BMW 5 - Manual (Page 21)

BMW
Media
Information
11/2009
Page 21
The new BMW 530d and the BMW 528i and BMW 523i likewise come
with new versions of the six-speed manual gearbox optimised for efficiency
with conventional oil supply. The gearshift lever re-designed on all models
and the shift bars again upgraded in their standard allow a smooth gearshift
with optimum precision and steady shift forces, bringing out the sporting
quality of the manual gearshift so typical of BMW to an even greater extent
than before.
Significant innovation with unique efficiency:
eight-speed automatic transmission.
The BMW 550i comes as standard with the new eight-speed automatic
transmission featured for the first time in the BMW 760i twelve-cylinder
Luxury Performance Sedan, which is also available as an option for all other
variants of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan. When fitted, this makes the new
BMW 520d the first car in the world to combine a four-cylinder power unit
with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
This innovative transmission offers a unique combination of gearshift comfort,
sportiness and efficiency at a standard never seen before, far superior in every
respect to the automatic transmissions and double-clutch gearboxes from the
competition.
As yet a further option the new BMW 5 Series Sedan is also available
with a Sport Automatic variant of the eight-speed transmission allowing
manual selection of gears by means of shift paddles on the steering wheel.
The control logic applied in this case follows the principle already featured
on BMW M Cars, the driver shifting up on the right and down on the left
paddle. A further feature of the Sport Automatic is the special design of
the electronic gearshift lever on the centre console.
The eight-speed automatic transmission boasts a particularly innovative
gearset configuration, four single gearsets and five shift units interacting
to provide the eight forward gears and one reverse gear. The arrangement
of these components to be seen here worldwide for the first time on an
eight-speed automatic transmission ensures that only two of five clutches
are moved along open in each gear, significantly reducing drag losses in
comparison with the automatic transmissions currently in the market.
With the number of gears being increased to eight, gear increments when
shifting are smaller than before despite the greater range between the
lowest and highest transmission ratio. While accelerating, the harmonious
shift in transmission ratios ensures a particularly smooth and steady increase