Reverse Gear Gripe

[dkommor]

I absolutely love this car! My only complaint is the adjacent position of reverse and 1st gear on the manual trans. I'm used to reverse being in the extreme right and down position and the proximity to first gear on this car has caused me some problems. Any thoughts on the subject?

[yandy]

no concern here, I actually prefer it over the "push down then forward towards 1st" that some other have with 6MTs. Reverse is rough and tough to get to. Confusing it with 1st is really difficult in my opinion.

[TimMc]

I've driven manual BMs for years (including at the track), and never had an issue. The shift into the reverse plane requires a concerted effort that differs from all forward gears. You'll get used to it - just like I have with the indicator stalk being on the "wrong" (left) side of the steering column over here.

[RootCanal05]

You'll definitely get used to it. However, I'd prefer some kind of lock out like what subaru has only because this weekend I let someone drive my car and they almost put my 1er through the garage door thinking they were in 1st. Their test drive was over real fast after that.

[dkommor]

Based upon your name, I'm hoping that you are a Dentist and not a masochist. Have a great day!

[2AD Tanker]

I prefer the upper left reverse over the lower right. Putting it in reverse and first are two different distinct movements and shouldn't be confused if one is paying attention.

[pit1]

I prefer it over any other setup. It requires a very deliberate action, most 1st timers are hesitant to break it, do it once and you'll never mistake it for 1st.

Push down/Pull Up like VWs and Saab respectively are ok but they're more prone failed engagement, and I don't feel the affordance is clear enough. In our Jetta, I'm always a uncertain what gear I'm in and if R actually engaged.

Down(back) and right is my least favorite, they're simply too far apart. R-1st is the most common sequential combination...keeping them close speeds things up, especially if time is of the essence.

[cagekicker]

that is european style. you must be coming from a rice burner.

[TP 135i]

You'll get used to it.........but....
When I first got mine there were like 3 times that I put it in reverse at a red light and almost went backwards on the green light.
Can you say...."boy did I feel stupid"
After the first week or two, never again was that error made.

[dkommor]

Porsche Cayman? A rice burner??

[lo-tek]

Originally Posted by dkommor

Porsche Cayman? A rice burner??

in some circles

[Tj303]

this also worried me before i took delivery of my 1er.

I prefer the reverse to be at the other end of the stick i.e. after 6th but u do get used to it although still not 100% for me... The thought does cross my mind every now and then to check if i'm actually in first rather than reverse which is a bit annoying

i've never put the car into reverse by accident, but when i got the car for a couple of occassions i couldn't find the reverse gear so put it into 1st by accident. This is likely to present the same problem for anyone not used to it

[Tom K.]

Personally, I find the BMW practice of slotting reverse beside 1st to be both easier and safer. IIRC, the old 3 speed transmissions always had reverse beside 1st - whether floor or column mounted.
Those who are worried about finding reverse should probably order ther cars with PDC and iDrive. They will then get both an audio and visual warning that they are about to proceed backwards.

Tom

[emm3tt]

Originally Posted by dkommor

Porsche Cayman? A rice burner??

What, is it a dogleg shift pattern or did you have a 5-speed?

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by cagekicker

that is european style. you must be coming from a rice burner.

My old "rice burner's" reverse was in the upper left as well.

[turner23]

All German cars (VW, Audi, BMW) have reverse adjacent to 1st gear, most Japanese cars put it underneath 5th. I've always had reverse 'top-left', and prefer it there as it's almost impossible to 'accidentally' select reverse.

You gotta want it.