Originally Posted by marty530d' date='Apr 5 2005, 04:28 PM

Merv - thats intersting. I've never really notice the same on my 530d. It sits in M6 on the Mway quite happily (or at least I think it is as you cant easily tell) - with normal(ish) acceleration it will stay in M6 and only change down if you demand more of it.

Originally Posted by golfnut' date='Apr 5 2005, 10:46 AM

I have tried a 535 sport for a day and normally drive the 530D with a tuning box. I think the differences are not down to the gearboxes but the way the engine delivers the torque. The single turbo version throws a real punch just over 2000 rpm, so when you are cruising on a motorway, you are around this engine speed. Consequently, putting your foot down a little can sometimes, if you get it slightly wrong, deliver a whole lot more power than you might expect. Whether this accounts for the changing up/down issues Merv is reporting seems unlikely to me as mine doesn't behave like this. The 535 has a much smoother power curve as you might expect and the surging effect in the 530 is more noticable with the tuning box in place than without.All in all, the performance across the range in the 535 is more refined. Putting a box in that turns it into an animal!

I haven't experienced any of the trouble Merv is writing about with or without the tuning box in place - I wonder if the adaptive system might be responsible - they are exactly the same gear boxes in both after all.

Originally Posted by Merv the Derv' date='Apr 5 2005, 08:25 PM

As some of you haven't experienced the problems I had with my 530d then I would put it down to mine being a launch model and BMW somehow changed something on later models. I notice Colejl's car is Dec 03 so could confirm my theory. I remember when I first had the car other owners raised this particular issue.

On the plus side my 530d was a fantastic car and the only reason why I changed was I wanted to choose a different spec and colour scheme.

Originally Posted by Guest' date='Apr 5 2005, 01:41 PM

As specified on the Hompage of ZF (www.zf.com) the 6HP26 can handle up to 600NM.

The 6HP26 is also used for the 525d and 545i not only for 530d and 535d.

Originally Posted by E60Speed' date='Apr 5 2005, 08:58 PM

There are different versions of the GA6HP26Z

Forinstance the latest 545i use the GA6HP26Z-MA

Originally Posted by Bimmer530d' date='Apr 6 2005, 08:37 AM

Interesting info!

Does anyone? know if the manual gearbox in 530d in specced same way than autobox?

I also looked ZF's homepage and the torque handling was indeed 600nm. But is the same in manual? Or how can I tell the difference between manual and auto? Some letter perhaps?

Originally Posted by Merv the Derv' date='Apr 5 2005, 08:25 PM

[quote name='golfnut' date='Apr 5 2005, 10:46 AM']I have tried a 535 sport for a day and normally drive the 530D with a tuning box. I think the differences are not down to the gearboxes but the way the engine delivers the torque. The single turbo version throws a real punch just over 2000 rpm, so when you are cruising on a motorway, you are around this engine speed. Consequently, putting your foot down a little can sometimes, if you get it slightly wrong, deliver a whole lot more power than you might expect. Whether this accounts for the changing up/down issues Merv is reporting seems unlikely to me as mine doesn't behave like this. The 535 has a much smoother power curve as you might expect and the surging effect in the 530 is more noticable with the tuning box in place than without.All in all, the performance across the range in the 535 is more refined. Putting a box in that turns it into an animal!

I haven't experienced any of the trouble Merv is writing about with or without the tuning box in place - I wonder if the adaptive system might be responsible - they are exactly the same gear boxes in both after all.