BMW 118d Automatik – your driving school car for Class B in Munich
You pull out of Rosenheimer Strasse onto the Mittlerer Ring, stop-and-go traffic ahead toward Ostbahnhof. In the BMW 118d automatic, one job simply disappears: the clutch. No stalling at the lights, no hunting for the bite point. Your head stays free for mirrors, shoulder check, and the cyclist about to appear on your right.
Why you learn in the BMW 118d Automatik
Learning in an automatic means one hand and one foot less to coordinate — and that is exactly the advantage. The 118d diesel pulls cleanly from low revs, and the gearbox shifts on its own. What this frees up for our learners is attention: instead of running "first gear, second gear" through your head, you look where the test is actually decided — traffic observation, following distance, anticipatory braking. Beginners who tend to stall at lights in a manual drive calmer and more confidently here from the very first lesson. The fully digital cockpit keeps your speed and prompts in your line of sight, so you never drop your head. And the compact dimensions with precise steering turn narrow Giesing side streets into a non-event. Automatic here is not a comfort extra but real learning relief — you build driving skill first, and the gearshift can come later.
Technology & equipment at a glance
| Powertrain | 118d diesel with strong pull from low revs — you don't need to rev high to move off, which takes the stress out of pulling away on an incline for beginners. |
| Transmission | Automatic gearbox that shifts by itself. No clutch, no bite point, no stalling — your mind stays on traffic and mirrors instead of gear selection. |
| Cockpit | Fully digital, driver-focused display. Speed and prompts sit in your line of sight without dropping your head — ideal for the far-ahead view the test expects. |
| Size & steering | Compact body with precise steering. In tight Giesing side streets and when parking you value every bit of overview — smaller gaps become manageable. |
| Efficiency | Efficiency class A, 4.9 l/100 km combined, EU6 emissions. Saves noticeable fuel across the many city lessons and rewards smooth, calm throttle work. |
| Driving feel | Sporty M-look outside, smooth-running diesel inside. You drive relaxed and the car never feels twitchy — good for staying steady on test day. |
Assistance systems are a learning aid – you take the exam yourself.
What you may drive
In the BMW 118d automatic you train for category B. Note: taking the practical test in a pure automatic used to add the "automatic restriction" to your licence — today B197 solves this. If you additionally complete documented manual lessons, you may drive both manual and automatic cars after passing the automatic test, with no restriction entered. That way you get the learning relief of an automatic and stay flexible.
More about Class B training Learn automatic (B197) – drive manual too
Locations & test area Munich East
Turning left off Grünwalder Strasse into a narrow Giesing side street, with a tight parking gap right after: in a manual you'd be pulling away, working the clutch and steering all at once. In the automatic you only handle the steering and the oncoming bus — the rest takes care of itself.
Locations: Haidhausen (Rosenheimer Str. 86), Giesing (Grünwalder Str. 12) & Haar (Münchener Str. 13).
Frequently asked questions
Will the BMW 118d automatic give me a restricted licence?
No, not if you train under B197. You do your practice and test drives in the automatic but additionally complete the required documented manual lessons. After passing the automatic test you may then drive both manual and automatic cars — without the old automatic restriction. Just talk to us; we plan this in from the start.
Is learning in an automatic harder or easier for beginners?
For most people it's easier. Without clutch and gear changes, an entire coordination task falls away, and from your first lesson you can focus on traffic observation, distance and anticipation — exactly what counts in the test. With the smooth diesel and automatic gearbox in the 118d, you reach a relaxed, safe driving feel sooner.
More vehicles in this class
Book your trial lesson in the BMW 118d Automatik
Experience this vehicle in your first lesson at all three of our Munich-East locations.
📍 München Haidhausen, Giesing & Haar