Sport automatic transmission

Jim Chance · 08-08-2010, 12:50 PM

I am selling my E39 540 6-speed and my E60 530 auto wagon and buying an F10 550i. I have mixed feelings about which transmission to get. I love the manual on my 540, but every once in a while like the lazy approach of the auto in my wagon.

I thought the sports automatic might be a good compromise but really could not get the hang of it during a demo. It seems like even though I had the thing in manual mode it would not hold a gear. If I was in 4th and running at a few thousand RPM and opened the throttle the car would automatically down shift.

When I am in manual mode I would like the transmission to stay in the gear I have chosen even if I open up the throttle. Is there some setting to make the manual hold a gear?

ibimmer954 · 08-08-2010, 12:57 PM

In my 335i, if you floor the accelerator there is a kickdown switch at the bottom. If you hit the kickdown switch, the tranny will automatically downshift. Avoid hitting the kickdown switch and it shouldn't downshift.

BTW, the manual tranny in my 535i is very smooth. So even if you get the manual, no fear, it's easy to drive.

pharding · 08-08-2010, 01:06 PM

It has been 11 days since I drove my 550 with the SAT. I thought that it held the gear when using the paddle shifters especially in Sport+ Mode but I could be wrong. I liked the transmission a lot with the 550 which is a beast. Plus the paddle shifters finally work the right way after 7 years.

tadtaggert · 08-08-2010, 01:10 PM

My dealer had a 6mt when I was test driving mine, took it for a spin and it is pure BMW. That said, the 8 auto and the sport transmission are a good approximation and with the auto ratio's when you are doing highway driving better mileage.

Straight from the manual it will tell you that if you drive 'out of range' with the sport auto it will shift (down or up), but it's according to the program, so when in Sports+ I've never had it jump in. I've pushed it, but not 'really pushed it' yet.

You'll be happy with either, enjoy it either way.

08-08-2010, 12:50 PM	#1
Jim Chance New Member 2 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 2000 540 6 speed Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lafayette La iTrader: (0)	Sport automatic transmission I am selling my E39 540 6-speed and my E60 530 auto wagon and buying an F10 550i. I have mixed feelings about which transmission to get. I love the manual on my 540, but every once in a while like the lazy approach of the auto in my wagon. I thought the sports automatic might be a good compromise but really could not get the hang of it during a demo. It seems like even though I had the thing in manual mode it would not hold a gear. If I was in 4th and running at a few thousand RPM and opened the throttle the car would automatically down shift. When I am in manual mode I would like the transmission to stay in the gear I have chosen even if I open up the throttle. Is there some setting to make the manual hold a gear?
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08-08-2010, 12:57 PM	#2
ibimmer954 Major 138 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	In my 335i, if you floor the accelerator there is a kickdown switch at the bottom. If you hit the kickdown switch, the tranny will automatically downshift. Avoid hitting the kickdown switch and it shouldn't downshift. BTW, the manual tranny in my 535i is very smooth. So even if you get the manual, no fear, it's easy to drive.
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08-08-2010, 01:06 PM	#3
pharding Major 308 Rep 1,128 Posts Drives: 23 Audi Q4 e-tron + 14 X3 28i Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	It has been 11 days since I drove my 550 with the SAT. I thought that it held the gear when using the paddle shifters especially in Sport+ Mode but I could be wrong. I liked the transmission a lot with the 550 which is a beast. Plus the paddle shifters finally work the right way after 7 years. __________________ 23 Audi Q4 e-tron; 23 i4 M50 on order 14 X3 Retired: 20 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD; 17 540i x; 14 550i Euro Del; 11 550i Euro Del; 08 550i Euro Del; 06 330i Euro Del; 04 545i Euro Del; 01 530i Euro Del
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08-08-2010, 01:10 PM	#4
tadtaggert Private First Class 3 Rep 101 Posts Drives: 550i F10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	My dealer had a 6mt when I was test driving mine, took it for a spin and it is pure BMW. That said, the 8 auto and the sport transmission are a good approximation and with the auto ratio's when you are doing highway driving better mileage. Straight from the manual it will tell you that if you drive 'out of range' with the sport auto it will shift (down or up), but it's according to the program, so when in Sports+ I've never had it jump in. I've pushed it, but not 'really pushed it' yet. You'll be happy with either, enjoy it either way.
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