Dangit, this sounds too easy not to give it a try. Guess i'll be ripping my dash apart this evening. I'll report back on shift points on the ZF automatic if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

Hopefully it doesn't require what's described in the attached pdf, but i'd be willing to go that far if we can get full confirmation of benefits

 

You need to do page #10 and to get to the bottom of page #12.

 

Still no proper clear instructions on how to install this. Whats the pin shorting for if your have the sport button installed?

 

If i'm understanding correctly, the button shorts the pins briefly when you press it, thus enabling the feature, until the car is turned off. The button would have 3 wires, one to the ground, one to the contact that needs to be grounded to activate it and one back to a light on the button to tell you that it's on. You probably could get away with just 2 wires, no light, provided the dash does actually display Sport as described. I think i'll stop by Radio Shack on the way home and see what kind of buttons they have available.

 

Yes, you just need pin #8 & #10 for at least turn it on ... pin #9 is the indicator light on the button.

 

Pin shorting if you don't have the actual button.

 

thanks for that info BlaSTiWi

 

Oh ok, well I priced up the parts. £100 for the bezel and £42 for the button plus cable and pins. Bit much for me at the moment.

 

If you have a manual where would you install your "Sport" button?

 

I don't think there's OEM way for manual ... AFAIK "Sport" button is not generally factory option for manual in BMW modem lineup ... I maybe wrong ... but no OEM shifter faceplate w/ "Sport" button listed in BMW parts list. So you have to go non-OEM look which basically get the best looking push button switch and locate the best place to put it.

Aside from heavier steering & less lag throttle in manual you can easily hold RPM on up/down shift as oppose to auto.