Automatic transmission (BMW 3 Series E21)

The selector lever has six positions.

"P": parking

Set the lever to position only when the vehicle is stopped by pressing the locking button under the lever handle. The transmission brake is engaged and the engine can be started.

"R": reverse

Set the lever to the "R" position only when the car has come to a complete stop, with the handbrake applied and the engine idling, by pressing the locking button under the lever handle. If you engage reverse gear while the car is moving, the gearbox may break down

"N" or "O": neutral

The rotation from the engine is not transmitted to the drive wheels, the engine can be started. It is recommended to set the lever in this position during long stops, for example, during traffic jams.

"D" or "A": movement

The car starts off in 1st gear and sequentially the 2nd and 3rd gears are automatically engaged and the shift to low gears is performed automatically. In this position, the optimal engine operation mode and the movement of the car in normal conditions are ensured (in the city or on a flat road without hills).

"2": mountain riding and engine braking

The car starts off in 1st gear and 2nd gear is automatically engaged; shifting to a higher gear is not possible.



It is recommended to set the lever in this position in the mountains (during prolonged ascents and descents) and for effective engine braking.

The lever is set to position "2" when driving at any speed. At high vehicle speeds (about 100 km/h) iI gear is automatically engaged and III gear is not engaged regardless of engine speed.

"1": driving in particularly difficult conditions

The car starts in 1st gear and moves in this gear without shifting to higher gears. It is recommended to set the lever to position "1" for the most effective engine braking and on steep climbs.

The lever can be set to this position when driving at any speed. At high vehicle speeds (about 100 km/h) the 2nd gear is automatically engaged, at a speed of about 60 km/h - the 1st gear. Subsequently, the highest gear is not engaged even when the accelerator pedal is pressed all the way down.

Forced engagement of a lower gear: "kick-down"

When the accelerator pedal is pressed sharply all the way down, a special switch is triggered and the lower gear is immediately engaged. When the accelerator pedal is pressed again, the car accelerates with maximum acceleration, for example, when overtaking. When "kick-down" the transition to a higher gear occurs at a much higher speed of the car than usual with the crankshaft speed close to the maximum permissible value, i.e. the engine torque is fully used in each gear.