[golf_234]

All -

Definitely planning on a M235i for my next car, when I move on from the E90 in a couple years. My build is going to be as follows:

Alpine
Terra
Blue Highlight
Michelin PSS
H/K
Cold Weather
Premium


One of the biggest choices to be made is 6MT vs. ZF 8. I just recently sold my manual benz, so when at first I was 100% set on the 6 speed, I am now kind of curious as to if I might like the ZF. I have test driven, but just wondering from actual owners, is the box just phenomenal in all modes?

[EBM235]

Great transmission, but I wish I had opted for the 6 speed. Might just need to get use to the paddle shifting

[255zr]

I considered it, but was concerned that at some point I would get annoyed with playing with 8 different speeds and would end up just leaving it in D all the time. I think that paddle shifting is a fun novelty at first, but that it wears out its welcome at some point.

I stuck with the manual. Changed the knob to the M performance one (big improvement).

[th1rd3y3]

ZF8 in my wife's 335, 6spd in my 235. Never once have I wished it had the 8spd instead of the manual. The 335 gets better gas mileage on the highway, but otherwise, I see no other benefit for me personally.

[Killramos]

It's fantastic, one of the reasons we got the car is my fiancé couldn't drive my GTI so for this car automatic was required (it was also an at cost option in Canada...).

That being said, I really like it. Much more comfortable to drive in traffic. The 8 speeds are great for gas consumption. Shifts are good and smooth depending on which setting the tranny is in.

However the car works great when driven hard. Shifts are lighting (way faster than I could ever shift a manual). And the manual mode is perfect. Beat manual-automatic I have ever tried. SMGIII ruined my experience of the v10 M6. Especially side by side with this car.

The only gripe I have is it's a bit harder to be a Holligan in (saving me from myself haha). And with 8 gears it really runs through the gears quite quickly which feels slightly odd.

In short don't worry it's a great transmission and feels 95% of the way to a full on dct.

[golf_234]

Ah, it really is a tough call.

[sdpauly]

That ZF 8 speed is that same transmission in the Jag F-Type R (unfortunately).

No DCT, not even a consideration.

I'd get the stick.

[RiXst3r]

Personally, I like it... got my 435i as a 6MT and did the ZF 8 on my m235i. For a daily driver, with the occasional fun, its quick, locks up nicely, feels solid, and when using the paddles it makes me feel in control.

[ska///235i]

Heres my take, if you opt for the auto..comfort mode is boring as the car drives in low rpms so everytime I drive te car I switch it up to sports mode, or you could leave it in comfort mode and control the shifts (via paddles).

With a manual, comfort mode is not so bad since you're controlling rpms. Other than that, its butter smooth.

I got auto cuz the wife drives the car too

[five3three]

I got auto and have no regrets. Shifts are very quick and in sport mode, the car does such a good job that I never feel the need to use paddles. This is a daily driver and I was not looking to constantly shift gears in rush hour traffic. Plus, given that it is quicker than the manual, to me it was an easy choice.

Yes, I'd love to shift my own gears when on open drives. But the joys of that are quickly overcome in my mind by the thought of having to do that daily in terrible traffic.

[jbenington86]

I ordered the auto because well it beats even the best drivers on acceleration and gets better fuel economy. I can still go out and have a little fun with my 128i from time to time. My 128i (6spd manual) is rated at 28mpg highway and I usually get 32-34mpg (depending on altitude and temps) with cruise set at 80mph...fingers crossed for the same increase over the listed 32mpg highway on the M235i.

[Cyberdemon]

The ZF8 is probably the best auto I've ever driven, and I've been in a lot of cars including all the M cars with DCT. It's comfortable when you want comfort (DCT's aren't) it's fast when you want fast (quicker than the 6 speed) and it's efficient to boot.

With that said, you need to decide how much you enjoy treating your left leg. With 2 years into my 335 w/ZF8 it's a fantastic box, but part of me waxes nostalgic for the days I had a 6 speed and could throw a perfectly timed heel toe into my commute for pure mental satisfaction, rather than performance.

With that said - there were plenty of days I came home with a throbbing knee after sitting in traffic wishing I had an automatic.

On paper, the ZF8 is a better box than the 6 speed. But manual transmissions are for preference now, not performance.

[jbenington86]

Originally Posted by five3three

I got auto and have no regrets. Shifts are very quick and in sport mode, the car does such a good job that I never feel the need to use paddles. This is a daily driver and I was not looking to constantly shift gears in rush hour traffic. Plus, given that it is quicker than the manual, to me it was an easy choice.

Yes, I'd love to shift my own gears when on open drives. But the joys of that are quickly overcome in my mind by the thought of having to do that daily in terrible traffic.

I would agree with you on the DC traffic thing. I feel your pain. Being stuck on the beltway in a huge traffic jam is no fun. Been using a manual in it for just over 5 years.

[tke743]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

The ZF8 is probably the best auto I've ever driven, and I've been in a lot of cars including all the M cars with DCT. It's comfortable when you want comfort (DCT's aren't) it's fast when you want fast (quicker than the 6 speed) and it's efficient to boot.

Agreed, I was forced to give up manual in my new build due to a knee injury. The ZF-8 made this much easier. I will miss the clutch, but for an auto, it is sweet. MUCH better then the Amg 45's dual-clutch or the Amg 63's trans. It is not better then the M3/M4 DCT, but it is close.

[e90post_user]

I went for a 3/4-series or higher I would def get the 8-speed auto, I think the MT in a smaller car is a better match.

[DSTR]

8spd here in Germany. Good choice. My other car is manual. Auto's or DCT/TCT's are getting very very good. Test it before you buy as your personal choice is all that matters, now what I think.

[hans007]

ive never driven a 2 series, but i have it in my F30. i've driven a f10 that had it, and a few other cars like an X5. its honestly the best automatic you can ge ton the market. its obviously not going to have that direct feel that say even a DSG will have, but in a lot of cars you dont want that.

for me, im happy with it, and would get it again. every time im in some slow moving traffic (i.e. like every other day in los angeles ) i feel like it was a good idea.

[benes136]

I love manuals but got the auto in the m235i. I have a hard time not getting the best/fastest version of whatever I pick up so I could not bring myself to purchase a manual with no performance advantage or mpg benefit. My girlfriend has the CLA and that dual clutch is clunky and slow. Complete garbage compared to my slush box

[3.0L]

I've always had the manual transmission cars in the family and my wife drove the automatics.

Well, that changed when I got my M235i. I really like the 8-speed automatic. The auto is somewhat sedate when in the Comfort or ECO modes, but really likes to play when in the Sport or Sport+ modes.

Also, as I'm sure you noticed, the automatic slightly out performs the manual in acceleration and MPG.

I'm very, very happy with mine.

[gregharp]

I drove sticks for 14 years before I bought an E46 M3 with SMGII that I owned for 12 years. I just switched to the ZF8 sport auto in the M235i, and I am NOT looking back! It's awesome!

I only ever used automated mode in the M3 when I had to resort to driving with one hand (e.g. needing to answer the phone, forgot my BT headset). I hated it. It was a necessary evil. Otherwise I drove using the stick and paddles full time in sequential mode. That was fun but occasionally work (e.g. in traffic).

The SMGII is faster than most people rowing their own gears. But in my experience, under most normal circumstances the sport auto shifts even faster. It's definitely faster than any manual gear change.

I fully expected that I would drive the M235i auto in manual most of the time. When I want to have fun that's exactly what I do. However, whenever I am commuting, stuck in traffic, or just cruising, I leave it in D. If I really want to downshift manually without popping the kick down button (which I have stayed away from so far since I'm still in the break-in) I can grab a paddle.

The car is the ultimate being adaptive to your mood. You can cruise with almost econobox efficiency or you can thrash it and have fun. You can change your mind on a moment's notice.

[DMM235i]

First auto that I chose to buy. Have always owned stick for performance cars. Drag racing, autocross, you name it I would pick stick every time.

This auto however...better at shifting than I ever could be. It downshifts in a turn, downshifts when you brake, shifts when I tell it to shift with the paddles and does so without any waste of time. It's nearly DCT instant.

Then, when I'm stuck in traffic, it behaves very civilized. It really has become the best of both worlds and I can't find a fault with it. Usually, I hate automatics because they remove the driver from the equation. Not with this one...

[escobar929]

I have a 6MT but there's a 228i with the ZF8 in my garage as well and the real answer is there's no wrong answer. They are both great transmissions, so it really comes down to which each individual actually prefers. The days of auto being slow and boring are long gone, in sport mode it holds the revs and downshifts for you but in comfort it tries to save gas.

Having said that, I personally could never get used to not having a clutch. While the ZF8 can shift faster from one gear to the next, I feel is slower when having to down shift various gears. I constantly have to go from 6th to 3rd or 2nd, maybe I'm not good enough with the paddles but this feels like it takes longer since I have to come from 8th