Auto Vs Manual.

**GJA003** · 10-19-2011, 07:26 PM

I'm looking at buying a e30. Problem is in Australia it very rare to come by a affordable 2 door 325i.

I finally found one same owner for 10 years it is immaculate and it is affordable.

Problem is its a sports auto and i always thought a manual would be better and more fun as a first car.

I need peoples opinion on what a Auto goes like compared to a manual.

I could do a manual swap but i feel the car wont drive the same as a real manual from factory as the ecu will be Auto and more work is required to get it near factory.

Also Are the on board computer hard to wire up where the clock goes ?

**stamar** · 10-19-2011, 08:02 PM

in a manual swap the ecu is the same.

however, the differential is actually different. so is the driveline, the rear half of it.

**GJA003** · 10-19-2011, 08:06 PM

Its too much work. I will either just drive an Auto or wait for a manual.

But whats every ones opinion on a Sports Auto are they any good ?

**nick325xit 5spd** · 10-19-2011, 10:03 PM

The auto is terrible, but swapping is really easy if you have basic mechanical skills. The differential has a more aggressive ratio, but one that is eminently usable (and frequently a performance upgrade for manual cars). All you need is a pedal box, trans/clutch, the hydraulics and a driveshaft and you're good to go.

**caleb325** · 10-19-2011, 10:22 PM

Auto is lame, Standard is great.
- More fun to drive
- Make the engine work as hard, or as little as YOU want
- Your more cognizant of what's going on around you
- Better fuel efficiency - depends on your shifting...
- I don't care what people say, if you drive standard, your cool factor went up
- Easier Repairs/Cheaper
- Getting the car sideways is fun
- Rolling back and forth at stop lights is a blast
- Learning how to drive stick is a blast
- Redlining is a blast
- Standard>Automatic.

IMO.

**bimmer guru** · 10-19-2011, 11:11 PM

i totally agree!!!^^^^^
if you plan on doing a swap, just add 1k to the price of the car and there you go! if you sell the auto tranny, then you will most likely not spend that much. but its always better to guess too much than too little. one plus from an auto tranny means it was most likely driven carefully and the engine wasnt abused(most likely)

**GJA003** · 10-19-2011, 11:15 PM

I agree manual is a lot more fun to drive, its what makes driving enjoyable.

But when you swap out the Auto to Manual isnt the ecu still thinking its Auto ?

Wont in create issues ?

Changing Gear boxes wont be the issue, im just consered that it wont perform as well as a factory manual seeming its been made for a auto.

**bimmer guru** · 10-19-2011, 11:18 PM

I'm pretty sure the ecu has very little to do with the transmission... just about all it does on an e30 is regulate fuel/air ratios as well as other small things(unless im mistaken). but to answer your question, the ecu has nothing to do with the transmission

**GJA003** · 10-20-2011, 12:41 AM

Either way i dont think it would perform as well as a Factory manual it just wouldnt be the same. I really want a manual so ill either do the swap or wait for another e30.

Mind you i dont have my license yet and its still a year until before i really get to drive it.

**BMWMPow3r** · 10-20-2011, 01:46 AM

Sports and auto should never be put in the same sentence. Does that answer your question?

Originally Posted by GJA003

Its too much work. I will either just drive an Auto or wait for a manual.

But whats every ones opinion on a Sports Auto are they any good ?

**GJA003** · 10-20-2011, 06:16 AM

Bottom line is there shit ?

But on the other hand the motor wouldn't have been through its paces .. yet

**Jacksone30** · 10-20-2011, 07:01 AM

I'll get flamed for this .... But I'm perfectly happy with the auto in my vert.
Being my DD in nice weather car I prefer not having to shift and drink my coffee . When i bought my 89 the auto trans was kinda shot and often would not come out of first gear. $100 got me a new auto - cheap since 5 speeds are in more demand. If there is a next time the auto tran dies maybe I'll put in a 5 speed.

But for now... when I leave the trans in 3rd and put the pedal to the floor it accelerates pretty nice.
IMO - Bottom line it's up to the way you want to drive.
I would also venture to say most e30 autos were probably not driven as hard as their 5 speed brethren- like being driven sideways-
Just my 2 cents

**Rudolph320i** · 10-20-2011, 08:58 AM

once you swap the manual trans in the ECU no longer cares about the trans. If you put the stick in and the factory ratio for the stick in the rear it will perform exactly the same as a factory stick car. Ive never really believed in the whole "autos got beaten less" thing because my brother had an auto e30 and we beat the balls off of it every chance we got.

**nick325xit 5spd** · 10-20-2011, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by GJA003

Either way i dont think it would perform as well as a Factory manual it just wouldnt be the same. I really want a manual so ill either do the swap or wait for another e30.

Mind you i dont have my license yet and its still a year until before i really get to drive it.

You think that because you are wrong.

**bimmer guru** · 10-20-2011, 10:10 AM

yeah... actually i think the auto has a shorter rear diff gear ratio... so while that may suck on the highway at higher speeds, it will actually be quicker than a factory manual

**Cavi** · 10-20-2011, 11:52 AM

I have a manual with the 4:10 diff from an auto, it has more pickup, and it does just fine on the highway, no one driving my car would never know that was not the stock rear end ratio.
As for the auto vs stick, most perfer the stick because it is deffinitly more fun, but as a first car you will still love it even if it is auto, and down the road you can always swap to a manual if you feel the need or are really itching. There are many on this forum who have autos and are very happy with them. if the one you found is in good shape and is in your price range, get it. As you said thay are hard to come by over there, and it is getting more difficult every day to find a good one anywhere.

**my1stE30** · 10-20-2011, 12:21 PM

.. to answer the question about gear ratios difference between auto and manual transmissions

- 4th gear in the 4-sp auto is a 0.73OD
- 5th gear in the 5-sp manual is a 0.81OD

so..... theoretically, and all other things being equal, your engine will highway cruise at slightly LOWER rpm with an AUTOMATIC transmission

AND ... for what it is worth, I agree fully with Jacksone30 (a few posts up..)

.. any discussion about auto vs manual on this forum will be heavily biased with almost no love shown for the automatic.

**GJA003** · 10-20-2011, 06:33 PM

Thanks for all the opinions.

It's been really help full i think that the auto with eventually bug me and i will do the swap for a manual. If it really doesn't take the ecu into account than i feel more than happy to swap it. I know of some really good parts shop here so i may get a quote to see how high the cost may go.

After all you would enjoy a manual more as a kid but also its a e30 so either way i will enjoy owning one.

Sadly this one will get away from me but ill find another one.

**red88ix** · 10-20-2011, 06:45 PM

If the car you are considering is anywhere close to really "immaculate", you should probably not pass it up because very few are. If the automatic really bothers you, swap the transmission. If it's done right, you won't be able to tell that it is not original to the car. But, you may be surprised just how much fun the car is to drive as it is. There's definitely a bias toward cars with a man pedal here, but e30's are not fast in the first place and the type of tranny doesn't influence handling which is the strong point of the car.

**Rudolph320i** · 10-20-2011, 08:18 PM

I think having an auto tranny does kind of affect the cars handling. if you just leave that in drive and gas it through a corner it will downshift instead of holding the gear, causing a lurch. its not really that bad but i have found that difference with auto/manual through a course. While im at it the auto e30 my brother had wasnt bad at all really, ill always miss the third pedal when im only given two but that doesnt mean fun cannot be had. sure as hell made burnouts easier...

**bimmer guru** · 10-20-2011, 08:24 PM

Yeah.. Haha it's a good bit harder to do a burnout in a manual... But it takes more skill

**GJA003** · 10-20-2011, 08:40 PM

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1991-BMW-325i-Sports-E30-Coupe-/270831956044?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item3f0ed7b04c

Theres a link to the car. Sadly im not allowed to purchase the car yet as my parents think its too early. Real shame this one was something ive been waiting for.

There will always be another one but i dont think i will find one this clean in Australia again.

Hopefully the USD and Australian Dollar stay at 1.00 i can order all my future plans from ireland engineering.

By the way whats everyone think of ireland engineering ?

**caleb325** · 10-20-2011, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by bimmer guru

Yeah.. Haha it's a good bit harder to do a burnout in a manual... But it takes more skill

Raise the revs, dump the clutch! Not difficult

**Rudolph320i** · 10-20-2011, 10:23 PM

yea, try doin that in an E car with a posi, any kind of sticky tires and it wont be that happy with you.

**Economy** · 10-20-2011, 10:48 PM

I've had both and the five speed is the way to go, cars feels lighter with much better throttle response. And it's more fun!

Thread: Auto Vs Manual.

Thread Tools

Auto Vs Manual.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions