Does the B&M electronic shift improver work?(jjue)???

[kcsport 00]

I've been looking at the B&M shift improver. (electronic) Any one had any luck with it? It raises the pressure in the lines right? Could this be harmfull to the tranny? Thanks!!

 

[jjue]

So far, when I turn it on to either 1 or 2, it definitely isn't as lazy at top end. I wish that it was made the firm shifts at high rpm rather than at low rpm, but, as I said earlier, it does keep the tranny from shifting as lazy at full throttle. I guess that I got what I paid for, and I paid $35 plus shipping. Yes, it does raise the line pressure, and there is a reason what B&M doesn't recommend running on 2 all the time. Truthfully, I still run most of the time with it off, and use 1 when pulling a trailer, and 1 or 2 when racing or accelerating onto a busy highway or tyring to pass someone really quickly.

However, since I haven't been to the track since October, and I installed the shift kit in December, I have no idea how much of a difference it really makes. I just know it's fun to hurt the feelings of a frat boy in a BMW 3-series, V6 Mustang, imports, or whatever to see a 4300 lb. luxury SUV that's not much more than stock except for air filter, airbox, shift kit and soon, but not yet, plug wires and exhaust, running on all-terrain tires, either keeping up or edging out. I guess that knowing a little how drive helps as well.

 

[tbomb]

whoa, guys, what exactly is this 'electronic shift improver' that youre talking about? sounds decent, and for $35, im a little interested. what is it? what does it do? install? etc.

thanks

 

[jjue]

The B&M Electronic Shift Improver+ shift kit is a way to firm up shifts electronically. I never really figured out how it worked, but I'm assuming that it changes the load on the circuit dealing with line pressure, and adjusts accordingly to the resistance setting on the module. Like I mentioned in an earlier post it's cheap, and you get what you paid for. For me, I wish that it adjusted to the amount of acceleration rather than have the firm feeling at light throttle and a firm shift at full throttle, but at least it keeps the transmission from shifting so lazily at high RPM.

Oh yeah, I failed to mention that it connects with 2 wires to either the computer or to the transmission, depending on how you install it. Check to see if it's compatible with your vehicle at http://www.bmracing.com.

 

[tbomb]

well, it seems like a cool little mod to make, but too bad they only make it for explorers up to 1997.

i know you said youre not too impressed with the kit, but when you flip the switch back to the "stock" mode, it goes back to completely stock shifting, right? if not, how does this "switch" work?

 

[jjue]

When off, it returns to stock mode. It's not that I'm disappointed in the system, but since it is just a variance in the total line pressure, not incrementally with speed, I use it mainly for more extreme uses other than daily driving. I may take it out it I can ever afford the Hypertec Power Programmer III.