B&M shift kit for A4
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Bloomfield Hills MI
B&M shift kit for A4
Has anyone installed this kit?
http://www.bmracing.com/index.php?id...t=12&subcat=21
Comments please.
http://www.bmracing.com/index.php?id...t=12&subcat=21
Comments please.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 5
From: Chico CA
My transmission shop owner recommended against the "shift kits" in the modern computer-controlled automatics, and I tend to trust him. He's been at it for over 40 years, and maintaining my transmissions for 35 or so.
The 4L60E in the Corvettes is electronically controlled - where my old Shelby C6 uses springs and vacuum and so forth to determine shifts, and would be very much positively affected by a shift kit (if it weren't that Ford had one as stock in the Shelbys), the same things are controlled by the computer on the C5 automatics. So you'll get better results, according to Max, with a transmission tune.
Your local tuner can do a great job, matched to your car and needs. I had the DiabloSport Predator tune on my 1999 A4 car, and it hung in gear longer, shifted quicker/more positively, and generally improved the operation of the transmission. As a side-effect, they tune the "abuse limiter" feature of the PCM to open the engine up a bit more.
Best option is a specific tune. Not much more than the hand-held tuner, and it fits your needs. Either way, probably better and less work than the mechanical kit.
Oh, and West Coast Corvettes' tech guys agreed. They were the first to talk me out of the shift kit, and Max confirmed their advice.
Cheers!
The 4L60E in the Corvettes is electronically controlled - where my old Shelby C6 uses springs and vacuum and so forth to determine shifts, and would be very much positively affected by a shift kit (if it weren't that Ford had one as stock in the Shelbys), the same things are controlled by the computer on the C5 automatics. So you'll get better results, according to Max, with a transmission tune.
Your local tuner can do a great job, matched to your car and needs. I had the DiabloSport Predator tune on my 1999 A4 car, and it hung in gear longer, shifted quicker/more positively, and generally improved the operation of the transmission. As a side-effect, they tune the "abuse limiter" feature of the PCM to open the engine up a bit more.
Best option is a specific tune. Not much more than the hand-held tuner, and it fits your needs. Either way, probably better and less work than the mechanical kit.
Oh, and West Coast Corvettes' tech guys agreed. They were the first to talk me out of the shift kit, and Max confirmed their advice.
Cheers!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 9,724
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From: Motor City Vettes Ringleader
SE Michigan Coordinator
CI 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'11,-'13-'14-'15
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I went with the Transgo shift kit instead in my A4 setup. Been in my trans for 2 years, and no issues. Holds 1/2/3rd gear to any RPM, so you can keep it in the power band for those special moments. And you can downshift manually at any speed.
