Up/Down Controls on Steering Wheel - Reversed

[eleven11]

I couldn't think of the appropriate search terms, so I apologize if this has been discussed previously.

I'm coming from a 2007 335 with Nav, so I know this isn't a legacy thing (it was different). Essentially, I find it odd that the up/down controls on the steering wheel work reverse of what my intuition (English perspective) when changing tracks, rewind/forwarding. To advance or fast-forward, I press down; again, opposite of what I would expect. The left/right toggle beside the CD/DVD unit works as expected.

Not a real issue - just curious if anyone else has observed this.

[simgr]

Yes! This is just about my biggest problem with the interior of the car: it just seems wrong to me that you press the top button on the left to increase the volume and the bottom button on the right to increase the track number...

Bah!
/simgr

[BSM 135i]

weird, on my 08' the left arrows on my steering wheel are for volume and those are as expected and the arrows on the right are for the track numbers and work at expected as well; up for next and down for previous. wonder why they changed it on the newer models?

[Harlequin]

Question: Do any of you guys have iDrive? (I note that the OP does)

The track numbers go down for next and up for previous on mine but it makes sense because you're scrolling down the screen to the next track. I'm guessing that they did it on the non-iDrive to keep it uniform across the range?

- Harlequin

[simgr]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

Question: Do any of you guys have iDrive? (I note that the OP does)

Yes I have iDrive -- doesn't change my annoyance level though -- the point of the buttons is that you can make changes withOUT looking down and they're just back-asswards... IMESHO

/simgr

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by simgr

Yes I have iDrive -- doesn't change my annoyance level though -- the point of the buttons is that you can make changes withOUT looking down and they're just back-asswards... IMESHO

/simgr

Fair enough... It drove me nuts too until I figured out why they had done it that way... once I understood I was able to adapt (in a day or two) and now I don't even think about it...

Just thought that sharing my experience might help others...

- Harlequin

[Jaguar66]

If you have ever ridden a motorcycle, these are identical. Up is a higher gear, down is a lower gear.

[eleven11]

Originally Posted by RobMason

If you have ever ridden a motorcycle, these are identical. Up is a higher gear, down is a lower gear.

Not sure I follow your analogy.

In my example, UP = backwards (i.e. lesser position/number or in your case, gear number).

[Jaguar66]

Originally Posted by eleven11

Not sure I follow your analogy.

In my example, UP = backwards (i.e. lesser position/number or in your case, gear number).

On my BMWMotorcycle, from 2nd, to 3rd to 4th to 5th you raise your foot (toe) upward under the shift lever, to shift to a higher gear (5 is a higher gear than 2), and conversely, pushing down on the pedals shifts to lower gear (5>4>3>2>1).

On my 135i, if I pull up on either lever, (putting my fingers behind the lever and pulling up toward my chest) it shifts from 1st through 6th gear (higher gear), and pushing down on the lever with my thumb (pushing toward the floorboard), shifts 6th to 1st (a lower gear).

Correct?, yes?

[eleven11]

The 2011 paddles separate shifting duties between sides, but I'm familiar with the shifting you've described (was same on my 07 335).

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding - you're saying that your motorcycle's patterns are the way I wish my toggles worked? Because you're saying Up = Up (Toe up = higher gear).

I'm saying Up = Down (Pressing Up = rewind/backtrack). Opposite of what one would expect in the US (based on reading L to R, and Top to Bottom).

Either way, it's not a major issue - I just wanted to see if anyone else noticed this.

[Flyer4500]

If you have the I drive it makes perfect sense. Volume control on left works as you would expect. The track selector on right tracks with the i drive screen. It would look odd to push the switch up and see the track indicator on screen move down. To be honest I never thought about it. It is just a matter of the action required matching the result.. The avionics in my plane are laid out in a similar fashion.. The major thing to learn with the idrive is which way to turn the knob on center concole for up and down.

[escobar929]

its an iDrive thing, for car w/ out iDrive it works normal. I had to get used to this, since one of our cars has iDrive and the other doesnt

It actually makes sense to me, once i figured out why they did it this way

[Jaguar66]

Originally Posted by eleven11

I'm saying Up = Down (Pressing Up = rewind/backtrack). Opposite of what one would expect in the US (based on reading L to R, and Top to Bottom).

???? And Down = Up??. I am confused here. Down is toward the earth, and up is toward the sun. At least in my universe.

[eleven11]

Originally Posted by RobMason

???? And Down = Up??. I am confused here. Down is toward the earth, and up is toward the sun. At least in my universe.

Ha. Yes, pressing the button UP (i.e. toward to sky) signals the radio/CD to rewind or go reverse (i.e. opposite my intuition or what I feel should be down).

[chrisN]

wow you have a plane?

Originally Posted by Flyer4500

If you have the I drive it makes perfect sense. Volume control on left works as you would expect. The track selector on right tracks with the i drive screen. It would look odd to push the switch up and see the track indicator on screen move down. To be honest I never thought about it. It is just a matter of the action required matching the result.. The avionics in my plane are laid out in a similar fashion.. The major thing to learn with the idrive is which way to turn the knob on center concole for up and down.

[xbook]

Hey yo OP, I find this to be confusing too. I used to have an '08 E82, and it was jsut as one would expect, upper button increments the track #, lower button decrements the track #. Similar to how the volume buttons work. Upper button increases volume, lower button decreases volume. But now in my '10 E82, I have the same thing as you. It sorta pissed me off at first, but now I have learned to live with it.

threadjack: Just got back from getting a new HPFP. The dealer reprogrammed the car and now I am the owner of a NEW STYLE DSC off Logo. I'll take a pic later and post.

[Flyer4500]

I realized that my cable and my girls satellite control work in the same way. As you increase the channel you are toggling down and the screen scrolls down. This must be the way the engineers are taught.