2026 BMW X6 Transmission User Guide
This blog looks at the innovative 2026 BMW X6 gearbox system, emphasizing its precision engineering and flawless performance. Understand how clever gear shifting improves driving dynamics, efficiency, and control.
Automatic transmission
Principle
The automatic transmission automatically shifts all gears for driving forward. Shift pad-dles allow you to shift manually as necessary.
Safety information
WARNING
An unsecured vehicle can start moving and roll away. There is a risk of an accident. Before leaving the vehicle, secure the vehicle against rolling away by, for example, applying the parking brake.
Selector lever positions
Gear position D
Selector lever position for all normal driving. All gears for driving forward are selected au-tomatically.
R Reverse gear
Only engage the selector lever position R when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
The vehicle may be pushed or roll without drive, for instance in car washes, in selector lever position N.
Parking position P
General Information
Selector lever position, for instance for parking the vehicle. The transmission blocks the drive in selector lever position P.
Engage selector lever position P only when the vehicle is stationary.
P is engaged automatically
Selector lever position P is engaged automati-cally in situations such as the following:
- After switching off the drive-ready state when selector lever position R, D, or S is engaged.
- After switching off the standby state when selector lever position N is engaged.
- The driver’s seat belt is unfastened and the driver’s door is opened when the vehicle is stationary and selector lever position D, S or R is engaged.
Before exiting the vehicle, make sure that the selector lever position P is engaged and the parking brake is engaged. The vehicle could otherwise start to move.
Engaging selector lever positions
General information
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after you select a gear position or reverse gear, main-tain pressure on the brake pedal until you are ready to drive off.
In certain situations, e.g., to rock free on snow, it is possible to shift between reverse gear and gear position D without pressing the brake.
Functional requirements
Only when the drive-ready state is switched on and the brake pedal is depressed is it possible to change from selector lever position P to an-other selector lever position.
The selection lever position P cannot be changed until all technical prerequisites are met.
Engaging selector lever position D, N, R
- Fasten driver’s seat belt.
- Tilt or pull the selector lever into the desired direction, past a resistance point, if needed. The selector lever automatically returns to the center position when released.
Engaging selector lever position P
The parking brake is applied and the transmission lock is engaged.
Press button P.
The transmission lock is engaged.
Rolling or pushing the vehicle
General information
In some situations, the vehicle is supposed to roll without its own drive for a short distance, for instance in a car wash or to be pushed.
Engaging selector lever position N
NOTICE
Selector lever position P is automatically en-gaged when standby state is switched off. The wheels are blocked. There is a risk of property damage. Do not switch off standby if the vehicle is meant to coast, e.g., in a car wash.
- Switch on drive-ready state while pressing on the brake pedal.
- If necessary, release the parking brake and switch off Automatic Hold.
- If necessary, loosen the belt.
- If necessary, open the door.
- Depress the brake pedal.
- Engage selector lever position N.
- Switch off drive-ready state.
In this way, standby state remains switched on, and a Check Control message is dis-played.
The vehicle can roll.
Selector lever position P is engaged automati-cally after approximately 35 minutes.
If the system is not operational, you may not be able to change the selector lever position.
Electronically unlock the transmission lock, if needed.
Kickdown
Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving performance.
Step on the accelerator pedal beyond the re-sistance point at the full throttle position.
S Sport mode
Principle
The shifting points and shifting times in the Sport program are designed for sportier han-dling. The transmission shifts up later, for ex-ample, and the shift times are shorter, depend-ing on vehicle equipment.
Activating the Sport program
Pull the selector lever from selector lever posi-tion D to D/S. The engaged gear is displayed in the instru-ment cluster, for instance S1. The sport program of the transmission is acti-vated.
Ending the Sport program
Pull the selector lever to D/S.
D is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Displays in the instrument cluster
The selector lever position is displayed, for example P.
Electronic unlocking of the transmis-sion lock
General information
Unlock the transmission lock electroni-cally, e.g., to maneuver the vehicle out of a hazardous area in the event of a malfunction.
Before unlocking the transmission lock, secure the vehicle against rolling away, for instance with a wheel chock.
Engaging selector lever position N
- Quickly press the Start/Stop button three times without pressing the brake.
- Depress the brake pedal.
- Press the selector lever to position N until position N is shown on the selector lever. An appropriate Check Control message is displayed.
- Maneuver the vehicle from the hazardous area and secure it against rolling away.
Shift paddles
Principle
The shift paddles on the steering wheel are used to change gears manually.
General information
Shifting
The vehicle only shifts at suitable RPM and road speeds.
Even in manual mode, the transmission shifts automatically in certain situations, e.g., when speed limits are reached.
Temporary manual mode
In selector lever position D, pulling a shift pad-dle switches into manual mode temporarily. The engaged gear is also displayed in the in-strument cluster, for instance D1. After conservative driving in manual mode without acceleration or shifting via the shift paddles for a certain amount of time, the transmission switches back to automatic mode.
It is possible to switch into automatic mode:
- Pull and hold the right shift paddle until D is displayed in the instrument cluster.
- In addition to the pulled right shift paddle, pull the left shift paddle.
Continuous manual mode
In Sport program S, pulling a shift paddle switches to manual mode M permanently. The engaged gear is displayed in the instru-ment cluster, e.g., M1. It is possible to switch into automatic mode:
- Pull and hold the right shift paddle until S is displayed on the instrument cluster.
- In addition to the pulled right shift paddle, pull the left shift paddle.
- Pull the selector lever to D/S.
When M2 is set manually while the vehicle is stationary, the transmission will no longer shift back to M1. This shift behavior is maintained until M1 is engaged manually or manual mode M is exited.
Shifting
- Upshifting: pull the right shift paddle.
- Downshifting: pull left shift paddle.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in-strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Advanced mode
General information
Depending on vehicle equipment, the Step-tronic transmission offers an advanced mode with adapted shift characteristics.
- Automatic downshift to lowest possible gear. If the left shift paddle is pulled and held, the Steptronic transmission automatically shifts down to the lowest possible gear.
- Avoid automatic upshifting in manual mode. In manual mode, the Steptronic transmis-sion does not shift up automatically when speed limits are reached.
- There is no downshifting for kickdown.
Enabling advanced mode
The advanced mode is enabled in manual mode when Dynamic Stability Control is disa-bled. Depending on vehicle equipment, the ad-vanced mode can also be enabled in manual mode as follows, for example:
- “SPORT PLUS”: Driving mode is selected.
- Dynamic Traction Control is activated.
Launch Control
Principle
Launch Control enables optimum acceleration on roads with good traction under dry sur-rounding conditions.
General information
Using Launch Control causes premature com-ponent wear since this function represents a very heavy load for the vehicle. Do not turn the steering wheel when driving off with Launch Control. Do not use Launch Control when breaking in the vehicle.
Functional requirement
Launch Control can be used when the engine is at operating temperature. The engine is at operating temperature after an uninterrupted trip of at least 6 miles/10 km.
Driving off with Launch Control
- Turn on drive-ready state.
- Engage forward gear.
- Activate drive mode: “SPORT”.
- Enabling the driving dynamics setting:
“SPORT PLUS”. - With the left foot, press down forcefully on the brake.
- Press the accelerator pedal all the way down and hold.
Launch Control information is displayed in the instrument cluster. - The starting engine speed adjusts. Wait briefly until the engine speed is constant. Keep the accelerator pedal in this position.
- Release the brake within a few seconds of the Launch Control information illuminating. The vehicle accelerates.
Upshifting is performed automatically as long as the Launch Control information is displayed and the accelerator pedal is not released.
Launch Control stays on as long as the Launch Control information is displayed and the accelerator pedal is not released.
Repeated use during a trip
After Launch Control has been used, the trans-mission must cool down for a short time before Launch Control can be used again. Launch Control adjusts to the surrounding conditions when used again.
After using Launch Control
To support driving stability, reactivate Dynamic Stability Control as soon as possible.
System limits
An experienced driver may be able to achieve better acceleration values in DSC OFF without Launch Control mode.
Automatic transmission: Sprint function
Principle
Depending on the equipment, the Sprint func-tion can be used for an upcoming acceleration process. The Sprint function prepares the driv-etrain for the acceleration process.
General information
When the Sprint function is activated, the re-sponse characteristics of the vehicle will be-come more dynamic.
Activating
- Keep the left shift paddle pulled until SPRINT is displayed in the instrument clus-ter.
- The transmission shifts down to the lowest possible gear and switches to manual operation M.
- A dynamic setting has been activated for the drivetrain.
- Change gears manually.
Automatic deactivation
The Sprint function is ended automatically when driving moderately for a defined period of time.
Manual deactivation
- Keep the right shift paddle pulled until SPRINT is no longer displayed in the instrument cluster.
- In addition to the pulled right shift paddle, pull the left shift paddle.
- Press the selector lever from selector lever position S to D.
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2024 BMW X6 Review, Price, Features and Mileage (Brochure)