1995 bmw 525i (A or M)

[SIGSays]

i noticed that there's a A or M button in my car... i thought it was auto and manual... but it doesn't seem like that... overdrive maybe? i noticed the car was more torque when it was on a.... m was like old people nice cruise... anyone know exactly what it is? overdrive maybe?

[Lohman446]

How A or M I don't know what the abreviation would be for, on GM cars it performance and touring. It adjusts shift points (and possibly timing) to give for a more aggressive or "gentle" driving experience through the computer depending what mode you are on. Assuming thats what it is for.

[SCpoloRicker]

Most likely its a "sport" or "touring" mode. Probably effects gear shift points, and maybe shock stiffness.

Its an automatic transmission, right?

[Rembrandt]

I don't know what it stands for but my Maxima has it, it says Power and Cruise. On power it just shifts harder, as if you put a shift kit in. And on cruise it shifts smoother and kinda slides into gear. It has no effect on the shift points just how hard or smooth it shifts.

[bofh]

It is indeed an Automatic or Manual Switch for your transmission.

A couple of possible things,
One, the switch could be broken, or the wire that lets the transmission know what mode to be in.
Two, the Switch might have been replaced, and you don't have A or M, but S and * (Auto and Winter)
Three, eh, maybe the transmission was changed to one that didn't have those features.

What does the dashboard say when you play with the switch?

/Only have an auto in the truck
//the rest are manual
///1995 540i M-Sport Six speed

[nulam]

I'm not 100% on this but...I think you can use your automatic gear selector to move between the gears as though it was a manual when you put it in M mode. It should be a four speed automatic with the numbers appearing at the bottom of the shift gate. When in (A) and the shifter at (D) the car will just shift like normal but when you use (M) and move the handle to one of the numbered gears it will stay in that gear until you move it again to a higher or lower number. For a real answer go to www.roadfly.com and check out the BMW e34 forum.

Matt
85 318i
96 318iC
both manual

[Lohman446]

I'm not 100% on this but...I think you can use your automatic gear selector to move between the gears as though it was a manual when you put it in M mode. It should be a four speed automatic with the numbers appearing at the bottom of the shift gate. When in (A) and the shifter at (D) the car will just shift like normal but when you use (M) and move the handle to one of the numbered gears it will stay in that gear until you move it again to a higher or lower number. For a real answer go to www.roadfly.com and check out the BMW e34 forum.

Matt
85 318i
96 318iC
both manual

That may be right and most "autosticks" - or whatever you want to call them are made to shift anyways when in manual mode if RPMs reach a specified number to help avoid damage

[SCpoloRicker]

///1995 540i M-Sport Six speed

Whazzah?

Sport suspension package does not a M5 make.

[bofh]

Whazzah?

Sport suspension package does not a M5 make.

Hey, it's not an M5, it's an M-Sport... The M with the Torque-y, drivable engine.

The 540i M-Sport will, for all practical purposes, be a reincarnation of the M5. Powered by the torque-rich four-liter V8 engine, it is available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission. It also features M5 brakes, the EDC III electronic, cockpit-adjustable sports suspension system, and an M version of Servotronic power steering. This special sedan comes with full M5 bodywork, 17-inch alloy wheels and tires, and sports seats. ASC+T traction control, limited slip differential, heated front seats are optional. BMW will import 200 540i M-Sport sedans, 135 with stick shift and 65 with automatic transmission.

/One slash
//two slash
///M-Sport
////Gotta have three slashes in front of the M
///// Still not really an M
//////But it did come from the factory with ///M door sills.
///////Yay?

[SCpoloRicker]

Actually, I think a friend of mine has something very similar.

Maybe its a M-Sport 3-series? Its an early E36, and its got odd badging. All the bodywork is M-spec, down to rear valence, mirrors, interior badging, sills, front valence, etc.

But its got an "M" tacked onto the 325is badging, which I'm guessing was added.

/mmm... new M5
//7.0 V10, 7 speed SMG w/paddles

[bofh]

Actually, I think a friend of mine has something very similar.

Maybe its a M-Sport 3-series? Its an early E36, and its got odd badging. All the bodywork is M-spec, down to rear valence, mirrors, interior badging, sills, front valence, etc.

But its got an "M" tacked onto the 325is badging, which I'm guessing was added.

/mmm... new M5
//7.0 V10, 7 speed SMG w/paddles

They made a Club Sport 318iS and a couple of other special editions of the 3 series, so it's possible. I haven't heard of a 325iS, but I also don't keep track.

Mine only says 540i on the badge, the ///M540i is a different Canada only beast.

Besides, anyone can put on a ///M badge.

/I honestly think I have the best BMW made
//except perhaps an 850CSi.
/// or a Z8
//// Perhaps the best affordable BMW made?
///// Er, the best one I can afford
////// Best being a blend of Performance, Comfort, and Praticality,
///////Pace, Grace and Space?
////////That was the previous Sedan.
/////////I think I've used all the slashes.

[Muzikman]

That may be right and most "autosticks" - or whatever you want to call them are made to shift anyways when in manual mode if RPMs reach a specified number to help avoid damage

My Intrepid wasn't. If you put it in first, it stayed in first. The car doesn't even have a limiter. I has it up to 7000RMPs before I decided to back off before I broke something. I was expecting it to change, or cut out the engine or something.

Now if I was in 3rd grear and stopped at a stop sign, it would downshift automatically.