BMW E46 Steptronic Gearbox - Any good?
Discussion
Hi all, I've been looking at 330D's this month, but am having a lot of trouble finding decently priced manuals.
I've noticed a lot of them are listed as Steptronic transmission, so did a bit of Googling and from what I understand of it, it's an auto that can be used like a sequential manual. Is that correct?
Does anybody have any experience of it? Is it any good? Does it shift instantly when you tell it to? Does it override the driver when in Steptronic and do its own thing?
Cheers for any help folks
I've noticed a lot of them are listed as Steptronic transmission, so did a bit of Googling and from what I understand of it, it's an auto that can be used like a sequential manual. Is that correct?
Does anybody have any experience of it? Is it any good? Does it shift instantly when you tell it to? Does it override the driver when in Steptronic and do its own thing?
Cheers for any help folks
I had one.. Not a bad box, but not as good as the 6 speeders of the E90's, which aren't a patch on the new 8 speeders.
The auto suited the car great, just got in and drove.. wasn't really for tearing about.
Only thing the auto box of this generation is a bit fragile, a lot have been replaced or had issues. I'd probably buy a manual.
The auto suited the car great, just got in and drove.. wasn't really for tearing about.
Only thing the auto box of this generation is a bit fragile, a lot have been replaced or had issues. I'd probably buy a manual.
They're a good box, but they aren't really a 'substitute' for a manual. When in normal 'D' mode they're exceptionally smooth albeit not particularly responsive. Slam it over to 'S' and the box will change gears a bit quicker, but nowhere near as quick as a manual box, however it'll also hold onto gears longer for more 'spirited' driving. Now when in 'S' you can push up or down on the stick to choose the gears yourself, though the box isn't stupid and will stop a change if it's going to damage the engine and will change up if you're about to hit the redline.
It's a good gearbox.........I have it in my 330i Sport.
To be honest, it's that good I seldom use the manual function........I'll often pop it into Sport mode if the roads are twisty, so it holds the gears longer, but I seldom feel the need to play with the gears myself (I have a weekend toy for that).
Try one, I bet you like it.
To be honest, it's that good I seldom use the manual function........I'll often pop it into Sport mode if the roads are twisty, so it holds the gears longer, but I seldom feel the need to play with the gears myself (I have a weekend toy for that).
Try one, I bet you like it.
5 speed. Economy will not be as good as the manual but still decent as it's a diesel. The gearbox is just an auto that lets you change gears when you want, nothing special but works well enough. If you like autos, get one, the 330d and Steptronic make a happy marriage. I'd stick it out for a manual, personally.
Edited by Seb d on Thursday 10th January 14:57
I loved my E46 330d auto. Perfect marriage of bits; could either be a lazy auto, sporty auto or quasi-manual when you wanted to play.
Small penalty on mpg, I understand - mine averaged about 39mpg overall.
Same box as 335d, so handling monster torque wasn't a problem; not brilliantly reliable though - some wore out at an early age, others last forever; a mate's had done 250k+ when I last saw him.
Small penalty on mpg, I understand - mine averaged about 39mpg overall.
Same box as 335d, so handling monster torque wasn't a problem; not brilliantly reliable though - some wore out at an early age, others last forever; a mate's had done 250k+ when I last saw him.
The steptronic boxes are fine as auto's go but don't get the notion that you will use the "manual" element of it.....
...well you will, but only once or twice.
An auto is an auto, a manual is a manual, a semiauto is really just an auto and then you have proper clutchless manuals a la DSG etc.
...well you will, but only once or twice.
An auto is an auto, a manual is a manual, a semiauto is really just an auto and then you have proper clutchless manuals a la DSG etc.
We've had a few fitted with both manual and auto. The auto is very good but we got 25-30 mpg around town whereas the the manual got at least 35-40. In terms of strength, our last auto one was mapped and coped very well with the extra power so much so you never needed to flick it across to Sport, we did have one that suffered a gearbox failure but oddly that was the one that was the slowest out of all of them when we got it, so I guess its just luck of the draw
Herbs said:
The steptronic boxes are fine as auto's go but don't get the notion that you will use the "manual" element of it.....
...well you will, but only once or twice.
An auto is an auto, a manual is a manual, a semiauto is really just an auto and then you have proper clutchless manuals a la DSG etc.
x2. The 'manual' part of the box is just a gimmick really. You'll just end up leaving it in S....well you will, but only once or twice.
An auto is an auto, a manual is a manual, a semiauto is really just an auto and then you have proper clutchless manuals a la DSG etc.
Got it in my 330i E46. Yes it's a good box, a little dim witted in Drive, but sport mode is fun. As said above, I doubt you'll need the full manual override but it is there. Ratios are fairly well spaced, though a big gap between 2nd and 3rd I think. Very relaxed in 5th on the motorway... A diesel even more so. Think my petrol pulls around 2300 rpm at 70mph.
Bm have always done a decent auto, as have Merc, despite it being widely reported that auto boxes in both are prone to fail.
Only thing I would comment on is that the diesel suffers moreso from a lack of smoothness than the petrol does when the engine is cold. To be expected though really.
Only thing I would comment on is that the diesel suffers moreso from a lack of smoothness than the petrol does when the engine is cold. To be expected though really.
ajb85 said:
Bm have always done a decent auto, as have Merc, despite it being widely reported that auto boxes in both are prone to fail.
Only thing I would comment on is that the diesel suffers moreso from a lack of smoothness than the petrol does when the engine is cold. To be expected though really.
The diesel and petrol boxes are different, the diesel uses a GM box and the petrol uses as a ZF5HP19. The GM box is known to be problematic if you remap a 330d as IIRC it's rated maxmimum torque output is something stupid like 20nm above stock.Only thing I would comment on is that the diesel suffers moreso from a lack of smoothness than the petrol does when the engine is cold. To be expected though really.
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