How strong is the automatic transmission?

[SC 325ic]

In driving my cabrio (which I just sold), I found the shift points to be horrendous. Made the car feel like a complete slug, as every shift felt like it happened below 3000. I drove a little while doing manual shifting and the car felt so much better as the engine had the opportunity to actual rev through its range.

Was wondering whether E30/M20 auto trannys are strong enough to take manual shifting on revving throughout the powerband on a regular basis? Do any of you drive that way on a regular basis? If so, have you had problems with your transmission?

Oh, and no need to tell me that I should just buy a manual transmission. I'm looking for one. It's just that there are so many auto trans cabrios, and so few manual trans cabrios, on sale out here.

[Stück]

Have you actually ever activated the kickdown switch? If you don't its going to shift low.

Don't shift the 4hp22 manually unless you want it to die, they do not take well to harsh use.

[imola38]

The 4HP22 is definitely a strong transmission. It was used for almost all automatic models of the same era. The "big six" autos even used the same box. I see them all the time with 200k plus still original. The only thing that will definitely kill it is revving in park/ neutral. On the early units it will burn the forward clutch pack thus no forward drive. I had an 89 325i that I manually shifted constantly with no probs, it had over 185k. do the basics like checking sluid level/ quality at least tho.

-Ben

[SC 325ic]

Have you actually ever activated the kickdown switch? If you don't its going to shift low.

Don't shift the 4hp22 manually unless you want it to die, they do not take well to harsh use.

Wow, I'd never even heard of the kickdown switch. Does it only operate at WOT?

[Xinlitik]

Most german cars I've driven have it. Never driven an e30 one, but if it's like the ones I've driven, you should feel like a pressure maybe 80% of the way down...a completely different feeling from the previous 80%.. push it past that point and your tranny shifts really late.

[vespo88]

yeah man, the kick down switch i think is the "S" on the tranny (correct me if im wrong).. but using that keeps me in my powerband for the most part and i get more power out of it than using the "D" on the sluggy 4HP22.
Ive been shifting manually once in a whilee, i dont think its too bad for it, howwver i think downshifting could harm it IMO.

[eshghehBMW]

no way in hell you can rev higher than 3000 in an auto...
1st to second happens in 1500 band...
2-3 happens in 2000
3-4 happens in 3000
by this point you're in 50s...

I would go my route and get an auto...cuz you'll know that it hasn't been raped much...ya know.
and thereafter swap the sucker for a 5er

[draccent]

I have shifted my father's jeep, my mother's hyundai sonata, and various other auto cars, including an International diesel truck, manually with absolutely no problems. I have also had no problem running near redline with all the above

[kramer86e30]

I've always thought my 86 auto was a tad sluggish off the curb, depending on the curb, but it's very strong under normal driving and the kick down switch works wonderfully-- really taps the torque. I only shift manually from D to S depending on traffic or on hills when I'm in traffic and don't want the transmission to constantly shift.

[Jbombdizzle]

What is S?

[whodwho]

no way in hell you can rev higher than 3000 in an auto...
1st to second happens in 1500 band...
2-3 happens in 2000
3-4 happens in 3000
by this point you're in 50s...

I would go my route and get an auto...cuz you'll know that it hasn't been raped much...ya know.
and thereafter swap the sucker for a 5er

You describe it as the rpms don't decrease with each gear change???

There is no issue getting to 6k in one with an I motor @ WOT, if it is changing much lower then this you need to check/adjust the kickdown cable. If you are finding it is shifting to soon and want to pep it up some loosen the kickdown cable adjustment, press the pedal down and hold it WOT and adjust the slack out of the kickdown cable. Any tighter then this and it interferes with full throttle.

They are a solid trans EXCEPT for the forward clutch pack issue which can be addressed with different seal rings.

[davey101]

What is S?

"sport" mode. i believe it came mostly on European e30s. they actually have a little knob on the panel, in between the ebrake and the shifter and it has different modes

[tjmonsen5]

i can tell that almost all E30s on here are manual, there is so much mixed information being told about E30 auto transmissions.

The kick down switch is the "button" under the gas pedal when you press it all the way to the floor. It doesnt actually do anything, but it lets you know that you have floored the car and the transmission will kick down to downshift to a lower gear.

S is supposedly sport mode, but i cant even really tell a difference besides locking out 4th gear.
the auto trans shifts early to save gas, just give it more gas and it will shift higher.
My Eta shifts under 2k all day long unless i practically floor it. its stupid.

[whodwho]

i can tell that almost all E30s on here are manual, there is so much mixed information being told about E30 auto transmissions.

The kick down switch is the "button" under the gas pedal when you press it all the way to the floor. It doesnt actually do anything, but it lets you know that you have floored the car and the transmission will kick down to downshift to a lower gear.

S is supposedly sport mode, but i cant even really tell a difference besides locking out 4th gear.
the auto trans shifts early to save gas, just give it more gas and it will shift higher.
My Eta shifts under 2k all day long unless i practically floor it. its stupid.

This is specific for the 4HP22E which was not common to E30s in the US, the rest had KD cables and no sport mode other than full throttle.

[max325e]

My 86 eta ES has the S in the shifter.