Hello all, just curious about the semi auto gearbox that was available for various models of beetles, type 3, kombis and the personal favorite the 411 and 412 models. Are these essentially the same gearboxes or are there subtle and expensive differences? I have driven a sportomatic Porsche 912 and I am guessing this is a different box altogether? Could someone please tell me what year they were introduced and if they have been maintained accordingly is there any potentially credit card destroying issues to be wary of? Many thanks, Adam

All i know is that parts don't seem to be available for beetle semi auto boxes. People who have them tend to pick up a spare or two incase of dramas. I have one for sale BTW.

Cheers Birdman, just sussing them out before I commit to purchase...may be the barn find may end up being a dog but the asking price is reasonable...like my sickness with type 3 variants I will probably end up buying two or three, just in case spares are an issue..but wait, these ones are too good for spares, I'll just buy another one and use THAT one for spares...and the cosmic ballet continues...why am I poor ?

Hi Adam
I believe the autostick in the type 1 is similar to the sportomatic 912 porsche..
many parts are no longer available but they were built as good as possible..
most problems come from the vacuum hoses
replace those and most things can be adjusted...

You can buy clutch servo repair kits from the USA
and dual pump seals from the usa..

control valves are nla.. so pays to have a spare..
same with torque converters..

You need to repair them yourself as most mechanics don't know or like them... lol

cheers

Lee

Thanks Les and thank you Lee, I will have a sniff around to see availability of spares closer to home (qld) if not, I can always import stuff....buy once cry once! What the hell? it's only money. almost forgot...were there many convertibles with autostick option? Cheers guys...... Birdman, how much are you asking for your gearbox? Where are you and what condition, thanks heaps, A.

where are You located Adam?

On the gold coast Lee, do you have something up your sleeve or know someone up here? Cheers for the info, no doubt I will be picking your brain for more info on these underrated VWs...by the way, I checked out your beetle, niiiiiice mate, labour of love I bet. The semi I am looking into doesn't have the OG engine unless later models have 1600 twin ports that according to my mate goes like a tower of power and the box shifts smooth with no grinding or slipping...more on that later have a good one. P.s , thanks Ron (Birdman) got your PM and replied to. Thumbs up!

Hi
sorry, I don't know of any semi auto stuff in QLD for sale at the moment..
but they come round fairly often...

they did come with dual port engines same time as manual beetles..

they even came with 1300 engines in UK & Europe... lol

they do go well... and are more fun to drive than a manual..
VW said to only use D1 & D2 on the road...
0 - 50 MPH maximum in D1 although You can change to D2 at any time...
but
You can use LOW gear to start off with....
great for beating cars at the lights...lol
then go to D1 or D2 ...

and Low is good for 0-35 MPH.... Very Low gear..

clutch is either IN or OUT so it doesn't wear like manual clutches...

LEE

Thanks for that Lee, I don't suppose you have an appropriate manual that I could purchase from you or an online source that I can access so I don' t clog up this forum with embarrassingly obvious questions? Cheers and beers. Adam

buy the Bently series Type 1 manual.

I do have a copy ,I can also get u a new 1.
u2u me

You have Mail. Thanks HoneyAbba.

PM returned

Quote:

Originally posted by Joel Quote: Originally posted by 68AutoBug they do go well... and are more fun to drive than a manual.. I reckon that depends on who is driving They are good to drive if they are working right, especially in the city if you strike red lights every 50 meters but the dramas the give when the electrics start playing up gets annoying. Good mate of mine had 2 1500 semi-autos and I used to service an Lbug semi-auto at the garage.' VWs instructions is don't use L for fast take offs only climbing steep inclines and engine braking down hills but even if you do you're still starting out in 2nd gear in a manual so you really gotta ring their neck to get the same acceleration as a manual. Really makes people do a double take though, the amount that came up and saw the decklid badge and said I didn't know they made these in autos was funny.

I remember we had all sorts of problems with my mates one when the contacts in the shifter went bad.

I've only seen 2 or 3 Semi auto Lbugs before, They didnt have the VW automatic decklid script anymore, caught me by surprise when I saw the big brake pedal on the first one.

I've seen plenty of Sbug semi autos though, there's even a couple on ebay at the moment, one is a 15millionth edition.
Which according to the owner is the actual 15 millionth beetle in the whole world

SBugs and Lbugs all have the park position too.
VW came out with that when they realised if the handbrake cable snapped nothing could hold the car with the 1500s

I am committing all this info to memory. Thanks Lee and cheers Joel for the VERY useful info, I don't pick up mine till November, sadly it is not completely original (fibreglass guards, a semi professional 'roof' let and the rear beaver panel has been changed at some point, but its reasonably priced and relatively rust free and has Porsche cookie cutters that havent been gouged to the outhouse ) but has potential and with a tuned 1600 twin port should move along quite well, it will be gently bently until I get used to the lack of clutch pedal and remembering to take off in LOW...anyone running one of these at Warwick this year? Just kidding

This particular beetle has the fuel filler on the right hand front guard, making it a......'68 or '69 also has the larger glass, and ball joint front end and four stud wheels, would this be right?? Thanks, A

it will be between 68 and 70 being a BJ semi-auto.
70 doesn't have the chrome strip across the dash and vented engine lid.

I am looking at a vented lid and 1500 script, thanks Joel.

Hi Guys,

Just so I don't flood the forum main page. I just brought a '69 semi auto beetle. With all the talk about how hard parts are to get. Is it a massive drama to change to a manual box? I'm guessing new mounts, CV's, Gear stick, maybe electrics.

Any Ideas whats involed or maybe directing me to someone that has done it would be great.

Cheers, any ideas appreciated

If there's a clutch cable conduit in there already its all simple bolt on job.

pop the inspection plate up under the back seat you will soon see if there's one there.
If theres 2 tubes welded to the frame to the left of the coupler you're sweet, but not many 1500s had the unused conduit.

It was more in the 70s superbug semi autos that there was one.