340i - Manual gearbox

340i - Manual gearbox

Author
Discussion

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
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I have to confess that I haven't been that fond of the BMW manual boxes either.

The highlight for me was my Honda S2000 and nothing has ever since managed to scale those heights of "feel" and engagement.

MattOz

3,910 posts

263 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
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I have a manual F31 335i. I've driven both manual and auto in 335i/340i and the auto is excellent. However, it's just not me, and I absolutely prefer the manual. Given the choice, it's manual every time. I would certainly have bought a 340i touring if it was available with a manual 'box.

Swervin_Mervin

4,429 posts

237 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
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GTEYE said:
Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but from my experience BMW manual gearboxes are pretty joyless things anyway - with obstructive shifts and jerky clutches...well at least the one in my E46 325i was...and subsequent manual courtesy BMWs have been about the same.

Don't get me wrong, a good manual transmission can be a great thing, but personally I don't think this is a great BMW strength.

ZF 8 speed auto for me!

Edited by GTEYE on Wednesday 23 November 09:40
With you on this one. Our E81 120d had an overly "notchy" shift and jerky clutch. Chris Harris commented on it once in one of his vids where he drove (I think) an E9 CSL, and how that was a joy to change gear compared to modern overly notchy BMWs.

They presumably think it's the sign of a nice tight shift. My 197 had a lovely snickety gear change (when the synchros were working) and I think that spoiled it for me as well.

cerb4.5lee

30,193 posts

179 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
quotequote all
GTEYE said:
Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but from my experience BMW manual gearboxes are pretty joyless things anyway - with obstructive shifts and jerky clutches...well at least the one in my E46 325i was...and subsequent manual courtesy BMWs have been about the same.

Don't get me wrong, a good manual transmission can be a great thing, but personally I don't think this is a great BMW strength.

ZF 8 speed auto for me!

Edited by GTEYE on Wednesday 23 November 09:40
I much prefer a manual gearbox but I have to agree and I didn't enjoy the manual gearbox in either my E92 M3 or Z4M, so from that experience I can understand why most favour the auto.


P700DEE

1,107 posts

229 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
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Having just forked out £960 to replace the Dual mass fly wheel and clutch on my manual 520 diesel F11 (BMW wanted £1150 plus Vat just for the part!!) I wish I had got the auto even though it would have needed an oil change.

iSore

4,011 posts

143 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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To be honest, if I were looking to buy a new/newish powerful BMW, the last thing I'd want is a manual box. In 2016 I just don't see the appeal.

To each his own etc.

VerySideways

10,237 posts

271 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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I think the ZF 8 speed is an astonishingly competent gearbox.
Fast, economical, smooth, quiet, etc.

I'd still want a manual in an M2 or a 911(R), but personally I think the auto works really well with the 40i engine.

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Friday 2nd December 2016
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GTEYE said:
Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but from my experience BMW manual gearboxes are pretty joyless things anyway - with obstructive shifts and jerky clutches...well at least the one in my E46 325i was...and subsequent manual courtesy BMWs have been about the same.

Don't get me wrong, a good manual transmission can be a great thing, but personally I don't think this is a great BMW strength.

ZF 8 speed auto for me!

Edited by GTEYE on Wednesday 23 November 09:40
Make that another person.

When I owned my E36 323i Manual I hated the manual 'box on that with a passion. Even my Escort with a 4 paddle clutch was better in some respects ; you could change gears quicker and surprisingly for a BC5 gearbox they were more accurate shifts.

Sure, compared to a knackered French gearbox or an old Ford with shot gearbox bushes they felt amazing but otherwise I didn't like it! It is probably the first time I felt I needed an auto instead. Crunching 3rd to 4th on a quick shift? Crunching the car into first at a standstill with the clutch pedal going through the floor anyone? Yes I was in a hurry with the latter, but when a MkIV Mondeo with more miles doesn't do it.

It's not like that BMW had issues either. It was on a brand new LUK clutch which was light in operation.

Partly due to that and driving another manual BMW it's one reason why I went with a divisive gearbox in my M3 believe it or not.

Compared to an MX-5 (that has to be one of the best gear changes I have had in a car TBH!) or S2000 as said the BMW manual 'boxes leave little to be desired, more pleasurable or not. There are more things to enjoy when driving IMO (lines, technique on the road and so on)smile.

Billy_Whizzzz

1,991 posts

142 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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iSore said:
To be honest, if I were looking to buy a new/newish powerful BMW, the last thing I'd want is a manual box. In 2016 I just don't see the appeal.

To each his own etc.
Errr... you don't see the appeal of a 6 cyl, manual, RWD, powerful BMW...? You may be on the wrong forum.

Billy_Whizzzz

1,991 posts

142 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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SebringMan said:
Make that another person.

When I owned my E36 323i Manual I hated the manual 'box on that with a passion. Even my Escort with a 4 paddle clutch was better in some respects ; you could change gears quicker and surprisingly for a BC5 gearbox they were more accurate shifts.

Sure, compared to a knackered French gearbox or an old Ford with shot gearbox bushes they felt amazing but otherwise I didn't like it! It is probably the first time I felt I needed an auto instead. Crunching 3rd to 4th on a quick shift? Crunching the car into first at a standstill with the clutch pedal going through the floor anyone? Yes I was in a hurry with the latter, but when a MkIV Mondeo with more miles doesn't do it.

It's not like that BMW had issues either. It was on a brand new LUK clutch which was light in operation.

Partly due to that and driving another manual BMW it's one reason why I went with a divisive gearbox in my M3 believe it or not.

Compared to an MX-5 (that has to be one of the best gear changes I have had in a car TBH!) or S2000 as said the BMW manual 'boxes leave little to be desired, more pleasurable or not. There are more things to enjoy when driving IMO (lines, technique on the road and so on)smile.
With respect, the box in the 340 is a little more evolved than your old e36. All of the road tests connect what a good box it is - and, I have to say, I find it delightful, and super quick and smooth.

Mike335i

4,985 posts

101 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Is the 340i box the gs645bz like in the m235i? If so there is nothing wrong with it. The gs653bz that I have isn't as nice as that, but it is still decent and nowhere near as bad as is made out. I still couldn't have settled for an auto in a sporty car.

Serious question, after 6 months of ownership, does anyone change gears manually on their zf8speed, or do they just leave it in auto?

cerb4.5lee

30,193 posts

179 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Mike335i said:
Serious question, after 6 months of ownership, does anyone change gears manually on their zf8speed, or do they just leave it in auto?
I've only used the paddles once with the ZF8 on the 640d in 2 years...granted a diesel engine doesn't suit a manual change though.

Only ever used the paddles once in the petrol TTS as well because I personally find them just a gimmick.

The Auto works fine on its own as it is and I just use sport + if I want to push on.

12TS

1,806 posts

209 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Billy_Whizzzz said:
iSore said:
To be honest, if I were looking to buy a new/newish powerful BMW, the last thing I'd want is a manual box. In 2016 I just don't see the appeal.

To each his own etc.
Errr... you don't see the appeal of a 6 cyl, manual, RWD, powerful BMW...? You may be on the wrong forum.
Yup. Much prefer the auto for 99% of my driving now. We've still got a manual car in the house, but that's only because my wife prefers one.

ghibbett

1,900 posts

184 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Mike335i said:
Serious question, after 6 months of ownership, does anyone change gears manually on their zf8speed, or do they just leave it in auto?
I do, every single day (F31 340i ZF8).

12TS

1,806 posts

209 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
Billy_Whizzzz said:
iSore said:
To be honest, if I were looking to buy a new/newish powerful BMW, the last thing I'd want is a manual box. In 2016 I just don't see the appeal.

To each his own etc.
Errr... you don't see the appeal of a 6 cyl, manual, RWD, powerful BMW...? You may be on the wrong forum.
Yup. Much prefer the auto for 99% of my driving now. We've still got a manual car in the house, but that's only because my wife prefers one.

ratty6464

628 posts

209 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Do they do a 440i grand touring manual so the dog can go in the boot?

Triumph Man

8,670 posts

167 months

Sunday 4th December 2016
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I much prefer a manual gearbox, even my E39 530i with a sunroof and comfort seats, I.e. Proper old man spec, has a manual gearbox!

JNW1

7,711 posts

193 months

Monday 5th December 2016
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ratty6464 said:
Do they do a 440i grand touring manual so the dog can go in the boot?
Nope, the only 440i available with a manual box is the 2-door coupe; pretty sure the rest are auto only.....