it seems like the kickdown switch mod, but with a adjustable box for shift points from inside the car...

http://www.bergwerks.com/porsche.jsp

 

Hmmmm....eeeeenteresting

 

Someone buy one, and see if it works...

 

Apparently this would only work for cars up to spring 1987. Check the following threads:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ight=bergwerks

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ight=bergwerks

 

Not sure about the price, but at least we can feel good they thought to include us.

 

Jack,

From what I read of the item on the company's website, it IS a glorified 'manual kick-down' switch.

The rest of the functionalities (locking and whatnot) are tied into the MBZ electrical system, and as such, inapplicable to the 928 (without a bit of modding anyway).

They're still using the same old, tried and true, method of activating the kick-down solenoid. Strictly an electrical hookup if the website is reading correctly. They make no mention of replacing any part of the shift valve assembly.

As an aside that concerns me - the website mentions soldering as a good way to make solid electical connections. This is generally not true. While it IS true with circuit boarded parts, it really is seldom true with harness wire connections in your car. You want the stranded wire to be able to flex as freely as it needs to, so as to absorb vibration and the occasional strain - if the solder job is not absolutely- and I do mean absolutely- perfect it will fail far quicker than the very reliable, hard to screw-up, and much faster crimped connection. But I digress...

There are folks out there who will actually rework your shift valve assembly to start in first gear everytime, and retain the rest of the hydraulic pressure-driven shifting characteristics of the tranny. It is NOT cheap (~$900) but I have driven a 500SEL with it done by PAD (Campbell, CA if they're still there), and it does work nicely.

Steve Cattaneo (the transmission master guru) has something in the works on this one - maybe even a full-manual replacement shift valve setup - but IIRC, he's in his busy season and it'll be a while.

Greg

 

The BergWerks module reads road speed from the speedo pulses. From that, the module is programmed for what road speed you want the car to upshift/downshift around first gear.

In my contacts with them, no mention was made about integrating the door-locking functions, although it wouldn't be tough to do on the 928. With the little chirping door modules I don't usually lock the doors while driving anyway, so the subject didn't come up.


Just a reminder that the module will not help late '87+ cars, which were modified to eliminate that annoying clunk as you roll to a stop.

 

Mine takes off in first gear anyway for some reason. lol. I just posted this to see if anyone else had seen it. When i was looking for stuff on the tranny i came across it.

 

"In my contacts with them, no mention was made about integrating the door-locking functions, although it wouldn't be tough to do on the 928. With the little chirping door modules I don't usually lock the doors while driving anyway, so the subject didn't come up."

They also sell a door lock module with the kit. I have the Bergwerks 1st gear start module on my 560 SEC and it works great. Speak to Carl at Bergwerks if you have any questions.

 

Dr. Bob,

I guess I should've thrown that part about using speedo pulses to pick a speed to activate the kickdown solenoid in too.

Not trying to rip on the product, just seemed as though there was some confusion as to "how" the thing was doing the voodoo that it do...

Greg