[dmaccioc]

Hi all-

Anyone know if BMW made an update to the auto trans in the 328? My 2007 328 was assembled in Germany but showed the transmission was made in France. Just picked up a 2011 and both the car and trans were manufactured in Germany. Is it still the GM-made trans or is it possible it's now a ZF?

Thanks-
Don

[jopa489]

Still uses the same GM 6L45, which is built at the GM Powertrain plant in France.

[dmaccioc]

I'm sure you're right, everything I've googled points to the 328 running the GM trans, made in France. It's just confusing because my window sticker has clearly changed - see attached. Interesting also that the major source of foreign parts content went from being 70% Germany in the 2007 328i to 75% Germany in the 2011 328i. Did GM move production of the trans to Germany?

[ska///235i]

Just curoius why its important to know if its made in Germany or France?

[dmaccioc]

I already know that it was made in Germany. I'm just pointing out a country of origin change on an otherwise mechanically-identical vehicle, wondering if it has anything to do with a supplier change. There have been some pretty negative reviews of the GM-produced French transmission on here and I'd like to know if perhaps ZF or another company is now producing a German-made trans for the 328i.

If no one knows or wants to help me that's fine, I'm just a big fan with curiosity!

[ska///235i]

My 2006 was 80% germany and tranny was made in germany

[carbidetech]

I'm a supplier to GM, my friends are engineers at a Powertrain facility in my backyard and I can tell you that, although the blueprints are the same, there are significant differences in QC from plant to plant, country to country.
BMW provides the criteria for QC for their suppliers but unless they are there every day, every minute to inspect every assembled tranny and parts in it, there is no way BMW can ultimately control the quality of each transmission.

One thing the engineers do have is an incidence log that records every reported transmission failure and what part failed. If they are under warranty, the transmissions are torn apart and the problem is identified. They CAN determine what plant is producing the transmissions with the most problems but it's not an easy figure to pull out of them.

So, is the point that French made transmissions are more problematic than German made ones? I'm more curious now than ever since I had no idea that GM sold transmissions to BMW. All the transmissions made in the local plant are 6 speeds but go into vette's and camaro's so the only available information is related to domestic products.

If anyone has any data to support which is worse....please chime in!

[Saintor]

There were quite a few complaints about 2007 328i's GM transmission, but now they are rarer. I would guess that they updated the programming and solved many issues.

Mine is working very well and smoothly. No complaint, except the gear selector that needed replacement).

[jjbmwcca]

Originally Posted by dmaccioc

I'm sure you're right, everything I've googled points to the 328 running the GM trans, made in France. It's just confusing because my window sticker has clearly changed - see attached. Interesting also that the major source of foreign parts content went from being 70% Germany in the 2007 328i to 75% Germany in the 2011 328i. Did GM move production of the trans to Germany?

Thank you for mentioning this, dmaccioc!

I am also aware of these transmission complaints and also wish we had the ZF transmission in the 328.

Based on your report, I checked local dealer stock and found that what you say is certainly accurate - the 2011 328's show "75% German" and that the transmission is now "German."

I don't want to jump to conclusions, but it seems reasonable to me to believe that this marks some kind of distinct sourcing change, probably due at least in part to the many customer complaints and high warranty costs related to this problem.

So I will "bump" this thread in the hope that someone close to the subject can tell us if there are any changes to the automatic transmission used in the 2011 328's (e90fleet, do you know?).

[dmaccioc]

thanks jj... glad to know i'm not the only one who was interested! =) hoping someone somewhere has the answer!

[JaysBlueE92]

interesting..

[dmaccioc]

bump... anyone know what the deal is with the 328 trans being made in germany?

[mtechnik3]

My 2008 328i AT says - Transmission: France.

It's not the smoothest shifting trans in the world. I asked my dealer and they said there's no software update, and it transmission shifting can be affected by driving style. I have around 25,000 miles on it. It's a lease, so I don't plan on changing the fluid. The ZF in 335's feels much better to me.

[Hou*E92]

Really curious about this as I just custom-ordered a 2011 328i AT.

[dmaccioc]

bfp... don't sweat it, in my experience the 328 transmission isn't bad. my 2011 shifts smoothly and most shifts are timed very well. i had no problems with my 2007 either, but only had it for about 23k miles.

i'm still curious to know more about the source of the 2011 AT in the 328, i plan to keep this one for 10 years and hope it maintains itself in the long haul.

[Hou*E92]

Might this news have anything to do with it?

http://wardsauto.com/ar/court_gm_plant_100909/

Eagerly awaiting my 2011 E92 328i AT (M Sport)!

[xantdieselx]

http://www.automotiveworld.com/oem-t...roup/page/7414

I had read this before, that BMW had stopped using GM transmissions.

[dmaccioc]

All good info!!! Now just wondering who could be producing the 328 trans if GM and BMW are in a legal battle.

[flux221]

If we dont have the build sheet how do we find out where our transmission is built?

[osusports216]

Not sure, I have stick shift.

[Hou*E92]

Update: RealOEM.com is showing two automatic transmissions listed for a 2011 E92 328i with a production month of 09/10: GA6HP19Z (ZF) and GA6L45R (GM).

[5erman]

dude get over it-you have a low end gm tranny unfortunately-get on with life. I hate the tranny in the 328 when i get a tester-For one it doesnt switch into 6th in DS on the freeway, shifts are not crisp and the BIGGEST problem is you cannot manually downshift until you are wayyy under the speed at which the shit occurs.

Ie-In 2nd gear it goes to 6mph in my zf tran. I can dowhshift out of third at any point up to 59mph and get into second even though it puts the revs at almost 7k. The gm tranny doesnt allow you to downshift unless the revs fall more in the 5k region-takes away any fun driving hard.

Would stop me from getting one personally. That is also why the 0-60 times are much worse-they include an extra gear change to get into 3rd before hitting 60