[F87source]

Yeah I kinda agree with the sentiment that a gear indicator isn't required for a manual transmission car. Generally I just know what gear I am in based on the speed and rpm, or I just instinctively memorized it. If not I can tell immediately what gear I am in just by looking down at the shifter.

However, I understand why one would want a gear indicator, I had one on my FRS and STI's and they were pretty nice to have.


So at the end of the day, it is up to the owner of the car if they want to add a gear indicator - it is their car so they can do whatever they want and no one can say anything about it.

[Enabled]

Interestingly enough manual Mini Coopers (also use an MEVD17 DME from BMW) show actual gear and can show suggested next gear. I think it's a combination of DME and cluster settings.

If the DCT can show actual gear, the manual can theoretically do it as well.

I've done a little investigating in both, and have gained a lot of understanding on the Mini side of things, which use very similar framework.
I need to do more on the M2C.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by Enabled

Interestingly enough manual Mini Coopers (also use an MEVD17 DME from BMW) show actual gear and can show suggested next gear. I think it's a combination of DME and cluster settings.

If the DCT can show actual gear, the manual can theoretically do it as well.

I've done a little investigating in both, and have gained a lot of understanding on the Mini side of things, which use very similar framework.
I need to do more on the M2C.

I have zero knowledge of how the cluster software works, but if it wasn't signed you could probably hex edit the binary to change the recommended gear to point to the current gear if the variable address is known. I'm sure it has at least a CRC that would need recalculation etc.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by Enabled

Interestingly enough manual Mini Coopers (also use an MEVD17 DME from BMW) show actual gear and can show suggested next gear. I think it's a combination of DME and cluster settings.

If the DCT can show actual gear, the manual can theoretically do it as well.

I've done a little investigating in both, and have gained a lot of understanding on the Mini side of things, which use very similar framework.
I need to do more on the M2C.

That would be epic if you could figure it out!

Originally Posted by chris719

I have zero knowledge of how the cluster software works, but if it wasn't signed you could probably hex edit the binary to change the recommended gear to point to the current gear if the variable address is known. I'm sure it has at least a CRC that would need recalculation etc.

I hope that's a possibility in the guage cluster, if it wasn't programmed like that to begin with then it might not be possible. But I hope it was, it would be nice to have that as a feature.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by F87source

That would be epic if you could figure it out!



I hope that's a possibility in the guage cluster, if it wasn't programmed like that to begin with then it might not be possible. But I hope it was, it would be nice to have that as a feature.

In general it should be possible if that current gear variable is in memory somewhere already. If there isn't a way via the frameworks Enabled is talking about, a brute force method should work but it may not be easy to get the car to accept SW/FW that has been tampered with.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by chris719

In general it should be possible if that current gear variable is in memory somewhere already. If there isn't a way via the frameworks Enabled is talking about, a brute force method should work but it may not be easy to get the car to accept SW/FW that has been tampered with.

Current gear should be in a memory variable somewhere because the F8X cars do have a gear position sensor, and it is loggable via BM3. The raw values iirc isn't 1-6, it is something else.

[Kikuchiyo]

Log data of gear position is readily recorded with the BimmerLink app as well.

[David.m]

Originally Posted by DFW_M

Exactly! If you need to look down to know the gear you are in...go to Automatic...

It's not that someone 'needs' to look down, more a case of situations where it's better/safer to not have to look down (or take 1 hand off the wheel). I get away to some roads where you can go flat out in 2-3-4th gears for 60-100km (and not see another car except those with you). With the turbo motor you can sometimes do a bunch of corners without needing to shift (unlike my mate with his E92 who's constantly up & down gears), then go to shift and grab thin air as I've mistaken the gear I thought I was in (3 or 4).

I now have my phone mounted above the side vent (with Bimmerlink dash displayed) and can see current gear while still looking at the road & with both hands on wheel, much better imo. For same reason I rely on hearing engine speed for shifting (rather than looking down to tacho) and don't think changing the current 'recommended' readout would really be any good due to it's display size & location. Just my opinion.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by David.m

It's not that someone 'needs' to look down, more a case of situations where it's better/safer to not have to look down (or take 1 hand off the wheel). I get away to some roads where you can go flat out in 2-3-4th gears for 60-100km (and not see another car except those with you). With the turbo motor you can sometimes do a bunch of corners without needing to shift (unlike my mate with his E92 who's constantly up & down gears), then go to shift and grab thin air as I've mistaken the gear I thought I was in (3 or 4).

I now have my phone mounted above the side vent (with Bimmerlink dash displayed) and can see current gear while still looking at the road & with both hands on wheel, much better imo. For same reason I rely on hearing engine speed for shifting (rather than looking down to tacho) and don't think changing the current 'recommended' readout would really be any good due to it's display size & location. Just my opinion.

In 35 years of driving manuals, I never wondered about what gear I am in and absolutely had no need for the gear display (or suggestion when to shift to the next gear...). Those are completely useless to me

[Enabled]

Originally Posted by DFW_M

In 35 years of driving manuals, I never wondered about what gear I am in and absolutely had no need for the gear display (or suggestion when to shift to the next gear...). Those are completely useless to me

This is completely true. However, I figured I'd rather have it show the gear instead of the rather silly (for a sports car) suggested gear. Blank seems a bit too empty otherwise.




I'll have to pull some pictures, but on my 2016 Mini Cooper S that I use for Mini USA race team hands on tune testing, I made it display just the gear in Sport mode and other modes, and can make it show suggested gears per mode if I want to.

On M2 I need a bit more testing.

It doesn't have anything to do with the gear datastream, as all flexray modules always know the gear. The cluster should be able to display it separately of the suggested gear.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by Enabled

This is completely true. However, I figured I'd rather have it show the gear instead of the rather silly (for a sports car) suggested gear. Blank seems a bit too empty otherwise.




I'll have to pull some pictures, but on my 2016 Mini Cooper S that I use for Mini USA race team hands on tune testing, I made it display just the gear in Sport mode and other modes, and can make it show suggested gears per mode if I want to.

On M2 I need a bit more testing.

It doesn't have anything to do with the gear datastream, as all flexray modules always know the gear. The cluster should be able to display it separately of the suggested gear.

That is excellent to hear! You are the MVP if you can figure it out!

Crazy question, do you think you can make the guage cluster back light always stay on?

That's an annoying trait of the OG m2 (the cluster is too hard to read in certain lighting conditions).

[David.m]

Originally Posted by DFW_M

In 35 years of driving manuals, I never wondered about what gear I am in and absolutely had no need for the gear display (or suggestion when to shift to the next gear...). Those are completely useless to me

Well at least not useless to a bunch of professional/serious enthusiast drivers, would there be a modern race/rally/tarmac/hillclimb etc car that doesn't display current gear + a visual aid for upshift points (not the fuel economy based recommendation we have). For me it's just another of the many driving aids we didn't have back in the 70's when I first started driving manuals

[Enabled]

Naturally now it's stuck on my mind, and I've been comparing the cars; I think I have some progress.

I'll post anything significant after some tests.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by David.m

Well at least not useless to a bunch of professional/serious enthusiast drivers, would there be a modern race/rally/tarmac/hillclimb etc car that doesn't display current gear + a visual aid for upshift points (not the fuel economy based recommendation we have). For me it's just another of the many driving aids we didn't have back in the 70's when I first started driving manuals

These cars are also sequentially shifted manual transmission cars, so it's impossible to determine what gear the car is in via look of feel.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by David.m

Well at least not useless to a bunch of professional/serious enthusiast drivers, would there be a modern race/rally/tarmac/hillclimb etc car that doesn't display current gear + a visual aid for upshift points (not the fuel economy based recommendation we have). For me it's just another of the many driving aids we didn't have back in the 70's when I first started driving manuals

I don’t think modern race cars use manual transmission…
Obviously, there is a reason to have it displayed with Automatic transmission in manual mode…

[Enabled]

Eureka!!!!

Video with sound of my manual shifter here https://drive.google.com/file/d/18bO...ew?usp=sharing

[F87source]

Originally Posted by Enabled

Eureka!!!!

Video with sound of my manual shifter here https://drive.google.com/file/d/18bO...ew?usp=sharing

What an absolute legend!

[F87source]

Originally Posted by Enabled

Eureka!!!!

Video with sound of my manual shifter here https://drive.google.com/file/d/18bO...ew?usp=sharing

Ok now a few questions that im sure we are all dying to know:

1) Are you going to make a diy for it?
2) Or how much would you charge to get this done?


And an additional question is, could you somehow figure out how to make the guage cluster back light stay on, for an OG m2?

[Enabled]

I need to test this just a bit as I have customized some DME tune things in this area that *may* interfere (doubtful), but it's probably ready for people to try it out.

Now, I absolutely hate when people take info like this and then charge for remote coding and hold it like a secret golden egg for themselves. Especially when not giving credit.



So here are the changes that I made to make it happen.

Instrument Cluster  In Esys, Bimmercode expert mode, protool, etc.
3003 FZG_Ausstatung   

SPA_ENABLE change to nicht_aktiv 00 (default aktiv 01)
SPA_IST_GANG_ENABLE change to aktiv 01 (default nicht_aktiv 00)

Note, it will no longer give you suggested gear, as far as I can see.
FWIW when I had both of them enabled, the display had incompatibilities and it would not display correctly, as well as the settings in iDrive would not respond anymore. Do not leave both on.

I appreciate giving credit if you paste this elsewhere.

Please let me know if it worked for you.

I can do it remotely if needed via ENET cable for those that have neither.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by Enabled

I need to test this just a bit as I have customized some DME tune things in this area that *may* interfere (doubtful), but it's probably ready for people to try it out.

Now, I absolutely hate when people take info like this and then charge for remote coding and hold it like a secret golden egg for themselves. Especially when not giving credit.



So here are the changes that I made to make it happen.

Instrument Cluster
3003 FZG_Ausstatung   either in Esys or Bimmerlink expert mode

SPA_ENABLE change to nicht_aktiv 00 (default aktiv 01)
SPA_IST_GANG_ENABLE change to aktiv 01 (default nicht_aktiv 00)

I appreciate giving credit if you paste this elsewhere.

Please let me know if it worked for you.

Bro if this works I'm very likely going to make a full review across the f8x forums and give you all the credit (just gotta wait for the summer because I'm currently over seas for work). Then I'm going to let people know that you're a skilled tuner if they want tunes from you.

But for now let's test this a bit more before I start blabbering it everywhere. It would be a really bad thing if it was exclusive to your car and I started telling everyone about it.

But anyways you're a legend! And I agree with your sentiment about the coders who fleece people with these coding options.


Btw do you know if this works with the OG m2 guage cluster?

[Enabled]

For those with DCTs that are super confused of this conversation... Here is what the manual usually shows. It'll suggest a gear here based on the data in the DME flash. It's very useless.

[Enabled]

Originally Posted by F87source

Bro if this works I'm very likely going to make a full review across the f8x forums and give you all the credit (just gotta wait for the summer because I'm currently over seas for work). Then I'm going to let people know that you're a skilled tuner if they want tunes from you.

But for now let's test this a bit more before I start blabbering it everywhere. It would be a really bad thing if it was exclusive to your car and I started telling everyone about it.

But anyways you're a legend! And I agree with your sentiment about the coders who fleece people with these coding options.

If you want I'll apply it to yours and you can make sure it's working for you