[RWD4Life]

Hi All,

I'm in the process of buying a 328i M Sport. Does anyone know if there is significant difference between the regular AT and the Sport AT?
Still don't get why a Golf GTI offers a dual clutch and not a BMW M Sport...
Thanks for your inputs!

[justinnum1]

yes.

from someone who hjas driven VAG dsg zf8sport is better

shifts just as quick if not quicker and the efficiceny is unreal

[J1n]

A must have

[SomeRandomer123]

There are so many bloody threads on this it's ridiculous.
Bascially, the Sport Auto is better than the standard auto in every area and that's not opinion, that's fact so don't let anybody tell you differently.
I didn't feel the standard auto responded or shifted quickly enough, and therefore gave power interruptions which were constant as there are 8 cogs to go through.
The Sport Auto is telepathically good and super smooth in D. And then when you want some fun, DS and Manual mode (M/S) has the car bang through the gears like a DCT transmission - it really is unbelievably quick and responsive.
Aesthetically, you get a nicer gear lever, a nice leather surround (instead of plastic), and flappy paddles. It also adds Sport+ to the car if you do not have Adaptive M Suspension.
So the standard auto is good, but for the little bit extra, you might as well purchase perfection.

[webdither]

Originally Posted by J1n

A must have

+1 Hands down the beset bang for your buck option.

[PGT]

The Sport Auto is the only transmission to get if you're at all concerned about driving performance and can't live with a manual.

[hans007]

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

There are so many bloody threads on this it's ridiculous.
Bascially, the Sport Auto is better than the standard auto in every area and that's not opinion, that's fact so don't let anybody tell you differently.
I didn't feel the standard auto responded or shifted quickly enough, and therefore gave power interruptions which were constant as there are 8 cogs to go through.
The Sport Auto is telepathically good and super smooth in D. And then when you want some fun, DS and Manual mode (M/S) has the car bang through the gears like a DCT transmission - it really is unbelievably quick and responsive.
Aesthetically, you get a nicer gear lever, a nice leather surround (instead of plastic), and flappy paddles. It also adds Sport+ to the car if you do not have Adaptive M Suspension.
So the standard auto is good, but for the little bit extra, you might as well purchase perfection.

the sad thing is its actaully the same transmission underneath. just with a different shift pattern program, and the paddle shifters and the leather surround.

i ordered it. i think $500 honestly is a justifiable price. i mean if most people don't want to pay for the work that went into developing that shift program then thats fair. totally worth buying from what i've read , when i see sport / m-sport trims on lots without it, it hink it is a shame.

[RWD4Life]

Originally Posted by hans007

the sad thing is its actaully the same transmission underneath. just with a different shift pattern program, and the paddle shifters and the leather surround.

i ordered it. i think $500 honestly is a justifiable price. i mean if most people don't want to pay for the work that went into developing that shift program then thats fair. totally worth buying from what i've read , when i see sport / m-sport trims on lots without it, it hink it is a shame.

I completely agree with on the shame part. I get the feeling that most BMW drivers today are looking for luxury appliances rather than the ultimate driving machine. Die hard bimmer fans are an extinct species...

[webdither]

Originally Posted by RWD4Life

I completely agree with on the shame part. I get the feeling that most BMW drivers today are looking for luxury appliances rather than the ultimate driving machine. Die hard bimmer fans are an extinct species...

It used to be that you added the Sport Package and you got the Ultimate Driving Machine. Now you have to know to get Sport/MSport and then add DHP (Mainly for VSS) and the Sport Auto (if not manual) to get to what truly has the characteristics expected in a sport sedan.

Really I only fault them for doing a terrible job of explaining both DHP and Sport Auto on the website. If you didn't do a lot of research on forums such as this or have a very knowledgeable CA (which is super hard to find, I always know more than the CA) then you could end up not getting what you expect out of your $50k+ sport sedan.

IMO if you pick Sport or M Sport those two options should be included, at the very least VSS & the Sport Program for the Transmission. Make the paddles and adaptive suspension the options even.

Ah well, that's just if I ran the company

[hans007]

Originally Posted by webdither

It used to be that you added the Sport Package and you got the Ultimate Driving Machine. Now you have to know to get Sport/MSport and then add DHP (Mainly for VSS) and the Sport Auto (if not manual) to get to what truly has the characteristics expected in a sport sedan.

Really I only fault them for doing a terrible job of explaining both DHP and Sport Auto on the website. If you didn't do a lot of research on forums such as this or have a very knowledgeable CA (which is super hard to find, I always know more than the CA) then you could end up not getting what you expect out of your $50k+ sport sedan.

IMO if you pick Sport or M Sport those two options should be included, at the very least VSS & the Sport Program for the Transmission. Make the paddles and adaptive suspension the options even.

Ah well, that's just if I ran the company

i totally agree. i mean the paddles being seperate from sport/m-sport was a bit much , plus its $500 . on the e92 right now, its $100 extra for paddles / different shift lever on top of m-sport. doubt it adds shift logic, but its only $100...

[ducatiboy72]

I think this depends on if you are living in Europe or the USA. In USA everyone seems to agree the sport auto is faster. In Europe they are the same except the paddle shifters and different gear knob/leather.

[awwwyeah206]

Is the comfort mode in the sport auto even different than the standard auto?

[bosz]

This is not even a question to be asked, sport auto for sure. It shifts so fast that sometimes u truly believe its on par with dual clutch trannies

[SPACEMANRICK]

Coming from manual shifting in my last 3 BMW's (2002 335XI, 2006 330I, and 2008 335 XI) I am still not 100% sold on the 8 speed sport automatic in my 335 Xdrive, but one thing for sure, it sure shifts faster and smoother than I can with a manual gearbox.........

[jzcrna]

Originally Posted by webdither

It used to be that you added the Sport Package and you got the Ultimate Driving Machine. Now you have to know to get Sport/MSport and then add DHP (Mainly for VSS) and the Sport Auto (if not manual) to get to what truly has the characteristics expected in a sport sedan.

Really I only fault them for doing a terrible job of explaining both DHP and Sport Auto on the website. If you didn't do a lot of research on forums such as this or have a very knowledgeable CA (which is super hard to find, I always know more than the CA) then you could end up not getting what you expect out of your $50k+ sport sedan.

IMO if you pick Sport or M Sport those two options should be included, at the very least VSS & the Sport Program for the Transmission. Make the paddles and adaptive suspension the options even.

Ah well, that's just if I ran the company

I totally agree. I bet most CAs don't even really think about discussing sport auto with their clients off the streets.

[JUSKIDN]

the reg automatic is very aggresive in sport + mode so I could just imagine what the optional one can do

[dd1981]

Originally Posted by RWD4Life

Hi All,

I'm in the process of buying a 328i M Sport. Does anyone know if there is significant difference between the regular AT and the Sport AT?
Still don't get why a Golf GTI offers a dual clutch and not a BMW M Sport...
Thanks for your inputs!

Yes there is a huge difference dish out the extra $500 bucks and get it! You wont regret it.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

yes.

from someone who hjas driven VAG dsg zf8sport is better

shifts just as quick if not quicker and the efficiceny is unreal

Exactly! I started a thread a while back audi s4 dct vs our sport at. I love my sport at its what honestly got me to pick an automatic. After I test drove both the 2012 audi s4 and my 335i with the sport at I was convinced it was smoother and shifted just as fast.

[DarkTrigger]

Only things I would recommend are DHP and Sport Auto. You can feel the difference. I drove with and without both, and I must say it's noticeable.

[NGuyadeen]

If thats one option you can have get the Sports the different is imo night and day. Also try to conjur up some money for the Xenon lights its sooo worth it

[rocko911]

Which is faster, keeping the shift lever on the "D" mode or shifting it to the left to the "S" ?

[MaestroAl]

Neither. The computer still does the shifting and they're the same.