[Shovelman]

BMW seems to have only two transmissions, manual 6 speed and automatic 8 speed. Are these the same from the lowest to the highest powered vehicles?

Of course there are various final drive ratios and shift points but are the mechanicals the same?

[TAZ007]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

BMW seems to have only two transmissions, manual 6 speed and automatic 8 speed. Are these the same from the lowest to the highest powered vehicles?

Of course there are various final drive ratios and shift points but are the mechanicals the same?

Depends on the model. Lately, the autos are more in abundance than the manuals. Certain models like the Z4 and 3 Series are auto only. It seems some of the performance models allow for a manual like the M2.

[USA-RET]

BMW did offer a DCT transmission, but as I understand, is being phased or has been phased out in favor of the ZF 8 Spd. Writing on the wall was when the the M5 came out with the ZF rather than a DCT

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

BMW seems to have only two transmissions, manual 6 speed and automatic 8 speed. Are these the same from the lowest to the highest powered vehicles?

Of course there are various final drive ratios and shift points but are the mechanicals the same?

Almost certainly they are not. Overcapacitizing for torque would be a waste of cost in a base 4 cylinder vehicle, not something BMW is prone to do. M cars have higher requirements. I have not checked but undoubtedly these are different versions of a common basic design.

[Kernel Kurtz]

The ZF 8HP, which is used in most auto BMWs (as well as many other brands), comes in a number of different specifications based on the required HP/torque handling. It is the same basic transmission design, just made more or less robust as required.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZF_8HP...F_8HP_variants

I'm not sure about the manuals, but I expect the same concept probably applies.

[Neverlost99]

I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains and use my automatic like a manual. I use paddles and console shifters every day to save on brake pads to increase power on hills. Is this a bad thing to do?

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Neverlost99

I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains and use my automatic like a manual. I use paddles and console shifters every day to save on brake pads to increase power on hills. Is this a bad thing to do?

Every mechanical system has a MTBF assessment by the OEM (mean time before failure) due to the wear of stress and usage. Just the nature of all things. Using the trans for power on hills is its basic purpose. However, using the trans as a substitute for brake pads is stressing a high cost system to protect a low cost system. I would rather wear out the lower cost, easier to replace brake pads (assuming you don't need to protect against fade from extreme use in a specific situation) than pull-ahead to the early side of that mean time a possible and unneeded wear effect on a transmission.