Car & Driver artical
Highlights of the article:
Even knowing what we know about the engine and tranny, we were still surprised just how quick the 335i automatic is. Indeed, this particular Arctic Metallic 335i coupe was the quickest 3-series coupe we've ever strapped our instruments to, and it also ended up right on top of an E46 M3, with 0-to-60-mph passes in 4.9 seconds and 100 mph in 12.1. The quarter-mile happened in a blistering 13.4 seconds at 106 mph, 0.2 second and 1 mph quicker than the 335i manual we tested last year.
335i's ZF-sourced six-speed automatic is among the world's very best transmissions, and we can't heap enough praise on it. Responsive and quick to act, it is the perfect autobox for this kind of car. In normal automatic mode, shifts are virtually invisible, but the character changes dramatically when prompted. Deputy editor Dave VanderWerp says, "Full-throttle downshifts are quite severe, but to me, that's fine when I'm pushing the pedal all the way to the floor. The automatic generally does a single multigear kickdown instead of stopping off at other ratios along the way." We also noted snappy rev-matching throttle blips when downshifting using the manumatic function (or paddles), and in the sport-shift mode, it eagerly takes the liberty of automatically downshifting during braking to set you higher in the meat of the power band whenever your right foot returns to the other pedal.
2007 BMW 335i Coupe Automatic - Specifications
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2007 BMW 335i Coupe Automatic
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE AS TESTED: $49,675 (base price: $42,850)
ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 182 cu in, 2979cc
Power (SAE net): 300 bhp @ 5800 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 300 lb-ft @ 1400 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manumatic shifting
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 108.7 in Length: 180.6 in Width: 70.2 in Height: 54.1 in
Curb weight: 3584 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 4.9 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 12.1 sec
Zero to 140 mph: 26.7 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 5.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.4 sec @ 106 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 145 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 156 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.91 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 20/29 mpg
C/D observed: 18 mpg
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My brief review for two BMW steptronics:
I have been driving a loaner E92 328i all day today, can't wait to hop back to my car after the goodie is installed. I don't like the atuo in 328i, very lazy. I was kinda shocked by the difference, I thought they were suppose to be the same. So I did a little bit of research an found that:
The 335i has the ZF auto built in Germany. It shifts very fast and blips the throttle on downshifts. Porsche 997 Turbo's tiptronic is also a ZF built auto. The 335i with steptronic actually have better fuel economy over manual.
The 328i has GM built tranny. It does not blip the throttle and is slower shifting.