Steptronic/automatic owners unite

Originally Posted by trizzuth

bro, go put some miles on that car bro, then come back and rave about your steptronic. I mean MILES. you have hardly any miles on that e46 there. get up over 100, then wonder about changing fluid, be scared, do it, maybe not do it, think about it some more, when the tranny starts getting slow to change gears around 160K, then think some more, and let me know what you do, cause I don't know what the hell to do with the wife's slushbox now that she's around 160K and the shifts are taking some time.

+1. I'd say get up above 200k, THEN come back and rave about steptronic.

If my 323i starts shifting poorly, I can just replace the probably sleeping driver. Problem solved.

"I'll be soon replacing my transmission club" reunite

Originally Posted by Stickbuilder

....They didn't create the Ultimate Driving Machine by accident. Why would you want to fuk up what they did?

They had to take care of the "enviroment" - I don't. \o/


Actually, the OP summed it up perfectly:

Originally Posted by PrecisionX

...to me the biggest draw back of an auto is not being able to be in the right gear whenever you want

I couldn't have said it better myself, and I'm the biggest "manual fanboi" of them all.

Oh, and when I need to overtake someone, I just...downshift.

As Alex said: now sorry for distraction, please go on enjoying your Automatic Owners thread

Originally Posted by MercForHire

"I'll be soon replacing my transmission club" reunite

Originally Posted by EverydayGetaway

Also, sounds to me that "sport" mode is simply an O/D off switch...

On older automatic BMWs, yes. Sport mode would lock you out of the OD/4th gear. My 330i will still reach 5th gear in sport mode, it just takes more time and gas to get there. I almost never use sport mode except for freeway onramps because often times it just leaves you at ridiculously high RPM when you let off the gas. No thanks.

Wow you manual guys are so superior and more skillful than all of us. All hail the manual drivers. The only negative of our autos is the durability. If mine lasts till 150K that's fine with me. I'll have another car by then. Probably another E46, but M3 manual haha.

Originally Posted by WDE46

Wow you manual guys are so superior and more skillful than all of us. All hail the manual drivers. The only negative of our autos is the durability. If mine lasts till 150K that's fine with me. I'll have another car by then. Probably another E46, but M3 manual haha.

thanks for your humbleness.

Originally Posted by WDE46

Wow you manual guys are so superior and more skillful than all of us. All hail the manual drivers. The only negative of our autos is the durability. If mine lasts till 150K that's fine with me. I'll have another car by then. Probably another E46, but M3 manual haha.

Heavier weight, more power loss, high fuel consumption, uglier gear lever, less respect, risk of any 12 years old punk hop in and drive away, girlfriend can drive it... The faults are limitless

Originally Posted by MercForHire

Heavier weight, more power loss, high fuel consumption, uglier gear lever, less respect, risk of any 12 years old punk hop in and drive away, girlfriend can drive it... The faults are limitless

Not worried about any of those haha. The less respect thing is where you guys need to come down. Driving a manual doesn't make you a good driver. I know plenty of people driving manuals who are **** behind the wheel. It takes no skill once you get it down. Get off your high horses please. Your other complaints are reasonable for those who actually care about the power/weight/efficiency.

There is no arguing that your auto drivers get less respect.
You can b1tch about it or ignore it. But the fact remains.

Originally Posted by WDE46

Wow you manual guys are so superior and more skillful than all of us. All hail the manual drivers. The only negative of our autos is the durability. If mine lasts till 150K that's fine with me. I'll have another car by then. Probably another E46, but M3 manual haha.

Actually, no. Weight, MPG, power loss, response loss, cost to maintain. I'm sure there's others.

As far as sport mode goes, it doesn't lock you out of overdrive or 5th gear. It starts the car off in 1st gear (as opposed to 2nd gear in 'D'), it holds gears longer (isn't as eager to upshift) and seems (can't verify this personally), but seems to give you better throttle response (maybe simply because it holds gears) but whenever I drive my friend's Step 330, I like using sport mode.

Originally Posted by E46Mango

I'm sure there's others.

Lack of fun? That's my top reason for not owning an automatic.

Originally Posted by WDE46

Wow you manual guys are so superior and more skillful than all of us. All hail the manual drivers. The only negative of our autos is the durability. If mine lasts till 150K that's fine with me. I'll have another car by then. Probably another E46, but M3 manual haha.

Thanks, but we never claimed to be "better" drivers... More enthusiastic, but not necessarily better

Sent from my DROIDX using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by E46Mango

Actually, no. Weight, MPG, power loss, response loss, cost to maintain. I'm sure there's others.

As far as sport mode goes, it doesn't lock you out of overdrive or 5th gear. It starts the car off in 1st gear (as opposed to 2nd gear in 'D'), it holds gears longer (isn't as eager to upshift) and seems (can't verify this personally), but seems to give you better throttle response (maybe simply because it holds gears) but whenever I drive my friend's Step 330, I like using sport mode.

I feel like it just keeps the torque converter engaged more fully all the time. The quick engagement is nice and the control it gives is closer to having an actual clutch locked in, but still not as good.

Originally Posted by stevenluczynski

I tried researching this, but I was led to believe that you need the BMW micro controllers

Stil gathering some picture..

You'll be surprise how easy this is...

Hooking steptronic is just about 15 minutes labor, i spent almost 3 hour manufacturing the paddle only... Cutting, sanding, painting...

I'll post a thread ASAP

Sent from my SCH-i509 using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by agdiver

Stil gathering some picture..

You'll be surprise how easy this is...

Hooking steptronic is just about 15 minutes labor, i spent almost 3 hour manufacturing the paddle only... Cutting, sanding, painting...

I'll post a thread ASAP

Sent from my SCH-i509 using Bimmer App

I cant wait

Might as well check in.. Fern green 328i auto.

Originally Posted by stevenluczynski

I cant wait

Sorry for my english...


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https://

Sorry for my english is not so goos

Originally Posted by Afternoongamer

Bought myself out of high school and has become my project ever since.

2001 330ci 135k step

Other mods not seen in pictures:
M3 cluster
CF trim
Bimmain Autocarbon wheel
AA chipped
AA performance water pump
AA headers
UUC TSE3 full
Upgraded fan clutch
ZHP headliner
+ many other things I can't remember now.

Mods on my to do list:
Csl CF trunk painted
GTR CF hood painted
Vented front fenders ( not m3 ones )
Full suspension
Rims
Auto to 6 speed. ( in a very long time )
AA stage 2 with meth posabbly

Your engine bay/compartment: sexxier than Mila Kunis. and Mila Kunis is mad sexxy.