Stick or auto tranny?

[investor27]

It may be cheaper to get the stick shift at first, but how much is the additional costs when the clutch has to be replaced? How long do these clutches last, in terms of mileage?

[AwesomeBMW]

Originally Posted by investor27

It may be cheaper to get the stick shift at first, but how much is the additional costs when the clutch has to be replaced? How long do these clutches last, in terms of mileage?

depends on how many times you smoke the tires

[Brandon26pdx]

Originally Posted by investor27

It may be cheaper to get the stick shift at first, but how much is the additional costs when the clutch has to be replaced? How long do these clutches last, in terms of mileage?

A stock clutch can last a long time if you're not riding and slipping it all the time. 100k miles is not that uncommon. Drag racers will go through them much quicker of course.

Auto trannies are more complex, usually cant hold as much total power without wearing out or blowing up, and absorb more of the engine's power needed to move the car. They're more expensive to fix and replace as well. That said, they are convenient and easy to operate, but with penalties. The fact that BMW charges more for one makes it even an even easier decision for a car geek.:biggrin:

[Imola.ZHP]

Originally Posted by investor27

It may be cheaper to get the stick shift at first, but how much is the additional costs when the clutch has to be replaced? How long do these clutches last, in terms of mileage?

Directly depends on the driver...

I've almost doubled the mileage on my car from when it was delivered (32,500, will roll 61,000 tomorrow). Its still as strong as it was when I picked it up. I auto-x and am pretty hard on it, but I've also always owned sticks since before I was 16 (motorcycles). I like to think I know how to get what I want out of the car with little to no damage to the clutch...

I'd love for it to need replacing just before the CPO runs out in 2009, but I'm not going to burn it up on purpose. At my current rate of milage hemorage I would hit 100k before the CPO would be up. Hopefully driving this Lexus I've somewhat partnered up in ownership on will help slow down the mile's being put on the car. CPO warranty is up at the end of 04/09...

[gocal73]

Originally Posted by investor27

It may be cheaper to get the stick shift at first, but how much is the additional costs when the clutch has to be replaced? How long do these clutches last, in terms of mileage?

I've had my cars serviced at Bavarian Professionals in Berkeley for many years and they have told me many times it's a good idea to pay for an extended warranty on a BMW with automatic because they have problems and when they do it's costly. Assuming you can drive a stick, your only worry with a manual is the clutch which can last a long time and is not that costly to replace. For the record, my wife has 140K on her '98 528i original clutch. My '90 325i is into it's 2nd clutch and it has 200K on it. On the other hand I bought a '98 328iC three years ago with 65K on it and it needed a new clutch immediately AND the retard who owned it was so bad with a manual that they burned up the very expensive dual-mass flywheel (about $700) as well.

If you have a clue and don't abuse the thing, a BMW manual transmission and clutch can last a long time with very little maintenance cost.

[M3Newbie88]

Auto with paddles for me.. I drive more then 1-2hrs 1 way to work each day.. geez I am actually tired of driving.. wish I someone can drive me to work instead lol..

[DimaGt]

Originally Posted by 1LazyBmw

Auto with paddles for me.. I drive more then 1-2hrs 1 way to work each day.. geez I am actually tired of driving.. wish I someone can drive me to work instead lol..

In case you don't know, BMW already made something for people like you. (not for public use, yet). Check out this video

In couple years we are all going to debate and have endless polls on whether drive or be driven......

[PaulUK]

But what advantage does a clutch really give you?? (Especially in daily stop start driving).

Ive been driving for 20 years and this will be my first auto box car, I can't wait, I'll be glad to see the back of the clutch and gears!!!

[M3Newbie88]

Originally Posted by DimaGt

In case you don't know, BMW already made something for people like you. (not for public use, yet). Check out this video

In couple years we are all going to debate and have endless polls on whether drive or be driven......

wow interesting.. imagine the best driver in the world is not human kaka.. but id still be afraid to get into that car until its like proven a million times lol... but thank you for that post...

[Imola.ZHP]

Originally Posted by PaulUK36

But what advantage does a clutch really give you?? (Especially in daily stop start driving).

Ive been driving for 20 years and this will be my first auto box car, I can't wait, I'll be glad to see the back of the clutch and gears!!!

No advantage, I just find a manual more entertaining. I like to be entertained, an auto would put me to sleep or have me fiddling with my iPhone driving down the road...

[DimaGt]

Originally Posted by imola.zhp

No advantage, I just find a manual more entertaining. I like to be entertained, an auto would put me to sleep or have me fiddling with my iPhone driving down the road...

I completely agree with you!!! Gearbox is a personal preference, some people like to shift, some do not. I like the clutch pedal, i like double shifting, matching revs and things like that. And yes I realize the benefits of auto these days and how they can shift in nanoseconds and make every shift perfect, but I do not like it.... Driving any car is about enjoyment, felling good behind the wheel, and that is a benefit of manual box for the guy like me, shifting gears makes me happy....

[bmwzimmer]

An interesting Study done on E90post explaining why the 6ATs are much faster than the 6MT's given similar mods. The question is, Is the gearing and drive ratios the same for the 135 and 335 6ATs and 6MTs?
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101190

[~AJ]

Will be wife's car.

She wants an automatic.

[Ryephile]

Stick shifts always have been, and will always be the transmission of choice for sports car enthusiasts. Racetrack whores will prefer the quicker shift with higher efficiency [paddle-shifted manual], and lazy "Amer-Uh-kins" will usual choose more "cell-phone/french fry/double latte/lipstick applying/how dare I do my own shifting" laziness over driving involvement [slushbox].

[investor27]

Originally Posted by bmwzimmer

An interesting Study done on E90post explaining why the 6ATs are much faster than the 6MT's given similar mods. The question is, Is the gearing and drive ratios the same for the 135 and 335 6ATs and 6MTs?
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101190

Is the Automatic quicker only if it has the paddles? I know that you can shift yourself without the paddle by putting the stick in manual mode. It would be great if you didn't have to use the paddles in the automatic boxes, and the boxes will be the same as the ones with paddles. Because even in the 135i auto, you have to pay extra for the Sport Package and then they will let you pay extra for the paddles. I can only reason this insanity by stating that the automatic throttle programming must be different for ones with paddles and ones without paddles.

[DimaGt]

Originally Posted by Ryephile

Stick shifts always have been, and will always be the transmission of choice for sports car enthusiasts. Racetrack whores will prefer the quicker shift with higher efficiency [paddle-shifted manual], and lazy "Amer-Uh-kins" will usual choose more "cell-phone/french fry/double latte/lipstick applying/how dare I do my own shifting" laziness over driving involvement [slushbox].

Well said my friend.

[slipkmaggot]

paddles

i drove the 335i with paddles and it was so much fun. and i drove the Audi S5 with a stick and i realized, my shifts are really slow. im sure with practice i could get them faster but i mean... paddles

[imported_Will_325i]

I've had 5 cars since I started driving and only ONE has been an auto, and my wife couldn't stand to hear me whine about it anymore. Never again will I go auto. I find the stick much more usable than an auto, even in heavy traffic. Only TRUE stop-and-go traffic (where speeds actually go to zero) is a actually a good situation for an auto. The GTI's DSG is extremely good, IMO, but still not as good as a manual.

[MZWIE]

First off the DSG is not an automatic (no torque converter) it is an electro hydrualic tranny similar to the SMG. It does however use a double clutch mechanism. Hence the D in it's name.

I just drove a 335i auto with paddles about an hour ago. I must admit it is very very nice.

In the full "manual" sport mode it shifts very fast with no perceptible lag. Even coming out of a corner in second I could floor it nicely.

I don't like that the paddles work the up and down shifts. I would rather have an SMG like set up where the right paddle shifts up and the left paddle shifts down. But I could get used to that.

I have been driving sticks for the better part of 30 years, but this auto might just convince me.

[135i_]

Originally Posted by imola.zhp

No advantage, I just find a manual more entertaining. I like to be entertained, an auto would put me to sleep or have me fiddling with my iPhone driving down the road...

No advantage except that small issue of being in control of the vehicle or not. Also better fuel economy.

Both things that are extremely important when you live in hilly, snowy upstate NY.

The advantages on the track are much more numerous.

[Twisted]

I've got to ask, why does BMW always quote auto transmission as a slower 0-100 (0-62) sprint time as opposed to a manual transmission?

Also i've been a Manual Transmission driver for years now. How does the paddle shift / sports mode auto compare (traffic and highway)?

I'm a bit undecided to be honest. some say its great, some disagree.

[fueledbymetal]

Will the 128 & 135 have the same auto tranny or will they be different like with the 3-series?