BMW 8 speed automatic transmission
Discussion
Anyone own/driven a car with the new 8 speed auto, and care to give some feedback?
From reading it seems that the economy, performance and emissions are all similar to the 6 speed manual.
How would it suit someone who had never owned or even driven an auto before? Are the flappy panels any good, or is it best just to stick it in auto and let it get on with it.
The answer would be to test drive one I know, but the local dealer doesn't have one at present.
From reading it seems that the economy, performance and emissions are all similar to the 6 speed manual.
How would it suit someone who had never owned or even driven an auto before? Are the flappy panels any good, or is it best just to stick it in auto and let it get on with it.
The answer would be to test drive one I know, but the local dealer doesn't have one at present.
I had a 520 for a couple of days. It felt like the car couldn't make its mind up which gear it was in.
My daily is an SMG but I drive my OH's 335i a lot which has a 6 speed auto. Given the choice of her auto or the 520, I preferred hers but I don't know if the gearbox shenanigans were down to the car being a 520 rather than a 53x.
My daily is an SMG but I drive my OH's 335i a lot which has a 6 speed auto. Given the choice of her auto or the 520, I preferred hers but I don't know if the gearbox shenanigans were down to the car being a 520 rather than a 53x.
Hi,
Wife has an X3 20d M Sport with the 8-speed auto box, it is very smooth to drive.
Performance is pretty good for a big car - haven't driven the manual equivalent to compare.
Economy isn't great tbh, only getting 38mpg when official figures say we should get closer to 50mpg.
No flappy panels on ours, don't think I'd use them anyway on a diesel. Has the Steptronic but again don't really bother using it too much.
Wife has an X3 20d M Sport with the 8-speed auto box, it is very smooth to drive.
Performance is pretty good for a big car - haven't driven the manual equivalent to compare.
Economy isn't great tbh, only getting 38mpg when official figures say we should get closer to 50mpg.
No flappy panels on ours, don't think I'd use them anyway on a diesel. Has the Steptronic but again don't really bother using it too much.
My 5 GT has it.
It is very clever and is super smooth. Changes are inpercetable.
Only issue is that you really need to change "modes" in the adaptive drive depending on what you want to do. In comfort more, if you are pressing on down an a-road and wanting to overtake, it can be a bit slow on the uptake / seems a little lethargic. Pop it into sport mode and that is instantly resolved.
It is very clever and is super smooth. Changes are inpercetable.
Only issue is that you really need to change "modes" in the adaptive drive depending on what you want to do. In comfort more, if you are pressing on down an a-road and wanting to overtake, it can be a bit slow on the uptake / seems a little lethargic. Pop it into sport mode and that is instantly resolved.
I had an F10 530d for a week with it when my 545i was in the garage. Absolutely impossible to work out which gear the car was in while in D, which was a good thing really because it was always in the right one. Smoother than the 6-speed in the E60 and really rather good.
As for whether it'd suit someone having an auto for the first time: no more or less so than the 6-sp in the E60, or the 5-sp in the E39. It's an auto box, it changes gear for you and doesn't have a clutch pedal. If you don't like that, you won't like the 8-sp. But that's more of a philosophical question than a mechanical one.
As for whether it'd suit someone having an auto for the first time: no more or less so than the 6-sp in the E60, or the 5-sp in the E39. It's an auto box, it changes gear for you and doesn't have a clutch pedal. If you don't like that, you won't like the 8-sp. But that's more of a philosophical question than a mechanical one.
The 8 speed auto is clearly an economy drive rather than a driveability upgrade. I would suggest though that the minimal improvement in economy will all go down the toilet when there is any mechanical issue.
I have the 6 speed auto in my X5 as opposed to the 5 speed in my last X5 and the 5 speed drives MUCH better. the 6 speed never seems to know which gear it needs to be in and you are either doing drag race starts or slo-mo pull aways.
I have not driven an 8 speed but I hope its much better than the 6.
Soon we will be back to the DAF Variomatic with a single speed, infinately variable transmission!!
All in all, I think its all a bit unnecessary having an 8 speed box unless it enhances the driving experience.
I have the 6 speed auto in my X5 as opposed to the 5 speed in my last X5 and the 5 speed drives MUCH better. the 6 speed never seems to know which gear it needs to be in and you are either doing drag race starts or slo-mo pull aways.
I have not driven an 8 speed but I hope its much better than the 6.
Soon we will be back to the DAF Variomatic with a single speed, infinately variable transmission!!
All in all, I think its all a bit unnecessary having an 8 speed box unless it enhances the driving experience.
Conversely, I find the 5-sp auto to be quite slow-witted and the torque converter doesn't lock up until relatively high revs, so there's that feeling that the revs and road speed aren't related like a CVT. The 6-sp isn't quite as smooth but it anticipates gearchanges and feels much tighter and more connected. Oddly less engine braking with the 6sp but I guess that's an economy thing.
Thanks for the feedback so far.
The car in question is a Z4, which being a roadster really should be a manual in my view. We do have a manual currently on order, but have been given the option of changing it at no cost to us for an auto. This is a £1800+ cost option normally so just trying to decide whether it is an offer worth considering.
The car is for my other half, who has only ever driven manuals, hence the question. Also not sure what effect if any it would have on residual value?
The car in question is a Z4, which being a roadster really should be a manual in my view. We do have a manual currently on order, but have been given the option of changing it at no cost to us for an auto. This is a £1800+ cost option normally so just trying to decide whether it is an offer worth considering.
The car is for my other half, who has only ever driven manuals, hence the question. Also not sure what effect if any it would have on residual value?
I've just got a Z4 28i with 8speed auto box. It's great. First time i've had an auto personally but have always driven others (mum, partner, etc)
The car is great with the autobox and Idon't really miss the manual gearbox at all. Stick it in sport when you want a bit of fun and it kicks down easily whould it be needed. Also hangs on to lower gears so has more pep without changing gear.
Stick it in comfort and the changes are imperceptible. Works just brilliantly and is very rarely caught wanting. It changes down as you slow so is always in the right gear for taking off. Only sometimes at junctions do you get caught if you slow almost to a stop then accelerate off again.
The car is great with the autobox and Idon't really miss the manual gearbox at all. Stick it in sport when you want a bit of fun and it kicks down easily whould it be needed. Also hangs on to lower gears so has more pep without changing gear.
Stick it in comfort and the changes are imperceptible. Works just brilliantly and is very rarely caught wanting. It changes down as you slow so is always in the right gear for taking off. Only sometimes at junctions do you get caught if you slow almost to a stop then accelerate off again.
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