Auto tranny quirks?

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North Carolina
#1
hey, i'm looking at getting a 1989 325e for about $1500. the only thing i'm concerned about, is that I'm only familiar with manual transmissions (this one's automatic).

are there any specific quirks or problem areas I should be looking at to make sure i'm not about to step into a lemon-flavored time bomb? I know that a clutch replacement is in order around 175000 for manual cars, is there any kind of similar repair that becomes necessary around this time for auto cars? (it's at 178000)

so far, it looks pretty good. i need to spend more time under the car, and under the hood though, just to make sure it's all gravy (and NOT overheating! ARGH)

hopefully i will soon have a rebuild/parts car, and a daily driver!
 
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Australia
#2
Well generally, if the cars been looked after, an automatic transmition can last a long time, so long as its had frequent oil changes and driven properly (ie: No "D" slaps) the thing should outlast a manuall transmition anyday.
It all depends on how the previous owner/owners have driven it, in saying that you can easily make a clutch last a bloody long time :D

Just check for leaks, oil colour, and make sure it aint harshly changing gears while accelerating, and it should be fine, let me know what happens
 
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Dallas
#3
Doughnut said:
Well generally, if the cars been looked after, an automatic transmition can last a long time, so long as its had frequent oil changes and driven properly (ie: No "D" slaps) the thing should outlast a manuall transmition anyday.
It all depends on how the previous owner/owners have driven it, in saying that you can easily make a clutch last a bloody long time :D

Just check for leaks, oil colour, and make sure it aint harshly changing gears while accelerating, and it should be fine, let me know what happens
No ATs do not outlast manuels. If it drives fine on the test drive it should be ok, but i would put some new fluid in the tranny Asap
 
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#5
Doughnut said:
well what i ment was, an auto trany can last longer that a manual gearbox's clutch replacement.
Gotta keep on my toes.
In most cars, yes. But usually not in BMWs. I would venture to say that there's probably a fairly good chance the transmission in this car has already been replaced/rebuilt at some point.
 
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Toronto, Canada
#6
jrt67ss350 said:
In most cars, yes. But usually not in BMWs. I would venture to say that there's probably a fairly good chance the transmission in this car has already been replaced/rebuilt at some point.
One of my old '86 325e's was on it's 3rd tranny, and it was a piece of garbage.
 
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#7
jrt67ss350 said:
In most cars, yes. But usually not in BMWs. I would venture to say that there's probably a fairly good chance the transmission in this car has already been replaced/rebuilt at some point.
I stand corrected.

E30m42cab, how many miles did it have?
sounds like that car was a nightmare. and i have driven the e30 auto transmitions before.... they shift to 2nd too fast, so lame [xx(]
 
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#8
The instrument cluster stopped keeping track of km's somewhere around 450,000kms. Fortunately, the previous owner (my uncle) had all three tranny's put in... by the time I got it, it was on it's third tranny, and it shifted hard, but never failed. I pounded the hell out of it, and it survived. As far as shifting into second too fast, when I put a Turner Motorsport chip in it, second gear would engage at 70km/h!!!, third would engage at 110kmh!!!, fourth... well... the car would do 215kmh+... with the auto tranny. I quite enjoyed the shift points.
 
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#9
Omg, 215kmh+ in an auto, what were your revs?
I'd never take (taken) my bimmer faster than 150kmh... any faster than that in a 22 year old car makes me wet my pants.
 
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#10
I didn't quite wet my pants, but there were definately white knuckles. My revs were over 4500rpm.... my dashboard was shaking:) It's by far the fastest I've ever gone, and the brand new (at the time) E46 behind me was keeping up pretty good, but not making an attempt to pass. I was impressed. Will never try it again though. This was in a 1986 325e.(Turner MS chipped, K&N intake, remus exhaust). You've never been over 150kmh? I've always found the E30's with the M20 have always felt amazingly smooth and effortless cruising at 140kmh.
 
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#11
All the highways around where i live are quite ghetto (pothole-tastic!) and i just dont trust my 23 year old bimmer. Im not ashamed to say this, 150km is as high as i will go.

I do, however, LOVE cruzing at 120km, and its as you said "amazingly smooth and effortless"

215kmh+ Is something i have to do when i get in a brand new car :D
 
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#13
Potholes are rampant this time of year in Ontario... all the snow is gone and you should see all the pavement on the side of the roads... The plows rip up so much:(

The fastest I've been in my 318ic is 190km/h, and it does take a bit longer to get there:)

Do USA cars have MPH and KPH on their speedometers?
 


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