ZF8 shift quality
Discussion
Something is bothering me about the ZF8 in my 330....
In 'D' I don't know it's there. Seamless shifts, smooth, utterly unobtrusive. Using the paddles still gives a nice smooth shift that I can't feel.....
But, move the shifter over into 'Sport' mode, and it's banging home shifts like someone's side-stepped the clutch in a manual. Can anyone else with a ZF8 tell me if this is normal, or if there's something not right in the box?? I thought 'Sport' just made it hold gears for longer.
In 'D' I don't know it's there. Seamless shifts, smooth, utterly unobtrusive. Using the paddles still gives a nice smooth shift that I can't feel.....
But, move the shifter over into 'Sport' mode, and it's banging home shifts like someone's side-stepped the clutch in a manual. Can anyone else with a ZF8 tell me if this is normal, or if there's something not right in the box?? I thought 'Sport' just made it hold gears for longer.
Have you got the 'sport automatic' option on the car, as I find that made the shifts more severe...or has a previous owner installed some aftermarket gearbox software?
Although I find that the amount of throttle applied affects the severity too - and in normal/economy mode this is blunted by the throttle pedal mapping.
Mine's a 320D with the ZF8HP45 box.
Although I find that the amount of throttle applied affects the severity too - and in normal/economy mode this is blunted by the throttle pedal mapping.
Mine's a 320D with the ZF8HP45 box.
mmm-five said:
Have you got the 'sport automatic' option on the car, as I find that made the shifts more severe...or has a previous owner installed some aftermarket gearbox software?
Although I find that the amount of throttle applied affects the severity too - and in normal/economy mode this is blunted by the throttle pedal mapping.
Mine's a 320D with the ZF8HP45 box.
It is the Sport Auto, so maybe it’s normal behaviour. The contrast between normal and sport modes is quite a shock though - it doesn’t seem to change any faster, just adds a huge jolt on every upshift.Although I find that the amount of throttle applied affects the severity too - and in normal/economy mode this is blunted by the throttle pedal mapping.
Mine's a 320D with the ZF8HP45 box.
Magnum 475 said:
Something is bothering me about the ZF8 in my 330....
In 'D' I don't know it's there. Seamless shifts, smooth, utterly unobtrusive. Using the paddles still gives a nice smooth shift that I can't feel.....
But, move the shifter over into 'Sport' mode, and it's banging home shifts like someone's side-stepped the clutch in a manual. Can anyone else with a ZF8 tell me if this is normal, or if there's something not right in the box?? I thought 'Sport' just made it hold gears for longer.
I had a 320d with the zf8 box for a week and I found the same. It was either very very smooth or really rather harsh in the sport mode. In 'D' I don't know it's there. Seamless shifts, smooth, utterly unobtrusive. Using the paddles still gives a nice smooth shift that I can't feel.....
But, move the shifter over into 'Sport' mode, and it's banging home shifts like someone's side-stepped the clutch in a manual. Can anyone else with a ZF8 tell me if this is normal, or if there's something not right in the box?? I thought 'Sport' just made it hold gears for longer.
What year is the car?
I had a late M140i with the ZF8 and even in sport it was pretty smooth. I test drive a pre-PPF M140i and in sport that had a very noticeable jerk on gear changes. I believe that at the same time the PPF became mandatory that there was a software update that chiller the gear changes. Quite a few on BabyBMW moaned about their cars after they had a software update because the car slushed through the gears and lost the jerk.
I had a late M140i with the ZF8 and even in sport it was pretty smooth. I test drive a pre-PPF M140i and in sport that had a very noticeable jerk on gear changes. I believe that at the same time the PPF became mandatory that there was a software update that chiller the gear changes. Quite a few on BabyBMW moaned about their cars after they had a software update because the car slushed through the gears and lost the jerk.
OP it’s not normal. I have a 2016 335d with ZF8 sport auto.
In comfort mode, the shifts are normal.
In sport, the engine wants to operate in a higher rev band, and is a bit more sensitive (reacts faster, and more keenly) to acc. pedal inputs.
Manual with either stick or paddles is, well, manual.
Eco-Pro, less sensitive to acc. Pedal inputs.
Mine has 46k miles, with no engine upgrades, and no autobox services.
Some questions.
In cruise, it takes a bit more acc. pedal input to overcome cruise, but is still smooth.
How does kick down feel, in standard driving?
How does kick down feel when used to overcome the speed limiter? Mine feels a distinct surge, but never a jerk.
In comfort mode, the shifts are normal.
In sport, the engine wants to operate in a higher rev band, and is a bit more sensitive (reacts faster, and more keenly) to acc. pedal inputs.
Manual with either stick or paddles is, well, manual.
Eco-Pro, less sensitive to acc. Pedal inputs.
Mine has 46k miles, with no engine upgrades, and no autobox services.
Some questions.
In cruise, it takes a bit more acc. pedal input to overcome cruise, but is still smooth.
How does kick down feel, in standard driving?
How does kick down feel when used to overcome the speed limiter? Mine feels a distinct surge, but never a jerk.
Hmmmm
Kick down in standard driving is hard to tell, because that’s usually accompanied by me giving it a boot full of gas. Regular downshifts are smooth to the point that you often don’t notice unless you’re looking at the rev counter.
I can’t remember the last time I used kickdown to defeat the limiter though, so can’t comment on that one.
It’s looking like this may be normal on some versions of the box, potentially down to a software map.
The car is a late 2016.
Kick down in standard driving is hard to tell, because that’s usually accompanied by me giving it a boot full of gas. Regular downshifts are smooth to the point that you often don’t notice unless you’re looking at the rev counter.
I can’t remember the last time I used kickdown to defeat the limiter though, so can’t comment on that one.
It’s looking like this may be normal on some versions of the box, potentially down to a software map.
The car is a late 2016.
Magnum 475 said:
Hmmmm
Kick down in standard driving is hard to tell, because that’s usually accompanied by me giving it a boot full of gas. Regular downshifts are smooth to the point that you often don’t notice unless you’re looking at the rev counter.
I can’t remember the last time I used kickdown to defeat the limiter though, so can’t comment on that one.
It’s looking like this may be normal on some versions of the box, potentially down to a software map.
The car is a late 2016.
Mine is late 2016 (built Nov 2016). As said, I don’t seem to have any issue with my 335d. I rarely use kick-down, but have used it enough to know that it feels ‘urgent’ rather than ‘jerky’.Kick down in standard driving is hard to tell, because that’s usually accompanied by me giving it a boot full of gas. Regular downshifts are smooth to the point that you often don’t notice unless you’re looking at the rev counter.
I can’t remember the last time I used kickdown to defeat the limiter though, so can’t comment on that one.
It’s looking like this may be normal on some versions of the box, potentially down to a software map.
The car is a late 2016.
mekondelta said:
If it's an xDrive I'd suggest the transmission is struggling to work out where to put the power possibly due to mismatched tread depths but you haven't mentioned xDrive so guess that's not it.. I get clunking like that on my X3.
Nope, not xDrive. Even if it was, I don't run mis-matched tyres so wouldn't be that!mekondelta said:
Magnum 475 said:
Nope, not xDrive. Even if it was, I don't run mis-matched tyres so wouldn't be that!
OK, cool. It's the tread depth differences between tyres as well as brands/models etc that can cause the issue in xDrive. Sorry couldn't help.Looks like this may be a 'feature' of some versions of the box. My car has thrown up so many warranty repairs that I get nervous of anything that doesn't quite seem right.
my 2012 box is similar, D is smooth, manual is smooth, but DS can be jerky and changes are noticeable - i think its supposed to be sporty. The only way it really makes sense to me is if you are booting it, say up a slip road, the changes are less noticeable but if you are cruising around in DS, it can be hard to drive smoothly. I usually use "sport" button rather than DS, which keeps the revs higher but the box in comfort. I think DS also locks up quicker than D. Not sure about manual.
I find if i need to make a quick get away from D, i push the box over to DS and then forward which basically drops two or three gears, whilst pushing the accelerator down. It is smooth and (on my nasp engine) means you get into the rev band quicker. If you need to be quicker still, a fast flick down with the right foot (not kickdown) tells the gearbox to drop a cog too. Like a giddy-up on a horse.
I enjoy driving the Zf8, must admit.
I find if i need to make a quick get away from D, i push the box over to DS and then forward which basically drops two or three gears, whilst pushing the accelerator down. It is smooth and (on my nasp engine) means you get into the rev band quicker. If you need to be quicker still, a fast flick down with the right foot (not kickdown) tells the gearbox to drop a cog too. Like a giddy-up on a horse.
I enjoy driving the Zf8, must admit.
The number of turbos has nothing to do with the software coding to give a more noticeable gear change in sport mode when using the paddles, the effect is even more noticeable in my old twin turbo X3M as an example as they made it even more pronounced as they tried to ape the MDCT shifts.
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