[BMWGuySweden]

Does anyone else prefer shifting manually rather than just having it in automatic?

As much as I love my m40i I'm not thrilled with the gearbox in auto. It shifts real fast but I feel it often chooses a gear that is either too high or too low. I may just be too used to having a manual transmission and always being able to choose gears. When I started putting it in sport shift mode (shifter to the left) and using the paddle shifters wow what a difference. Now it's just perfect. Didn't think I'd be using the paddles but now I'm hooked.

[sor]

Originally Posted by BMWGuySweden

Does anyone else prefer shifting manually rather than just having it in automatic?

As much as I love my m40i I'm not thrilled with the gearbox in auto. It shifts real fast but I feel it often chooses a gear that is either too high or too low. I may just be too used to having a manual transmission and always being able to choose gears. When I started putting it in sport shift mode (shifter to the left) and using the paddle shifters wow what a difference. Now it's just perfect. Didn't think I'd be using the paddles but now I'm hooked.

Yes, I got the habit with my DCT M3 eight years ago. I appreciate how their auto transmissions still have a setup similar to DCT, especially with the auto hold feature enabled.

[Arcanum-UK]

I always use the paddles. All the way back to the M135i I bought in 2012 which had to be an automatic as my wife was fed up with manuals (and we had an EP3 Civic Type-R which had possibly the best manual gearbox ever).

Going back to the ZF box from the DCT in my last M2, I'm reminded that the ZF shift is merely OK rather than fast, but you can compensate for that by changing up/down slightly earlier than you would with a DCT.

Out of interest, do you think the box shifts quicker in sport/sport+ when using the paddles. I couldn't really tell, but only have 350-miles on the clock so have played with that setting much and haven't been shifting above 4,000-RPM (as it's still in the running in period) where faster shifts may be more noticeable.

[Jayf30]

Yup. I only drive in manual mode. I use the shifter 90% of the time and the paddles occasionally.

[swestland85]

Fasts shifts definitely noticeable with higher rpms and in sport/+ mode. It's not soft anymore and just throws the gearshift in.

[mmmmm40i]

Originally Posted by swestland85

Fasts shifts definitely noticeable with higher rpms and in sport/+ mode. It's not soft anymore and just throws the gearshift in.

I feel it shifting faster when in the sport modes as well. Having read a lot about the ZF8 transmission, it seems like it holds its own against many dual-clutch. Was apprehensive at first but after test driving it, I can say I pretty much agree.

[spangle1980]

Originally Posted by mmmmm40i

I feel it shifting faster when in the sport modes as well. Having read a lot about the ZF8 transmission, it seems like it holds its own against many dual-clutch. Was apprehensive at first but after test driving it, I can say I pretty much agree.

Manual all the time, probably like above I do 90%. I have a 2014 35d at the moment and waiting for m4 m40d. When I test drove a M40i a couple of months back I noticed that the stick was more resistant than current. Whether this was because new I'm not sure - is it so with the new model?

Admittedly I use the paddles mostly, but like to alternate :-)

[dinan5m3]

Prefer shifting manually

LOL, and i thought was referring to 6MT

Seriously though, i didn't know this but our M40i has DCT and rev matching?

[Replicant]

I drove manual for many many years and then moved to a dual clutch in my Audi and shift that manually 95% of the time. I find it too aggressive in sport and too lazy in drive. In the M40i I find regular sport to do a pretty good job. I drove it manually a little bit today but there is something about the paddle placement / size I’m not crazy about. Same complaint in the F80/2. That aside, I think it shifts fantastic for a traditional automatic. I would be fooled that it was a DCT if I didn’t know better. ZF truly is the best of both worlds IMO. I wasn’t a believer till I drove this vehicle.

[skier219]

Originally Posted by dinan5m3

LOL, and i thought was referring to 6MT

Seriously though, i didn't know this but our M40i has DCT and rev matching?

No, it's a ZF 8-spd auto with torque converter.

[skier219]

Since this thread has some confusing statements I thought I should clarify that iDrive sport mode changes shift behavior and putting the transmission lever into sport also changes shift behavior, and the two are independent. You can combine them for yet another variation.

This chart gives a rough idea of the many combinations. The X3 isn't exactly the same, but the variations follow similar patterns:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...12&postcount=4

I would suggest anyone that cares about this sort of thing explore the full matrix of iDrive and shifter modes and you're bound to find a combination that is perfect.

[MattXYZ]

Originally Posted by skier219

No, it's a ZF 8-spd auto with torque converter.

Yep - definitely ZF 8 speed auto box. I believe the X3M is also confirmed using a similar/same ZF 8 speed auto box.

I am quite impressed by the ZF 8 speed auto. Changes are super smooth. But I’ve only done a few hundred miles so far! I’m looking forward to how it performs after a few thousand miles.

Compared to the 7 speed auto in my previous Merc C300 coupe, the BMW ZF 8 is miles better. Far smoother changes up and down, and no clunk when putting in P or R.