Auto Transmission

I've read ZF makes the new auto 6sp transmission in the coupe. How confident do you feel about the new transmission versus the major issues with the E46 transmissions?

Originally Posted by grandmaster

I've read ZF makes the new auto 6sp transmission in the coupe. How confident do you feel about the new transmission versus the major issues with the E46 transmissions?

The ZF 6HP06 6-speed transmission has been around since 2001. ZF Friedrichshafen AG/ZF Getriebe GmbH was debatably the first company to produce a high-performance 6sp AT. The concept of the transmission is to make it as lightweight as possible for performance and fuel economy. The transmission weights approximately 11kg less than the their previous 5sp AT, which was similar to the French Getrag 5sp AT. Fuel economy is up 5-7% as well. The technology for the transmission is revolutionary and really has set a standard. ZF has sold their transmission to Audi, Rolls Royce, and now to Maserati for the Quattroporte and the new Gran Turismo Coupe (not the most reliable of cars, but they don't have tranny problems).

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty impressed with it. I've driven the 335i with it and was very impressed. The power was usable, the shifting was quick and direct, and during the steptronic shifting mode, the shifting was immediately responsive to my inputs and commands. Unfortunately for BMW, the 328's still use the French Getrag.

I'm glad that BMW finally got a proper automatic transmission from Germany instead of sticking with one made by those cheese-eating surrender-monkeys. The transmission has shown no major faults and has been very reliable. The old Getrag is a the true definition of a slushbox. The new ZF is by far the best AT I've ever driven. Every magazine and group that's evaluated it has stated that it's a whole new animal and has excelled where all other ATs have failed. No one calls it a slushbox.

That's just my observation and opinion, though.

The ZF is in the 335 coupe AND sedan. 328 coupe and sedan have a GM (NOT Getrag) AT.

Originally Posted by jmonier

The ZF is in the 335 coupe AND sedan. 328 coupe and sedan have a GM (NOT Getrag) AT.

GM farms it out to France. My understanding was that Getrag was doing it for GM.

Originally Posted by Reedo302

GM farms it out to France. My understanding was that Getrag was doing it for GM.

Perhaps. They are certainly made in France according to the sticker (although some people claimed they have seen Country of Orgin as Germany on some 328 ATs). It is certainly a GM design. There are many threads (and some reviews) identifying it as GM and nary a one, until now, mentioning Getrag. Getrag DOES do the MT.

in the E46, who was making the auto transmission that had the slew of failures?

Originally Posted by grandmaster

in the E46, who was making the auto transmission that had the slew of failures?

i believe that was GM