Manual or Auto - BMW 330i
Discussion
Hi all,
Are the manuals in BMW notoriously a bit clunky between 1st and 2nd... i test drove a manual 325i the other day and it was a bit heavy and rather tiresome changing gears between 1st and 2nd compared to other manuals i have driven.
I spoke to other BMW drivers that also have 330i or 25i versions of the e46 and they all wished they had opted for a auto instead of the manual gear box... do you agree?
And if so is this also applicable to the diesel versions?
Cheers
Are the manuals in BMW notoriously a bit clunky between 1st and 2nd... i test drove a manual 325i the other day and it was a bit heavy and rather tiresome changing gears between 1st and 2nd compared to other manuals i have driven.
I spoke to other BMW drivers that also have 330i or 25i versions of the e46 and they all wished they had opted for a auto instead of the manual gear box... do you agree?
And if so is this also applicable to the diesel versions?
Cheers
I'm not a fan of BMW's manual boxes, a bit notchy & not a particularly pleasant shift, doesn't like to be rushed either!
I bought an E46 330Ci a few years back, test drove a couple of manuals & from then on my search was for an auto.
Funnily enough I've been looking for a Z4 3.0 these last couple of weeks & again drove a few manuals, they were 'ok' but again shift quality not great so have just found myself a well specced auto.
The 6 pot petrols & all the diesels are so smooth, linear & torque rich that they suit the auto box really well in my opinion.
I bought an E46 330Ci a few years back, test drove a couple of manuals & from then on my search was for an auto.
Funnily enough I've been looking for a Z4 3.0 these last couple of weeks & again drove a few manuals, they were 'ok' but again shift quality not great so have just found myself a well specced auto.
The 6 pot petrols & all the diesels are so smooth, linear & torque rich that they suit the auto box really well in my opinion.
ive got the auto, its a real nice drive i only ever use it in manual mode, to be honest my wife is a auto only spaza so ive no choice, id have had the manual, having never driven a manual i cant comment on em the auto is good though, make sure it goes into all its gears silky smooth and make sure it goes into reverse smoothly, there have been issues with these boxes and are very expensive to fix, you can use it in full auto, sports mode and manual,no flappy paddles either, that came on the ssg, thats a different system to the m3 smg and not half as good, if you want ssg make sure the price is right, hope this helps
I agree... i too prefer a spirited drive and a manual gear box, but driving a manual bmw was a real pain to get a smooth gear change between a first and second. There are several e46 owners with manuals who all say the same so am interested to see if this is just a coincidence or was more wide spread
On the E46 there is quite a big price to pay if you go for an auto - IIRC about half a second slower 0-60 and quite a few mph thirstier. I had a 5sp manual 330 (2001) and found the gearbox nicer than my wife's 6 sp manual 330Cd (2005). I appreciate that the very latest autos/ DSG type gearboxes offer better performance and better economy than the manual equivalents but this certainly wasn't the case for the E46.
Patrick Bateman said:
I haven't driven the BMW autos but I know I definitely wouldn't want one if it was my only car.
When just 'going for a drive' you can't beat a manual, I'd always regret it just for that if I went for an auto.
This!!When just 'going for a drive' you can't beat a manual, I'd always regret it just for that if I went for an auto.
An auto just isn't up to the job....plus they sound annoying and lazy. If you're an old person buy an auto. If you're not buy a manual and go thrash the balls off it.
Chris_VRS said:
I'm not a fan of BMW's manual boxes, a bit notchy & not a particularly pleasant shift, doesn't like to be rushed either!
I bought an E46 330Ci a few years back, test drove a couple of manuals & from then on my search was for an auto.
Funnily enough I've been looking for a Z4 3.0 these last couple of weeks & again drove a few manuals, they were 'ok' but again shift quality not great so have just found myself a well specced auto.
The 6 pot petrols & all the diesels are so smooth, linear & torque rich that they suit the auto box really well in my opinion.
One thing to note about all recent model BMW manual setups is that there is a restrictor valve in the clutch slowing the first to second gear change. Stupid idea. Do a search for BMW CDV for more info. Remove this and the gearbox/clutch action is improved immensely.I bought an E46 330Ci a few years back, test drove a couple of manuals & from then on my search was for an auto.
Funnily enough I've been looking for a Z4 3.0 these last couple of weeks & again drove a few manuals, they were 'ok' but again shift quality not great so have just found myself a well specced auto.
The 6 pot petrols & all the diesels are so smooth, linear & torque rich that they suit the auto box really well in my opinion.
Targarama said:
One thing to note about all recent model BMW manual setups is that there is a restrictor valve in the clutch slowing the first to second gear change. Stupid idea. Do a search for BMW CDV for more info. Remove this and the gearbox/clutch action is improved immensely.
I've seen this written about often re Z4s.I don't understand why 'spirited driving' has to have 3 pedals, when the auto in manual/sequential mode changes as quickly and is better at red-lining (should you so wish). Auto's the best of all world for me.
Sticks. said:
Targarama said:
One thing to note about all recent model BMW manual setups is that there is a restrictor valve in the clutch slowing the first to second gear change. Stupid idea. Do a search for BMW CDV for more info. Remove this and the gearbox/clutch action is improved immensely.
I've seen this written about often re Z4s.I don't understand why 'spirited driving' has to have 3 pedals, when the auto in manual/sequential mode changes as quickly and is better at red-lining (should you so wish). Auto's the best of all world for me.
Autos are good for heavy commuting only imho.
I’ve found in my Z4C that short shifting is the main cause of dodgy gear changes. The engine has so much torque that when loafing round town the temptation can be to change up at 2K and this is when I find the gear change can be a bit marginally.
Change up at about 3-4K (or more
) and the gear change is fine.
Change up at about 3-4K (or more
) and the gear change is fine. My old E36 328 was auto and my current E46 330 is manual. I found the auto frustrating when I just wanted to drive but it was great around town. It's true that the manual change on the 330 is not the best in the world but it's still miles better than having an auto if you want to have some fun.
I think somebody said it well above. If you have something else fun, go for an auto. If this is your fun car, manual every time and live with 1st to 2nd changes that would make a learner blush.
I think somebody said it well above. If you have something else fun, go for an auto. If this is your fun car, manual every time and live with 1st to 2nd changes that would make a learner blush.
Sticks. said:
cerb4.5lee said:
We have two autos & i think they are both boring as hell,even in manual mode,just lucky i have my tvr for real thrills.
Autos are good for heavy commuting only imho.
Hmm your diesel BMW is boring compared to your 4.5 Cerb just because it's an auto. Of course Autos are good for heavy commuting only imho.
So i think they both have something in common,i just like manuals better & i like to choose when to change gear!
rumple said:
to be honest my wife is a auto only spaza so ive no choice
Mine too, but I have to say the the auto box really suits her 330i, for all the reasons already stated. They're no M3 and for that reason, ripping through the gears wouldn't be particularly exciting anyway. All IMHO of course!
slippery said:
rumple said:
to be honest my wife is a auto only spaza so ive no choice
Mine too, but I have to say the the auto box really suits her 330i, for all the reasons already stated. They're no M3 and for that reason, ripping through the gears wouldn't be particularly exciting anyway. All IMHO of course!
Agreed with comments regarding auto suiting the 330i.
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