Reversing the Steptronic

RealShakaZulu · #1 07-09-2005, 10:25 PM

Is it me or is the Steptronic counterintuitive. What I mean is, why do you pull down to shift to a higher gear and push up to select a lower gear? I am sure it's just me, but what is the reason? And can it be programmed to perform in reverse?

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x5Monkey® · #2 07-09-2005, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealShakaZulu

Is it me or is the Steptronic counterintuitive. What I mean is, why do you pull down to shift to a higher gear and push up to select a lower gear? I am sure it's just me, but what is the reason? And can it be programmed to perform in reverse?

#21 under "Engine and Transmission"

:p

vinuneuro · #3 07-09-2005, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealShakaZulu

Is it me or is the Steptronic counterintuitive. What I mean is, why do you pull down to shift to a higher gear and push up to select a lower gear? I am sure it's just me, but what is the reason? And can it be programmed to perform in reverse?

wait, ours is the intuitive way. even the plus and minus lettering is on the right side.

RealShakaZulu · #4 07-09-2005, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x5Monkey®

#21 under "Engine and Transmission"

:p

NICE!!! I searched the forums but not the articles. THANKS X5M... off to the garage.

JCL · #5 07-10-2005, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealShakaZulu

Is it me or is the Steptronic counterintuitive. What I mean is, why do you pull down to shift to a higher gear and push up to select a lower gear? I am sure it's just me, but what is the reason?

I have read this before on this board and others, and I don't understand why it would be counter-intuitive. Maybe it is just me, and in any case, I would say that I pull up to shift up, and push down to shift down. I understand wanting to switch it if an individual has another brand of vehicle that is reversed (or an early steptronic in the garage as well), then having them the same would make a lot of sense. But isn't the current factory setup exactly the same as a one-two shift with a stick? If you consider any manual transmission gate, forward is usually a lower gear, isn't it? My steptronic is the same as my SMG (pull for upshift), which seems to me to be the same as my wife's manual.

The precedent that I can think of for pulling back to shift down is a traditional US vehicle with a console/floor shift quadrant, which is usually just a transplanted column shifter. PRNDL like on a Ford C4 or GM Hydramatic doesn't seem like something worth preserving.

Any comments from someone who may have switched the wires?

B-Line · #6 07-10-2005, 04:16 PM

Hey guys..

Here is the explanation:
- Prior to the re-build the steptronice trans was wired the way you are talking about. Fortunately, BMW came to it's senses.

- Since I know there are only a few "racers" on this board, let me ellaborate. Talking about manual transmissions, there are basically two types of configurations, the standard H box. First, up top to the left, second below first, third over to the right and up, 4th, down from third, etc. etc.
But when you race a car with a sequential gear box, (same as what a motorcycle has,) it works different. There is no H in the config. You only have the choice to move the "lever" forward or backward. If you want to downshift you push the "lever" forward. If you want to upshift, you pull the lever backwards toward your body (the way our X5's are currently configured.)
Part of the reason for that is G-force. If you have to push the lever forward to upshift (the way you are suggesting.) when the shift comes, you should be thrust back into the seat. If you are pushing forward and thrust back, it is much more likely that you will not have good control of the lever.

So, to summarize, the reason your car is configured that way is, THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE CONFIGURED. That is how RACE CARS with Sequential gearboxes are setup and it would be a nuisance any other way.

When I had my 01 4.4, I hated the steptronic for that reason, it was WRONG.. NOW, it is correct and much more fun to use.. YOU WANT TO PULL BACK TO UPSHIFT, and YOU WANT TO PUSH FORWARD TO DOWNSHIFT. It is simple physics, you want you hand to move in the same direction of your weight distribution and g-force. You want your hand moving in the same direction as your body..

SO PLEASE DON'T CHANGE YOUR WIRING... I PROMISE, YOU WILL GET USED TO IT..

Thunder22 · #7 07-10-2005, 10:04 PM

I had an '01 and now have an '04 and it took me about a month to get used to the switch... the bigger problem is hunting for the clutch after having just driven the vette

thank god there's no parking brake pedal down there or I would certainly have launched myself out the front window by now.

ncx · #8 07-11-2005, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL

....I understand wanting to switch it if an individual has another brand of vehicle that is reversed (or an early steptronic in the garage as well), then having them the same would make a lot of sense.

You are right, that is a real problem. My wife now has an '05 G35 sport which has opposite shifting from my X5... i.e.... the G35 is forward to UPSHIFT and back to DOWNSHIFT. I absolutely hate it. This is not only because it is different from mine, it is that it is just counter-intuitive for the exact reason B-Line states. You should pull back to shift up as your arm and body will naturally be pulled back in the seat under hard acceleration. Similarly, you should push forward to downshift as you will naturally be pushed toward the windshield under hard braking/deceleration. Exactly like all the fine race-engineered cars around the world.

I am currently looking for a solution for the G35 trans. It is a very fun car and will really scoot when pushed. But when I drive it now I just can't use manual mode as it just doesn't seem right at all.

In the end, we all have to be pleased and should make the trans exactly the way we want it no matter what someone else says. In my .02 cents, the X5 trans is already correct. Good luck!