Let's not confuse the new driver. We have enough young Mario Andretti's on the road who don't know how to drive. I cringe whenever I hear a motor rev at 3500rpms while slowing down.
Honestly, why would you want to power shift as a new driver, with a stock car, and only street driving, even on the autobahn?

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=58654

Sure I downshift too........to pass but not to hurt my tranny.
And, P3, don't put it into 1st when you're slowing down, that's how you ruin 1st much quicker. 2nd has enough umph to keep you going from a yield. 1st is to get the 2700+lbs car moving anyway.

 

to p3: silver is right about the trans.

to silver: most autobahns are 2 lanes. trucks (18 wheels) can only go 100kph (62mph). small cars (smaller than neon) have a top speed of 110kph. for some reason they think it's fun to pull out in front of a car (my '85 528i) that is going 240+kph (the gauge didn't go higher, but the needle did). on average i would have about 250 meters/yards (a meter is about 2 3/4" longer than a yard) to NOT HIT THAT BAST%$#@&D!!!!

math time. to change kph to mph round off to the closest 10. 10 20 30, you get the idea. drop the last 0 and * by 6. 100kph, drop the last 0=10. 10*6= 60mph. for every 30mph add 1 mph if your annal. happy motoring.

 

I know what you mean about keeping your distance. I hate it when you're about a couple car lengths from the car in front of you and another one slides into that opening as if it was meant for them...grrrrrrrr.
There is just much more in your BMW then there is in the chrysler tranny of old though and for a young new driver, he will kill the tranny before he knows it. He doesn't have to baby it, just take care of it so that he won't be in here later about what to do next with his tranny. I know, not all cars (even the same models) are created equal, but in general, most things break because of abuse (on purpose or by accident-s).
It's funny that you put that up because I've wondered if there was an easy way to convert. My turbo timer is right in front of me and it displays in KPH and since it's backlit and right in front of me, I always referrence that instead of the big gauge that states MPH, lol.

 

Heck I know mine is GENII but the owners manual recommended downshifting.

 

if you are looking to get the longest life from both your eng, clutch, and trans don't downshift; simple as that. i remember my grandad told me that downshifting, for some reason he didn't know, seemed to help the eng last longer. i still don't trust this thought. the more parts are used the more they wear out, just like your tires.

while downshiftting will help with both brake pad and rotor wear, they are way cheaper to replace than either a clutch or trans.

 

thats what i always thought...when downshifting to each stop from 55 mph, if you go through every gear, then you are using your clutch 4 more times then needed...after 1 day of downshifting, thats 1 day your taking off the life of the clutch.....why spend more then needed???

 

WEird urs displays MPH instead of KPH on the big gauge thingy? Looks like its other way around for me : http://www.sbclansite.com/carpics/100_0006.JPG


Ok tom i wont downshift but in winter it might be needed though on snow so will try it than.

 

My car is US built too, that's why it's MPH instead KPH like yours. My Greddy TT is Japan built and that's why it's in KPH instead of MPH.

 

I dont get it whats a TT and and mine is mph i thought my display was kph, what is it that you talking about i am lost.

 

TT is turbo timer