Tell me about the autobox on the E90

[TW]Fox;17689283 said:
The 318d was bad enough with a manual.

At least test drive one. I was having to change down through the gears to keep up with traffic at times on dual carriageway hills.

I've not previously had to do this since I drove... infact even my Xantia didnt do that.
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I dont understand how this can be possible - you say your old Xantia didnt struggle like that, my old Mondeo didnt...both with less powerful diesel engines than the 318d. So with 140ish bhp, 60 in 9ish seconds, whats going on with the 318d?
 
I had a 120D Auto for a month last year from the Accident Management company while mine was being repaired. The 6 speed auto wasn't that bad. I think I preferred the manual in mine as it suited the car better. My Merc has a 5 speed Auto and although the engine has about the same power as the BMW, it seems to be better suited to the car. My advise would be to test drive one and make your own opinion.
 
iaind said:
I dont understand how this can be possible - you say your old Xantia didnt struggle like that, my old Mondeo didnt...both with less powerful diesel engines than the 318d. So with 140ish bhp, 60 in 9ish seconds, whats going on with the 318d?
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I think its all about the gearing. It's got a ridiculously long top gear - so it's doing barely any rpm at 70ish mph. A combination of eco-gearing and not THAT much power = ARGHGHHGG

The 320d is noticeably better in this regard. Infact i didn't have any issues at all with the performance the 320d offered and infact would describe the 320d as offering all the performance 80% of the public will ever want.
 
Is the gearing different on the 320d? I guess if you're needing to drop it down a gear every time you get to a hill, its going to get tedious

You can see why people think it should be OK though - looking at the specs, it should be perfectly adequate. Goes to show that the figures dont always tell the whole story
 
You really need to drive it. It's not me being anti diesel because the 320d isnt like it.

I did exactly the same Plymouth to Southampton run in a 320d M Sport a year after doing it in the 318d SE and it was MUCH better.
 
I'm not doubting you, I just find it surprising that BMW would make something that poor. Sounds like a different gearing setup would sort it out, but that would impact the big sales number - the extra urban mpg.

As I say, you can see why people buy them - 140bhp, 9s to 60 and 130mph top speed is pretty much par for the course for midrange 4 pot diesels
 
BMW (like the vast majority of car manufacturers now) are having to dance to the tune that the eco-nut governments, and therefore the company/fleet schemes, are now playing. Its the only way they'd generate enough sales tostay viable in those countries and also to have the cash to develop the likes of the M and RS models.
 
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