Can't see the gear in BMW's D mode?
4 Answers
BMW's D mode does not display the current gear. When driving in D mode, the current gear is not shown, but this model is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, and switching to manual mode will display the gear. Gear introduction: 1. First gear: This is the starting gear, used when the car begins to move. Its gear ratio is similar to that of reverse gear, and its performance is basically the same, so it is not suitable for prolonged high-speed operation. Generally, once the car gains momentum, you can shift to second gear. 2. Second gear: This is the passing gear, mainly used for navigating complex road conditions and handling difficult situations, such as sharp-angle (right-angle) turns without special obstacles, crowded and busy areas, steep slopes, and bumpy roads. 3. Third gear: This is the transition gear, mainly used for low-speed driving in urban areas. Depending on the situation, you can easily shift up to fourth gear for acceleration or downshift to second gear for deceleration.
I've been driving a BMW for almost ten years, and indeed, in D mode, you can't see the specific gear numbers, like whether it's in 4th or 5th gear. This design is the default logic of automatic transmissions, as engineers believe there's no need for drivers to be distracted by gear changes during normal driving. In fact, the BMW dashboard focuses on key information such as speed and fuel consumption. If you really want to check the current gear, you have to switch to S mode or manual mode, and pressing the paddle shifters on the steering wheel will display the gear number. The automatic transmission calculates gear shifts on its own, and not displaying the gear actually makes driving more worry-free, especially in traffic jams where you won't be bothered by which gear you're in. I've tried enabling hidden features or modifying system settings—some older models can activate gear display, but most newer models have removed this feature.
Young car enthusiasts might initially find this BMW feature unusual. When I first got my new car, I was also puzzled why the D gear only displayed a "D". After consulting the after-sales service, I learned that this is how automatic transmissions are designed by default—they don't show the specific gear, but you can roughly tell which gear you're in by listening to the engine sound and watching the tachometer. If you want to see the gear number directly, switch to S mode or use the paddle shifters in manual mode, and the dashboard will clearly display the numbers. The automatic transmission is tuned for smoothness first, and showing the gear might make beginners anxious and stomp on the accelerator.
The BMW D gear typically only displays the letter 'D' to represent Drive mode, without listing the specific gear. The automatic transmission system defaults to hiding the current gear from the driver to minimize distractions, unless switched to Sport or manual shift mode via the steering wheel paddles, which then displays the real-time gear number. The automatic shifting logic is optimized for fuel efficiency, making it unnecessary to constantly monitor gear changes.
