Hands Down Best E30 Automatic Transmission?

[Quailane]

Thanks for all the good info but once again im not wanting to put an e30 auto behind my m42 what I want is a new bmw auto to put behind it! or what ever can work with the right effort.

When I cruise in my m42 I shift before 2k then when I drive normal I shift over 3k and when Im happy I shift over 4k so why cant an auto do all this work for me?

I will continue to search for the next 20k which is when the clutch and tranny will need attention.

Not gonna happen. You need to look for different car.

[Stück]

This is like arguing about which venereal disease is best to have.

[jkevinward]

• Guess I should weigh in. I have an E30, 1989 325i with an M20 engine. I am happy with the 4HP22 transmission that came with my car. It holds shifts under hard acceleration to high rpms that match the power curve rather well. In a series of corners and staights, you just have to have the right touch on the throttle pedal and brake. Make sure you get one that is rebuilt to include a relief hole to make sure it doesn't crap out on you when getting an emissions inspection (inadequate fluid supply at high idle if insufficient warm up under driving conditions.) Apparently, there is a BMW bulletin on that. It also behaves well in normal traffic situations.

And for all you other guys (and hard driving babes) on this thread: yes, I have to have an automatic for my wife to be able to drive my E30 or I would have purchased a standard shift.

The K, soon to post pics

[BMWtyro]

Kenika,

We are very happy with the factory ZF 4HP22 A/T in our '87 325. It shifts smoothly but noticeably and regularly returns 28-29 highway mpg. I am told that these transmissions are good for about 200K miles or more. My wife and I have driven automatic transmissions in other cars for years, and we are quite comfortable with them.

That said, we have also driven a manual 5-speed 325e E30 "experimentally" and it displayed quite a bit more "oomph" upon take-off and was reported to return about 36 mpg. I also found that it is far more responsive to manual commands than is the automatic.

If you plan to convert a manual car to an automatic and it does not bother you that the car will probably lose some value in the conversion, then I would suggest that you stick with what the factory used. You can probably buy such a donor car cheaply and have the advantage of a ready reference example as well as all of the automatic-specific bits which go with such a swap.

I am a noob, but I posted because I thought you might desire some input from one who owns an automatic car and does not hate them.

Jeff

[MichelleHobson]

Hi
I have an E30 1984 325E and I am looking for an automatic transmission can anyone point me in the right direction please

[1843lamp]

Hi
I have an E30 1984 325E and I am looking for an automatic transmission can anyone point me in the right direction please

Hi Michelle,I can not tell you where to find a transmission ,used car parts ?,what I can tell you is that e30 auto transmissions are despised over here ,many are thrown out because no one wants them ,well almost no one ,I just bought a remanufactured spare transmission for 70.00, the only reason I paid money for it is that it was 5 miles from me so I paid for delivery.Take advantage of the fact that they are unwanted .I realise you are not in the USA but just keep in mind what I said about cost for one.
The

[darknezz7]

best and automatic dont belong in the same sentance.

This

Though Porsche dsg's are pretty awesome

Oh, I got tricked by thread revive boo

[superj]

I will take any autos people swap out also. I like the stick but I have two auto trans cars and two manual so spares are cool

[Ukhozi]

I know this is an old thread but I was looking for help on my 1987 E30 430i auto loosing drive whom stuck on traffic.
What I was surprised at was the vitorolic bad mouthing against we drivers who have autos. I bought the car because it was an E30, it just happened to have an automatic box. I like driving an automatic but have manual cars too, mainly a 1987 Mercedes 2.3-16v 'Cossie' with 5 speed dog leg box both cars do about 30 mpg (UK). I also would like a better auto box but leave off the shit remarks, mostly it seems by a bunch of rev crazy youngsters who obviously don't appreciate the finer things on life. Like a smooth, effortless cruise with nothing to do but steer.

By the way the WORST piece of crap auto is the Mercedes/ Chrysler A class, W168, I have a 2001 170CDi and 3 clutches. My BMW is on the original 33 year old one.

Anyway, rant over, loosing drive on traffic anyone?

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[Ukhozi]

That is 320i obviously.

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[John Adkins]

Beg to disagree. I have a 318ti with the GM four speed automatic. It's a spirited little car, particularly fun to drive if you shift it manually. Car has 160k on the odometer and the transmission is as smooth as ever.

[richardodn]

The 320i should have the ZF 4HP-22 automatic transmission. Grab the service manual here https://procarmanuals.com/pdf-online...repair-manual/ and look in section 1.6 for troubleshooting and diagnosis.

[Mikealwa]

I don't think spray cans of paint and BMWs belong together either, but the apparently the combination does exist.

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[John Adkins]

My M42 E36 has an oem four speed automatic built by GM. Still going strong and smooth after 175k on the odo. They last longer with fluid changes.

[tomstin]

They last longer with fluid changes.

For some reason people seem to forget or ignore ATF changes. Like changing engine oil, cheap insurance!

[superj]

i think that's a kick back from the old days when people would say if you haven't changed it yet, don't change it because you will have problems.

i know my dad said never change the fluid in transmission if they already had 50 or 70k on them, back in the old tf999, tb350/400, and ford transmissions, he always said if you do, something will get dislodged and it will stop shifting. obviously, this is from back i nteh 60s and 70s way of thinking so you do the fluid changes properly and they last, and those old trans would probably have lasted longer if people changed them also but that was the old school way of thought

[aaverhulst]

On those old auto transmissions, you didn't have to worry about changing fluid. The car body would rust away before the transmission or engine gave out, at least here in the midwest. Those old auto 3 speeds were tough and would probably last forever if fluid was changed.

[superj]

ha ha ha, that's true. my old ford had the bed rusting off after two years of being here on the coast in texas. i could reach into the bed from next to the wheel well to get stuff out instead of over the bed rail.

[chefpeterlevine]

here we go...
I bought my car in 2000. it's a 1990 325i. it's been my daily driver for 21 years now. it's an auto. it's an e30. it's all oem. original oil pan yo. it has 304.5k on the original odometer. there are no leaks. it pulls well under load. I drive in third a lot and rev it out... it's peppy. 2nd gear will push me up front when needed... I don't expect to go fast... it's a slug. a pretty slug though.

my mechanic... restores and builds 2002s and other vintage bmws. he hates autos but is still impressed with the health of the auto in mine.

I'm certain the autotragic will last the life of the car... I'll die before it does.
I'm not proud to say this but I've never driven another e30. so I don't know what I'm missing I guess...

I have an audi a4 1.8 turbo manual touring awd i whip around and my wife used to have a 1990 525i 5 speed manual back in the day...

mine is an auto. better or worse is subjective. I drive it not you. it's an e30. it goes plenty fast...
they're all gems. auto or manual.

see you or not at the e30 picnic.





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[superj]

I agree