Let me start off saying I am a manual sort of guy. My 135i has a manual trans. That said... while in Lisbon driving the new 435i I really, really liked the option "sport automatic"(there are two trans) on the new 4er. That ZF eight speed does just about everything you could want a trans to do.
The new N55 ZF 8AT combo is pure magic!
The only thing I think BMW could improve on would be some manual features like Porsche has done on their new GT3 car. Like being able to "pop" the clutch or do a burn out. But that ZF 8AT does do burns outs very well - I must confess. Ask me how I know.
