Sequential and Automated reversed?

I am about to buy a 2002 BWM m3 with SMG from a friend. I've been test driving it for a couple days, he explained the S as being automated and A for manual shifting.
But when I looked in the manual, S (sequential) is supposed to be when you manually shift. A is for automatic shifting. So why are they reversed on this vehicle? Is this a deal breaker? The car runs great and has low mileage (39K).
Again S mode does all the shifting on this vehicle, and A lets you do the shifting.
Is there a way to fix this?

He is more than likely mistaken. The display can be misleading on the car, when in "s" mode you are shifting the car (although it will downshift automatically if you are coming to a stop and don't do it yourself) - when in "a" mode (called "d" in post 2004 cars) the car will shift up and down automatically. At any point in time you can choose to make a shift with the paddles or smg actuator and it will change to "s" mode.

Yes, the display is counter-intuitive.

Nope, when it reads "S" it does all the shifting like driving an automatic transmission. When it's in "A" it's like a manual, and allows me to do most shifting unless it takes over prior to stalling or overspeed. Its definitely reversed. I'm just curious if it's an easy fix or necessary to fix it. Guess I'll call BMW about this.

Are you sure you are reading the cluster correctly? Like I said it can be slightly confusing..

The image attached was taken from my 06, and it shows "D" on the cluster but that if you look at the display it is saying if you depress the SMG selector to the right you will be in "D" mode as it is currently in "S" mode when the picture was taken. The only difference will be that the car you are currently looking at will have an "A" rather than the "D"

Hope that straightened things out for you.



It's not actually possible to be "reversed"

I'll upload some pics in a hour or so. Thanks for the replies so far!

You're reading the display wrong.

Originally Posted by choxor

You're reading the display wrong.

+1 - not intended to be mean, it is just confusing to read. They certainly improved the display with the E92

Got it! It was just explained to me wrong on the test drive. So, the display show what mode you WILL go into if lever is pushed to the far right....It does NOT display the CURRENT mode of operation. I'm just glad nothing is wrong! Thanks guys! Now, My people need me I must Goooooooo! >:O

Yup, it's retarded and backasswards. I made the same mistake first time I drove an SMG. I was pulling out into heavy traffic and didn't want to fart around with figuring out the SMG until I got to somewhere less populated. Was wondering why I was sitting at 6k in first and it wouldn't shift.

I have renamed them since they are assbackwards...
As showing on display:


S is "Sissy mode"

A is "Asshole mode"

The display reads fine. When you're in S (Sequential) A will be shown on the cluster, to the right of the gear you're in, meaning when you move the gear to the right, it will go into Automatic. Likewise when in Auto it will show an S to the right of the gear, meaning if you push the lever to the right, it will go back into S. The symbol in the cluster shows what will happen when you press the shifter to the right, NOT what mode you're currently in.

Who cares? Just use launch control and fvck b1tches.

Feel free to delete this thread mods. I got it. lol

Originally Posted by benjamcm3

Feel free to delete this thread mods. I got it. lol

Naa, it's good info.

Originally Posted by illestminimike

Who cares? Just use launch control and fvck b1tches.

i feel like this should be sig material for the op.

Originally Posted by benjamcm3

Nope, when it reads "S" it does all the shifting like driving an automatic transmission. When it's in "A" it's like a manual, and allows me to do most shifting unless it takes over prior to stalling or overspeed. Its definitely reversed. I'm just curious if it's an easy fix or necessary to fix it. Guess I'll call BMW about this.

In manual mode, it will not upshift for "overspeed" as you call it. In manual mode it will only downshift for you to avoid a stall. It will never upshift for you. Just wanted to make sure you understood that. Good luck and welcome if you decide to purchase it.

I read it the same way on my first test drive. Glad it's not just me.