Manuals are definately better than autos but I don't get why the auto box on a 130i adds only 0.2s to the 0-100 whereas on a 325i it adds 0.7s??

I reckon its a software mod!

[astra]

manuals are better in your mind, autos are better in other's minds... it is just a personal opinion, with no right or wrong

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by JameB

Manuals are definately better than autos but I don't get why the auto box on a 130i adds only 0.2s to the 0-100 whereas on a 325i it adds 0.7s??

I reckon its a software mod!

Agreed, i've driven a few 325i's with the Auto and the difference, be it 0.7s or otherwise is noticeable.
Personally i prefer being able to control what gear my car is in, as it allows for a much better driving experience and control of the car in all conditions. The only shortcoming of a manual is getting stuck in stop-start traffic, but it's a small inconvenience to pay for a much more enjoyable drive.
I guess it's just the difference between drivers and passengers.

[BMW //MPOWER]

Also a lot has to be said for the stumbling around of an AT when asked to accelerate, an issue non-existent in a MT (unless there being driven by a monkey)

[BMW //MPOWER]

Just one more thing.. (apologies for the mutiple posts)
The most annoying thing is dealers who haven't driven manuals or can't that try and talk you into the auto's by saying that the only people who can feel the difference and get better performance out of the manuals than the auto's is professional drivers.
Now i'm no professional driver, (i do have my CAMS but rarey get out on the track) but the difference is substantial and not limited to the bare acceleration difference between 0-100.

Agree. But I wonder why it is 0.7s in a 325 but only 0.2 in a 130??? surely it must be the same gearbox??

Yeah, I hate manuals in traffic!

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by JameB

Agree. But I wonder why it is 0.7s in a 325 but only 0.2 in a 130??? surely it must be the same gearbox??

Yeah, I hate manuals in traffic!

I've got a suspicion it could be something to do with the fact that the 130i was originally planned as an M car, as i think the difference with the 330i is at the 0.7s mark again (i haven't checked recently, so i could be wrong but i think i'm not far off).

Just looked up the 330i stats: 6.3 (6.6) so similar(ish) to the 130...

[docbeemer]

Originally Posted by JameB

Agree. But I wonder why it is 0.7s in a 325 but only 0.2 in a 130??? surely it must be the same gearbox??

Yeah, I hate manuals in traffic!

I haven't checked (it will be in the specs info on the individual cars) but it may be that the gear ratois and final drive / diff ratios are different between the AT and MT. This is often done to optimise the desired driveability for a particular model with a given body shape, transmission and engine size. I really don't think that BMW worry too much about their 0-100 times in the smaller engined cars (eg 325) but for the higher capacity engines it's a little more important so they make sure the times are more similar. My 2c worth.

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by docbeemer

I haven't checked (it will be in the specs info on the individual cars) but it may be that the gear ratois and final drive / diff ratios are different between the AT and MT. This is often done to optimise the desired driveability for a particular model with a given body shape, transmission and engine size. I really don't think that BMW worry too much about their 0-100 times in the smaller engined cars (eg 325) but for the higher capacity engines it's a little more important so they make sure the times are more similar. My 2c worth.

Yes and no, the 325 0-100 times for MT (and AT) are pretty respectable, just for comparison sake the 325ci manual does 0-100 in 7.1s, which is quicker than or as quick as the VZ or VY (cant remember which) SS commodore with a V8.

[docbeemer]

^That's just because BMW make the world's best inline 6 in the world. The kW/litre is higher than just about any production engine- so comparing it to a commodore (push rod engine!) is unfair..... for the commodore. BMW don't even have to try to make their cars quicker than cars using ancient technology.

My point was to illustrate the differences between the MT and AT in cars which are marketed as sporty (anything with a 3 litre or more) or mainstream (eg 318, 323, 325, 118, 120 etc). But if you want a quicker BMW you have to pay for it but they try to make the performance gap between the MT and AT smaller.

[astra]

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

Just one more thing.. (apologies for the mutiple posts)
The most annoying thing is dealers who haven't driven manuals or can't that try and talk you into the auto's by saying that the only people who can feel the difference and get better performance out of the manuals than the auto's is professional drivers.
Now i'm no professional driver, (i do have my CAMS but rarey get out on the track) but the difference is substantial and not limited to the bare acceleration difference between 0-100.

you do know don't you, that you can muliti-quote?

[docbeemer]

^how do you multi-quote? I haven't had need yet but it would be handy.

[astra]

you press teh small button at the right of the quote button (hover over it and it will say something like "multi quote") press all those which you want to reply to and then at the last one, press the big quote button, and they will all appera in the quoting screen

[BMW //MPOWER]

Some shots of my baby i took over near Curl Curl beach.

[BMW //MPOWER]

This is my old baby!
Still absolutely stunning!
Now it's my mum's car, i gave it to her when i got the new one (see above).
The pic on the bottom was taken down at Albert Park on the Grand Prix track not long after i got the car, back in the uni days before i changed the rims to the much better looking 18"s, as pictured above.

[astra]

i have a love for e36's... one of the first cars i ever liked

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by astra

i have a love for e36's... one of the first cars i ever liked

Same here i remember i first fell in love with them as one of the commercials for them was filmed near where i lived, and the fascination never stopped, didn't really dawn on me that i could have one until, a girl i was in final year at high school with got her dad's. That set me off looking and a couple of years later when i was at uni i bought my own, the beautiful white baby up above ( which i think is a prime example of how beautiful they can look! )

[astra]

i want one one day...

[BMW //MPOWER]

God my cars are pretty! (if i may say so myself)

[astra]

an attempt at reviving a thread?

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by astra

an attempt at reviving a thread?

me? never...