8-speed or not?

[adricky]

Hi,

I'm on the hunt for a 2010/2011 E70 30d LCI, how do I tell if a 2010 model has the 8-speed auto without actually viewing it?

[X5Sport]

If it is the LCI model and a 40d it will be 8-spd.  30d got them at the same time according to Realoem but different markets may vary.  40d engine is still the 3.0d with twin turbos.

[Don Coffey]

There may well be a visual clue but I'm not aware of it, but if from a dealer then they tend to show the mpg and pre lci it's 35mpg and post lci it's 38mpg

Don

[makx5]

As above lci models have white angel eyes and the newer rear lights ,
Also production dates from aug 2010 onwards i believe are all 8 spd ,

[adricky]

I'm having trouble finding a decent LCI model at the right price, is there really that much deference between 6 and 8 speed?

[shadrack]

[quote="adricky"]
I'm having trouble finding a decent LCI model at the right price, is there really that much deference between 6 and 8 speed?
[/quote]

about 2 gears different

[shadrack]

PS if you decide to entertain a 6 speed, ive a 59 plate in the for sale section on here, bmw warranty till july/aug

[Don Coffey]

I'm not sure how the road tax works in Ireland but in the UK the 8 speed is about half the price of the 6 speed due to the better emissions of the 8 speed.

Don

[shadrack]

i think its the years in uk, my 6 speed is £280 tax not the dreaded £500

[JimmySpeed]

yep, it was only the 2007 that had the £400+ tax. 2008 onwards are £280 and my LCI is the same.

[Don Coffey]

Oh right, got that wrong then didn't I.

[JimmySpeed]

[quote="adricky"]
I'm having trouble finding a decent LCI model at the right price, is there really that much deference between 6 and 8 speed?
[/quote]

You need to drive both for a fair comparison, but I had a pre-LCI 6 speed and now an LCI 8 speed and the box is definitely smoother - the extra 2 gears means that there is never a big jump in revs from the top of one gear to the bottom of the next and that means less feel when it changes (actually you generally can't feel it change at all) and it feels like it's working less hard. I almost always noticed the changes in my pre-LCI and if I didn't feel them I could tell from the engine sound just before it got to changing point.