[Manivxr]

I am happy with the 8 speed auto. But didn't realise it was very good as auto boxes go. Check out the link

[Wills2]

ZF8 has been the benchmark since it was launched.

[330XDave]

It is rather special. The 330d is a fantastic car (the same of which can be said for all of the 6 pots I think) but the engine wouldn't seem so fantastic without the ZF 8 speed.

[Manivxr]

Could not agree more.

[JD6]

Originally Posted by 330XDave

It is rather special. The 330d is a fantastic car (the same of which can be said for all of the 6 pots I think) but the engine wouldn't seem so fantastic without the ZF 8 speed.

I agree completely. The ZF8 effectively deals with the key downside of diesel engines - the narrow rev band. It is so smooth and quick at shifting that larger diesels become remarkably quick and effortless cars. When I look at the slushmatic ZF6 which it replaced, the ZF8 was a huge leap forwards.

[ZeroFx]

Mine has never missed a beat. I cant even tell when it changes gear. Add the torque of the 6 pot diesel and it's perfectly matched.

So much so that MDCT feels like a downgrade tbh

[SteveChester]

I must admit that gearbox wise going from 330d —> M4 has been a downgrade.

However, overall car wise it's an upgrade

[seenthelight!]

I have to admit, it's by far the best auto box I have ever had, even better than the dual clutches of the Audi s3 and the amg 45 that I had before the BMW 435d. The zf8 is even better now with the xhp transmission map ! 😜

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by ZeroFx

Mine has never missed a beat. I cant even tell when it changes gear. Add the torque of the 6 pot diesel and it's perfectly matched.

So much so that MDCT feels like a downgrade tbh

Not in its application as far as I'm concerned, would I want MDCT in my 7? No, would I have wanted the ZF8 in my old F80 M3? No.

It's horses for courses, MDCT much more direct in its operation which suits an aggressive performance car.

[thescouselander]

It's supposed to be a good box but BMW have knobbled with their suspect programming IMO - the box in my car just can't handle roundabouts.

[225]

However much I moaned about hesitation when in comfort going from the zf to the Volvo 8 speed really showed how good it actually is.

The Volvo box is just crap now where as before a recent software update was borderline undriveable.

I hope BMW dont go above 8 gears though as anymore than it will remove the fun of manual model as it will be too many changes

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by thescouselander

It's supposed to be a good box but BMW have knobbled with their suspect programming IMO - the box in my car just can't handle roundabouts.

I know what you mean, you can be left hanging if you coast up to the roundabout and then try and go however the gen2 ZF8 have been cured of that trait and I would urge anyone who hasn't to try and get a firmware update as they update regularly.

[thescouselander]

Originally Posted by Wills2

I know what you mean, you can be left hanging if you coast up to the roundabout and then try and go however the gen2 ZF8 have been cured of that trait.

Yes, that's exactly the problem. What cars got the gen 2 box?

[JustChris]

Revolutionaries the Auto option in premium cars.

You can barely find a premium car without a version of this In it.

One of THE definitions of engineering excellence.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by thescouselander

Yes, that's exactly the problem. What cars got the gen 2 box?

Cut and paste from Wikipedia.

8HP50 (2nd Generation) BMW 1 Series (F20 LCI), BMW 2 Series M240i (F22), BMW 3 Series (F30 LCI), BMW 5 Series (F10), BMW 7 Series (G11), BMW X3 20D(G01), BMW X3 30i(G01), BMW X3 M40i(G01)

8HP75 (2nd Generation) Alpina B5 (G30/31), BMW 5 series (G30/G31/F90), BMW X5 M (F85), BMW X6 M (F86), BMW 7 Series (G11/12),[15] BMW X5 (F15)[16] BMW X3 30D (G01)

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by thescouselander

- the box in my car just can't handle roundabouts.

Never really get that problem on my own car, where if you almost stop but then hit the throttle it lags a bit, but I know it's commonly reported on some cars. The box can get a bit confused very occasionally in heavy slow moving traffic on a incline though and do the 1-2-1 thing where it can't quite make its mind up what gear to be in for a couple of seconds.

[Lincoln61]

My current 430 is the first auto I have driven in many moons..... TBH, its fucking amazing! never missed a beat and I would never go back to manual.

[Harryg]

ZF are leaders in auto boxes in commercial vehicles so when I found out they were fitting the 8 speed in the BMW I knew BMW were onto a winner the box is superb low maintenance and a pure joy to use it makes a good car even better.

[thescouselander]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Cut and paste from Wikipedia.

8HP50 (2nd Generation) BMW 1 Series (F20 LCI), BMW 2 Series M240i (F22), BMW 3 Series (F30 LCI), BMW 5 Series (F10), BMW 7 Series (G11), BMW X3 20D(G01), BMW X3 30i(G01), BMW X3 M40i(G01)

8HP75 (2nd Generation) Alpina B5 (G30/31), BMW 5 series (G30/G31/F90), BMW X5 M (F85), BMW X6 M (F86), BMW 7 Series (G11/12),[15] BMW X5 (F15)[16] BMW X3 30D (G01)

Given I've got a F36 LCI I assume it's get the gen 2 box - it's still confused by roundabouts unfortunately.

I actually preferred the skyactiv auto in my previous Mazda - it seemed to have an almost telepathic ability to be in the right gear and gear changes were smoother although it only had 6 gears.

[thescouselander]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Cut and paste from Wikipedia.

8HP50 (2nd Generation) BMW 1 Series (F20 LCI), BMW 2 Series M240i (F22), BMW 3 Series (F30 LCI), BMW 5 Series (F10), BMW 7 Series (G11), BMW X3 20D(G01), BMW X3 30i(G01), BMW X3 M40i(G01)

8HP75 (2nd Generation) Alpina B5 (G30/31), BMW 5 series (G30/G31/F90), BMW X5 M (F85), BMW X6 M (F86), BMW 7 Series (G11/12),[15] BMW X5 (F15)[16] BMW X3 30D (G01)

Given I've got a F36 LCI I assume it's get the gen 2 box - it's still confused by roundabouts unfortunately.

I actually preferred the skyactiv auto in my previous Mazda - it seemed to have an almost telepathic ability to be in the right gear and gear changes were smoother although it only had 6 gears.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by thescouselander

Given I've got a F36 LCI I assume it's get the gen 2 box - it's still confused by roundabouts unfortunately.

I actually preferred the skyactiv auto in my previous Mazda - it seemed to have an almost telepathic ability to be in the right gear and gear changes were smoother although it only had 6 gears.

Depends what engine you have (and MY year) as an example the 3/430/5d still have the 70hp (gen1) as they didn't change it to the 75hp.

Pop your VIN into real oem and it will tell you

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Depends what engine you have (and MY year) as an example the 3/430/5d still have the 70hp (gen1) as they didn't change it to the 75hp.

Pop your VIN into real oem and it will tell you

As we discussed on the other thread recently though, its most likely a newer revision of the Gen 1 box with hopefully some of the benefits/improvements of the Gen 2 version.