Auto or Manual?

[94_e34_525i]

With so many new members joining our forum, I was really curious on how many people have an automatic transmission and how many have a manual. I hope I get a big sample size. Thanks for voting.

[Sam-Son]

Had an auto hated it. just got a manual:D

[94_e34_525i]

LOL, Ya after I read your post I got real curious, I don't much like Auto's either but its what I have. I am actually considering getting an e30 with a 5 spd instead of spending all that money switching mine, that way I will have two BMW's .

[indierthanthou]

Personally, I think autos take some of the driver out of the equation. I like to have control over my car.

[94_e34_525i]

3 to 1 already damn im feeling lonely lol.

[94_e34_525i]

Thats better.

[Eagle]

Only use my BMW for weekend trips long distance so auto is fine. Hate driving it in town

[Ferret]

Damnit where's the option for 'my other car's a manual, and I hate autos and am looking to ditch my auto E34 for a manual E34 v8?'

:p

[uscharalph]

I wish I had a 6 speed manual transmission, though.

[Torque]

I'm in the 3 pedal club.

[Paul in NZ]

just to make it even more interesting we should had the engine size too...
535 manual
Manual will be overrepresented here I think...

[pingu]

Gears? What are they - some quaint anachronism left over from the early 20th century?

[Paul in NZ]

Gears? What are they - some quaint anachronism left over from the early 20th century?
there are gears in an auto too buddy.....

[cobb535]

Just upgraded from a 535 auto to a 540 auto. The difference is night and day. The 540 has enough power to make the auto acceptable, the 535 did not. My car is used for commuting in stop and go ... mostly stop ...... so the auto is much preferred for everyday driving. If this were a weekend car or garage queen ... I'd go with the stick. Just being practicle for me.

[whiskychaser]

Can drive a crash box but wouldnt want to anymore :-)

[timandbim]

i'm happy with the auto... but 2 months ago i was driving a manual 1983 cargo van so who wouldn't be? not shifting helps me smoke more efficiently.

[artguy]

I have a manual in my 320i and an auto in my 530i. I love driving a manual, but it really sucks in stop and go traffic around town, or when dropping your kid off at school in a long, slooooow moving line of soccer moms. :D

It's nice having one of each. Although my ultimate favorite, I hope to have someday, is a black 540i 6-speed manual. The 530i came along now for the right price so I grabbed it.

[Turbo Ready]

I taught myself how to drive on a manual car starting around 13. I have owned about 12 cars in my 37 years.
i build and fly gas powered aerobatic airplanes and needed a bigger vehicle to transport them so I purchased an Automatic 96 Pontiac Transport fully loaded which changed the way I felt about autos. The owner kept it like it was a show room display, clean and mint. The thing had a 3.8 V6 motor and was fast and smooth. I did an inspection on it, changed all the fluids including tranny fluid (tranny shop) and it ran fine.

11 months later at 210,000 KM, the tranny started to lag engagement from park to drive and progressively got worse. took it to a tranny specialist, he flushed it and told me the clutch bands are going. It worked for a while, around 9 months and then started slipping.
I spent $ 2k on a rebuild and it was a failure, was not shifting properly and to make matters worse, while the shop was testing, they spun the # 2 main bearing, have a feeling it was over revved. So I gave the van to a buddy who had one of the same kind and lost $ 2K along with the cost of the van which was $ 7K

I might have had bad luck on my first auto, but I don't want to own another auto, until I hit 70 maybe.

[Ross]

Two automatic and three manual BMs.

[94_e34_525i]

Wow, I this is a surprise I was actually expecting more automatics then manuals. Although If every member voted then I would be correct.

[gale]

Once you go stick . . .

[leicesterboy15]

My 535i Sport is a manual but my 540i is an Auto. As someone said the 540i has the power to carry off the auto and most of my driving is in town (50 mins to do 12.5 miles) but I still love and prefer the manual.

The auto is great for the traffic light grand-prix though! No thinking required, just plant your foot and hold on. If you get it right in the manual the car flies off the line and its very satisfying but I generally only get it right 1 in 5 times and you risk loosing the other 4 (shiver at the thought:( )

The 13mpg-mad-as-****-sport mode helps keep life entertaining tho with the auto:D :D :p

[g7syw]

My car is used for commuting in stop and go ... mostly stop ...... so the auto is much preferred for everyday driving. If this were a weekend car or garage queen ... I'd go with the stick. Just being practicle for me.

Yep, same here - now if I could just get one that didn't need refuelling... :D

[Guapo]

My E34 is my daily driver, and as such is an auto. Much better for sitting in traffic.

My weekend car is a manual, however. For actual "driving", manual is much more enjoyable.

[94_e34_525i]

Ya that is so true Auto is good for stop and go and for everyday driving, I don't think I would like a stick shift car everyday especially in the morning and driving to school im to damn sleepy to shift. Thats why I want to get an e30 that way ill have a fun car and a practical car.

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

5 speed pre-select Wilson-env, where`s the poll for that??!! Lay odds that winfred has`nt pulled one of them.

[Herb]

Mine is an autotragic, but I have a 5spd waiting in the garage.:D

[Russell]

Not funny or cute- just sounds "uniformed".

[Robert K]

I had a 1990 5 speed to begin with. But first gear was way too steep and it always liked to hang slightly in first gear no matter how I used the clutch. I actually got to where I didn't want to drive it because of this problem. Finally one day it hit me how insane it was to own a car I didn't like to drive. So...I sold it. Found a very nice 1991 535i auto in granite metallic and have loved it. As far as everyone saying they want to be in control and be involved and that's why they drive a 5-speed...I can manually shift my auto box anytime the mood strikes. That's why BMW put the auto/manual mode switch next to the shift lever.

Grace and peace,

Robert K
1991 535i auto

[Sam-Son]

I just got to thinking does anybody here have the Dinan trtansmission chip? I would really like to know what its like

[Russell]

shifts at higher rpm at wide open throttle only. No other changes. No part throttle changes. I inquired when they were on sale for 1/2 price. Not worth it to me for my 95 525i.

[Torque]

While we're on this subject. Does anyone have gear ratios (or can tell me where to find them), diff gear ratios and where they all redline for the following 5speed cars:

m20 525im
m50 525im
535im.
530im

I'd like to see them and punch them into a gearing calculator just to see how they compare to each other in terms of gearing.

edit: found it in the bentley. duh

[Stephan735i]

Why does it lack a option when you own several E34: s, I drive four 540i/6 and one 540iA, it's in just to be renovated and finding a new owner, bought it for the second time:) M Sport package and Individual paint makes my like it even with a automatic, but my real love is the 540i/6 so I have four:D it's the best car you can have, bought my first in March 2002 and I love them more today:p

Stephan

[repenttokyo]

I had a 1990 5 speed to begin with. But first gear was way too steep and it always liked to hang slightly in first gear no matter how I used the clutch. I actually got to where I didn't want to drive it because of this problem. Finally one day it hit me how insane it was to own a car I didn't like to drive. So...I sold it. Found a very nice 1991 535i auto in granite metallic and have loved it. As far as everyone saying they want to be in control and be involved and that's why they drive a 5-speed...I can manually shift my auto box anytime the mood strikes. That's why BMW put the auto/manual mode switch next to the shift lever.

Grace and peace,

Robert K
1991 535i auto

that auto switch, according to the manual, is only to hold a gear without shifting - not for manual shifting of an auto gearbox.

[Robert K]

When you put the selector switch in "M", I believe the trans selects whatever gear you have the lever in. I'll try it out next time I'm out, but I believe if you have it in "3" at a stoplight, you'll pull away in third gear. My point is that I can shift the gears manually using the lever if I choose. If I want to go up through the gears from a stoplight, I can do it. If I want to manually downshift a couple of gears for a pass, I can do that too. I understand that it isn't the same as a manual, but I can choose to manually select gears with my automatic. I'd just love to figure out how to rig up a couple of buttons or paddles on the steering wheel to be able to shift that way. Now that would be too cool...

Grace and peace,

Robert K
1991 535i

[Torque]

When you put the selector switch in "M", I believe the trans selects whatever gear you have the lever in. I'll try it out next time I'm out, but I believe if you have it in "3" at a stoplight, you'll pull away in third gear. My point is that I can shift the gears manually using the lever if I choose. If I want to go up through the gears from a stoplight, I can do it. If I want to manually downshift a couple of gears for a pass, I can do that too. I understand that it isn't the same as a manual, but I can choose to manually select gears with my automatic. I'd just love to figure out how to rig up a couple of buttons or paddles on the steering wheel to be able to shift that way. Now that would be too cool...

Grace and peace,

Robert K
1991 535iYes, but I can't see downshifting it being good on the trans. I don't think BMW had downshifting it, skipping gears etc in mind when they designed that; that's why they offered a real manual.

[525SEI BRIT]

Just not old enough for an auto!!!:D

[repenttokyo]

When you put the selector switch in "M", I believe the trans selects whatever gear you have the lever in. I'll try it out next time I'm out, but I believe if you have it in "3" at a stoplight, you'll pull away in third gear. My point is that I can shift the gears manually using the lever if I choose. If I want to go up through the gears from a stoplight, I can do it. If I want to manually downshift a couple of gears for a pass, I can do that too. I understand that it isn't the same as a manual, but I can choose to manually select gears with my automatic. I'd just love to figure out how to rig up a couple of buttons or paddles on the steering wheel to be able to shift that way. Now that would be too cool...

Grace and peace,

Robert K
1991 535i


yeah, that's what i was saying, I guess I wasn't clear - it lets you select the gear you want to start in, or stay in, and it won't shift automatically. The tranny won't be happy with a lot of manual shifting though.

On my Lincoln Mark VIII, a company called Baumann offered a kit that allowed me to shift the auto tranny up and down using the cruise control buttons on my steering wheel. I had a built tranny that could t ake the punishment, but sadly, the car died in an accident before I could install "The Baumannator".