Driveability of 2007 335i Automatic

Harry Da Hamster · 01-16-2013, 08:35 PM

I've owned my 2007 BMW 335i Coupe automatic now for a few months. It's here to hold me over until my ordered vehicle arrives. It's my first slush-box automatic car in quite a while, before this it was SMG, DCT, and of course the good ol manual transmission. I noticed accelerating from speed the automatic transmission takes quite a while to respond and down-shift. This combined with the turbo lag makes for a pretty bad combination. And the painfully slow shifts make it even worse. Sport mode seems to help a little but i prefer not to keep it in this mode as it revs up more than i prefer on leisurely drives. Is there a tune available to make the transmission more snappy?

calicolorado · 01-16-2013, 09:44 PM

Depending on your car's mileage, it might be a good idea to replace the auto trans fluid. Not a drain and fill, but a full fluid replacement on a transmission "dialysis" machine. I had it done 6 mos ago on our X5 (at 82,000mi) and it made a world of difference. Smoother, gentler shifts, just like it was when new. At my indy shop, he charged $300. I'm not sure where the BMW indy's are in Narnia, but there's a great one in Fullerton, CA: Bavarian Autotechs.

fun2drive · 01-16-2013, 09:48 PM

Your transmission is but one data point. Mine reacts nothing like what you posted. It is the best auto 6 spd ZF transmission out there. DCT the exception. SMG is not working out all that well if you visit the E46 M3 sites.
Really nice transmission...

idrift4wd · 01-17-2013, 12:18 AM

i love this transmission. its one of the fastest non dual clutch automatics out there.

maybe there is something wrong with your transmission.

Bingobimmer · 01-17-2013, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calicolorado

I'm not sure where the BMW indy's are in Narnia, but there's a great one in Fullerton, CA: Bavarian Autotechs.

Haha well played.

username604 · 01-17-2013, 12:49 AM

you might be driving a 328i. or a corolla

RobsgottaM3 · 01-17-2013, 09:32 AM

I had a leak on my trans and they replaced the gasket and replaced the flluid and it shifts much better. They also reset the adaptation in the ECU and its like a whole new car. I was having the same issues and it also seemed to not want to downshift. Hope you can get it figured out soon.

derrick603 · 01-17-2013, 12:19 PM

IME, you really have to punch it to get the ZF to downshift immediately, most likely because it's tuned for fuel efficiency when it's not in sport mode. Once you get the hang of how much throttle it takes to get a downshift, it should happen pretty quickly and reliably. Another option is to use the paddles to downshift (if you have them). The ZF will go back into full automatic mode a few seconds later if you're not in sport mode.

01-16-2013, 08:35 PM	#1
Harry Da Hamster Captain 86 Rep 623 Posts Drives: The Bus Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: HNL iTrader: (5)	Driveability of 2007 335i Automatic I've owned my 2007 BMW 335i Coupe automatic now for a few months. It's here to hold me over until my ordered vehicle arrives. It's my first slush-box automatic car in quite a while, before this it was SMG, DCT, and of course the good ol manual transmission. I noticed accelerating from speed the automatic transmission takes quite a while to respond and down-shift. This combined with the turbo lag makes for a pretty bad combination. And the painfully slow shifts make it even worse. Sport mode seems to help a little but i prefer not to keep it in this mode as it revs up more than i prefer on leisurely drives. Is there a tune available to make the transmission more snappy?
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01-16-2013, 09:44 PM	#2
calicolorado Second Lieutenant 163 Rep 276 Posts Drives: F10 M5 Comp 6-spd Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1) Garage List 2015 BMW M5 [0.00] 1972 BMW 200/ [0.00] 2020 BMW X7 40i [0.00]	Depending on your car's mileage, it might be a good idea to replace the auto trans fluid. Not a drain and fill, but a full fluid replacement on a transmission "dialysis" machine. I had it done 6 mos ago on our X5 (at 82,000mi) and it made a world of difference. Smoother, gentler shifts, just like it was when new. At my indy shop, he charged $300. I'm not sure where the BMW indy's are in Narnia, but there's a great one in Fullerton, CA: Bavarian Autotechs. __________________ 2015 M5 Comp 6-spd manual 1972 2002 2003 Audi TT Coupe 225 2011 Highlander 4WD
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01-16-2013, 09:48 PM	#3
fun2drive BMWCCA 149159 38 Rep 847 Posts Drives: 13 128i Vert/ 14 JGC Diesel Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Panhandle iTrader: (1)	Your transmission is but one data point. Mine reacts nothing like what you posted. It is the best auto 6 spd ZF transmission out there. DCT the exception. SMG is not working out all that well if you visit the E46 M3 sites. Really nice transmission...
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01-17-2013, 12:18 AM	#4
idrift4wd Brigadier General 149 Rep 3,552 Posts Drives: Three Hundred and Thirty Five Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yonkers NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW [7.00]	i love this transmission. its one of the fastest non dual clutch automatics out there. maybe there is something wrong with your transmission.
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01-17-2013, 12:49 AM	#6
username604 Colonel 124 Rep 2,554 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: repair shop iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [10.00]	you might be driving a 328i. or a corolla
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01-17-2013, 09:32 AM	#7
RobsgottaM3 Roll Tide Roll! 36 Rep 270 Posts Drives: E90/Slick-Top/Single Hump/6MT Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Savannah GA iTrader: (0)	I had a leak on my trans and they replaced the gasket and replaced the flluid and it shifts much better. They also reset the adaptation in the ECU and its like a whole new car. I was having the same issues and it also seemed to not want to downshift. Hope you can get it figured out soon. __________________ *"You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity."*
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01-17-2013, 12:19 PM	#8
derrick603 Captain 55 Rep 592 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Fremont, CA iTrader: (0)	IME, you really have to punch it to get the ZF to downshift immediately, most likely because it's tuned for fuel efficiency when it's not in sport mode. Once you get the hang of how much throttle it takes to get a downshift, it should happen pretty quickly and reliably. Another option is to use the paddles to downshift (if you have them). The ZF will go back into full automatic mode a few seconds later if you're not in sport mode.
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