[TheMidnightNarwhal]

I wasn't able to test drive one and was wondering if I should even consider it? It's difficult finding a manual one and I could go with the AT if it's good and shifts great. Although since it's an older car and not a DTC I suppose it's not that great?

[320IN54]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

I wasn't able to test drive one and was wondering if I should even consider it? It's difficult finding a manual one and I could go with the AT if it's good and shifts great. Although since it's an older car and not a DTC I suppose it's not that great?

It shifts pretty decent if you get the xhp tcu flash. Before that the shifts werent the best and the change in programming literally changes the way both sport and drive mode shifts. However many of our cars require a transmission fluid change and have some gaskets replaced due to rough shifts when driving normally.

[jt335i]

Bought my 2010 E92 335i new and it has the Steptronic AT. I have been driving manuals for nearly 30 years (Past: 1989 Cavalier Z24, 1995 Civic coupe, 1998 Maxima SE, 2003 350Z/Current: 1997 Corolla, 2005 Stang GT) and I have no complaints. I don’t hot rod my ride or do any hard acceleration off the line all the time, but during those times when I do get on it, such as when I’m fighting morning/afternoon traffic or when I know I can get a good POS ricer kill, it shifts just as smooth and crisp like a manual when in DS mode.

There was a time while braking when I would feel a little jerk right at the moment when I’d come to a complete stop, but after my trusted mechanic add a stage 2 Cobb tune the jerking went away. Other than that, the transmission has been functioning perfectly since the first day I drove it home brand new 8 years, 3 months, and 97,400+ miles ago.

[Pladi]

The shifts are good and the performance is ok but you really have to stay on tp of these transmissions with seals and flushes ..

[desertman123]

If you want a manual find a manual. Don't cheat yourself to get the car a week earlier

[asiflicious]

The ATs in these cars are very solid transmissions. Failures aren't common and they can hold quite a bit of power. I have no complaints, especially with the XHP flash

[Eddien123]

It's a pretty good AT but i manuals aren't that hard to find. If you want that then search for it

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by jt335i

Bought my 2010 E92 335i new and it has the Steptronic AT. I have been driving manuals for nearly 30 years (Past: 1989 Cavalier Z24, 1995 Civic coupe, 1998 Maxima SE, 2003 350Z/Current: 1997 Corolla, 2005 Stang GT) and I have no complaints. I don’t hot rod my ride or do any hard acceleration off the line all the time, but during those times when I do get on it, such as when I’m fighting morning/afternoon traffic or when I know I can get a good POS ricer kill, it shifts just as smooth and crisp like a manual when in DS mode.

There was a time while braking when I would feel a little jerk right at the moment when I’d come to a complete stop, but after my trusted mechanic add a stage 2 Cobb tune the jerking went away. Other than that, the transmission has been functioning perfectly since the first day I drove it home brand new 8 years, 3 months, and 97,400+ miles ago.

Wow 8 years. That nice to hear.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by Eddien123

It's a pretty good AT but i manuals aren't that hard to find. If you want that then search for it

Well I'm in Canada to so it's really not common. But I guess they're not out for sale yet.

[nsjames]

XHP and then it beats manual transmissions at the track.

queue the MT snobs....

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

I wasn't able to test drive one and was wondering if I should even consider it? It's difficult finding a manual one and I could go with the AT if it's good and shifts great. Although since it's an older car and not a DTC I suppose it's not that great?

It's a ZF 6HP19. It's a very solid tranny and hasn't seen premature failures; actually they seem to be lasting well over 150K miles.

They do need fluid changes 60K-100K miles; they are not "lifetime" as BMW first insisted.

The programming on them is quite good - they downshift when needed, upshift when warranted. They're not as good as the newer 8 speeds in the F3x and others, which have newer/better programming, but pretty much everyone has followed ZF (and BMW). Note that the new M5 uses the newer 8 speed version (well, it's a beefier version that can handle 500 ft-lbs torue.) BMW has given up on the DCT - too complex, not any better than the ZF autos.

If you like the other features of a car you're looking into, it having the auto is not an excuse to not buy it.

[MysticRob]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

It's a ZF 6HP19. It's a very solid tranny and hasn't seen premature failures; actually they seem to be lasting well over 150K miles.

They do need fluid changes 60K-100K miles; they are not "lifetime" as BMW first insisted.

The programming on them is quite good - they downshift when needed, upshift when warranted...

Totally agree with all of this. Mine had 134k when purchased and still shifted well enough for most people, but I'd driven a few of these and knew it could be better. There was no record of any fluid/filter change in BMW's maintenance database on my car, so I did it myself in the garage and it was noticeably smoother. Judging by the old fluid, and the difference afterward, it definitely isn't a lifetime deal at all. I'm at 140k now and it's still smooth as buttah.

[snedanator]

I'm very happy with mine on the E93 335i. I was always happy with it when I first got it... now I have the Alpina flash which is quite a fair bit better but I'll be flashing with XHP very soon. All in all even as standard it's a very good reliable box.... brilliant gear changes up and down. I've no complaints. U should defo try one out... most probably better than u think.... I love mine... plus the paddles are a bonus...

[snedanator]

And as other's have said.... at least get a tranny flush around 80k ish :-)... not entierly nessasary but u will notice the difference when u do :-)

[trotsky]

XHP stage 3 will make the shifts very fast and totally change how the car drives. I just purchased it 2 weeks ago, I think this final release finally fixed some of the earlier issues. Its somewhere around $200 all in, easy install via android, and you easily flash back to stock if you sell the car,etc.

[jt335i]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Wow 8 years. That nice to hear.

Thanks bro. Still loving my ultimate driving machine 8 years and counting.

As far as changing the transmission fluid, it's up to the owner and also how well they operate and maintain it their ride.
I asked my trusted indy mechanic about that and he said I don't need to change the fluid since it's lifetime and as it says in the Maintenance booklet. I'm going by what my trusted mechanic advises because he used to work in the service department at the local BMW where I bought my 335 and now operates his own shop.

I don't beat on my ride or drive it hard and so I have not had any transmission issues whatsoever. Who knows if any issues occur in the future, but if I do sense something may be wrong my trusted mechanic will take care of it.

[YasF80_SLO]

I have the 6 Auto and its not bad, even with the XHP flash it wont be a DCT or a manual, but itll be really close to the dct.

[Steezykobe]

I have the alpina flash right now.. is there that much of a difference between alpina and XHP??? Never even heard of XHP until this thread

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Alright thanks for the input guys.

Although I just noticed that in Autotrader if I type 335i instead of 335 I get a fuck ton more results...

But I'll consider test driving an AT one now! But the manual is more maintenance and more bulletproof would you say?

[jeddo45]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Alright thanks for the input guys.

Although I just noticed that in Autotrader if I type 335i instead of 335 I get a fuck ton more results...

But I'll consider test driving an AT one now! But the manual is more maintenance and more bulletproof would you say?

Maintenance wise? Probably a manual transmission just because of the clutch that will eventually be replaced. But I think between auto and manual the fluid changes, filter, etc is gonna be the same.

I have an auto. 90k miles. Plan on doing the maintenance soon but everything is still pretty smooth with it. Auto or manual, these trannies are pretty solid.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by jt335i

Bought my 2010 E92 335i new and it has the Steptronic AT. I have been driving manuals for nearly 30 years (Past: 1989 Cavalier Z24, 1995 Civic coupe, 1998 Maxima SE, 2003 350Z/Current: 1997 Corolla, 2005 Stang GT) and I have no complaints. I don’t hot rod my ride or do any hard acceleration off the line all the time, but during those times when I do get on it, such as when I’m fighting morning/afternoon traffic or when I know I can get a good POS ricer kill, it shifts just as smooth and crisp like a manual when in DS mode.

There was a time while braking when I would feel a little jerk right at the moment when I’d come to a complete stop, but after my trusted mechanic add a stage 2 Cobb tune the jerking went away. Other than that, the transmission has been functioning perfectly since the first day I drove it home brand new 8 years, 3 months, and 97,400+ miles ago.

Seems like so many people who are into cars, had a 4th gen Maxima at some time. I still have a 98 SE 5-spd.

I want to always have at least one stick, if not two.....looks like the next Corolla has an intelligent manual, which imho is cool that Toyota would invest in it....since the clutch is almost extinct.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by jt335i

Thanks bro. Still loving my ultimate driving machine 8 years and counting.

As far as changing the transmission fluid, it's up to the owner and also how well they operate and maintain it their ride.
I asked my trusted indy mechanic about that and he said I don't need to change the fluid since it's lifetime and as it says in the Maintenance booklet. I'm going by what my trusted mechanic advises because he used to work in the service department at the local BMW where I bought my 335 and now operates his own shop.

I don't beat on my ride or drive it hard and so I have not had any transmission issues whatsoever. Who knows if any issues occur in the future, but if I do sense something may be wrong my trusted mechanic will take care of it.

My wife's 2011 was the first automatic I've ever purchased new, and the first since the 1998 Maxima replaced a automatic Volvo. Never gave it any thought since it was purchased new. But when I wanted to replace the Maxima with something reliable, it led me to Lexus. That of course is an auto, and now a used car. Through my extensive research, what seemed to make sense was a drain and fill, only if the fluid is not burnt. And with Toyotas being sealed trannies, it's a somewhat more difficult DIY because there's no dipstick and temp of the fluid is important (there is a whole youtube showing specialized toyota tools to do the job).

A good video is by that kid ChrisFix. Many seem to say if your fluid is not burnt, it's ok to drain and fill. If it is burnt, don't touch it. But all seem to agree the fluid cannot last forever. It vents to the outside so it is not really "sealed." my .02...