Tiago

I read on a cars magazine a test that they made to automatic gearboxes. For the test they chose cars like: Golf GTI DSG, E320cdi 7matic, E92 335d, M6 cabrio SMGIII, and others. Then they chose people that had never driven cars with automatic gearboxes. In the review they said that in the diesels the 335d was the faster to change gears (with the steering wheel paddles). I feel my car too slow and smooth compared to my M3 with SMGII, both on manual mode. One of the main reasons for that is the torque converter of the 535d, that waste a lot of power between gears. I read that the new generation of the automatic gearbox of the 35d has a new torque converter that waste less power than the previous. Did already one drove both cars? How much faster is the new generation gearbox?

aybeesea

The new auto box also has an automatic clutch. The torque converter is used mainly for moving off from standstill, otherwise it's the clutch which facilitates gear changes.

ABC

Raighne

This means that in the new transmission, most of the time there is a direct connection between the engine and the wheels so it should feel more like a manual (or SMG).

With a torque converter the engine and the driven wheels are not connected mechanically. They influence each other using hydraulic pressure only (almost like a ship's propeller). Hence the smooth but less connected feel of the current transmission. The new transmission will still be smooth moving off from a standstill but more connected when on the move.

Raighne

Tiago... just in case you haven't been following the E60 facelift (LCI) news in the last month...
The E60 will be getting the revised transmission (similar to the 3 series) starting with March production.
The only E60 which is not getting it in March is the 520d which will continue to have the old one.

Tiago

But how much faster is compared with our gearbox? Is it like night and day difference, or slighty "quicker" (less slower )?

Raighne

BMW say...

- reaction times 40% faster
- actual gearshift times almost halved

some other noteworthy differences

- can now skip gears on downshift (up to 4)
- is more economical (in many cases now better than manual!)
- the torque converter is used less (mainly from standstill) ... as mentioned
- you can also order a sports version with paddles and a sports mode which has even more responsive changes
- the shift lever is now connected to the transmission electronically (instead of mechanically)
- supposedly, it will blip the throttle on downshifts (on petrol at least, not sure yet about diesel)

ipp

Will the first LCI:s have the old automatic or does the LCI production start in March?

Raighne

LCI production starts in March (week 10, I think)
From this point on, all E60s except for the 520d will get the new/upgraded transmission.
The even fancier 'sports automatic version' (with paddles, sports mode button and different shift selector design) will be available from June production.