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BMW Transmission Guide

EVERY BMW GEARBOX, EXPLAINED

Getrag manuals, ZF automatics, the M dual-clutch, SMG and Steptronic — how each BMW transmission works, its strengths, and the models it powered.

GS6
6-Speed Manual (Getrag)
Classic manual gearbox across M and non-M models.
ZF6HP
6-Speed Automatic (ZF 6HP)
ZF torque-converter 6-speed used widely in the E-series era.
ZF8HP
8-Speed Automatic (ZF 8HP)
The benchmark ZF 8-speed torque-converter automatic across the modern range.
DCT7
7-Speed M DCT (Getrag)
7-speed dual-clutch in F8x M3/M4, M5 E60, 1M and others.
DKG
7-Speed Sport DCT
Drivelogic dual-clutch transmission for performance models.
SMG3
7-Speed SMG III
Sequential manual gearbox in the E60 M5 / E63 M6 V10 era.
STEP
STEPTRONIC Automatic
BMW-branded ZF 8-speed STEPTRONIC with shift paddles.
4HP22
ZF 4HP22 4-Speed Automatic
automatic
5HP30
ZF 5HP30 5-Speed Automatic
automatic
6HP19
ZF 6HP19 6-Speed Automatic
automatic
6HP26
ZF 6HP26 6-Speed Automatic
automatic
8HP45
ZF 8HP45 Automatic
automatic
8HP50
ZF 8HP50 Automatic
automatic
8HP51
ZF 8HP51 Hybrid Automatic
automatic
8HP76
ZF 8HP76 Sport Automatic
automatic
8HP90
ZF 8HP90 M Automatic
automatic
GS539DZ
Getrag 5-Speed Manual
manual
GS617BG
Getrag GS6-17BG 6-Speed Manual
manual
GS653BZ
Getrag GS6-53BZ 6-Speed Manual (M)
manual
MDCT
M Double-Clutch Transmission (M-DCT)
dct
SMG2
SMG II Sequential Manual Gearbox
manual
SSEV
Single-Speed Electric Drive
single_speed