Flappy paddle 3.0SI

[atreyu]

I've seen a E85 locally that I was considering buying to use for hillclimbing/trackdays, however it's turned out to be an Auto with flappy paddles.

I know this has been covered before but are they usable with the way I want to use the car? Can you drive it as a manual with the paddles? I presume it will always change down on it's own if the revs drop too low but will it change up or can you drive is spiritedly without being compromised by what the gearbox wants to do?

My father has a car (non BMW) and the flappy paddles are fantastic to the point of I would see it as an advantage for hillclimbing due to being able to keep both hands on the wheel and change gear mid corner.

 

[Wood Butcher]

I have an E86 with paddles, and yes, you can drive it as a manual. You are right that it will change down when the revs get very low, it will change up too if you try and pass the red line by much. Changing gear mid corner is certainly possible, so long as the paddles don’t end up in a different place to your hands.
You can also use the gear lever like a sequential box in manual mode too, something which I quite like

 

[Jakg]

Bear in mind I think the gearbox isn't related to the SMG unit on the M3 - it's something very different and much older.

 

[The Gidfather]

I have an E86 with paddles, and yes, you can drive it as a manual. You are right that it will change down when the revs get very low, it will change up too if you try and pass the red line by much. Changing gear mid corner is certainly possible, so long as the paddles don’t end up in a different place to your hands.
You can also use the gear lever like a sequential box in manual mode too, something which I quite like

It's a bit of a marmite choice but I quite like mine, especially if going on a cruise. Kind of like having a gear butler Also gearchanges are noticeably quicker in sport mode.

My understand is that it's the same on used in the M3 of that era but was discontinued after the facelift