Auto Box - Any good?

S

Sycamore

Member
A job change means I'm in the market for a Z4.

Settled on a 6cyl, 2.5 or 3.0.
Budget of ~£5k looks to buy a somewhat ropey 3.0 with higher miles, or a decent 2.5.

There aren't many Z4s for sale near me (West Mids), and the majority of the ones that are are 4 cylinder, or Automatic.

I've never owned an Automatic, and a slow commute through town centres means they do sound ideal, although I'd still want to take the car out for a blat on a weekend and so not sure if I'd regret not getting a manual. Currently driving a 200bhp MG TF, which is practically a go-kart held together with blu-tac, and so a manual makes sense, but in the more relaxed Z4 I'm not so sure.

Are the automatic gearboxes on a Z4 any good?
Any advice is much appreciated. Cheers all.
 
Well I would never accept an auto in a 'sports car'. I even hated the DCT in the new M3. But this is very much like asking is somebody likes Marmite. A lot of people on here get on with the autos, it's just that I am not one of them.
 
I've got a auto 07 2.5si with paddles and its great fun plus with the comfort of auto driving in traffic. I would give all options a go before making a decision.
 
I've had manual and auto and like both. I'm currently driving a 3.0 auto, love the paddle shift for a bit of control, and general auto mode in traffic is great.
 
My daily 330d has the Steptronic system and the Z4 the twin clutch auto. I love both systems and wouldn’t go back to a manual. If you expect to get caught in traffic queues the auto is a real boon. It makes driving more relaxed and easy. The paddles allow you to take control of the changes if you want to do so. Having said that there are lots on this forum who wouldn't go near an auto box at any price.The only way, as others have suggested, is to try them for yourself. :thumbsup:
 
I've got a 2004 3.0 Auto, I like it. Come try it if you want. I'm in Northampton.

I've got the paddles, but yet to fit them.
 
If you plan on driving the car daily in traffic and have some good fun the weekend, you can't go wrong with the auto, really. My 3.0si is very comfortable to drive around town, but once I hit the country roads and press the sport button with manual mode enabled, it is day and night. And I love both sides of it!

You may read also about the sport button, which really change the drive on the auto box, while manual owners seem to feel less changes.

I would personally choose the manual over the auto only if the car is a weekend toy or a "proper" sport car. As for instance the Z4M which is only coming manual.
 
I've got a 3.0 with the SMG box, often referred to as the half-way point between the manual and the automatic. I really like it, but it did take a little getting used to. I never use it on full auto mode (because it's horrible), instead use the paddles or gear shift daily, and once you have the knack it's as good as the manual IMO. Would recommend seeking one out to at least try; I bought mine last year for less than £5k with a decent spec and 60k miles.
 
I have E86 3.0 si auto and it’s fantastic. Gear changes are smooth as silk and my left foot is beautiful rested. With the paddles I can have just as much fun as I would in a manual but have all the relaxation of an auto when I’m stuck in traffic which is 95% of my journeys.

I’d 100% recommend an auto
 
I love the auto box, had one my E85 and now on my E89, both superb boxes, plus the sport button works brilliantly with the auto
 
Love the auto! Bought my 3.0 54 plate auto - 69000 on the clock.

I have a 15 plate C250 Merc auto ... and I must admit the Z4 box feels so smooth in comparison to the newer car!!

Brilliant!

Scott
 
I owned a 54 3.0l for 2 and half years and I must say I absolutely loved it. Just because you don't change gear doesn't mean you can't have fun
 
As has already been said BMW does autos very well. The only thing to note with the pre facelift 3.0i cars is they are only 5 speed auto where as the manual are 6 speed. the post face lift autos are also 6 speed.
 
MACK said:
As has already been said BMW does autos very well. The only thing to note with the pre facelift 3.0i cars is they are only 5 speed auto where as the manual are 6 speed. the post face lift autos are also 6 speed.
Click to expand...

Since you just brought it up now I’m curious. What’s the side by side gear ratio and max speed comparison of each gear you’d get with the differences from 5 vs 6 speed on the auto box? Also was the final drive ratio same both pre and post facelift with both 2.5&3.0. I know there’s differences between the 2.5i and 3.0i pre but wasn’t sure if they changed in the facelift.
 
philbo909 said:
Bmw does automatics well, their manuals less so. Try both and see what you prefer :thumbsup:
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Lol really?
I think you would find a legion of autobox-failure owners who might take issue with your claim, and a possibly just as many manual box owners.... :?
 
I have a 2.2 auto which after coming from an e36 2.8 manual (converted auto to manual) seemed slow and less involving to drive

I retrofitted the sport button and I’ve been using the auto in manual mode more and more and even though I’m a hardcore manual fan there are plenty of moments when the auto seems good enough that I’m not compelled to regret the fact I couldn’t locate a manual Z4.

The auto in my Z4 is much better than the auto in my girlfriends R50 mini, so I guess that has also helped me appreciate it more than I did previously.
 
After 25 years of owning manuals, my coupé was the first auto I’d owned. I’m so pleased with it, that I will want an auto in my next car.
 
Piper1 said:
MACK said:
As has already been said BMW does autos very well. The only thing to note with the pre facelift 3.0i cars is they are only 5 speed auto where as the manual are 6 speed. the post face lift autos are also 6 speed.
Click to expand...

Since you just brought it up now I’m curious. What’s the side by side gear ratio and max speed comparison of each gear you’d get with the differences from 5 vs 6 speed on the auto box? Also was the final drive ratio same both pre and post facelift with both 2.5&3.0. I know there’s differences between the 2.5i and 3.0i pre but wasn’t sure if they changed in the facelift.
Click to expand...

I have the details on my home computer not with me but yes there is different ratios/diffs right across the range. The only real exception is the 6 speed manual, it's ratios are the same across all 3.0/30si applications it's just the diff that changes with the 3.0i pre having the longest and 3.0si coupe the shortest. The 3.0si roadster is in between the too. The m uses the same box and basically the same ratios. To account for its different tyre sizes it uses a shorter diff than the the 3.0si coupe. But because of the tyres it basically has the same overall gearing. A 2.5 pre face-lift auto uses basically the same diff ratio as a m. So if your running m tyre sizes for that bit extra ride quality you can match up the 3.0si coupe/M gearing useing one of these. I did this mod.
 
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I have the details on my home computer not with me but yes there is different ratios/diffs right across the range. The only real exception is the 6 speed manual, it's ratios are the same across all 3.0/30si applications it's just the diff that changes with the 3.0i pre having the longest and 3.0si coupe the shortest. The 3.0si roadster is in between the too. The m uses the same box and basically the same ratios. To account for its different tyre sizes it uses a shorter diff than the the 3.0si coupe. But because of the tyres it basically has the same overall gearing. A 2.5 pre face-lift auto uses basically the same diff ratio as a m. So if your running m tyre sizes for that bit extra ride quality you can match up the 3.0si coupe/M gearing useing one of these. I did this mod.
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:thumbsup: excellent thanks. I had always been curious about what stock side by side comparison would be in loosing a gear with 5 speed auto vs 6speed manual. My final drive change has thrown a major variance to it all so didn’t want to throw in that variable right away in this discussion but I went to a 4.10:1 lsd and tires are 255/35/18 square stance
 
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