The 2017 BMW 3 series’ eight-speed automatic transmission, which is provided by ZF Friedrichshafen AG, makes BMW the first carmaker in Europe to offer an automatic transmission with so many gears in the compact-premium market. The eight-speed transmission, an available option on both gasoline and diesel engines in the 3-series lineup, shifts gears in 200 milliseconds, which is quicker than a professional driver.
The BMW also receives its torque converter, many electronic and chassis parts, continuous damping control, and six-speed manual transmission from ZF. In order to reduce vehicle pitch, roll, and vertical motion, increase vehicle safety and passenger comfort, and shorten stopping distances, this system analyses data from sensors and other vehicle systems like ABS and delivers the information to the dampers.
The best-selling model of the automaker is now in its sixth iteration with the new BMW 3 series. In March 2012, the vehicle had its public premiere at the Geneva motor show. Production started in November 2011 at BMW’s factory in Munich, Germany. According to IHS Automotive, peak 3-series production will be 245,000 units in 2014. The 3 series is also produced at the BMW plant in Regensburg, Germany, and is assembled from kits in the Kaliningrad, Russia, facility of contract manufacturer Avtotor.
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The Benefits of ZF’s Eight-Speed Transmission
Shift quality, in two words. The 8HP transmission from German manufacturer ZF combines the qualities of speed and smoothness whether it is placed in an Aston Martin, a Rolls-Royce, or a Jeep. It is swift enough to service racing vehicles and graceful enough for huge luxury sedans.
According to Albert Dick, vice president of automotive powertrain technology at ZF, the quality of the solenoids, manufacturing processes, and control software all play a role in the 8HP’s highly pleasant shifts. They are also a result of a fundamental design that dictates the division of each 8HP gearbox’s four planetary gearsets, three clutches, and two brakes into eight forward ratios. There are only two shifting components used in both one-gear and two-gear shifts: one opens and the other shuts. Similarly, the 8HP performs several multigear changes; see the transitions from sixth to third and even from eighth to second.
We much like the 8HP transmission to ZF’s nine-speed transverse version even though it is only available in longitudinal form for vehicles with rear- or all-wheel drive. For a long range of producers, including Aston Martin, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Jaguar Land Rover, and the Volkswagen Group, about 3.5 million 8HP transmissions were produced in 2017. The attractiveness of the eight-speed lies in its adaptable modular design more so than its performance. It can handle a maximum torque output ranging from 162 to 770 pound-feet. Various all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive systems, like those with an integrated center differential or a two-speed transfer case, are compatible with it. Automobile manufacturers can create hybrid versions with few modifications to the drivetrain thanks to the flexibility to replace the torque converter with an electric motor, as BMW has done. Additionally, because to the shared characteristics of all 8HP gearboxes, firms can reduce development costs by using core components in cars as diverse as the Dodge Demon and the Ram 1500. According to Eric Burnett, head engineer for eight-speed, rear-wheel-drive transmissions at Fiat Chrysler, “we keep the same power flow through all of those applications, so we can carry over the calibrations, the software, and all of those tools that keep that transmission shifting smoothly.”
Then, has the dual-clutch transmission encountered its match? Given the recent departures of the Audi RS5 and the BMW M5, which shifted from dual-clutch transmissions to ZF’s 8HP torque-converter automatics, one may assume that’s the case. Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, agrees, asserting that ZF’s 8HP is more lightweight, less expensive, and quicker than a dual-clutch transmission. “The dual-clutch transmission still seemed futuristic ten years ago. It is now beginning to resemble the broadcast from the past “He informs us. However, the DCT seeks safety in supercars. In a mid-engine architecture, the additional length of a torque converter may be prohibitive, while accurate launch-control programs offer an advantage in acceleration. A decent dual-clutch transmission does, according to engineers, shift gears more quickly. “For our type of product, it’s all about a really quick shift, which the dual-clutch gearbox’s pre-engagement feature aids in. That still has a respectable speed advantage, in our opinion “says McLaren Senna principal engineer Marcus Waite.
But it’s difficult to argue that anything can perform the task better than the ZF eight-speed for just about every other car.
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The ZF transmission is used by which BMWs?
BMW has abandoned the two clutch transmissions found in previous M3/M4 models in favor of ZF’s 8HP76, the newest automatic transmission. We have a solution for new G80 M3/M4 owners who want to safely increase their power without running the danger of destroying the transmission.
For the ZF 8HP76, stages 1 and 2 are available. For bolt-on cars that have noticeable power gains over stock and who want to ensure that their transmission can handle power securely without slipping, Stage 1 is ideal. Stage 2 is designed for people who want to significantly increase their car’s power above stock with upgrades such a larger turbo, nitrous, or even piston/rod combinations. It can withstand anything you can throw at it. We are prepared and about to release our stage 3 package, which will unquestionably be the best ZF transmission rebuild available, as the bmw platform continues to be pushed further.
Has BMW ever used a ZF transmission?
BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg has led the country in automotive exports by value for the fifth year in a row, despite a fall in production in 2018.
Two significant German automakers have agreed to conduct business with one another through their South Carolina-based U.S. subsidiaries.
ZF and BMW both announced in separate statements on Friday that they will begin delivering transmissions to the BMW facility in Spartanburg County at an undisclosed future date from ZF’s Laurens County plant, the German automotive supplier’s sole U.S. location for the production of gearboxes.
For BMW, who up until now has only purchased its drive trains from Europe, it represents a significant stride.
Sky Foster, who oversees corporate relations at BMW’s Spartanburg plant, emailed the announcement as “great news for South Carolina.”
BMW was reportedly examining a U.S. gearbox supplier seriously, according to Automotive News’ original report from last month. At the Geneva Auto Show, BMW’s board chairman, Harald Kruger, had told reporters that his company was in discussions with “one supplier” for a transmission for the United States.
Since ZF has a sizable plant about 22 miles from BMW’s location near the Spartanburg-Greenville County line, it looked like an obvious choice. The firm, which has its headquarters in Friedrichshafen, Germany, already provides BMW with transmissions from its German factories.
According to Van Horn, ZF would profit “double digit” billions from the deal that was revealed on Friday.
In a statement, ZF CEO Wolf-Henning Scheider noted that this order was the company’s biggest ever.
ZF’s most recent 8-speed automatic transmission, which was created to function for both conventional fuel-burning vehicles and electric and hybrid ones, has received an order from BMW.
In a statement released by the firm, Michael Hankel, a member of the ZF management board responsible for transmission technology and e-mobility, claimed that the transmission’s “modular structure” offers for flexibility, particularly as BMW works to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, the ability to quickly switch from one transmission version to another gives our customer the adaptability to respond to market demands, according to Hankel.
ZF will produce the transmissions for BMW factories in China, Europe, and the United States. The plant in question is the biggest in the world for BMW, employing 11,000 people.
When the American ZF plant would begin supplying BMW was not known by Van Horn and Foster. However, the supplier’s answer did imply that it might take some time. The ZF plant in Saarbrucken will begin producing the new gearboxes in series in 2022, according to a statement from the firm.
Although ZF can produce up to 1.2 million transmissions annually in Laurens County, the factory, which started in 2013 and has subsequently been extended, presently solely caters to non-BMW customers. Up to 450,000 vehicles can be produced annually at the Spartanburg BMW facility, which produced roughly 357,000 X models in 2017.
Although Nicolas Peter, the head of finance at BMW, stated on an earnings call last month that tariffs between the U.S. and Europe are probably not going to be a problem in 2019, the German automaker’s decision to further localize its supply chain suggests that it is hedging its bets long-term against tariffs.
Reliability of the BMW ZF Transmission
The ZF 8-speed transmission is highly dependable, as was already said. Internal issues have been rare in the over 10 years it has been in operation, and most of them have been user-related. The occasional fluid leak is the item to watch out for. The oil cooler connections and the Mechatronic sleeve are the two potential leakage sources.
Who manufactures BMW’s transmissions?
Increased service intervals have been the norm in the automotive industry, and this is true for all manufacturers, not just BMW, in an effort to artificially lower the cost of ownership. The problem with this is that it has been shown that certain intervals are harmful to the long-term dependability and lifespan of the concerned vehicles. With BMW automatic transmissions, this is the situation (6HP & 8HP).
In case you didn’t know, BMW does not make its own transmissions. Instead, the two main manufacturers of automatic transmissions for BMW automobiles are General Motors and ZF. We should, and do, trust the information provided by these companies above the car manufacturer because they have engineered and developed these transmissions. Both of these transmission manufacturers have their own unique service recommendations on how their transmissions should be maintained.
Audi uses ZF transmissions, right?
According to AutoWeek, Audi will frequently replace the six-speed automatic transmission found in cars sold in the United States with an eight-speed ZF transmission. When the publication states that around 70% of cars sold in the US will have the transmission, it cites the updated 2011 dealer order guide.
These include the Audi A4 four-door and Avant 2.0-liter turbocharged models, A5 coupe and cabrio, and Q5. The ZF eight-speed will be offered on all Q7 models, as well as the A8 and A8L.
All A6 and S6 models, front-wheel-drive A4 and A5 models, S5 coupes, and the 3.2-liter Q5 will all be offered with either the six-speed automatic transmission or the CVT. The dual-clutch automated manual gearbox that came standard on cars won’t be modified under the new strategy. The R8 V8 and V10 will also be offered with either the six-speed manual or R-Tronic transmission.
These vehicles should go on sale for the 2011 model year this fall. Audi might unveil something formally later this summer.
What models of Audis include the ZF transmission?
We have made additional investments in the ZF 8-Speed Transmission as we work to stay abreast of new developments in technology.
For your transmission to function better on the highway, in the city, and on the racetrack, this adjustment is essential. As we permit higher torque limits and the more firm, decisive, and snappy changes required for those vehicles, it becomes even more of a necessity for more highly tuned and modified cars.
In Stage 2 situations where the engine side demands a wider power band, experience enhanced shift stiffness, quicker shift times, and higher rev constraints. Gains of approximately 0.5 seconds from 0 to 60 miles per hour are extremely usual; especially when coupled with our engine adjustment, the cars are revolutionized! Attached images show REAL-WORLD results from a C7.5 3.0T that are DRAGY.
What does the ZF in ZF stand for?
This list of ZF gearboxes includes all the autotransmissions developed by the German engineering firm ZF Friedrichshafen AG.