Will I regret not buying an Auto E93 335
Discussion
I too am a Manual box fan.
I have an E91 335d, which is of course, Auto only.
The box is fine for 95% of the time.
It's not for when you want to push on round the lanes.
So, when you want it the most, it's the worst option.
Even worse with it being an oil burner, in Sport mode, it revs to redline, which is unproductive and slower. On the petrol you may need redline if pressing on a bit.
The paddle shift is fine, but I don't use it much, and the change isn't anywhere near as fast as a even a moderately well executed manual change.
You can't miss a gear with the Auto though
I have an E91 335d, which is of course, Auto only.
The box is fine for 95% of the time.
It's not for when you want to push on round the lanes.
So, when you want it the most, it's the worst option.
Even worse with it being an oil burner, in Sport mode, it revs to redline, which is unproductive and slower. On the petrol you may need redline if pressing on a bit.
The paddle shift is fine, but I don't use it much, and the change isn't anywhere near as fast as a even a moderately well executed manual change.
You can't miss a gear with the Auto though
It depends what you want from it and how you drive ?
I've had 4 335i models two were manual and two auto's.
Generally most seam to be autos the manual is rarer to find.
They work very well as an auto loads of low down power effortless performance and very smooth. Some SE autos didn't have paddles on the steering wheel avoid those as most do.
If you like driving/using the revs/pushing the car along the manual is much better fun as the engine really comes alive compared to the auto which always feels it's at least 2 gears too high - and really mutes the fun of that glorious engine.
The auto can be put in sport but it's not very clever I'd say take the auto if you just want to cruise around and spend a lot of time in traffic jams if not make sure you take a manual for a test drive before making your mind up - it makes a huge difference.
I've had 4 335i models two were manual and two auto's.
Generally most seam to be autos the manual is rarer to find.
They work very well as an auto loads of low down power effortless performance and very smooth. Some SE autos didn't have paddles on the steering wheel avoid those as most do.
If you like driving/using the revs/pushing the car along the manual is much better fun as the engine really comes alive compared to the auto which always feels it's at least 2 gears too high - and really mutes the fun of that glorious engine.
The auto can be put in sport but it's not very clever I'd say take the auto if you just want to cruise around and spend a lot of time in traffic jams if not make sure you take a manual for a test drive before making your mind up - it makes a huge difference.
Edited by rallycross on Tuesday 21st February 22:36
Whether you're a fan of automatic gearboxes or not, it's fair to say that BMW do make a lovely automatic 'box.
I know many people that have been put off autos by driving an inferior slusher (usually in hire/courtesy cars), and have been put off by that one bad experience.
When they do get around to driving a good auto (like a BMW, for instance), they are invariably surprised at how good the gearbox is.
I'm not saying this is you, OP, but the game has moved on significantly in the last 10 years or so. For a car with an engine as big as a 335, I'd say auto all the way.
I know many people that have been put off autos by driving an inferior slusher (usually in hire/courtesy cars), and have been put off by that one bad experience.
When they do get around to driving a good auto (like a BMW, for instance), they are invariably surprised at how good the gearbox is.
I'm not saying this is you, OP, but the game has moved on significantly in the last 10 years or so. For a car with an engine as big as a 335, I'd say auto all the way.
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