Hi all, first post here -

I'm about to order a MCSa for my wife. However, it bugs me that both the paddles are essentially redundant rather than one being for upshifts and the other being for downshifts, as in a true F1 system.

I know that Corvettes with a similar transmission (and the same paddles as the Mini) have a software package to make them into one up one down system - is anything like this available for the Mini?

Thanks!

 

this is something that bugged me as well when test driving, but unfortunately I believe the answer is no. I have no clue whether it might be possible in the future either. Ill probably look into opening up the wheel and seeing how the paddles are wired after I get mine (...whenever that ends up being).

 

--My 2005 R53 model has an upshift and downshift on the paddles. Above the spokes there is a piece that sticks out and you can hit with your thumbs that will downshift the transmission. Behind the wheel when you pull towards you it upshifts. Is this not the case for the new R53 models?

Both sides perform the same functions but it can upshift and downshift. Hope this helps.

~pyratio

 

thats what the op doesnt like... in a real paddle shifted car, 1 paddle shifts up while the other shifts down... the OP is asking if there is a mod to make it this way rather than 2 paddles that do both up and down shifting.

 

It's not hard to understand why Mini & BMW didn't build the car with the right side paddle upshifting and the left side paddle downshifting.

It's one thing to be a Formula 1 pilot who drives a paddle shift car for a living, and a completely differenct thing to be a citizen faced with the challenges of driving his/her Mini on the city streets.

I'm sure that the ol' "KISS" principle had a lot to do with the decision to make both paddles operate the same way.

 

No known way (yet) to mod this.

Another big driver - in the F1 cars (unless I'm mistaken) the paddles are in a fixed location - they're on the column - right?

On the MINI, they're on the wheel - so left is right and right is left with the wheel is turned 180 degrees...

I really like the way it's implemented in the MINI - because it enables easy shifts independent of wheel and hand position - seems that you always have at least one hand in a position to execute a shift, which can be either up or down... Of course, racing, you might never shift while cornering - but in my MCSCa I do... especially in challenging twisties - it changes the way you think about shift timing vs. a manual...

 

I'm still getting used to them, still keep reaching for the gearlever, but i do really like them

 

Just got my MCSa last Saturday. Have yet to even use it in full auto mode. Right when I drove it off the lot I tried getting used to it in manual mode. Did both the stick and paddle shifts. It seems I much rather use the stick to shift since it feels more natural for me. The paddles feel good to me when down shifting, but upshifting, even with the wheel in normal position, doesn't feel as good as it feels like I'm reaching for the paddles too much to click it back. If there was some kinda extension that flares outwards more, it'd probably feel alot better and I'd use it more. As is, I'd rather shift using the stick.

 

If you feel more comfortable with using one side for upshifting and the other side for downshifting go ahead. What diference does it make if the car is restricted to one side for each function. Forget that you know different and shift as if there's only one way to do it.

 

That's what I was thinking.

 

Difference is, on cars where one side does each, you PULL to shift - whether up or down... none of this "pull with your fingers to upshift, push with your thumb to downshift" stuff. I personally like the current arrangement - but that's the difference.

 

is there a wiring diagram for it anywhere? I thought I saw one a while back but there wasnt enough detail to figure out anything.

in f1, yeah I read that they are on the column before, along with a bunch of other cars iirc. I personally prefer the wheel attachment though...but I probably wouldnt be shifting with the wheel turned 180 (perhaps up to the 90 range where my hands would still be in the right spots).
the difference for me is that downshifting is kind of a reach for my thumbs, so I have to loosen and shift my grip on the wheel a bit to do so. basically the opposite issue darmog is having.

 

If you go high enough in the RPM range it will up shift by it's self so all you have to do is down shift and i hope at least one of your hands are at the 10/2 on the wheel. Even when i track my car i never think about up shift, only down.

 

F1 shifters are ON the wheel ...
this is an '06 BMW
see # 19 & # 4


1. Pit lane speed limiter
2. Differential +
3. Engine push
4. Gear upshift
5. Traction control +
6. Engine push setting switch
7. Clutch lever
8. Traction control
9. Team info inlap
10. Burn out
11. Multifunctional switch
12. Lambda13. Diagnostic
14. Wing angle info switch
15. Clutch
16. Differential selective switch
17. Team radio
18. Traction control -
19. Gear downshift
20. Engine break
21. Differential -
22. Neutral
23. Display page change

 

Looks just like the steering wheel in my parent's minivan.

 

--Wow so they really do have F1 Minivans!? Kewel! I knew that Honda commercial wasn't just dubbed on sounds!

Nah but seriously, it sounds like a cool mod, but unless your wife has been driving F1 or CART all her life and will just simply get messed up by the different shifting style.... I think I'd just tell her to leave it in D.

Even from a racing perspective when I did the superlap series my coaches told me that the MCSa shifts more responsively in regular D mode. Putting it in Sportdrive or manual mode actually caused more problems. Has anyone here tried to downshift anywhere above 3k? It does really scary things. Try it. You won't like it. Maybe it would make a difference in 1/4 mile drags but then you wouldn't need to downshift would you?

Just a thought.

~pyratio

 

I know the feeling. When my wife found out that the paddle shifters on the MCSa were not like the ones she was used to in her F1 car, she decided to just get a regular cooper with the CVT transmission and do her shifting with the stick.

 

Sssssshhh, don't tell MINIUSA but I've hit 5-6k rpms or so before downshifting, and I'm still in the break in period. Actually, to me, it seems like it does more weird things in full auto mode. Occasionally, the gearbox seems to upshift or downshift when I'm cruising at a certain speed like its confused as to which gear to stay on. But of course, I haven't used full auto mode but twice since I got my car last Sat. In manual mode with sport drive on, I've had not problems or anything weird going on if I go above 3k and down shift cause I know I'm expecting it. Feels more sweet shifting at 4k or so if I'm going for the sweet spot.

However, the one thing that surprised me at first was when I was on the freeway and decided to pass someone slow in the right lane. I was cruising at 65mph in 6th in manual mode. Person ahead of me was going 55 or so. Stomped on the gas a bit more than usual to pass quickly because of upcoming traffic from behind. I guess that might have been the kickdown feature cause gears dropped to 3rd and revved up to 6k or so rpms quickly. I was like, " Woah, why's the revs so high." DIdn't notice the gear change at first. Kinda tested it a few more times in clearer areas of the freeway. Yep, that must be the kickdown feature. Got used to it quickly since I didn't want the rpms to be screaming that high at this point in the break in period. So now it's just instinctive to be ready to upshift if I press hard on the gas.

 

Any updates? I would really like to set each shifter for one "pull action" function...if at all possible yet.

 

Voila.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ox-owners.html

 

I always mess up on my shifting and the mini kicks me back to auto d!, is that normal or is my mini possesed? lol

 

Um.... are you putting the stick in M/S mode first? If the tranny is in "D" mode, the paddles just "override" the auto-selected gear for a short time, then it reverts to automatic. If you are in M/S mode, once you use the paddles, it stays in manual mode (though it WILL auto upshift or downshift at the high and low RPM limits).

 

wouldn't the wiring be in the Gear selector box? like on normal BMW tronic, the wiring and controller is located virtually next to the gearlever (which makes a great mod for driving simulators as you can buy one of those off ebay and make it into a compatible sequential shifter :D)

 

Doesn't bother me at all. I makes more sense on a daily driver. Having the ability to shift no matter what the wheel position makes sense to me.

 

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