Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Patent application shows BMW working on seven-speed manual

BMW has invited itself to a party that Porsche started. Someone trolling through patent filings found drawings submitted by BMW for two slightly different takes on a seven-speed manual transmission. The first take is a more conventional setup that provides an honest clutch pedal. The second variant uses a shift-by-wire system to swap gears through an electromechanical actuator. To prevent drivers from accidentally engaging an engine-damaging gear in such a closely spaced pattern, both rely on an electromagnetic fluid inside a shifting module that can change viscosity to prevent the 'lever' from making a shift.

According to the filing, the system can work with up to eight(!) gears. It isn't clear if, even in the system with the clutch, the gear lever is actually attached to any of those gears.

What's also notable about the drawings is the shift pattern. Porsche's seven-speed shift pattern in the 991-series 911 places reverse and the odd gears above, the even gears below. But the BMW pattern in the drawing places reverse and seventh gear in opposing positions at the ends of the axis that is normally, entirely, neutral. Also, the shift pattern is drawn on what looks more like an iDrive-shaped stick, not the usual BMW manual transmission ****, nor the stubby dual-clutch stick as found in the BMW M6 whose reverse gear is still located above neutral.

Who knows if or when we'll ever see it, but it's encouraging just to know that advanced, row-your-own transmissions are still on drawing boards somewhere.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/06/p...-speed-manual/

SteVTEC

This is probably slated for the next M3 due in 2014, which I'm considering. I'd go for the DCT as my first choice, but will certainly be interesting to see what they come up with.

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

i guess useful on the track but under real world driving I always skipped the last couple years anyways. When I owned my 5spd 2000 Prelude I used to skip from 3 to 5 frequently. There was little point to shift to 4 and then to 5 under normal driving. With this thing Id probably skip from 4 to 7. 7+ gears just sounds like way too many gears to be rowing around with, more frequent gear changing would be annoying.

Bean

iTrader: (1)

You're spot on. The BMW transmission have proper gear ratios and so most the upper stuff is never needed. I usually go 1st to 2nd to 4th to 6th. I'm figuring they're going to have some narrower ratios for the 7 speed as the powerband on the turbo BMW motors is HUGE. (stock 300ft-lbs at 1500rpms - basic mods will make > 400 ft-lbs at ~3000 or so)

I hope the new M3 is awesome I'm hoping for 120mph traps stock with aftermarket turbo potential

I8ABMR

Didnt Porsche already do this

jwong77

Yup, its on the new 911. But I bet BMW will not be the last ones to copy this.

I8ABMR

so I am assuming they are simply patenting their version

Blackraven

The layout is definitely an unconventional one



With that said, I expect a number of student drivers and beginners to have a bit of trouble with this layout.

P.S.
Speaking of which::

BMW has that
Porsche unit has odd numbered gears on the top as well as REVERSE (R-1-3-5-7)......with even numbered gears at the bottom (2-4-6)

If ever a Japanese or Asian manufacturer wants to create a 7 speed manual, then I'm guessing that this would be the layout:

1 3 5 7
| | | |
2 4 6 R

GiantsFan

iTrader: (9)

^4 gears on top and 4 on bottom makes much more sense than FIVE and three.

UberNoob

that is a strange layout
ive known some drivers that like to shake their shifter sideways when idling
cant really do that anymore, especially with R and 7 on the sides there
hard to imagine what the consequences will be like
lol

blacksc400

iTrader: (4)

Hopefully there is some kind of lock for drivers accidentally shift it into reverse. Something like the 350Z, push down to shift to reverse.

geko29

Current BMW trannies, with Reverse to the left of 1st, have a detent you have to push past to get into the area with reverse is. That way, you push all the way to the left and up, and you get 1st gear. Push all the way to the left HARD and up, and you get reverse. I suspect this will be the same, from a pressure perspective, and it will be very difficult to accidentally engage reverse.

FrankReynoldsCPA

A 7-speed must be a lot of shifting. I've only driven a 5 speed though, and I can't imagine needing more gears than that.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

I'd prefer "R" and "7" to stay out of the neutral zone

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

on the miata i had with 6 speeds, i frequently skipped a cog, 2-4 or 4-6.