BMW Bible » Manual Transmission

Where do I add the fluid for a 1988 BMW 325I Manual Transmission?

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:06:01 +0000

My clutch was working great and then brake fluid light came on, I rode for a few days (not far) but when I got in this morning the clutch went to the floor. Has no pressure, I am not sure if there is air in the line but I dont know where to add the fluid? PLEASE HELP!

The clutch and the brakes share the same fluid. If you have no pressure with your clutch, then your brakes won’t have any as well or will not have any after a few more pumps. You should take this one into the shop.

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Why does my manual transmission BMW use ATF?

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:05:59 +0000

BY what i know ATF stands for Automatic transmission fluid so if I have a manual why does the car need it?
PS Im only 18 and am just starting to get to know cars

18 years of age is not a bad start. And I think you are on the right track for being interested in things like cars. Unlike some people who are much older who do not even know how to open the hood, much less how to add coolant or oil or add air to the tires.
But do not think that all BMW manual transmissions use ATF since they do not. Even BMW automatic transmissions do not all use ATF.
Why BMW uses and recommends different kinds of oils is a complex question which lesser mortals like us should not bother with. Forget about the why. Just use what is indicated on the label under the transmission, or what is officially recommended as per TIS or EPC
(BMW repair procedures and parts catalog). Sometimes comparable oils can be bought outside of BMW and naturally they are cheaper.
And you should have mentioned the year and series of your BMW for a more rational discussion of the subject as it relates to your car.

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Should I get a BMW with manual or automatic transmission?

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:05:41 +0000

I’m thinking about getting a used BMW..most likely a 3series from the low to mid 90’s. I feel like it’s a disrespect to a BMW if I get it in automatic trans, but does the transmission make the car that much different?

Both are the same for dependability.

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SERIOUS EXPERIENCED ANSWERS PLEASE: Does the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) of BMW have a clutch pedal?

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:05:17 +0000

An ordinary manual transmission car has 3 pedals: gas, brake, and clutch. How about the DCT? Does the DCT only have gas and brake? Does it have paddle shifters? Please answer all questions and how do you drive it? Is the procedure just like the SMG in the BMW M5 and M6?

From a driving perspective yes it’s the same as the M5 and M6 with SMG as there is no clutch pedal. The biggest difference is the uninterupted flow of power.
The M DCT with Drivelogic combines two gearbox
components in one common housing with the same compact dimensions as a conventional manual gearbox. The “heart” of the new M double-clutch transmission in technical terms is formed by the two oil-cooled wet clutches.
One of the two clutches is for the even (2, 4, 6), the other for the uneven (1, 3, 5, 7) gears and, in addition, for the reverse gear. While driving, one of the two clutches is always closed, the other is open.
When accelerating – and when shifting down – the clutches are activated in an alternating process, one after the other. When shifting gears, the first clutch opens just as the second clutch is closing. This ensures an absolutely smooth and comfortable and at the same time an incomparably
fast gearshift without the slightest interruption in the flow of power.
This interaction of two clutches ensures a super fast rate of gear change in particular because the transmission control unit pre-selects the next gear with the transmission ratio matched ideally to engine and road speed and keeps this
gear waiting for immediate operation.
So when you’re accelerating, say, in third gear, an immediate flow of power is ensured by the appropriate clutch and the gearbox component controlling the uneven gears.
While all this is happening, the gearbox segment responsible for the even gears shifts to the gear required, in this case to fourth gear. The only operation required for this purpose is to close the clutch for fourth gear, at the same time opening the clutch for third gear, the power of the engine then being transmitted through the new gear with its different ratio to the wheels.
This entire process takes only a few milliseconds, meaning that in the time a skilled driver takes to press down the clutch pedal the DCT has easily completed the entire process of shifting gears, continuing to accelerate in the next gear higher up.
There are also 11 programs of driving styles ranging from auto comfort to super sport.

Oh – and of course launch control! Houston – we have lift off….

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Anybody ever use their Streptronic transmission in their BMW?

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:05:15 +0000

I just purchased an ‘04 BMW X5 with Steptronic. I am a former manual transmission driver but have found the "shifting" of the steptronic rather odd. I keep wanting to reach for the clutch but of course there isn’t one and cannot get the transmission to shift smoothly regardless. How exactly do you do it!? I do think it is neat and I am sure it will be more fuel efficient I am just new to it. Any pointers or tips?

i too went from a manual car into a BMW w/ Steptronic..

i release the gas pedal between shift points… but i mainly use it to down shift… it works great when your on the highway and traffic comes to a rapid stop

overall you’ll just gotta practice w/ it. Its not going to feel like a real manual tranny.. but it not too bad

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How do I use the manual mode on a BMW 4L30E transmission?

admin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:18:00 +0000

I am going to buy a 325i with the 4L30E transmission,this is the automatic with a manual mode, and I don’t want to learn how not to use it and end up buying a new one. If anyone can give me a link or if you own one yourself any help would be appreciated.
By the way its 1992 325i.
I want to know how to use the damn thing not get someones opinion about it.

I have the same transmission in my ‘98 Z3. The trans has manual mode, sport mode, and "normal" mode. In manual mode, the transmission stays in whatever gear you have selected on the lever. It does not down shift or up shift. If you have it in 3rd and stop the car, it tries to take off in 3rd. If you up shift it manually, it has the normal delay – it isn’t instant. If you try to shift on the engine redline, then you have to shift "early" to allow for the delay and avoid hitting the rev limiter.

I prefer sport mode (selector on "3"). The trans stays in gear longer before up shifting. If you accelerate full throttle (in sport mode), the trans will shift right on the engine redline (at least mine does). Sport mode is also good for small autocross type courses – it seems to select the proper gear most of the time.

I don’t use manual mode very much, mainly because of the shifter – which does not have an indicator in the instrument panel, and does not have a stop for each gear, or neutral. If you lose track of which gear you are in, you have to look down at the shifter – and it’s easy to up shift 2 gears (or into neutral) if you aren’t real careful.

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Is the SMG Transmission of BMW same as the new M Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic in the E92 M3?

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:10:20 +0000

Since the M6 and M5 both have 7-speed SMGs, does the new BMW M3 have it in another name – M Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic? (aside from the manual transmission, of course).

The transmission in the new M3 is called M DCT (Dual clutch transmission) It is a form of of direct shift gearbox (DSG) just now has better technology and dual clutch.
Read to the bottom of this link, where it mentions the M3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin-clutch_gearbox

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Is the SMG transmission on a BMW M3 2001-2006 models have a good reputation or bad?

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:10:17 +0000

Just wandering if the SMG transmission on a BMW M3 is good.
And if it could reach 170k miles easy without any major service.
The reason I was interested in it because it has a automatic option in which my mom could drive in case of emergency.
Some people say that the regular manual transmission is better?

Frankly, the jury is still out on SMG’s. But so far so good…
Remember that they are manual transmissions basically with
automated shifting, and that they had only been in widespread use for approximately 8 years. It has now progressed from SMG I
to II to III ( the latest).
To say that it is not durable is baloney. Same thing with being rough
in normal city use and being fit only for the track. Rumor mongering from people who have never had much or any experience with SMG’s. Or who do not know how to use an SMG.
Normally, the defects would be the same as any manual transmission.
Ocassionally (but rarely) you would see the hydraulic pump or the gear shift sensor taking a dive. More often (but still rare) is oil leaking
from the SMG shifter mechanism (not the tranny). Theoretically, the SMG module could quit but I have yet to see one do it.
But to guarantee that it would last 170K miles is asking too much. Even BMW would not go as far as that. What car manufacturer would
guarantee their transmissions up to 170K ?
EDIT:
To compare the automatic transmission of a 335 or any car for that matter to an SMG simply misses the point. Any automatic transmission can never perform better than a manual or a manual with SMG in the hands of a good driver.
SMG is not meant for boys. Ladies maybe.

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Is it possible to change a BMW M5’s transmission from manual to automatic or automanual?

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:10:15 +0000

I am about to buy a BMW M5 with manual transmission and I was wondering if it is possible to convert it from manual to auto or automanual? If so, where can I get it done? How much will it cost?

Harley guy has no f*cking idea what he’s talking about. It can be done, but it would cost an insane amount of money. The base e39 transmission does not mount up to the S62 V8 in the M5, so it would need custom adapters to fit, a custom driveshaft would be needed, and adapters like the Guibo disc would need to be modified to work along with the driveshaft. At the very least you’re looking at $1000 for a used e39 tranny w/o shipping, custom driveshafts can be had for around $500, custom fit guibo $?, all the interior mods (auto shift knob, computers, etc…), and then the labor involved. A project like that could easily reach over $5000. Not worth it IMO. The M5 is a true sports car, it wasn’t meant to get a granny tranny…

***Thanks for the thumbs down
This has been discussed on the forums hundreds of times, I know what I’m talking about here.

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