Impressions on the SAT

[vern]

Any information on the Sport Automatic Transmission,likes and dislikes, on the 535. TIA
cheers
vern

[midwest bmw]

Any information on the Sport Automatic Transmission,likes and dislikes, on the 535. TIA
cheers
vern

Vern,

Well, I can't provide feed-back from a Twin Turbo pov, but I have some experience you might want to hear about none-the-less...

I have the SAT on an 08 550 w/zsp and love it...My only ding on this transmission is when you are not in Sport mode. At lower revs the car seems to loaf a bit. You have to get on the pedal to bring the 4.8l to life..

I suspect the TT 6 might behave differently at lower revs? :dunno:

My everyday driving mode has become Sport Drive. More responsive acceleration, higher revving shift points and steering becomes more responsive too. The car becomes the V8 beast I crave in Sport mode :angel:

When I'm feeling the need for even more fun, I move to Sport Manual and shift w/ the paddles or floor shifter.

Do a search on this topic. It's been discussed a lot and there is some good info out there..There is also a very good thread on this at the e60 forum too.

Rick

[vern]

Vern,

Well, I can't provide feed-back from a Twin Turbo pov, but I have some experience you might want to hear about none-the-less...

I have the SAT on an 08 550 w/zsp and love it...My only ding on this transmission is when you are not in Sport mode. At lower revs the car seems to loaf a bit. You have to get on the pedal to bring the 4.8l to life..

I suspect the TT 6 might behave differently at lower revs? :dunno:

My everyday driving mode has become Sport Drive. More responsive acceleration, higher revving shift points and steering becomes more responsive too. The car becomes the V8 beast I crave in Sport mode :angel:

When I'm feeling the need for even more fun, I move to Sport Manual and shift w/ the paddles or floor shifter.

Do a search on this topic. It's been discussed a lot and there is some good info out there..There is also a very good thread on this at the e60 forum too.

Rick
Rick thanks for the information, I did a search but nothing came up. I also read Rudy's thread on the E60 forum but like you he has a 550. thanks again
cheers
vern

[midwest bmw]

Rick thanks for the information, I did a search but nothing came up. I also read Rudy's thread on the E60 forum but like you he has a 550. thanks again
cheers
vern


Good -- glad you found the Rudy thread!

[yahtzee5]

I had a 2008 535i with regular AT, then a 2008 M3 with a 6MT and now have a 2008 550i with SAT. I can honestly tell you that if I were getting the 535i again, there is no question that I would go with the SAT. It is like a butter knife when shifting and just feels perfect. I love it.

[chrischeung]

Likes - its the best transmission I've ever driven, and I used to have an SMG, Step, and stick in past cars. Super responsive, blips the throttle on downshifts, and butter shifts. No better option for $500 - I'd pay $1000 over a step for it.
Dislikes - the interface is poor. Double sport actions is confusing, plus suplerfuous. When you want to go take double S, it takes 2 actions, pushing the lever over, and pushing the button. Why not just the lever for simplicity? Also S in either mode locks out 6th gear, which I personally don't like. Some purists may not like the fact that it doesn't hold gears in M mode - it'll change up if you overrev, and down if you mash the throttle - but I like this (I don't track the car).

Just make sure you reset the tranny after running in.

[calpalmer]

I think if you just push the Sport button leaving the lever to the right in D mode, you still have 6th gear, albeit at a significantly higher speed and rpm than in normal-D mode. Another nice thing in this scenario as DS starts out in 1st gear, normal-D starts out in 2nd gear.

Cal

[vern]

I think if you just push the Sport button leaving the lever to the right in D mode, you still have 6th gear, albeit at a significantly higher speed and rpm than in normal-D mode. Another nice thing in this scenario as DS starts out in 1st gear, normal-D starts out in 2nd gear.

Cal
Thanks for the information
cheers
vern

[vern]

I guess most of the 535i owners are to busy enjoying their BMW's or they don't have SAT to reply to the OP.Thanks any way.
cheers
vern

[no8080]

I have a new MY09 535D, with SAT. I have owned several auto BMW's before and this is by far the best. It so much smoother than the normal auto, gear changes are quick and you hardly notice them.

Engaging the sport button locks out 6 gear on mine, I was told this was normal for the SAT. Although I guess it depends on the engine it's fitted to and the software verson the SAT is using.

The only complaint I have is that when you are coming to a stop and then need to go again without stopping fully and at low rev's in non sport mode the acceleration and pickup is poor. But it's fine in sport mode. I guess I will have to wait till the end of the breakin period and the learning period for the SAT before it settles in.

[vern]

I have a new MY09 535D, with SAT. I have owned several auto BMW's before and this is by far the best. It so much smoother than the normal auto, gear changes are quick and you hardly notice them.

Engaging the sport button locks out 6 gear on mine, I was told this was normal for the SAT. Although I guess it depends on the engine it's fitted to and the software verson the SAT is using.

The only complaint I have is that when you are coming to a stop and then need to go again without stopping fully and at low rev's in non sport mode the acceleration and pickup is poor. But it's fine in sport mode. I guess I will have to wait till the end of the breakin period and the learning period for the SAT before it settles in.
THANKS Neil
cheers
vern

[Bigbadbull]

I love it on mine.
I drive it hard so, the only problem I have is the start out from stop , when the Transmission actually uses the Torque converter.

Starts off 2nd normally, The car normally loafs around in 6th, is more than eager to kick down 2-3 gears very rapidly when needed, blips the gas on the down shifts.

The sport button , lets the car start out in 1st ( tire smoke optional) and won't let he car go in to 6th at all. It also does a couple other things not related to the transmission.

Add a sprint booster and things get really interesting...

[FitzLA]

I have a '08 535 with SAT, and I love it. I can't think of a bad thing to say about it. I would not get another without it. Best transmission i have ever had.

[Fahrer]

I have the 2008 535 with the 6MT. I am very happy with the combination and I feel that turbos work better with manuals.

[chrischeung]

I feel that turbos work better with manuals.

Isn't the opposite true?

Yes, if you heel toe on the downshift. But if not, then wouldn't the SAT which blips the throttle automatically, keep the engine on boost better than a manual? And the same argument would hold to a lesser extent on the upshift, since its faster? Just presenting a theoretical thought - I'm not sure what the actualities are though on this.