Auto boxes - opinions please?

[albo5000]

Looking around for soft tops I am seeing far more with auto boxes than manual. Of course I would prefer a manual but if the right auto comes up I might grab it.

What are people opinions on the auto boxes?

How reliable are they? Any potential problems?

In terms of performance how far off a manual are they?

Thanks for the tips!

[Topblag]

I've got a 325 cab and it's got the standard autobox in it. They're reliable and tend to last. For me cabs are for cruising and not for throwing around corners so I don't see much benefit from a manual box, except you'll get more MPG.

I can still have the rear wheels spinning changing up on full throttle in automatic mode so you can still have fun. There's always the semi-automatic 3 speed option if you want to change gear yourself.

[cecotto479]

Sports autos are absolutely perfect for 325i convertibles. I wouldn't have a 325i manual convertible

Avoid the auto on anything other than a 325 though.

[e30ata]

Manual anyday

[MARKYMARKY]

Ive got both AUTO and Manual,so different to drive,manual wants to go with every gear change,but the auto is more sedate and leads to a more controlled drive,but both fabulous.

[Cotty]

Avoid the auto on anything other than a 325 though.

Auto is fine on my 325i

[e30topless]

the Autobox in any BMW can be troublesome especially if it has been thrashed !

Manual is much more reliable in my opinion

[Ranchero]

I've got a 320i auto. It feels like a more sedate drive, but still enjoyable.

[Cotty]

the Autobox in any BMW can be troublesome especially if it has been thrashed !

Can't really rag an auto, it just upshifts when the revs hit a certain rpm

Believe me I have tried but mine is still going strong, touch wood.

[paul1985]

imho it depends on how heavy footed you are
i'm the proud owner of a super huge lead foot and my auto box lasted no time at all

[E30_fred]

Autos are fantastic but only if you know how to drive properly. If you have poor roadcraft then you will get very little pleasure out of any automatic vehicle. and any pleasure that you get from a maunual vehicle will probably be dangerous.

[darkchild]

The 4 speed ZF autoboxes are very reliable as longs as:

a) the oil and filter are changed every 20-25K (filter is cheap and the oil is standard ATF so there is no excuse).
b) it hasn't been revved/left to run in Park for ages. At traffic lights etc its far better for the longevity of the box to just leave it in drive.

With decent maintenance these boxes should easily see 200K.

When test driving one make sure you feel the torque converter locking up at 53mph.

[bmwsport]

I've got both an auto Hartge and Alpina. I think auto boxes are superb especially when equiped to larger 325i+ engines, anything less such as a 316i etc they won't perform very well and people who slate auto boxes have probably only driven them in lesser models. With a chipped ecu the rpm range is also lifted and can be a little screamer especially in kickdown if it engages the correct gear

We also don't suffer from getreg rattle

After diving a manual van all week its nice to jump into a lazy cruiser at the weekends and not do anything apart from enjoy the ride and have a little blast down a straight road every now and then

[srmalek]

i prefer auto box, just dont get the switcable auto box

[RM2186]

I have both in 325i form and the auto is by far a better drive

[pukar]

i have a sport auto and its a great drive, pulls very hard....the car is very tight after 122kmiles and i reckon its due to the fact it is auto. in sport mode, it will hold up to just over 6k revs, so no worries there..(in fact, not sure why anyone would want to push a 20yr old car to hit the limiter). for a cab i have driven both and think auto is the way to go for sure as theres enough squaking and rattling going on with a nice tight cab anyway....as above though, should really be a 325i.

[DavieP]

I really couldn't be ar$ed going back to a manual box. All that foot-shuffling and gear changing is a right pain especially in stop-start traffic. It's a different style of driving and yes, you do use a bit more petrol, but it's so much less hassle. A well-maintained automatic box that has not been abused is as equally reliable (if not more so) as a manual box. There's also a much higher probability that an automatic has not been given anywhere near as much 'welly' either.

[George]

+1 for the auto, perfect for a cab 325. [/biased]

[peterjcollins]

Well, theres a lot of information and advice from our fellow zoners. I have got 2 autos an M40 318i and a 325i motorsport convertible.
My experience is you cannot beat an auto for cruising but always do the maintenance and they will serve you well.
Manuals are just fine but it is horses for courses and periodically that clutch is going to need doing and with age expect the box to get noisey as it wears.
Automatics there is no clutch, pressure plate or thrust race to worry about. A reconditioned auto box or rebuild will cost you 1000 pounds plus fitting. A manual box with clutch kit would'nt be too far behind that.
I like the Auto as a personal preference.

[beemerbird]

When test driving one make sure you feel the torque converter locking up at 53mph.

Can someone explain what this means, please? I'm looking at an Auto and have NOOOO idea what this sentence is on about

[MJJ_ZX6RR]

When test driving one make sure you feel the torque converter locking up at 53mph.

Can someone explain what this means, please? I'm looking at an Auto and have NOOOO idea what this sentence is on about

Short version of the explanation is when accellerating through about 53mph, you will notice the revs drop slightly - as if the car has selected a 5th gear.

There is no fifth gear, it is just the tranmission has now locked up for efficiency.

Martin.

[beemerbird]

Thanks for clarifying that