selecting reverse gear?

[blobster]

I am still getting used to my new car: 320D SE (6) and am not sure if I am selecting reverse gear the right way? All the other cars I have had (Fiat, Ford, Vauxhall, Honda etc) have had quite a positive way to select reverse, for example pushing down and across or lifting a collar to allow access to reverse gear (you know what I mean?). It seems to me that you just shove the stick to the left and then up on my new car, is this the correct way?

[Dave.B]

Yes that right. You should notice that it takes considerably more effort to shove it past first/second towards reverse. This is what stops you accidentally selecting reverse.
If it requires no extra effort to move it over, then something may be wrong.

[blobster]

Thanks Dave, it DOES require extra effort so I assume all is correct!

[nasht]

Thanks Dave, it DOES require extra effort so I assume all is correct!

It requires a small bit of extra effort, not alot though.... The gearbox is double springed against reverse so in effect you are moving the gear knob against 2 springs....

Takes a bit of getting used to, when I first my Dad's car out I used to plan my driving around not needing to reverse
but you do get used to it....

[Simianino]

The detent to engage reverse on my coupé is quite stiff but understandably so because otherwise, as others have pointed out, I would put it into reverse rather than first which might make pulling away from traffic lights an interesting proposition (although the PDC would be useful in these circumstances).

BMW have got it right though with this sort of gate pattern - the reverse is stiff but first is straight up against the detent which makes it easy to engage first and second gears. Some other cars I have driven either had a less pronounced detent which made it easy to slip the car into reverse or, and more frustratingly, first gear was slightly ahead of the detent so you couldn't push all the way to the detent and up - you had to push in a strange diagonal motion to slip it into first - obviously with time you got used to the travel and position of the notch into first but before then, downshifts were a bit of an adventure.

The best gate pattern in my opinion on a five speed gearbox is to put reverse under fifth gear - no detent to contend with and easier to avoid reverse from fifth to fourth/third than it is to avoid reverse in a stationery car into first with the BMW gate pattern.

[jonno_]

The best gate pattern in my opinion on a five speed gearbox is to put reverse under fifth gear - no detent to contend with and easier to avoid reverse from fifth to fourth/third than it is to avoid reverse in a stationery car into first with the BMW gate pattern.

Fair enough, but coming from a 6 gear box it could cause some issues

[blobster]

Well spotted jonno!!!

Thanks for the help fellas (and ladies!), its not a problem as such but just different to what I have been used to. Will post some pics as soon as I can, got lovely 17" alloys on which really set the car apart from other BMW`s I have seen.

[nasht]

Well spotted jonno!!!

Thanks for the help fellas (and ladies!), its not a problem as such but just different to what I have been used to. Will post some pics as soon as I can, got lovely 17" alloys on which really set the car apart from other BMW`s I have seen.

Cant wait to see the pictures

[alli]

I sometimes find it quite difficult to figure out whether I'm going into reverse or first gear - I find looking to see if my mirror is dipping helps (I know, I know, but I'm blonde, don't hold it against me! )

[Simianino]

Fair enough, but coming from a 6 gear box it could cause some issues

Indeed, good point

[Mandala]

When we first got the coupe my girlfriend couldn't get it into reverse at all, she just doesn't have the hand strength. Still don't think she finds it very easy.

[blobster]

Can you not think of a hand exercise she could practice to strengthen her grip!?!

[nasht]

Can you not think of a hand exercise she could practice to strengthen her grip!?!

Let her take the car round silverstone for a few hours, all those gear changes will help

(Thought I'd recover that )