BMW Would Rather Phase Out Its Manuals Than Borrow a U.S. Gearbox

Kinja'd!!! "404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
04/21/2017 at 13:33 • Filed to: BMW, save the manuals

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 19

...but didn’t they use the Hydramatic in the late E-series cars?

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/04/bmw-rather-phase-manuals-borrow-u-s-gearbox/

PS: even the US doesn’t use a US gearbox. My Solstice has an Aisin unit.


DISCUSSION (19)


Kinja'd!!! Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/21/2017 at 13:37

Kinja'd!!!1

Yes. Yes they did.


Kinja'd!!! Jcarr > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/21/2017 at 13:39

Kinja'd!!!2

Yep, the 6-speed auto in my parents 2011 328xi is a GM unit.


Kinja'd!!! Dru > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/21/2017 at 13:40

Kinja'd!!!0

I’m not ready.


Kinja'd!!! WilliamsSW > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/21/2017 at 13:44

Kinja'd!!!0

Goddammit.


Kinja'd!!! Tekamul > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/21/2017 at 13:53

Kinja'd!!!0

Nobody buys manuals because no one offers manuals.

They can take that path, just don’t expect to ever see any of my money.


Kinja'd!!! RallyWrench > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/21/2017 at 13:57

Kinja'd!!!2

In other BMW manual news, I learned this week that Miata guys have figured out how to put BMW Getrag boxes in their cars, because they’re cheaper and stronger than Miata 6-speeds.


Kinja'd!!! Shift24 > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/21/2017 at 14:17

Kinja'd!!!0

And early E-series too. They have been using them since the 90s possibly since the 80s

E34 , E39 , E46 , and a few others.


Kinja'd!!! If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/21/2017 at 14:22

Kinja'd!!!1

E-Series was a Mercedes, not a BMW...

And they used GM automatics all throughout the 90's and early 2000's...


Kinja'd!!! gmctavish needs more space > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
04/21/2017 at 14:23

Kinja'd!!!0

I think he meant as in Exx, before they switched to Fxx and Gxx or whatever they’re at now


Kinja'd!!! 404 - User No Longer Available > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
04/21/2017 at 14:30

Kinja'd!!!0

Nah.... E-Series was a Ford.


Kinja'd!!! Jared E > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/21/2017 at 14:35

Kinja'd!!!0

BMW manual have always had terrible shift quality. This is just an accuse from a company that has lost it way.


Kinja'd!!! nerd_racing > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/21/2017 at 14:37

Kinja'd!!!0

Good! This means the market for my 6MT 128i should go up!


Kinja'd!!! 404 - User No Longer Available > Jared E
04/21/2017 at 18:14

Kinja'd!!!0

I kinda agree. I rather shift the truck transmission on my Solstice than my F30. Something feels very rubbery with the shifts.


Kinja'd!!! theloudmouth > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/22/2017 at 06:06

Kinja'd!!!0

Really? My E92's is PHENOMENAL. Though I have heard that, oddly, the 335i E9X was one of their best transmissions ever so maybe an outlier (don’t trust me, trust EVO magazine). I know for the E9X M3 they put most of their resources into the Dsg.


Kinja'd!!! 404 - User No Longer Available > theloudmouth
04/22/2017 at 10:49

Kinja'd!!!0

Yeah, I don’t know. Jonny Lieberman @ Motor Trend also pointed out the F30 manual didn’t really feel good either in the head to head versus the ATS. Really tempted to get a short shifter, I think that’s the issue. Despite being a Hummer H3 transmission in my Solstice, the shift was quite a bit shorter. Still no competition to the Miata’s though. 


Kinja'd!!! theloudmouth > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/23/2017 at 15:56

Kinja'd!!!0

People appear absolutely convinced the M-sport shift knob resolves a number of issues. I really can’t say, but they seem convinced. The weighting of the knob and shorter overall height apparently make a good difference to them.

I’ve heard that about the F30. Though nothing really surprises me about that car as it’s complete garbage by prior 3-series standards (or really any standards, I’ve been so ready to give my loaners back). I really hope the G20 resolves the issues but I’m not holding my breath.


Kinja'd!!! 404 - User No Longer Available > theloudmouth
04/23/2017 at 17:42

Kinja'd!!!0

It seems to me every generation of cars, not just BMWs, somehow some where they just manage to make it worse each generation. I know the E46 “purists” would say the E9X is garbage and handled like a fat porker, but then generations before would say the same thing too, so on, so forth.

Guess I’ll just enjoy it for what it is...


Kinja'd!!! theloudmouth > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/23/2017 at 19:59

Kinja'd!!!0

Can’t argue with that, and it’s true that the E9X required certain things like the sport package to make you grin as much. My dad has an E46 325i automatic, no sport pack, sedan and that thing is honestly a riot and makes me grin ear to ear on back roads. I guess that’s just the thing with the F30, it didn’t make me grin all the time (though I won’t lie I enjoyed the 335i 8AT loaner at stop lights for sure).


Kinja'd!!! 404 - User No Longer Available > theloudmouth
04/23/2017 at 20:13

Kinja'd!!!0

Oh yeah, after owning and F30 with the 6MT and driving an F10 with the 8AT, the 8AT is phenomenal. It actually made me reconsider if I were to replace my F30, maybe I would go auto.