

I loved this box when I had my Mtech 1 Sport. There was an article describing how to use it as it was deemed 'intelligent'. This did require left foot breaking (not to everyones liking!) and using the accelerator to fool the box into changing down sooner for corners/roundabouts.

I had only owned the car 6 months and was thinking of selling because I thought 'Auto' meant slippers, cardigan and a whippet! - This article changed my driving and view on auto boxes and ended up owning the car for 3 years or so.....it was sold on following an accident in favour of an M3, which I still have!