Steptronic - manual shift reversal
 

I have a situation on my X5 and Z4 that confuses the hell out of me when driving in 'manual' mode. Basically the +/- are in the opposite direction on each. So on the X5 pushing the lever changes up a gear on the Z4 down. No suprise I'm prone to wrong direction shifts....

See photos below of X5 and Z4:
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/DSCN1909.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/DSCN1911.jpg

My understanding is that somewhere between the build dates of my 2 Bimmers, BMW changed the direction of shift to the more logigal forward for down

So my questions:

1) has anyone reversed the shift change on the X5 to match the later pattern and give me consistency?

2) Can someone look at their X5 of say 2003 and newer and confirm the direction is opposite to my 2001? If so it may be possible to by a illuminated insert trim and perhaps a different switch or some DIY wiring

Zulu95

Exactly what I needed thanks. I'll have that done pretty soon - thanks

I FAR prefer the old shifting direction (i.e., up for upshift, down for downshift). That's the way it is on my Audi as well, and it makes far more logical sense to me (up, up, down, down).

I've heard some people say that it feels more natural to pull down to upshift, because that's in accordance with your body's momentum as you accelerate, but I just don't buy that.

If I ever got a new BMW with Steptronic, I would reverse the shift direction to the way they used to have it!

I guess that would be one of those arguments that is never going to be settled. BMW must have had a lot of pressure or feedback to cause them to change across the entire range. For my part I'm not really that worried which way, but hopping between 2 cars with identical gearboxes same lever and them behaving in the opposite way is a recipe for disaster.

it has to do with the age of the vehicle

cj10jeeper - I changed the shift direction on my '01 following those directions and it is a piece of cake. When you get to the plastic connectors, instead of splicing wire, you can pop the metal tips of the wires out of the connector and just switch the wires.

And it does feel more natural to pull back as you are accelerating - I hated the way it used to shift and therefore never really used it, but I shift all of the time now.

Now if you really want something to get used to, try the side-to-side shifting like MB does. I still haven't figured out that design yet :confused:

Yeah, the MB shifting sucks, although right to upshift / left to downshift does feel natural to me (but maybe not to left-handed people?).

I personally like the MB shifting a lot more than the BMW one

You know, now that I think about it, the MB tranny is similar to a manual, bc with a manual you do have to shift OVER and then up (or down) to change gears.

Not going to complain too much though - I love driving my wife's SLK350!!!