BMW transmissions are not made by GM.

KVMan50 · 04-15-2009, 09:55 PM

Hi fellow Bimmerphiles. I had heard rumors about BMW trannies made by GM so I emailed BMW Canada asking about it. Here is my email and their response:
Subject: Message from BMW.CA
Subject: BMW Automobiles

I have a new 2008 128i coupe and I have heard a rumor from a web forum that the Steptronic transmission for the 128i is made by GM. Is this true? I know it is not the same transmission as in the 135i (ZF) but is it really a GM tranny? It's not going to make me sell the car, but I do want to know.
Thanks
David

Thank you for contacting BMW Group Canada.
In regards to your request, this is only a rumor and not true.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-567-2691.
Sincerely,
BMW Canada
So rest easy... sort of. I still don't know who makes them, but not GM.

vgame64 · 04-15-2009, 11:03 PM

GM in France in a supplier of transmission for specific BMWs; along with Getrag, ZF, and Aisin (Mini)

shadowiix · 04-16-2009, 12:17 AM

On the sticker price sheet it shows what country the transmission comes from. The autos i saw when shopping showed transmissions comming from france. the dealership i was at confirmed this that the autos are made in france, but didnt say who built them. I opted not to get the auto since manuals last longer anyway and they are built in germany. Wouldnt be suprised if they were built by gm though my other cooper 1.6 engine was a gm engine.

OverBoostinBimmers · 04-16-2009, 06:38 AM

Thank GOD!

m_thompson · 04-16-2009, 12:04 PM

The window sticker on my wife's '08 328xi says that the auomatic was made by GM in France.

Add1ct · 04-16-2009, 01:08 PM

I'm going to say I don't think the person at BMW Canada knows what's going on as it's been established here and elsewhere that GM makes steptronic's for bmw

gtaday51 · 04-16-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Add1ct

I'm going to say I don't think the person at BMW Canada knows what's going on as it's been established here and elsewhere that GM makes steptronic's for bmw

With the exceptions of the autos made by ZF.

imdanomite · 04-16-2009, 02:10 PM

Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen = ZF
GM Powertrain - Hydramatic = Hydramatic is a manufacturing division of General Motors located in Strasbourg France.

straight outta my transmission training manual.

Add1ct · 04-16-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtaday51

With the exceptions of the autos made by ZF.

yea of course, for the 35 engines and such

italiantank26 · 04-17-2009, 01:10 PM

whats the difference about where the tranny was made, as long as the tranny performs its task well I think people should not be ashamed who made it. My step in the 128 is great, so if GM did make it, they did a good job, I've driven worse.

Evolved · 04-17-2009, 01:48 PM

And your turbos are made by Mitsubishi.

cimbali · 04-17-2009, 02:45 PM

ZFs make some the nicest trannys but the ZF 5HP19 in some early e46 are now failing big time... I had a GM5 in my e46 that was problem free.

1lvr · 04-22-2009, 12:57 PM

Mitsubishi did a hell of a job too. Nice little turbos they are...

JHZR2 · 06-02-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OverBoostinBimmers

Thank GOD!

huh?

GM makes some of the best auto transmissions in the industry.

If it was a honda AT, it would be another story...

hlmiii · 06-03-2009, 06:18 AM

"I don't think the person at BMW Canada knows what's going on as it's been established here and elsewhere that GM makes steptronic's for bmw"

The post detailed that the BMW rep said the rumor that GM made the 128 steptronic was "only a rumor and not true."

The rep did NOT state that BMW made no transmissions for BMW.

cagekicker · 06-03-2009, 10:40 AM

rumor mill is runnin' hot.

creepy coupe · 06-03-2009, 11:06 AM

I doesn't bother me if their made my GM, as GM are part Holden and they dish out some serious power output through the rear wheels.

04-15-2009, 09:55 PM	#1
KVMan50 Enlisted Member 6 Rep 31 Posts Drives: Jet Black BMW 128i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Port Coquitlam, BC iTrader: (0)	BMW transmissions are not made by GM. Hi fellow Bimmerphiles. I had heard rumors about BMW trannies made by GM so I emailed BMW Canada asking about it. Here is my email and their response: Subject: Message from BMW.CA Subject: BMW Automobiles I have a new 2008 128i coupe and I have heard a rumor from a web forum that the Steptronic transmission for the 128i is made by GM. Is this true? I know it is not the same transmission as in the 135i (ZF) but is it really a GM tranny? It's not going to make me sell the car, but I do want to know. Thanks David Thank you for contacting BMW Group Canada. In regards to your request, this is only a rumor and not true. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-567-2691. Sincerely, BMW Canada So rest easy... sort of. I still don't know who makes them, but not GM.
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04-15-2009, 11:03 PM	#2
vgame64 Colonel 141 Rep 2,479 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	GM in France in a supplier of transmission for specific BMWs; along with Getrag, ZF, and Aisin (Mini)
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04-16-2009, 12:17 AM	#3
shadowiix Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: irvine iTrader: (0)	On the sticker price sheet it shows what country the transmission comes from. The autos i saw when shopping showed transmissions comming from france. the dealership i was at confirmed this that the autos are made in france, but didnt say who built them. I opted not to get the auto since manuals last longer anyway and they are built in germany. Wouldnt be suprised if they were built by gm though my other cooper 1.6 engine was a gm engine.
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04-16-2009, 06:38 AM	#4
OverBoostinBimmers Banned 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 08 335i 09 135i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	Thank GOD!
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04-16-2009, 12:04 PM	#5
m_thompson Major 133 Rep 1,416 Posts Drives: M-Sport 128i, 328xi, 3.0CS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New England, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 128i [0.00] 1972 3.0CS [10.00]	The window sticker on my wife's '08 328xi says that the auomatic was made by GM in France. __________________ '09 128i - Black Sapphire Metallic\Coral Red\Glacier Silver\N51 DISA\6MT\Navigation\Premium\M-Sport\Heated seats\Xenon\Headlights\iPod\Smartphone\Euro Delivery
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04-16-2009, 01:08 PM	#6
Add1ct Lieutenant Colonel 59 Rep 1,859 Posts Drives: 135i, 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Palos Verdes Estates (SoCal) iTrader: (3)	I'm going to say I don't think the person at BMW Canada knows what's going on as it's been established here and elsewhere that GM makes steptronic's for bmw __________________ E82 N54 6MT 6FL 668 KASW turned in E92 Crimson/Cream N54 6MT, ZSP, ZPP, ZCW, Nav, Sat radio, HD Radio, Logic7, PDC, Active Steering, Active Cruise, 6FL, CA
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04-16-2009, 02:10 PM	#8
imdanomite likes boobies ( o )( o ) 13 Rep 275 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 135i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen = ZF GM Powertrain - Hydramatic = Hydramatic is a manufacturing division of General Motors located in Strasbourg France. straight outta my transmission training manual.
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04-17-2009, 01:10 PM	#10
italiantank26 First Lieutenant 34 Rep 381 Posts Drives: BMW 128i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rhode Island iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [0.00]	whats the difference about where the tranny was made, as long as the tranny performs its task well I think people should not be ashamed who made it. My step in the 128 is great, so if GM did make it, they did a good job, I've driven worse.
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04-17-2009, 01:48 PM	#11
Evolved Bad Lieutenant 6 Rep 465 Posts Drives: Evo Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	And your turbos are made by Mitsubishi.
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04-17-2009, 02:45 PM	#12
cimbali Private 2 Rep 73 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: us iTrader: (1)	ZFs make some the nicest trannys but the ZF 5HP19 in some early e46 are now failing big time... I had a GM5 in my e46 that was problem free.
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04-22-2009, 12:57 PM	#13
1lvr Private First Class 1 Rep 115 Posts Drives: 2008 135i JB+ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bryant AR iTrader: (0)	Mitsubishi did a hell of a job too. Nice little turbos they are... __________________ 2008 135I Flavored with a tad of Juice Box - The absolute best way to get to work everyday!
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06-03-2009, 06:18 AM	#15
hlmiii Lieutenant 86 Rep 541 Posts Drives: '11 1M '10 M5 '05 M3 '12 CRT Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston iTrader: (1)	"I don't think the person at BMW Canada knows what's going on as it's been established here and elsewhere that GM makes steptronic's for bmw" The post detailed that the BMW rep said the rumor that GM made the 128 steptronic was "only a rumor and not true." The rep did NOT state that BMW made no transmissions for BMW.
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06-03-2009, 10:40 AM	#16
cagekicker Major 16 Rep 1,335 Posts Drives: '09 crimson red 135i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: miami (vice city) fl. iTrader: (0)	rumor mill is runnin' hot.
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06-03-2009, 11:06 AM	#17
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	I doesn't bother me if their made my GM, as GM are part Holden and they dish out some serious power output through the rear wheels.
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