M135i Auto v Manual
Discussion
Hi All, it seems that the ZF 8 speed auto has been winning over a few die-hard manual fantatics - I can appreciate that its good, but can't get my head around losing total control with the auto option.
Can anybody with an auto confirm if it is in full manual mode, does it allow you to hold on to a gear right up to the redline without automatically changing up for you?
Also, if you're braking hard from say 70 mph to 30mph, will it allow multiple down changes e.g., from 5th-2nd, without baulking?
Can anybody with an auto confirm if it is in full manual mode, does it allow you to hold on to a gear right up to the redline without automatically changing up for you?
Also, if you're braking hard from say 70 mph to 30mph, will it allow multiple down changes e.g., from 5th-2nd, without baulking?
As I understand it (my car hasn't arrived yet only 10 days hopefully). In full manual mode (stick pushed to left sport mode and then pull paddles to engage manual) the car will will allow you to redline in each gear and will only change down once you are a crawling speeds and 1st/2nd are required. I also believe the box can change to lowest available gear by double clicking downshift paddle (where 8th to 2nd changes are possible when conditions allow). Recent builds also benefit from launch control.
Never really considered an auto until this one, it certainly seems to compliment its jackal and hyde nature of cruising GT car V mental hooligan. Having said that the manual version as also very good, I don't think either would disappoint.
Never really considered an auto until this one, it certainly seems to compliment its jackal and hyde nature of cruising GT car V mental hooligan. Having said that the manual version as also very good, I don't think either would disappoint.
Mine's a manual, but I've driven both quite a bit.
The ZF auto is a very good automatic gearbox but it still suffers from being a bit ponderous at town speeds which I found annoying. But if it's your sort of thing you might drive the auto and love it - for me it just wasn't what I wanted and the experience driving the auto made me sure the manual was the right choice.
As others have said you do have the useful feature of (almost) full control in sport mode and I believe the coasting feature is now included as well as launch control, if you like that sort of thing I can see how it could win you over. I'm just a die hard and had the feeling this was my last chance to have a car like this with a proper manual gearbox!
The ZF auto is a very good automatic gearbox but it still suffers from being a bit ponderous at town speeds which I found annoying. But if it's your sort of thing you might drive the auto and love it - for me it just wasn't what I wanted and the experience driving the auto made me sure the manual was the right choice.
As others have said you do have the useful feature of (almost) full control in sport mode and I believe the coasting feature is now included as well as launch control, if you like that sort of thing I can see how it could win you over. I'm just a die hard and had the feeling this was my last chance to have a car like this with a proper manual gearbox!
Manual mode is fine. It doesn't change up auto in any gear, it will just stop dead on the limiter.
As for down the box, if you coast the box will automatically change down a cog as the revs reach 800rpm or so to prevent stalling. It doesn't splatter or anything nasty, I quite often roll into say a roundabout from 6-8th and just let the car down change on its own, it's then got plenty enough low down grunt to pick up from 800-1000rpm.
The box will do what it's told. Eg if you are in 2nd and you pull the paddle 4 times quickly it will go up through the cogs as quick as it can. The same with going down, I am often in 8th and want to overtake in 5th, so 3 short tugs on the paddle and it will chuck it in 5th. (I don't know if it can skip gears or whether it has to go through them but either way its plenty quick enough for road use.)
I was worried that I was going to be constantly changing gears as it has 8 of the buggers, and whilst this is the case going up the box it's certainly not a problem going down or going for an overtake. E.g cruising along in 8th and you want to pass somebody you don't need to go down to say 3rd like you would in a 6 speed. The gears are so short and it's so torquey you only need to go down to 4th or 5th. So when really motoring on you don't change much more than you would a 6speed. As said above the only time you notice 8 gears being a lot is when you pull away from a standstill on to a fast road, so you then go up through all of the gears one by one.
One final point is pulling away in 2nd. In manual mode it lets you pull away from a standstill in 1st or 2nd. It pulls in second with absolutely no hesitation and will even spin the wheels up if you want it to. I have got into the habit of using 2nd when pulling out of junctions, it saves you having to try and find the paddle half way across a junction when you have the wheel turned 90-180degrees.
Cheers.
As for down the box, if you coast the box will automatically change down a cog as the revs reach 800rpm or so to prevent stalling. It doesn't splatter or anything nasty, I quite often roll into say a roundabout from 6-8th and just let the car down change on its own, it's then got plenty enough low down grunt to pick up from 800-1000rpm.
The box will do what it's told. Eg if you are in 2nd and you pull the paddle 4 times quickly it will go up through the cogs as quick as it can. The same with going down, I am often in 8th and want to overtake in 5th, so 3 short tugs on the paddle and it will chuck it in 5th. (I don't know if it can skip gears or whether it has to go through them but either way its plenty quick enough for road use.)
I was worried that I was going to be constantly changing gears as it has 8 of the buggers, and whilst this is the case going up the box it's certainly not a problem going down or going for an overtake. E.g cruising along in 8th and you want to pass somebody you don't need to go down to say 3rd like you would in a 6 speed. The gears are so short and it's so torquey you only need to go down to 4th or 5th. So when really motoring on you don't change much more than you would a 6speed. As said above the only time you notice 8 gears being a lot is when you pull away from a standstill on to a fast road, so you then go up through all of the gears one by one.
One final point is pulling away in 2nd. In manual mode it lets you pull away from a standstill in 1st or 2nd. It pulls in second with absolutely no hesitation and will even spin the wheels up if you want it to. I have got into the habit of using 2nd when pulling out of junctions, it saves you having to try and find the paddle half way across a junction when you have the wheel turned 90-180degrees.
Cheers.
Just been having a read of the various topics re auto v manual, mine on order is a manual mainly cos of the extra cost of the auto and not usually fussed either way......but as I keep reading about how good the auto is, I'm fretting!
Any comforting words from those that have driven both? Will I regret it massively??
Any comforting words from those that have driven both? Will I regret it massively??
By all accounts I think the manual is a great box, but it depends on what you like and how you drive, etc. Some love the involvement of the manual and find it hard to live without one, others find the auto great in comfort mode and quick and slick when in manual mode. Both are different, neither is better. I went with the auto as it seemed a very good one and I've never used such a transmission so though I would give it a go. I loved it on the test drives I had...
berry100 said:
Just been having a read of the various topics re auto v manual, mine on order is a manual mainly cos of the extra cost of the auto and not usually fussed either way......but as I keep reading about how good the auto is, I'm fretting!
Any comforting words from those that have driven both? Will I regret it massively??
The manual pretty much pays for itself in terms of lower taxes and residuals. Just drive both and see which one suits you better. If you are not able to drive both then ask yourself; Are you the sort of person that is likely to appreciate the benefits of an auto? How do you drive your car? If you like to blip the throttle on a downchange, drop the clutch mid corner for tail slides, or rev the engine at the lights then the auto is probably not for you. Any comforting words from those that have driven both? Will I regret it massively??
The M135i is the first auto I've owned and I'm a real convert. For 90% of the time it is better than the auto, it suits the nine tenths nature of the car perfectly in my opinion.
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