ok driving to work today in my gf's 330, have it in the sport shift, i wanted to drop a gear, which in the CL u push down, i did and it went up a gear. I always forget that BMW does it the other way around, is BMW right or is our Acura right on this?

 

Technically, there is no right way. CHAMP and CART uses gating that is a reverse orientation (and BMW mimics this method on their Manumatics)......so that may be an endorsement.

However, in a common manual, in general you tend to see the 1-2, 3-4 in a north-south pattern. So, Bimmer, is doing the "opposite" in their logic. I asked the same question when I looked at a 330i and the Associate didn't even blink with this reply.

 

Race cars with sequential manual gearboxes are forward to downshift, backward to upshift. Watch races with BTCC, ASTC and WRC cars with sequential gearboxes.

*My* theory on this method for shifting is simple. You downshift while braking when diving into a turn. Since inertia is already pushing your body forward while braking, it's just natural to move the shifter forward. Imagine pulling 2Gs in a race car while braking and trying to pull the shifter towards you. What a pain in the ass that would be.

You want to talk about a gay manumatic shifter? MB's shifts from left to right. That my friend, is stupid.

 

I think the BMW way is better. Something about flooring it and pushing forward rather than pulling back feels wrong....it's one of the reasons I don't use SS very often....no logic to it.

 

I think that BMW just switched the pattern to back for upshift and forward to downshift. Earlier steptronics had the one that you describe. I like the new way better.

 

If you are accelerating and the G forces are pushing you back, wouldn't you want to pull BACK on the shifter to up shift?

Personally I would but that's just me.

 

sometimes i still f*ck it up using our SS when i want to downshift to 3rd. i instinctively tap forward like on a regular manual, and i end up in 5th instead of 3rd

 

It make sense that lower (if you look from up) (backward) is for lower gear, and that higher (if you look from up) is for higher gear.

No problem for the current SS setup... fine with me. I whished it was like that in new SLK AMG or C32 AMG! FAST

 

I reversed the way my SS shifts...

it is MUCH more intuative to pull back to shift up and to push forward to shift down, that's how gravity is pulling your body in any case...

if anybody wants to know how to do this, i can easily explain

 

Please explain, as I'd like to change mine to operate that way also..

 

I always drive in auto mode and Get exited if someone wants to race. I find myself flooring it and shifting into neutral, it scares the shit outa me.

 

Remove the shift-gate guide and swap the +/- buttons underneath?

 

If someone didn’t want to mess with the “shifter end” they could…

-------------
If someone had the "correct" pin extractor around -- they could swap pins/wires E18 and E19 on the PCM module's 20-pin E connector block (Yellow & Orange wires).

Helms page 14-73...

Picture of “E” block with check for S-DN (down) & S-UP (up) is on page 14-97.

PCM is on the passenger side of the center console. Just need to pull the carpet back… Smaller connector is the “E” block…
-----

OR

Astroboy probably has some "trick" way to do it...

 

I know that feeling all to well. That and forgetting I'm in SS and driving along in 2nd..

 

no tricks Eric, that's exactly what I did

 

I have always thought it should be the other way around. Push back for upshifting and push forward for downshifting. I used to have a '98 Intrepid ES with AutoStick and it was (left) for downshift and (right) for upshift. I actually like that the best. Not to mention that AutoStick worked much better than SportShift. I used to use AutoStick all the time. I use SS much less.

 

Could you post a pic of that page from the Helms for those of us that don't have one? Thanks.

 

Oh, the hassle of not having a scanner

I wonder if this can get booted to one of the guys who with a Helms and a scanner.

The Helms stuff I referenced is mostly schematics. Perhaps if you indicate what would clear the issues up, I could open up a drawing program and attach the appropriate info...

I can, however, draw a picture of the connector:

Note: The transmission section shows access to the PCM module/box by pulling back the carpet from the passenger side of the console.

1. The “E” connector is the only connector on the PCM with 20 pins. I’m going to show a drawing of the connector with the colors of the wires used (and near by)…

<pre>
<font size=+1>

notch shown at top in pic.

______________________________
/ \
/ +--+ \
| +--+--+--+--+-+--++--+--+--+--+ |
| | 1| 2| /| /| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9|10| |
| +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ |
| | /|12| /|14| /|16|17|18|19|20| |
| +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ |
+---------------------------------+
^ ^
| |
arrows point to pins E18 E19


E(20p) (20 pin connector)

</font>
</pre>

I’m going to give you the colors of the pins around pins 18 & 19 (so you can be sure of what pins your looking for)

E8 - BLU/BLK
E9 - BLU/GRN
E10 – BLU/RED
E14 - BRN

E18 – ORN (orange). This is the S-UP (shift up)
E19 – YEL (yellow). This is the S-Dn (shift down)

Swap pins E18(ORG) and E19(YEL)!!!!

Pin E20 – RED/WHT


Honda makes a “Honda Terminal Kit” mentioned on page Helms 22-5. You may be able to “rig” a pin removal tool. I have the official ones for: AMP & Molex).

The PCM is located under the console and is shown being accessed by removing the carpet up against the console. The “E” connector is the only connector with 20 pins (two rows of 10 pins (as shown) = total of 20 possible connections.