THE LARGEST BMW 2-SERIES FORUM ON THE PLANET
2Addicts
2Addicts
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum BMW 2 Series (F22) Forum BMW 2 Series Coupe and Cabriolet (F22/F23) General Forum How well does the Automatic hold up in track days?

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      12-13-2017, 04:42 PM   #1
flypenfly
Private First Class
United_States
43
Rep
115
Posts

Drives: 2020 Cayenne, 2015 Msport 228i
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA

iTrader: (0)

How well does the Automatic hold up in track days?

Thinking about getting a 2015 N20 228i with the MSPORT package as a fun car next to my daily driver, a heavy GT car.

Goal is to do 5-6 track days a year. I have to get automatic because my commute is absolutely insane and I want to drive it a few days of the week to work.

A little bit worried though about how the automatic box will hold up to that many track days a year even if serviced more frequently. Am I worried about nothing or should I really be looking at cars that have a DSG box.
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2017, 05:24 PM   #2
pikcachu
Major General
pikcachu's Avatar
1398
Rep
5,262
Posts

Drives: M235i (F22 Red angel)
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: undisclosed

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by flypenfly View Post
Thinking about getting a 2015 N20 228i with the MSPORT package as a fun car next to my daily driver, a heavy GT car.

Goal is to do 5-6 track days a year. I have to get automatic because my commute is absolutely insane and I want to drive it a few days of the week to work.

A little bit worried though about how the automatic box will hold up to that many track days a year even if serviced more frequently. Am I worried about nothing or should I really be looking at cars that have a DSG box.
I wouldn't worry about the transmission but about the brakes if the car doesn't have the THP... stock sliding caliper 228 brakes are not meant for much abuse....

transmission is the same used in the M235i R so if it's good for the racing version it should be good for the 228 which has less torque...
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2017, 05:37 PM   #3
flypenfly
Private First Class
United_States
43
Rep
115
Posts

Drives: 2020 Cayenne, 2015 Msport 228i
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA

iTrader: (0)

The Racing version uses the same 8 speed ZF auto box?


Brakes: Yeah I've been looking at a few different cars and it seems some cars with MSport also come with the brake upgrades and some don't as an option.

Besides fluid and steel lines, would you recommend a pad and rotor upgrade? Keep in mind, I do need to drive this on bumper to bumper stop and go traffic at least twice a week for 2 hours / day.

Last edited by flypenfly; 12-13-2017 at 05:47 PM..
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2017, 05:42 PM   #4
Dylan86
Colonel
Dylan86's Avatar
Canada
1330
Rep
2,214
Posts

Drives: F15d msport, F22 m235i
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: GTA

iTrader: (0)

ZF8 is a great auto trans, raved over and over again by auto journalists and enthusiasts coming from dual clutch gearboxes. I have yet to hear of anyone really experiencing any issues here in the forums, or on the web, in regard to track day issues..

To my knowledge, Bryan_F22 and Anthony235 both have ZF8's, and track their cars regularly.
__________________
Appreciate 1
rich8566608.50
      12-13-2017, 05:43 PM   #5
aozer
Lieutenant
aozer's Avatar
995
Rep
598
Posts

Drives: M235i
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Texas

iTrader: (0)

a lot of the heavily modded dudes who track their cars on here are using the AT. i think it will be fine.
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2017, 06:04 PM   #6
BEM-S4
Major General
BEM-S4's Avatar
United_States
4515
Rep
8,942
Posts

Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Philadelphia

iTrader: (5)

It's all they use at the performance center and people beat the shit out of those cars.
__________________
2022 Macan S
2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon
2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
Appreciate 2
Dylan861330.00
Viffermike1753.00
      12-13-2017, 07:29 PM   #7
xantdieselx
Kingslayer
xantdieselx's Avatar
No_Country
411
Rep
1,479
Posts

Drives: 23' M3 Base
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SWFL

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BEM-S4 View Post
It's all they use at the performance center and people beat the shit out of those cars.
This ^

I can attest after flogging an M235i for the better part of an 85 degree day in July. Not a whimper from the engine or transmission. The brakes however did go to the floor but came back up after a short cool down.

It's actually what sold me on the M235i after seeing how well it performed under those conditions.
__________________

Previous Cars: 2008' 135i, 2010' 328i, 2013' 328i, 2016' M235i, 2017' X1, 2019' M240i
Current Cars: 2019' X3, 2021' M3 Comp
Appreciate 1
Dylan861330.00
      12-13-2017, 09:19 PM   #8
pikcachu
Major General
pikcachu's Avatar
1398
Rep
5,262
Posts

Drives: M235i (F22 Red angel)
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: undisclosed

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by flypenfly View Post
The Racing version uses the same 8 speed ZF auto box?


Brakes: Yeah I've been looking at a few different cars and it seems some cars with MSport also come with the brake upgrades and some don't as an option.

Besides fluid and steel lines, would you recommend a pad and rotor upgrade? Keep in mind, I do need to drive this on bumper to bumper stop and go traffic at least twice a week for 2 hours / day.
rotors should be fine.... you could swap pads for YellowStuff which work well on the street too but even the stock are not too bad....

RFB600 fluid and yellowstuff works well
Appreciate 0
      12-14-2017, 09:57 AM   #9
Anthony235
Lieutenant Colonel
Anthony235's Avatar
United_States
715
Rep
1,541
Posts

Drives: m235i
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: OC, Ca

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2015 BMW  [0.00]
8AT works great for track days. I would pick it over a DCT from just a reliability stand point. Not to mention it can handle more power than DCT.

Now if only BMW put the shift paddles on the column instead of the steering wheel
Appreciate 0
      12-14-2017, 02:57 PM   #10
Dylan86
Colonel
Dylan86's Avatar
Canada
1330
Rep
2,214
Posts

Drives: F15d msport, F22 m235i
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: GTA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by pikcachu View Post
rotors should be fine.... you could swap pads for YellowStuff which work well on the street too but even the stock are not too bad....

RFB600 fluid and yellowstuff works well
I can personally attest, that Yellowstuff + RBF 660 took 6x20 minute hard sessions, my first time throwing everything I had at the car, on one of the fastest tracks in Canada (Montreal Grand Prix circuit or Mosport would be equally as fast/ challenging..). It held up well, much better than I thought they would, to be honest. For the price, and street performance (they bite well, with no fade) you really can't beat, them.

Was about 28*C that day, so not the hottest day ever, but the tires were definitely more of a limiting factor for hard threshold braking. I had a lot of ABS interventions on the 200km/h hard braking sections especially when I had to wind it down to 2nd gear. That's why I've invested in a square 18x9 setup with R compound tires. I'll run the Yellowstuffs on the street moving forward as I feel they're a great pad for mountain tours, but will be switching to PFC-08's for the track for sure.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      12-14-2017, 04:23 PM   #11
XutvJet
Major General
5488
Rep
5,334
Posts

Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Kansas City

iTrader: (-1)

8ATs are used in the M235i-R race cars. With that said, I would be cautious about adding any additional power as I do not believe the ZF 8AT in the 228i is of the same torque rating as the M235's 8AT. If I was racing an 8AT as often as you plan, I would make sure to be changing the transmission fluid every couple of years.
__________________
The forest was shrinking, but the Trees kept voting for the Axe, for the Axe was clever and convinced the Trees that because his handle was made of wood, he was one of them.
Appreciate 0
      12-14-2017, 05:26 PM   #12
flypenfly
Private First Class
United_States
43
Rep
115
Posts

Drives: 2020 Cayenne, 2015 Msport 228i
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA

iTrader: (0)

Hmmm so if I wanted to add a stage 1 software + intercooler + maybe intake in the near future, that's not a good idea with the 8AT??

Does the 8AT for the 228i and M235i have different part numbers?
Appreciate 0
      12-14-2017, 05:37 PM   #13
flypenfly
Private First Class
United_States
43
Rep
115
Posts

Drives: 2020 Cayenne, 2015 Msport 228i
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA

iTrader: (0)

Okay looks like the part numbers are actually different:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=24_1132

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=24_1330

228i
24008638283
GA8HP45 - ZBS

M235i
24008645366
GA8HP45- ZB5

Could just be gear ratios are different without any other enhancements, not sure.
Appreciate 0
      12-14-2017, 05:53 PM   #14
Dylan86
Colonel
Dylan86's Avatar
Canada
1330
Rep
2,214
Posts

Drives: F15d msport, F22 m235i
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: GTA

iTrader: (0)

I'm wondering if it's just a different computer, or even simply, a software flash? I would think the ratios in the 8AT would be great for any newer turbo car, which is why it's so widespread.. And the rear end may be the ratio changer, in this case, as well. I do know the DCT's can be flashed to hold more torque, like DSG/S-tronic gearboxes can. Not sure if the same method applied to a torque converter gearbox, though..

I have very little background with ZF8's, but hoping to learn more as I'm considering adding the new M340i to join my 2, and that car is only available in 8AT/RWD..
__________________
Appreciate 0
      12-14-2017, 09:10 PM   #15
XutvJet
Major General
5488
Rep
5,334
Posts

Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Kansas City

iTrader: (-1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by flypenfly View Post
Okay looks like the part numbers are actually different:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=24_1132

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=24_1330

228i
24008638283
GA8HP45 - ZBS

M235i
24008645366
GA8HP45- ZB5

Could just be gear ratios are different without any other enhancements, not sure.
Ok, the key here is the 8HP45 designation. That means it's the same tranny as the M235 in terms of torque rating. That's good news. The differences are likely the bellhousing and maybe the TCU.
Appreciate 2
Dylan861330.00
      12-15-2017, 06:32 PM   #16
Dylan86
Colonel
Dylan86's Avatar
Canada
1330
Rep
2,214
Posts

Drives: F15d msport, F22 m235i
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: GTA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by XutvJet View Post
Ok, the key here is the 8HP45 designation. That means it's the same tranny as the M235 in terms of torque rating. That's good news. The differences are likely the bellhousing and maybe the TCU.
That is great for the 4cyl gang, really good news, especially if you intend on modding or tracking. I would think being a shared block, sans 2 cylinders, that the bell housing and all should be the same. No different than the inline 4/5 cylinders or V6/V8's in the Audi's I've worked on in the past..
__________________
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:34 PM.




2addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST