Why is reverse to the left?

Jeff_DML · 2002-05-22

Does anyone know why BMW puts the reverse to the left? Some sort of history to it? Why not to the right like everyone else. I have issues with this:( TIA Jeff

Dr. Phil

· #2 · May 22, 2002

My reverse is right above nuetral

:lmao:

Sorry couldn't resist

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G

· #3 · May 22, 2002

Why does everyone else put it down-right? Up-left vs. down-right, who's to say what's correct?

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webguy330i

· #4 · May 22, 2002

I like the left-up design. Less chance of banging into reverse on a 5 -> 4 downshift. Plus it leaves room for the ever-elusive 6th gear.

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Teej

· #5 · May 22, 2002

TD said:
Why does everyone else put it down-right? Up-left vs. down-right, who's to say what's correct?

What was the pattern in the old cars with the steering wheel stalk for shifting manually? I remember the pattern in cars in India were basically the same as the general pattern, just move the entire console from the floor to the steering wheel. Basically first was you pull towards you and push up, 2nd just push down, 3rd just push up from neutral position, 4th down. Reverse was you push back and down.

So maybe then just migrated the pattern from the steering to the floor when they first started making floor shifters, and thats the most common pattern now. :dunno:

What was the pattern on older BMW's with the stalk shifter??

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DougDogs

· #6 · May 22, 2002 (Edited)

I had a stalk shift 63 rambler. (for about 3 months) reverse was pull and up. 1st was pull and down 2nd was push and up 3rd was push and down. (what Eugie just said!!!!)

Car also had intake manifold vacuum assisted windshield wipers.
If you tried to floor the throttle, the wipers stopped working

:lmao:

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Jeff_DML

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 22, 2002

>>Why does everyone else put it down-right? Up-left vs. down->>right, who's to say what's correct?

My car is Audi, which is down right. My wifes car is the bimmer. I have driven my Audi on the track several times and never had problems shifting it. Yes it is vague but I would take that over missing a shift.

I auto-x the bimmer wagon 2 weeks ago. Whenever I had to downshift from 3rd to 2nd I would have trouble getting it into gear. The instructor suggested that I was pushing to hard to the left thus hitting the lockout for reverse. Maybe I am, even though I do not agree, but it is stupid that I have to worry about it. If reverse was down-right, which my audi is, I would not have this problem.

I personally think there is something wrong with my transmisson in the bimmer.

Also if you are speed down-shifting from 5 to 4th on a track or auto-x, thus down right might not be good, then I congrulate you because you are hauling some serious butt.

Jeff

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webguy330i

· #8 · May 22, 2002

Jeff_DML said:
[BI personally think there is something wrong with my transmisson in the bimmer.[/b]

I had this same issue on one turn at our last autox... luckily I only screwed up once.

Also if you are speed down-shifting from 5 to 4th on a track or auto-x, thus down right might not be good, then I congrulate you because you are hauling some serious butt.

I was thinking more along the lines of highway traffic, but hey why not!

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in_d_haus

· #9 · May 22, 2002

try driving an Army Deuce and a half...it's all messed up

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Redshift

· #10 · May 22, 2002

Or how's about my Vette - all the way to the right, then forward, is reverse. It looks like this:

Wacky, huh?

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Raptox

· #11 · May 22, 2002 (Edited)

Re: The basic "H" on every US manual I drove was...

EugieBaange said:
F**k! It doesn't like my spaces
Just pretend that's an "H" up there, I don't feel like figuring it out

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Kaz

· #12 · May 22, 2002

At least we don't have to pull up on a ring (Saab, Supra) or push down on the knob (VW).

My old 4sp Datsun was a 1-3/2-4-R, whereas the 5sp version of that same car was a dogleg with R-2-4/1-3-5, like old Ms, I think

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Jeff_DML

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 23, 2002

My audi is push down for reverse. This is even better, then no mis-shift for sure since you will not be pushing down when shifting from 1 to 2nd.

Jeff

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Kaz

· #14 · May 23, 2002

Jeff_DML said:
My audi is push down for reverse. This is even better, then no mis-shift for sure since you will not be pushing down when shifting from 1 to 2nd.

Jeff

The first time I drove a VAG (an old Scirocco), I didn't know you had to push down, and never found reverse so I had to go forward and drive it around the block to get it to where I wanted. :lmao:

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AF

· #15 · May 25, 2002

Jeff_DML said:
My audi is push down for reverse. This is even better, then no mis-shift for sure since you will not be pushing down when shifting from 1 to 2nd.

Jeff

I never liked the push down shift pattern . . . I like the right and down the best but up and left isn't too bad either.

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Magna

· #16 · May 25, 2002

i now like the reverse in the BMW. my previous car had reverse down and right. can't think of which setup is safer or less prone to mistakes.

i was watching speedvision a while back with a show by alain decadenet on old ferrari and it looks like he was pulling down for first v. pushing forward for first gear. is that true that old ferrari's had first gear at the lower left of the shifter? if yes, it seems there's is no established standard on setting up the shift pattern.

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cenotaph

· #17 · May 25, 2002

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little<><

· #18 · May 25, 2002

I was always (perhaps mistakenly) that reverse was immediately beside or accross from 1st for the purpose of starting out in races in the olden days when the drivers had to run out to their parked cars. Some guys would throw it in reverse then take off, others would go straight out depending on the traffic.

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bmw325

· #19 · May 26, 2002

I like the reverse next to 1st on BMWs-- it makes it really fast and easy to switch between 1st and reverse-- like when parallel parking. I also like BMW's simple but effective reverse lockout--you have to apply extra pressure to get the shifter into the reverse gate. People always seem to be concerned about accidentally selecting reverse while moving. You would have to be extraordinarily hamfisted and clumsy to be able to do that. There is a very noticelable resistance. I'm also failry certain that the reverse gate is locked out when the car is travelling above a certain speed (maybe 5mph)-- but I've never bothered to verify that. Even if you did manage to get the shifter into the reverse gate and tried to select reverse, all you'd get would be some grinding synchros--and you'd quickly realize what you'd done-- but you'd never be able to select the gear. Regardless, I really can't imagine someone even accidentally getting the shifter into the reverse gate. I hate other makers reverse systems where you have to pull up on a collar or push down on the shifter-- its clumsy and annoying. The BMW system is simple, elegant and effective. JeffDML, there may indeed be something wrong with your wife's BMW. On my 325, the gates are very well defined and its very easy and natuarl to downshift from 5-4 or 3-2. I can't say the same for the Saabs, Audis and VWs i've driven.

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aldo

· #20 · May 26, 2002

Same logic.....

cenotaph said:
I believe that (some) old Ferraris were set up like this:

R 2 4
| | |
-----
| | |
1 3 5

Not sure why.

The only time you would use 1st was at the start of a race, ie most of the time you would be going through the other gears.....Keep 1st and Reverse out of the way.....

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