Question regarding reverse gear for e90 stick

leosong11 · 05-30-2005, 08:39 AM

I'm used to the reverse gear being on the right side of the gearbox but I know german cars have them right next to first. For the e90 do you have to press the stick in and then go to reverse or can you just go into reverse? Also, which do you guys prefer? It seems kind of dangerous to me because you can go into reverse by mistake in foward traffic.

Tierfreund · 05-30-2005, 09:24 AM

you have to push it quite strongly to the left beyond the first gear. If there´s any danger of you doing so accidentally, you lack the finesse to be driving a stick in the first place. That layout has been on BMW sticks for at least 30 years and very few have ever launched in the wrong direction.

E90Fleet · 05-30-2005, 09:48 AM

It wont allow you to go into reverse while moving

Broken1 · 05-30-2005, 10:03 AM

And when you pass that "click" point, you KNOW you have and can correct it. In my 2 years of driving a bmw, I have never gone into reverse once unintentionally. It's not a problem.

I am actually more "affraid" of reverse being on the right. Imagine cruising on the highway and you by mistake shove it into reverse. ALOT worse than if you're at a stop and going into first eh? Yes. I thought so. It's better on the left, right next to it's buddy...no1

Tierfreund · 05-30-2005, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

It wont allow you to go into reverse while moving

How do yòu know? Have you ever tried?

I know I haven´t..

batmanwagon · 05-30-2005, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tierfreund

How do yòu know? Have you ever tried?

I know I haven´t..

Its probably an educated guess. On most cars the syncro locks you out of reverse when you have forward motion.

fusionnv · 05-30-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batmanwagon

Its probably an educated guess. On most cars the syncro locks you out of reverse when you have forward motion.

In my friends mazada, and couple of ford cars they told me it locked while moving.

AZBob · 05-30-2005, 12:33 PM

I may be dating myself but, at 51, I have driven so many different kinds of vehicles with so many different types of transmissions that, for me, any worry of where reverse is located is not a consideration. Get what you want and drive it for a couple of days and it becomes a no-brainer. I just got back from my e90 ED (had the car 6 days) and never once had any issues about mistaking reverse for any other gear and I haven't driven a manual tranny for five years on a regular basis.

leosong11 · 05-30-2005, 12:52 PM

Thanks for the info guys. Actually, I don't have much experience in driving stick but decided to get it on my first car because I want to enjoy driving and not think of it as a chore.

batmanwagon · 05-30-2005, 12:53 PM

I doubt anyone other than the most hamfisted person in the world will have a problem. Getting into reverse gear requires a significant amount of extra force to the left to pass the gate.

romeo26 · 05-30-2005, 05:29 PM

dont worry about it you will never be able to put the car in reverse when you want to go forward b/c it takes quite a bit of strenght to put it in reverse (unless you are a muscle man).

marcus330i · 05-30-2005, 05:50 PM

I had a 97 M3 sedan (yes, sedan) and the only problem with reverse was when the guy at the car wash put it in reverse and hit the car behind him.....no damage but it could have been worse. I can see how he honestly thought he was putting it in first gear. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GIVE THE KEYS TO and TELL THEM ABOUT REVERSE!!!

voltron1011 · 05-31-2005, 01:57 AM

I've rebuilt many transmissions, and yes there is no way to 'accidentally' put it into reverse if the car is moving forward. If you go to: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission5.htm there is an excellent article on how manual transmissions work (including syncros), very interesting and easy for layfolks.

ldpantoja · 05-31-2005, 04:01 AM

3 Days baby, 3 Days!!!!

voltron1011 · 05-31-2005, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldpantoja

3 Days baby, 3 Days!!!!

Damn Id, how come you are getting yours so early!!! My dealer told me that all American spec cars won't start production till June, and here you are getting it in 3 days!?!?!?! I'm just jealous.... Send some pics asap

srub4 · 03-20-2011, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broken1

And when you pass that "click" point, you KNOW you have and can correct it. In my 2 years of driving a bmw, I have never gone into reverse once unintentionally. It's not a problem.

I am actually more "affraid" of reverse being on the right. Imagine cruising on the highway and you by mistake shove it into reverse. ALOT worse than if you're at a stop and going into first eh? Yes. I thought so. It's better on the left, right next to it's buddy...no1

One big problem I had a quite a few years ago when I had to actually drive my friend's beamer. The beamer was parked near the edge of a cliff (about 50 cm or so from the edge) and the ground was slanting towards the cliff as well

. Before I release the hand-brake, I had to get down of the car and see if the rear lights were on, just to be sure that I was in reverse. Now what would have happened if I couldn't get out of my car? This is why I believe the Reverse gear should be in opposition to the First gear like in japanese cars

Wires · 03-20-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srub4

One big problem I had a quite a few years ago when I had to actually drive my friend's beamer. The beamer was parked near the edge of a cliff (about 50 cm or so from the edge) and the ground was slanting towards the cliff as well

. Before I release the hand-brake, I had to get down of the car and see if the rear lights were on, just to be sure that I was in reverse. Now what would have happened if I couldn't get out of my car? This is why I believe the Reverse gear should be in opposition to the First gear like in japanese cars

WTF?

I think it's time you give up driving! Who sets the brake, hops out, and checks if the reverse lights are on to confirm they are in reverse????

WTF^2.....

WinoGregorio · 03-20-2011, 02:56 PM

Honestly, anyone who cannot determine the state of gear engagement should not be driving a manual transmission.

Gregxi · 03-20-2011, 04:10 PM

Note to self: never let srub4 borrow car

wrickem · 03-20-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregxi

Note to self: never let srub4 borrow car

Or Wrickem. I've mistakenly put it into reverse instead of 1st more than once.

VTECaddict · 03-20-2011, 04:24 PM

I've hit reverse instead of 1st a couple times. Usually when I'm not paying attention at a light and end up putting to much force on the shifter when rushing to start off.

anerbe · 03-20-2011, 07:19 PM

If you get the BMW ssk, you will not mistaken reverse for first. It takes my skinny coworkers a few tries to put it in reverse due to the required effort

05-30-2005, 08:39 AM	#1
leosong11 Private 13 Rep 89 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: May 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Question regarding reverse gear for e90 stick I'm used to the reverse gear being on the right side of the gearbox but I know german cars have them right next to first. For the e90 do you have to press the stick in and then go to reverse or can you just go into reverse? Also, which do you guys prefer? It seems kind of dangerous to me because you can go into reverse by mistake in foward traffic.
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05-30-2005, 09:24 AM	#2
Tierfreund Major 21 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	you have to push it quite strongly to the left beyond the first gear. If there´s any danger of you doing so accidentally, you lack the finesse to be driving a stick in the first place. That layout has been on BMW sticks for at least 30 years and very few have ever launched in the wrong direction.
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05-30-2005, 09:48 AM	#3
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	It wont allow you to go into reverse while moving
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05-30-2005, 10:03 AM	#4
Broken1 Addict 203 Rep 2,074 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 40i M-Sport Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	And when you pass that "click" point, you KNOW you have and can correct it. In my 2 years of driving a bmw, I have never gone into reverse once unintentionally. It's not a problem. I am actually more "affraid" of reverse being on the right. Imagine cruising on the highway and you by mistake shove it into reverse. ALOT worse than if you're at a stop and going into first eh? Yes. I thought so. It's better on the left, right next to it's buddy...no1
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05-30-2005, 12:33 PM	#8
AZBob New Member 0 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 2003 Mazda6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ iTrader: (0)	I may be dating myself but, at 51, I have driven so many different kinds of vehicles with so many different types of transmissions that, for me, any worry of where reverse is located is not a consideration. Get what you want and drive it for a couple of days and it becomes a no-brainer. I just got back from my e90 ED (had the car 6 days) and never once had any issues about mistaking reverse for any other gear and I haven't driven a manual tranny for five years on a regular basis.
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05-30-2005, 12:52 PM	#9
leosong11 Private 13 Rep 89 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: May 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info guys. Actually, I don't have much experience in driving stick but decided to get it on my first car because I want to enjoy driving and not think of it as a chore.
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05-30-2005, 12:53 PM	#10
batmanwagon Enlisted Member 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I doubt anyone other than the most hamfisted person in the world will have a problem. Getting into reverse gear requires a significant amount of extra force to the left to pass the gate.
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05-30-2005, 05:29 PM	#11
romeo26 First Lieutenant 44 Rep 354 Posts Drives: e30 325 (no lette) Join Date: May 2005 Location: anaheim, cali iTrader: (0)	dont worry about it you will never be able to put the car in reverse when you want to go forward b/c it takes quite a bit of strenght to put it in reverse (unless you are a muscle man).
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05-30-2005, 05:50 PM	#12
marcus330i Lieutenant 42 Rep 524 Posts Drives: 2006 330i 6spd Join Date: May 2005 Location: Point Loma, California iTrader: (0)	I had a 97 M3 sedan (yes, sedan) and the only problem with reverse was when the guy at the car wash put it in reverse and hit the car behind him.....no damage but it could have been worse. I can see how he honestly thought he was putting it in first gear. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GIVE THE KEYS TO and TELL THEM ABOUT REVERSE!!! __________________ Realtor Mobile: 6spd / Sport / Prem / Navi / ED 3-30-06 73 3.0s/84 528e/90 525i/97 M3 4dr/99 M3 Conv/2001 330i/2004 545i ED/2006 330i ED June 05 You're in control...is there anywhere you want to go ? -------------------------
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05-31-2005, 01:57 AM	#13
voltron1011 Colonel 119 Rep 2,909 Posts Drives: 2011 135i, FJR-1300 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wiesbaden iTrader: (2)	I've rebuilt many transmissions, and yes there is no way to 'accidentally' put it into reverse if the car is moving forward. If you go to: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission5.htm there is an excellent article on how manual transmissions work (including syncros), very interesting and easy for layfolks.
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05-31-2005, 04:01 AM	#14
ldpantoja Lieutenant 15 Rep 582 Posts Drives: 330i (E90) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	3 Days baby, 3 Days!!!!
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03-20-2011, 02:56 PM	#18
WinoGregorio Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 258 Posts Drives: 2020 m550i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Los Gatos iTrader: (0)	Honestly, anyone who cannot determine the state of gear engagement should not be driving a manual transmission.
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03-20-2011, 04:10 PM	#19
Gregxi First Lieutenant 64 Rep 338 Posts Drives: 2014 535xi Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	Note to self: never let srub4 borrow car
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03-20-2011, 04:24 PM	#21
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	I've hit reverse instead of 1st a couple times. Usually when I'm not paying attention at a light and end up putting to much force on the shifter when rushing to start off. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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03-20-2011, 07:19 PM	#22
anerbe Lieutenant Colonel 121 Rep 1,568 Posts Drives: Red E90M 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: BH, MI iTrader: (2)	If you get the BMW ssk, you will not mistaken reverse for first. It takes my skinny coworkers a few tries to put it in reverse due to the required effort
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