320/325 auto boxes

[MattW]

Hello

Are these auto boxes 4 or 3 speed? Are they any good - reliable and smooth? or should i stick with hunting down a manual e30...

Thanks for any gen

matt

[amit325i]

Only the some of the early ones were 3 speed, autos are ok as long as they are serviced properly, but neglect will almost finish most boxes over time, if you have driven a manual 320 325i you will find the clutch quite hard but you get used to it, depends on what your after nothing beats the satisfaction of manual!

[tjd200]

It depends on what sort of driving you do. If, like me, you live in a city and spend a lot of time at traffic lights an auto is a blessing. I've had two 325s, both auto and (looked after) the box seems bulletproof. Very smooth changes, excellent kick-down and a sports mode (make sure you a buy a switchable box) that keeps the revs up for driving a-roads and overtaking all those people happy to drive at 40mph.

I nearly bought a manual when I got my new tourer, glad i didn't - standard box and shifter are nothing to write home about. Performance is almost identical, as is consumption. Of course some people regard autos as heresy, my only real worry is when i supercharge my car I'll ask too much of it...

[MattW]

cheers for the views

when you say switchable do you mean sports mode/normal mode?

I currently have a cavalier V6 auto. While the box is very good for normal driving, economy mode its sluggish, but sports mode it flies, minor adjustments of the throttle kick back to high revs.

Although it's the only auto i've driven, I find it irratating that when driving a bit fruity around corners etc, the revs drop to idle or just over when i come off the throttle, which is no good for engine breaking and maintaining decent stability in corners. When i manually select second and keep the revs in the rev range the car becomes a lot more composed through the twistys. I was wondering if it's the same with the bmw auto boxes.

Thanks

matt

[mrLEE30]

I got a 320 with a three speed (plus forth on the torque converter!) and a 325 with a four speed, both are very good and never go for the none switchable they are terrible, you will have funnily enough a switch next to the handbrake if its a switchable. there is also a 123 option that holds it in the gear when you drive 'fruity'so that will engine brake you to a cretain extent, otherwise thats what you left foot now becomes useful for, very good for controling the understeer!! as said change the fluid, dont over heat them and they will last and last.

mrlee

[MONSPORT42]

Had auto 3 series since 1985. Have a switchable box on my 2.7 and it works really well with the extra torque. It has enough modes for every style of driving from the traffic jam commute right through to hours of enjoyment at Donnington, Oulton Park, Brands, etc. I shift and hold manually for spirited driving on road or track and can hold the power/revs on at will and get decent engine braking too. Mine gave up the ghost at 186,000 miles and I toyed with a manual conversion but went for a rebuild instead and am now really glad I did. I don't think the auto is as effective with the standard 325 tho as it's an oversquare engine and therefore achieves higher revs more quickly which tend to get soaked up by the torque converter thus road response is a bit slower. That's just my personal opinion tho. These are still great boxes.