Jim Nowak

Hey guys,

I thought those with auto trannys might be interested in this kit. I'm adding one to my Mercedes and the kit also fits all 928s with automatic transmissions.

<a href="http://www.bergwerks.com/control_module.jsp" target="_blank">http://www.bergwerks.com/control_module.jsp</a>


Jim

Tony

"""and by automatically downshifting to 1st gear below certain speeds set by you.""

Now THAT, is the line im curious about! When i auto cross and am dring around in "2" and the car in second gear i would love for the tranny to shift back to 1st at a higher speed. It only does now under to condtions. 1) when your stopped 2) when you slow below appx 10 mph it seems.

I would like to make that speed much higher to allow the engine to be "spooled up" and ready to go as you enter and then exit a a turn. I know it would improve my times....well, maybe LOL


<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

John Struthers

Jim & Tony,
This is only a problem with the 4spd auto, right?
John S. and Pattycakes
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Jim Nowak

Tony,

I like this system because you can program it to downshift earlier and hold the gear longer. I don't autocross my Mercedes but I would like it to start in first everytime.

John,

I'm not sure if the early Porsche 928 with the Mercedes three speed transmission starts in first or not. I'm sure the guys that sell the kit would know. Does your car kick down when you come off a dead stop or does it just accelerate into second gear when you floor the gas?


Jim

Randy V

My '79 with 3-speed auto always starts in 1st gear with the selector in 'D'.

Ed Ruiz

Installing a parellel kickdown switch achieves the same goal. Actually, it may be a bit better because it will hold the lowest gear to redline, and will shift the car down into the lowest gear below redline. Moreover, it costs about $5.00 ;^)

Back in the days when I autocrossed with my 86.5 AT, it came in really handy. I had it setup so that it was on until i shut it off. If only I had a LSD to go with it. :^(

dshulik

1980 928 with 3speed Diamler-Benz tranny...seems to start in 1st every time. Shifts to second shortly after if you don't stomp on it. Once there you stomp on it and it drops down and launches pretty well. Don't know if that kit would do anything for the 3speeds like mine.

Tony

Nope, it doesnt Ed, but as someone says, YMMV. Switch on or OFF, my car will not downshift to 1st unless below appx 10-12 mph (or at a stop). Thats the number i would like to change slighlty....just a wee bit higher, not too high as to get too much engine brake.

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Ed Ruiz

I'm not sure why your does not. I've seen other S4s where the (owner installed) parellel kickdown switch (PKS) works as I described.

You may want to check the transmission linkage, and take out some slack. However, with the PKS in the 'on' position the tranny should think you're at full throttle and in need of max acceleration.

As always, YMMV.

JE928Sx4.

Gary Knox is trying to get these guys to show at the Frenzy this year. I'm interested. Seems to me the paralel switch you have to manually mess with. This one, lets you put it in sport mode and you don't have to worry about it.

JE

Tony

this is part of the email that Carl sent me after i inquired....

"""Thanks for the email. FYI, we're working on completing installation
instructions for the 928's over the coming weeks. We're mostly a MB shop.
Then we'll be showing the product at a get together on the East Coast at the
end of the month.

Basic Mode allows you to program both the 1-2 upshift minimum speed and the
2-1 downshift speed. You can set the values at anything. In the case of
the upshift, the car has to be going that fast before the tranny will
upshift unless the transmission governor maxes out. So if you set it to
20mph, you'll never upshift to 2nd until you hit that speed.

In regards to your question about the downshift, the car will always
downshift when the speed falls below the programmed speed. The only concern
that I'd have in an autocross setting is ensuring that there aren't some
turns or curves that want to stay in 2nd gear through. It'd be important to
set the downshift point for each event to make sure you're not creating
unnecessary shifts given the immediate engine braking you'd get. Regardless
of the setting, the car will still kickdown normally due to your throttle
pressure. I.e., if you set the downshift for 5mph, the car will still kick
down due to flooring the accelerator normally up to 12mph if that's it's
current limitation.

It'd take a little playing around with, but could be a great use of the
product. I'd expect you'd want to get the Sport Mode option so that you
could have an autocross setting and a normal driving setting at the flick of
a switch. You'd also want to mount the FGS module in an accessible location
that you do not need to dissamble your console everything you want to
reprogram. Perhaps a glove box type location would be good. It is very
easy to reprogram on a whim (it comes with a programming harness), but you
do need to flip some dip switches whenever you do it."""

HTH...


I also told him about th Frenzy, JE. Sent him the link as well.

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Ed Ruiz

The PKS is very simple (and for most folks) works quite well. It's either on or it's off. Moreover, it takes less than an hour to install, and costs about $5.00. It works on pre-S4 models, and will likely work on most S4s as well. BTDT. YMMV.

Greggg

Hey guys. I just installed a kickdown switch this weekend and it works great. About 9 months ago when I first got my 87 auto, I adjusted the trans cable so that the car would start in 1st at about 50% throttle. Now with the switch and the cable adjust the car starts in first and holds the gear til redline under about 70% throttle or greater.

Most noticably when I'm passing the trans kicks down very quickly. My next adjustment will be the shift firmness adjustment at the trans. I will start with disconnecting the vac hose and capping, but if the shifts are too hard I'll have to use the T adjust under the cap at the trans.

My question is does this trans kit do anything more than these mods do?

<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

John Struthers

Jim ,
Thanks . I'm with Randy & dshulik...
the Wunder Weissach always starts in 1st, if sedate driving is the norm she shifts around 38mph. If romping - please wear your most practiced slack jawed, open mouth, distracted geezer face -. Nimrod in the Firebird/Camaro is nudging his passanger, grinning, and revving so he doesn't notice that you are powerbraking and waiting to unload <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
In this mode Pattycakes approaches speeds in first gear that verge on the Big Fish Story and then hard shifts to 2nd.
I did one intentional 1st gear downshift at SITO when I was contemplating putting Snow in my rearview mirror and one accidental downshift...still under redline but close Dave was more concerned than me...Sorry Dave.
Who needs brakes when you can scrub off speed like that and still have enough torque to launch out of a 20mph corner that goes on like a Michner novel at 50mph plus
Still like the idea of a hand switch in parallel - will try it after I finish with current elec. gremlins -.
John S. & Pattycakes <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />