[E90Fatlace]

hey all. looking at purchasing a 335i here in a few weeks. going to go test drive an automatic next week. i currently own a stage 2 supercharge civic si. 6spd manual. i am not the best manual drive but i do okay. wondering how u guys like the manual? is it fun down shifting? how r the gears? 1st n 2nd? how does the shifting feel?

AT tranny guys. how does the auto shift? pretty smooth?

when u pop it over to DS is it pretty fun to accelerate?

n when u use the paddles is the car fun to shift? i more enjoy cruising n breaking knecks, going to stance the beamer, but i definately want more power nder the hood, id like to be able to relax in traffic but dont want the car to bore me out when its AT need ur help n opinions. thanks!

[gary88]

You can barely notice the auto shifting at city speeds, but if you go full throttle on the highway you'll get a firm satisfying jolt when shifting.

DS is kind of awkward since it just holds the gears longer and locks out 6th, manually shifting with the paddles/shifter is nicer.

The auto doesn't give you that raw visceral connection to the car like a 6MT, but it's by no means a bad transmission choice. Both MT and AT are very good in the 335i.

[Eric335]

well.... i drive a manual because it makes YOU drive the car, and you cant ever complain about which gear your in The AT in these cars seems like it would be fun, and im not going to lie and say i don't miss it at times, but all in all, MT all the way. Manual is more fun IMO, AT is more practical. MT can be safer (more concentrated on road), while the AT will let you text/eat/drink/play Sudoku while you drive.

Before others say it, use the "Search" button, there are a trillion threads on AT vs MT. Im sure you can find many opinions in those threads.

[cole92]

I drive 100+ miles per day and have driven all manual cars for the last 10 years. With traffic on i695 or the harrisburg beltway, I chose to have an automatic this time. Definitely enjoy it more now, in traffic especially.

I rarely use DS, I either drive in D or Manual. Though coming from an evo, I bought a 328 to put miles on it, not to race people on the streets.

[gary88]

Originally Posted by Eric335

MT can be safer (more concentrated on road), while the AT will let you text/eat/drink/play Sudoku while you drive.

Weak argument at best

[NjPrince]

AT is the way the go! Bmw's have an amazing transmission!

[Yvette]

I have at now, and I had mt on my last cars including BMW,
I can say I miss my mt but you can't go wrong with AT w/ BMW.

[mike3000fl]

I have an e90 AT and my old e46 was an MT.

I can say that the AT is an amazing tranny, it does what you would want it to do if you were driving stick. It is nothing like any other AT I have driven. It shifts fast, it responds, there is no lag or hesitation. I bang the pedal to the floor and trip the kickdown, it downshifts and goes.

When you test drive, make sure you try DS. When you flip it left into DS, the car wakes up. This allows it to rev higher, much like you would in a stick. It becomes aggressive. The car becomes an animal in DS. It's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.


If you prefer the control, then go manual M1-M6.

For me the decision would rest on what I do with the car...

If you plan to track or drive aggressive 90 percent of the time, and drive with the family the other 10 percent get a MT.

If you want to relax and enjoy the ride 90 percent of the time, and spend 10 percent of the time playing cat and mouse get an AT.

For me when you buy a BMW, you are buying something refined, perhaps even borderline luxury (albeit a 3 series), manual shifting in stop and go traffic takes away from that experience. I could see where manual shifting on a track would be fun though. I wouldn't purchase an MT based on the limited amount of time I am actually running the car hard. That's like buying a 4wd truck because I need to move haul some stuff twice a year. I need to move furniture, I rent a truck for the day.

[Majikthese42]

Since I purchased my car because I wanted a station wagon that was available with a manual transmission, buying the car with an automatic would not have made any sense at all.

My BMW service loaners have all been automatics.

I would not a BMW with an automatic transmission.

[spiike32]

I wouldn't say MT is safer. If you see someone barreling at you and trying to swerve out of the way at the last second, in an AT you can just jab the accelerator and give him space. MT you need to work the clutch, shift, accelerate... in that time you've been rear ended.

ask me how I know...

[messi]

auto bro. trust me. if u have traffic it is a no brainer

[username604]

Originally Posted by Eric335

MT can be safer (more concentrated on road), while the AT will let you text/eat/drink/play Sudoku while you drive.

I've seen my friend text, eat, shift, and drive his turbo 240sx on an empty road. Distracted drivers are distracted, I could argue that standard transmissions distract you with when to shift etc.
Manuals are more pure, and autos are more practical. The zf hp26 in the 335i is in a totally different league than a Camry or a civic. Nonetheless, whether it e step, DCT, or SMG, it's still an automated transmission, what happens under the chassis doesn't change the basic driving character.

[BoostAddict]

Drive both and see what you like. They are both good options. This is the only auto tranny I have ever liked. I got a manual, and at times, specifically at the drag strip, I wish I had an auto for the consistency. The manual is definitely more engaging and fun to drive though. Get what suits your needs. If you plan to modify extensively, I would probably get a manual just because it is easier to swap clutches than build an auto. That was my logic. FWIW last time at the strip all the mt cars ran faster and trapped higher than the 6at's.

[M340i Pride]

Originally Posted by E90Fatlace

hey all. looking at purchasing a 335i here in a few weeks. going to go test drive an automatic next week. i currently own a stage 2 supercharge civic si. 6spd manual. i am not the best manual drive but i do okay. wondering how u guys like the manual? is it fun down shifting? how r the gears? 1st n 2nd? how does the shifting feel?

AT tranny guys. how does the auto shift? pretty smooth?

when u pop it over to DS is it pretty fun to accelerate?

n when u use the paddles is the car fun to shift? i more enjoy cruising n breaking knecks, going to stance the beamer, but i definately want more power nder the hood, id like to be able to relax in traffic but dont want the car to bore me out when its AT need ur help n opinions. thanks!

most AT's are definitely slower and transmit less power than MT.

335i's MT is the one of very few AT that Ive seen that was quicker than MT. caranddriver had 4.8 with AT while 4.9 with MT. its one of very few AT that is faster. ZF 6spd AT is one of those amazing AT that instantly locks up torque converter when pressed and transmit power just as much as MT, while with faster than human speed of AT.

our AT on 335i is awesome... you wont go wrong with it. I have fun with M mode time to time when the "manual" itch comes to me.

[tibra1]

MTs are the only choice for me.

[Timothy J]

Thank God somebody finally posted a AT vs MT thread. I always wondered what everyone would chime in.

[JPK89]

I have owned two manual cars before this and granted its more fun to drive a manual...for every day use...i wouldnt go back as my daily driver. The 335i is fun with my auto...the tranny is really good and for the most part...whatever gear i am in...when i get on the gas...there is power...the paddle shifters are fun...there isnt much lag as you would think...you can pretty much pick your gear like a manual..

[x26]

Originally Posted by E90Fatlace

hey all. looking at purchasing a 335i here in a few weeks. going to go test drive an automatic next week. i currently own a stage 2 supercharge civic si. 6spd manual. i am not the best manual drive but i do okay. wondering how u guys like the manual? is it fun down shifting? how r the gears? 1st n 2nd? how does the shifting feel?

AT tranny guys. how does the auto shift? pretty smooth?

when u pop it over to DS is it pretty fun to accelerate?

n when u use the paddles is the car fun to shift? i more enjoy cruising n breaking knecks, going to stance the beamer, but i definately want more power nder the hood, id like to be able to relax in traffic but dont want the car to bore me out when its AT need ur help n opinions. thanks!

Best "Auto" I've ever driven.
I love DS--It Rocks!!

[E90Fatlace]

thanks for all the comments! i mainly was asking as looking at AT would free up possibilities in my price range. only manual i found id have to carmax in from cali. other than that i got 2 ATs that r the way i want them pretty much. just gotta figure outn read up on how much sport package and premium package r worth in the long run? seats etc.. just gotta read read read

[Wild Squid]

You should probably know what kind of transmission you prefer since you drive a manual already. But know this, the BMW manual tranny will be a bit more difficult to drive smoothly between 1st and 2nd than the Civic. Honda's manuals are notoriously easy to drive. You should go and test drive both before you decide. The transmission choice is a big decision and you don't want to make the wrong one for you! Lots of people anguish and regret over not getting the manual, but not many regret not getting the auto over the manual. For me, the manual was the most important thing, so important that I couldn't find a decent used one on the used market or the new market, so I had to order from the factory!!

[BEAR-AvHistory]

53 years of stick, now have DCT & will never go back to stick except for 4X4 trucks

[witeagle]

congradulations on getting into the realm of BMWs. You should enjoy it either with AT or 6MT but you need to be the deciding factor. There is almost a 50/50 split of AT vs MT drivers here so you will get vast opinions on both sides of the fence.

For me, it's MT but that is what I love to drive. Even sitting in traffic every day doesn't bother me with MT - after 20 or so years with MT, it's like 2nd nature!