Is there ever a reason or a good time to shift from a higher gear into 1st? I would think the only time someone MIGHT do it is when they're coming to a stop. I know people downshift from 4th into 3rd or 2nd, but 1st seems like it would be too dangerous and you would screw up your tranny.

 

My tib refuses to shift to first, even when double-clutched, till the vehicle speed is below ~ 10 mph (whoops, said rpm earlier, meant MPH...)



The only time I ever wished I could have got it in first from second going faster than that was last Tuesday...



You risk seriously over-revving the engine if you were at the top of second and dropped it to first, and possibly throwing a rod if you got it to slip in from the top of third, if the clutch didn't smoke itself in the process.

 

In stop and go traffic I shift from 2nd to 1st all the time. I am not sure I understand the question. I don't think I've ever shifted into first from a performance standpoint except for a couple times during autocross if I scrubbed off too much speed to accelerate while in 2nd.

 

It is worth it, especially for tight autocross style situations. That said, the X3 trans has a really shitty synchro on first, so you best be rev matching or the gearstick goes KRRRR

 

RD transmission 1st gear was not synchronized in case anyone missed that

 

Never