E85 auto box = fun?

[inkey$]

Is the auto box on E85’s traditional auto or were there three offered in its lifecycle - auto, auto with paddles, SMG?
Interested to hear from anyone that has an auto and how they drive/are they still fun etc.

 

[enuff_zed]

My missus has a 2.5i with a conventional auto box.
In normal mode it behaves more like an older style box, albeit with more gears.
Personally it annoys me as I never seem to be in the right gear to exit a corner.
Missus gets on better with it than me.
However, stick it in sport and it becomes a much better car to drive. Then it is mot definitely FUN!
I also had a 3.0i auto for a while and that felt exactly the same.
There's probably a knack to cornering to make it shift down but I never got it.

 

[mr.tourette]

think it was pre facelift autobox no paddles and an smg option, facelift autobox with paddles..I enjoyed my time in my old 3.0si auto and would definitely be tempted into an auto again, that said in my e89 I also enjoyed the manual box albeit i do still find the boxes a bit agricultural and never did enjoy the 1st to 2nd changes which detracted from the experience somewhat, I think if i do jump into an e89 again it would almost certainly be an auto

 

[inkey$]

Thanks both. Quite like the idea of more direct paddle changes with the ease of full auto in traffic.

 

[Rockhopper]

You need to go into the corner a bit faster and brake harder into the corner then plant your foot into the carpet on the way out and let the box sort out which gear it wants to be in.

 

[enuff_zed]

You need to go into the corner a bit faster and brake harder into the corner then plant your foot into the carpet on the way out and let the box sort out which gear it wants to be in.

Yeah, that's my point, after years of driving RWD cars I'm much more into the brake hard before the corner and select the correct gear to drive through it. The older auto box is too slow so you're past the apex and still waiting for the drive. It's the 'let the box sort it out' bit that leaves you hanging.

 

[Zulu4]

I love driving my 3.0si Auto. It feels just as quick as my lad's Porsche 911 C4 (996) Tiptronic and more responsive when in sport.
The auto box is really smooth. Makes it easy round town and in heavy traffic too.

 

[agent851]

Just came back from a drive in 3.0i auto - was fun to me.

 

[Zedebee]

Hi Inkey$, the auto box took a bit of getting used to, but is it still fun? Yes. I am not the raciest driver, but I do like to put my foot down at traffic lights and let the three litre lump do it’s thing; and the approach to corners is solved by selecting second or third in manual mode. It’s not as sharp as the autobox in my former GT86, but it’s good nonetheless, seems to be reliable, and is a godsend in traffic. You are welcome to try mine if you are in the area.

 

[inkey$]

Hi Inkey$, the auto box took a bit of getting used to, but is it still fun? Yes. I am not the raciest driver, but I do like to put my foot down at traffic lights and let the three litre lump do it’s thing; and the approach to corners is solved by selecting second or third in manual mode. It’s not as sharp as the autobox in my former GT86, but it’s good nonetheless, seems to be reliable, and is a godsend in traffic. You are welcome to try mine if you are in the area.

Sounds as though I need to have a go in one to see for myself. I love a gear change, but I also love relaxing in Friday night stop-start traffic on the A2 :lol:
If I'm in Hampshire area anytime soon I'll drop you a line

 

[deltasierra]

The 2.5 si auto is great fun especially in sport mode, gear changes are quick when the transmission has warmed up, just use the paddle changers when you need to. The real benefit is in traffic or cruising it’s just so smooth to drive, quite a Jeckyll and Hyde personality.

 

[enuff_zed]

Yes, bear in mind that my experience was with the older style box without paddles.
It seems the paddles make it much easier to manually select the gear you want.

 

[DMike]

I have the pre facelift auto, with retrofitted paddles. Or ”retrofitted”, as there never were paddles available from facory but the circuitry is very simple. Combined with the 3 litre engine the box is plenty fast and fun, with good 0 to 60 times by just using the first two gears and you could drive through most corners in 2nd or 3rd keeping the revs high. Don’t do tracking, so cannot comment on that.

 

[inkey$]

I have the pre facelift auto, with retrofitted paddles. Or ”retrofitted”, as there never were paddles available from facory but the circuitry is very simple. Combined with the 3 litre engine the box is plenty fast and fun, with good 0 to 60 times by just using the first two gears and you could drive through most corners in 2nd or 3rd keeping the revs high. Don’t do tracking, so cannot comment on that.

Very interesting. So the pre-facelift can be wired up with paddles if required?

 

[DMike]

I have the pre facelift auto, with retrofitted paddles. Or ”retrofitted”, as there never were paddles available from facory but the circuitry is very simple. Combined with the 3 litre engine the box is plenty fast and fun, with good 0 to 60 times by just using the first two gears and you could drive through most corners in 2nd or 3rd keeping the revs high. Don’t do tracking, so cannot comment on that.

Very interesting. So the pre-facelift can be wired up with paddles if required?

Yes it can. I think there has been some threads on the forum about this. The gear stick’s up/down circuitry is just a simple switch with three wires. A parallel connection is run to the steering column’s clockspring and from there to a smg or post facelift steering wheel with paddles. Most pre facelifts will need a new, smg or post facelift clockspring. Did mine some 15 years ago with a set of parts and instructions bought from Mr. Paddleshift — which may be out of business nowadays. The installation wasn’t difficult.

 

[DMike]

Here’s one of the threads.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=52447

 

[patriot66]

I have the pre facelift auto, with retrofitted paddles. Or ”retrofitted”, as there never were paddles available from facory but the circuitry is very simple. Combined with the 3 litre engine the box is plenty fast and fun, with good 0 to 60 times by just using the first two gears and you could drive through most corners in 2nd or 3rd keeping the revs high. Don’t do tracking, so cannot comment on that.

Very interesting. So the pre-facelift can be wired up with paddles if required?

As Dmike says, yes it can. You will need the paddles or steering wheel complete with paddles from a pre-facelift SMG (same as mine) and a few other parts, connectors and cable. This video shows how : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQlL5htuY7k&feature=share&si=ELPmzJkDCLju2KnD5oyZMQ
Just going back to your original post/question Inkey$, the SMG is NOT an automatic gearbox. It is a Sequential Manual Gearbox. The gearbox itself is the same ZF GS6-37BZ unit (slightly different clutch components) fitted to ALL 6speed manual Z4s from 2003 - 2009. The gearbox and clutch are controlled by a Magneti Marelli electro-hydraulic system which is operated by the gear selector or flappy paddles. No clutch pedal. Pull the selector or either paddle for upshifts and push for downshifts. Super-fast, foot to the boards, full-throttle upshifts if you want and rev-matched downshifts are just perfect. There is an Auto mode if you want to waft round town but I never use it

 

[firebobby]

The nutty button makes thing very interesting when pressed.
Definitely a Jeckyll and Hyde car and such fun

 

[inkey$]

If anyone in SE London or Kent area has an E85 with an auto box, I’d love to have a try.