- BMW patented a manual that blocks unsafe downshifts.
- System may stop drivers from shifting too early at redline.
- Z4, M2, M3, and M4 are the last BMWs with manuals for now.
Say what you will about the styling of today’s BMWs, but the brand deserves real credit for sticking with manual gearboxes long after rivals like Audi and Mercedes-Benz walked away. Not only is BMW still offering them, it might actually be working to improve how they function.
BMW has filed a patent that outlines a manual transmission design aimed at eliminating the risk of a dreaded money shift, that expensive mistake where the driver accidentally shifts down instead of up while accelerating.
Read: What Actually Happens When You “Money Shift” With A Manual Transmission
If the term doesn’t ring a bell, a “money shift” refers to accidentally grabbing a lower gear instead of the next one up, like dropping into second instead of fourth while accelerating hard. The result is usually immediate and expensive, as the sudden over-rev can grenade an engine or shred the gearbox. There’s a reason it’s earned that name.
While one could argue that perhaps anyone driving a car with a manual ‘box should be experienced enough to ensure a high-speed money shift never happens, it’s nice to see BMW looking out for owners.
Sensors and Safeguards
The patent, first uncovered by CarBuzz, was filed with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office. It describes a manual transmission featuring a locking unit that spans all gear gates. The mechanism would work much like the lockout systems already used to stop drivers from accidentally selecting reverse.
In addition, the filing shows that the gearbox could use a sensor to detect both the selected gear and the crankshaft speed. Based on the car’s speed, it could then determine whether a downshift is safe, preventing the driver from shifting when conditions could cause damage.
Also: New Toyota GR Corolla Owner Money Shifts His Way To $42k Repair Bill, Warranty Denied
Essentially, BMW’s system would monitor engine speed and gear selection, and then physically block the shifter from engaging a gear that could damage the powertrain. It functions like a reverse lockout, but extends that concept across all gears based on real-time conditions.
BMW’s Manual Holdouts
As it stands, the BMW M2, M3, and M4 will be the only models the carmaker offers with stick shifts once production of the Z4 ends. The manual is expected to remain available on the M2 for at least a few more years, and hopefully will continue on the next M3 and M4 as well.
Read: Hyundai Denies $10K Warranty Repair For Elantra N, Blames Owner For Over-Revving
BMW is known to be developing the next-generation versions of the M3 and M4. We have our fingers crossed that they, too, will be available with stick shifts, and perhaps with the same system described in this patent.
Even as electrification steadily closes in and traditional transmissions become less relevant, BMW’s efforts suggest there’s still time left to refine and protect the manual experience.
