8-speed auto - paddles

R

rich291

Member
Evening all, I had a great drive this afternoon - roof was down and the was sun shining for once. Perfect for a bit of spirited driving using manual mode. This is my first auto car (my previous E85 was manual), and I'm very impressed with the 8 speed auto - driving around town the changes in drive and 'comfort' are perfectly smooth and relaxed, however put it in sport and use manual and the changes are lightning fast.

Anyway, I digress. Not everything is perfect. I find that the paddles don't always 'connect' - i.e. I press to change and nothing happens. It seems that you have to press the paddle at the bottom, if you pull it near the top of the paddle it clicks but doesn't seem to register. This is quite annoying, especially as the tops are the closest part to your hands. I'm wondering if anyone has noticed this. If it's just me, then i'll take it in to the dealer and get them to have a look, but if it seems to be normal then i'd rather not let them mess around with anything :?

By the way, I have the newer style paddles, i.e. pull the left one to change down, and pull the right to change up.
 
No problems like that for me, at least not that I have noticed. Think you should consider a trip to the dealer.

+1 on the 8 spd flappy paddle auto, is a fantastic piece of kit and having had a manual first for 7 weeks can say it is a more complete car IMO. :driving:
 
This is good to hear I am picking up my replacement 8sp auto the first week in august
looking forward to seeing the difference between the manual and auto :thumbsup:
 
Glaikit said:
:o :telloff: get yourself out to some B roads straight away !!
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+1 Lots of fun dropping down a couple of gears manually before an overtake.
 
Glaikit said:
No problems like that for me, at least not that I have noticed. Think you should consider a trip to the dealer.
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Thanks - I'll give them a call and book it in for them to have a look.

Best driving = b-roads, sport mode, manual, roof down, hiss from the turbo.... :thumbsup:
 
How does the auto perform when pulling off in first? Is it like a manual? Or is it sluggish?
 
kevinmarkwhite said:
How does the auto perform when pulling off in first? Is it like a manual? Or is it sluggish?
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The 8 speed is still torque-convertor based so there's a little indirect rev-to-pull as there is will all torque convertor based transmissions. They're much better than they used to be however... and the DCT being direct (not torque convertor based but twin automated manual) is a different beast altogether that supplies a nice whack in back on each WOT manual change.
 
Never owned an auto, only driven them as hire cars in america, and the thing that I notice most is the delay between flooring it and anything actually happening. Just wondering what this is actually like to live with once youve got used to it...
 
ronk said:
Is there much turbo lag ? Do you have to keep it well spooled up?
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I've not noticed any lag at all, i think that it's pretty much always running. It's a twin scroll turbo which I think means that there is effectively two turbines across the 4 cylinders.

The ZF gearbox is miles apart from the traditional auto - yes it has a torque converter but the transmission is locked almost immediately after pulling away/changing gear. I lived in the states about 5 years ago, and i have horrible memories of auto boxes, some of them make you feel as if the engine is completely disconnected from the wheels - you press the accelerator and the revs increase, and you wait for the torque converter to catch up. But this is completely different, and you can tell because the 0-60 and mpg figures for the auto are identical to the manual box. In sport mode the box can change in 200 milliseconds, which isn't as fast as the DCT but is certainly quick enough that you don't notice any delay. There's an awesome video about the ZF box actually, if you like that kind of thing :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXrHDjcQIIU
 
rich291 said:
ronk said:
Is there much turbo lag ? Do you have to keep it well spooled up?
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I've not noticed any lag at all, i think that it's pretty much always running. It's a twin scroll turbo which I think means that there is effectively two turbines across the 4 cylinders.

The ZF gearbox is miles apart from the traditional auto - yes it has a torque converter but the transmission is locked almost immediately after pulling away/changing gear. I lived in the states about 5 years ago, and i have horrible memories of auto boxes, some of them make you feel as if the engine is completely disconnected from the wheels - you press the accelerator and the revs increase, and you wait for the torque converter to catch up. But this is completely different, and you can tell because the 0-60 and mpg figures for the auto are identical to the manual box. In sport mode the box can change in 200 milliseconds, which isn't as fast as the DCT but is certainly quick enough that you don't notice any delay. There's an awesome video about the ZF box actually, if you like that kind of thing :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXrHDjcQIIU
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Thats exactly what I found. Thankyou for your reply, it puts my mind at rest. Will checkout the video tomorrow (in work!).
 
rich291 said:
I've not noticed any lag at all, i think that it's pretty much always running. It's a twin scroll turbo which I think means that there is effectively two turbines across the 4 cylinders.
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One turbo, two input feeds each x2 Cyls.
 
Hey guys
Have any other 2.0 auto drivers noticed the following...
When accelerating briskly away from a standstill, but no more than half throttle, 1st and 2nd seem quite limp and then BAM, 3rd gear exhaust note deepens and you're away like a scalded cat...relatively speaking lol...
It reminds me of my 135i that had the torque limited in 1st gear, 2nd gave you the lot with the same throttle opening
With the zed it feels like there is a different throttle map for 3rd gear and above, certainly it does'nt "step off" with any real force unless you boot it or press sport...
This is just an observation I've um, noticed, this last while back since passing 2000 miles so not really an issue, yet lol.

Paul
 
Not noticed that myself Paul, seems pretty brisk (okay not quite like a 35i of course but enough for me) through all gears. Also agree with what has been said before about comfort being well comfort. When in sports mode with the selector lever to the left and the dynamic setting in sport it is fast off the line with no or very minimal lag. I've said before that I'm convinced under normal driving the auto feels quicker than the manual. On a track I have no idea, probably close.
 
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