[joepa150]

I have a 08 328i sedan. It has sport package with paddle shifters.

What transmission do I have?

Is it any good?

How makes it?

[e90ftw]

GM 6L45

[Delta0311]

You have a GM transmission pretty much all 328s have the gm tranny. Is it good I'd say yes had a 328 drove it to 94k miles never had any issues. Just make sure to change the filter and fluid around 60-70k miles.

[CombatNinja]

The GM tranny is reliable but it is shit.

[mike-y]

Originally Posted by CombatNinja

The GM tranny is reliable but it is shit.

Can you provide proof/backup on why the GM trans is "shit"

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by mike-y

Can you provide proof/backup on why the GM trans is "shit"

It's sluggish without a tune but that's BMWs fault not the transmissions. An AA or Eurcharged tune completely fixes those issues.

[CombatNinja]

My knock against it is that it does that annoying thing where you can feel the tranny getting ready to shift on light throttle and it hesitates and then shifts sort of abruptly and harshly into the next higher gear. I just think that shift speed and quality is not even close to the ZF 6-speed in the other e90 cars. The trick for an automatic trans in a basic 328i is to be totally invisible and unremarkable. One shouldn't leave the car with the thoughts of 'Decent car, shame about the gearbox though." That's how I feel after every drive.

[mike-y]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

It's sluggish without a tune but that's BMWs fault not the transmissions. An AA or Eurcharged tune completely fixes those issues.

Exactly, the ZF trans in the 325i is more sluggish than the GM trans in the 328i. IMO, I'd much rather have the GM unit that was in the '08 328i I had as a loaner (or at least the same programming).

Also, while it's a lot better with the AA tune, I still think the ZF trans is sluggish. people who think the ZF trans in the N52 is vastly better than the GM unit are sadly mistaken

[MonsterM]

Originally Posted by mike-y

Exactly, the ZF trans in the 325i is more sluggish than the GM trans in the 328i. IMO, I'd much rather have the GM unit that was in the '08 328i I had as a loaner (or at least the same programming).

Also, while it's a lot better with the AA tune, I still think the ZF trans is sluggish. people who think the ZF trans in the N52 is vastly better than the GM unit are sadly mistaken

Exactly. I had a good amount of experience with the E90 328 and E90 335 on the same day and I can say without a doubt the 328 shifted faster. To be fair, the 328 had a AA Stg 2 tune so that might have contributed to it. Over the long run I would take the GM transmission over the ZF.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by mike-y

Exactly, the ZF trans in the 325i is more sluggish than the GM trans in the 328i. IMO, I'd much rather have the GM unit that was in the '08 328i I had as a loaner (or at least the same programming).

Also, while it's a lot better with the AA tune, I still think the ZF trans is sluggish. people who think the ZF trans in the N52 is vastly better than the GM unit are sadly mistaken

It's not sluggish in the 335 though.

[benzo23]

The zf in my 11 is quite snappy compared to the zf i had in my 325. I posted my part number of it in a thread quite awhile ago, to lazy to look up the info.

[MonsterM]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

It's not sluggish in the 335 though.

Not at all but it isn't any faster than the GM unit. They felt very, very similar to me. Like I said, if anything the GM is a bit quicker. The only issue I have with the GM unit is that in the 328 while in D mode the car starts to roll in the 2nd gear, combine that with the throttle delay, relatively low amount of torque and the car will feel sluggish. This is not as profound in the 335 due the power difference but it is more of a BMW software issue rather than the GM transmission itself.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by benzo23

The zf in my 11 is quite snappy compared to the zf i had in my 325. I posted my part number of it in a thread quite awhile ago, to lazy to look up the info.

I might be wrong but I believe the tranny in the ZF 325/330 is not the same as the one in the 335. Same brand just different part number.

[mike-y]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

I might be wrong but I believe the tranny in the ZF 325/330 is not the same as the one in the 335. Same brand just different part number.

it's the same exact transmission with a different torque converter

[benzo23]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

I might be wrong but I believe the tranny in the ZF 325/330 is not the same as the one in the 335. Same brand just different part number.

You're correct the Zf in the 335 is built to handle a heavier tq load vs the zf that went into the n52's. Now they had 2 variations of the zf for the n52's an early one (Obviously 2006 325/330) and a later updated part# one that I have in my 11 n52. I did a ton of research on this thru vin decoder and real oem for part numbers and cross referencing all sorts of stuff. Like I said i had posted a big comment with all the part #'s I found. BUT MOST 328's came with the GM from what ive noticed.

[Avenged328i]

I have an 07 328i (GM)? and I have about 92k miles on it and I have not had any issues with this car, yet. I'm knocking on wood so hard right now.

I would consider the GM to be a great trans. IMO.

[mlifxs]

mine has rough 3-2-1 downshifts in ds mode. been that way for 80k so i count my blessings. Only thing I dislike about the car.

[joepa150]

I have only had the car for about 3 weeks. I have been in other BMWs but never have driven them so I can't compare.
I just hope that it is reliable. Sometimes the transmission feels weird. I can't tell if it is searching for the right gear or just a bit of a rough shift/hesitation. When in DS mode it feels great. When using the paddle shifters it feels really good but there is a slight hesitation but I came from driving stick for 11 years.

As far as my 328 feeling sluggish, I don't think so. It does hesitate a bit in D mode because it usually starts in 2nd gear but after that slit second, it has plenty of power for me. This car feels like it has good low-mid end power for driving around town. Imo it is fast enough for 99% of people in this country excluding car enthusiasts.

[JustROLLIN]

Originally Posted by CombatNinja

The GM tranny is reliable but it is shit.

Agreed. Shame this is my first BMW experience.