6MT or DCT?

[F82_SID]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

Are you going to take delivery of a 6MT or a DCT car?

Side note, notice the larger, ceramic iDrive knob in the DCT picture below. If you don't get that Technology or Executive package that has that, you get the down market iDrive edition.

Is the MT in this picture from an actual M4? I have yet to see picture of what the actual MT in the M4 will look like.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by E92_SID

Is the MT in this picture from an actual M4? I have yet to see picture of what the actual MT in the M4 will look like.

No, that's a 5 Series....


....and there are plenty of MT interior M3/M4 pictures floating around here.

Here's one for you:

[JC919]

Originally Posted by bimmerjph

Just out of curiosity, How difficult would it be to switch the CSL over to a manual? Do you know of anyone that has done it?

I don't think it would be all that difficult, but it would completely devalue what will continue to be an appreciating asset. Hell, I've seen values on cars of similar mileage to mine go up about £2k since last summer.

One guy on CSLRegister threw all the CSL parts onto an Estoril Blue M3 in thread below, but I don't think anyone has been silly enough to retrofit a CSL with a manual box.

http://www.cslregister.com/forum/sho...=manual&page=6

The CSL was designed around the SMG box and it fits the character of the car perfectly. Personally, I would not want the car any other way. Having said this, I am likely to sell it this summer as I'm after a certain german sportscar that was designed around a manual box.

[EuroTrip]

After being a die-hard 6MT guy for 5 M cars, my recent experience with 2011 E92 M3 DCT has me completely converted. I didn't miss the clutch pedal at all...disclaimer being I get my MT fix from a '95 E36 M3.

Frame of reference: probably have about 40 hot track laps in a E92 M3 6MT and 700 hot track laps in E92 M3 DCT.

As far as the E92 goes, the DCT car was/is light years beyond the 6MT in track performance...even though most tracks only have shifts from 3rd-4th and back again. However, when you consider the secret to driving "well" on the track is smoothness, you soon realize that keeping your right hand at the 3 o'clock position is so helpful in that effort. DCT shifts are incredibly smooth and the little launch forward from the trans really gives you the edge over human shifting.

I realize 6MT guys are probably thinking that most of us really won't "need" the DCT speed advantage you're probably right...and on an E92 NA car I agree. However, don't forget that DCT + turbo is insanely better if you're gonna be a streetlight racer. Think about the guys now who are running E85 tunes on their 335is' which are now motorcycle fast. Being able to preserve boost through shifts makes the vehicles faster and much safer for the common driver.

Most of us will run tunes on this new car...so we are probably looking at mid 500s wheel torque. Wouldn't you prefer to preserve your boost for the next gear?

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by EuroTrip

After being a die-hard 6MT guy for 5 M cars, my recent experience with 2011 E92 M3 DCT has me completely converted. I didn't miss the clutch pedal at all...disclaimer being I get my MT fix from a '95 E36 M3.

Frame of reference: probably have about 40 hot track laps in a E92 M3 6MT and 700 hot track laps in E92 M3 DCT.

As far as the E92 goes, the DCT car was/is light years beyond the 6MT in track performance...even though most tracks only have shifts from 3rd-4th and back again. However, when you consider the secret to driving "well" on the track is smoothness, you soon realize that keeping your right hand at the 3 o'clock position is so helpful in that effort. DCT shifts are incredibly smooth and the little launch forward from the trans really gives you the edge over human shifting.

I realize 6MT guys are probably thinking that most of us really won't "need" the DCT speed advantage you're probably right...and on an E92 NA car I agree. However, don't forget that DCT + turbo is insanely better if you're gonna be a streetlight racer. Think about the guys now who are running E85 tunes on their 335is' which are now motorcycle fast. Being able to preserve boost through shifts makes the vehicles faster and much safer for the common driver.

Most of us will run tunes on this new car...so we are probably looking at mid 500s wheel torque. Wouldn't you prefer to preserve your boost for the next gear?

I think the DCT is more important on the high RPM N/A cars because on those cars it is critical to be in the right gear. Plus DCT allows for shorter gearing which helps the m3 since it is low on engine torque.

I have tracked both N/A and turbo cars in both manual and DCT, and greatly prefer manual for turbo and DCT for N/A.

I also think the auto rev match on the 6mt will vastly close the gap between the DCT and MT on the track should the driver not be very adept at heel/toe shifting at high speeds on the track.

I will be going with 6mt.

[stefan]

I still don't know why anyone would legitimately pick DCT unless they can't drive. If you don't know how to drive manual, that's fine.

But really, what's the point? Faster shifts? Why? So you can be quicker than.. another M3 with a manual transmission? I don't really get it. Is it a bragging rights / numbers thing? Maybe a lazyness/stuck-in-traffic thing?

Get the manual and enjoy the drive itself. Forget the numbers. You'll have more fun that way. You're not going to track your M3 *so often* on a single track that you start regretting not going with the faster transmission. Heck, if you're hunting for tenths you can drop weight first. It just .. seems odd to me why you'd willingly rob yourself of a driving experience.

[s4play]

Originally Posted by stefan

I still don't know why anyone would legitimately pick DCT unless they can't drive. If you don't know how to drive manual, that's fine.

No one here would outright admit they can't drive manual which is why they bought the DCT It's like a man's thing so people use whatever excuse they can give. Unless you are crippled and only have one leg then I understand the DCT but I would never get one again. Plus I swear MPG is better in a manual...at least in my car.

My e90 m3 is a DCT and I can't say I hate it but it's definitely not intuitive. For example when backing up, and shifting back into 1, the car continues to roll back and a few times I almost slid into a parked car! Also coming to an abrupt stop, then going again is always clunky. For some reason the tranny doesn't know what to do if you hard brake, then need to accelerate again. The PDK doesn't have this issue especially in their 2014 Pana's I recently drove. Maybe BMW will fix the programming.

But for my future F80 m3, it will be 100% manual. My reason to try the DCT was so my wife can drive the car but she never drove it so heck 6-speed this time around. If it saves weight and cheaper, all the better!

[ddas]

I used to love rowing through gears. Now at the ancient age of 33 I would rather flip some paddles if I want a gear change. If in traffic, roll in auto.

[sal501]

Originally Posted by ddas

I used to love rowing through gears. Now at the ancient age of 33 I would rather flip some paddles if I want a gear change. If in traffic, roll in auto.

DCT for me; So wife can also drive it

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by ddas

I used to love rowing through gears. Now at the ancient age of 33 I would rather flip some paddles if I want a gear change. If in traffic, roll in auto.

65 and still rowing forever!

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

65 and still rowing forever!

+1 amen

[Rockette]

Coming from a 135i with a DCT (although not quite advance as one), I'm sure I'd pick a DCT on my M4. While the manual transmission may be good, I doubt it had as much R&D thrown into it as the DCT transmission has. With the press of a button, you can go from a car that will rip through the gears at maximum speed, to one that changes it so smoothly shifts are imperceptible.

Only hope you can engage the clutch by pulling back on both paddles for some throttle blips and some hooligan antics.

[Bluehorseshoe]

Cool thing about M3 is manual transmission or DCT are both suitable. MT seems like a more appropriate fit however. For me and without hesitation, manual transmission for sure.

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Though I drive spiritedly, I don't race and seldom worry about a couple tenths to 60 or 100.

Oh, and the 50 or so less pounds . . . is icing with the manual.

I don't see how you can reconcile those two statements.

If 50 pounds matters (-100 lbs = -1/10th of a second), how do a couple tenths to 60 or 100 not?

That said, I definitely do thoroughly respect your choice to stick with MTs purely because they are much more involving (and they require more skill/attention from the driver . . . although getting the most out of a DCT requires some skill as well).

[shahano]

DCT for the win

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by ddas

I used to love rowing through gears. Now at the ancient age of 33 I would rather flip some paddles if I want a gear change. If in traffic, roll in auto.

Thats too young for this excuse!!

I am older with only 25% of my acl in my left knee so my bones are hanging by literally a thread!!

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

65 and still rowing forever!

That's what I'm talking about.

[PRM4]

Here is my order with 6MT. May Delivery.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by stefan

I still don't know why anyone would legitimately pick DCT unless they can't drive. If you don't know how to drive manual, that's fine.

But really, what's the point? Faster shifts? Why? So you can be quicker than.. another M3 with a manual transmission? I don't really get it. Is it a bragging rights / numbers thing? Maybe a lazyness/stuck-in-traffic thing?

Get the manual and enjoy the drive itself. Forget the numbers. You'll have more fun that way. You're not going to track your M3 *so often* on a single track that you start regretting not going with the faster transmission. Heck, if you're hunting for tenths you can drop weight first. It just .. seems odd to me why you'd willingly rob yourself of a driving experience.

Out of curiosity, how often do you go to track days and have you tried a PDK/DCT car at the track?

I ask because I used to think the same as you, then I tried a Cayman S PDK at the track and realized there was no chance for me to match the shifting speed and the rev matching precision of the computer.

Maybe that is the same thing as admitting I can't drive?

One thing I am 100% clear is on is that FOR ME, I am faster in a PDK/DCT car. Period. And FOR ME, I go to the track because I like going faster than last time, and cornering at the limit as often as possible, NOT to press the clutch and move the shifter level.

I switched my car from 6MT (hundreds of laps in the car) to DCT and absolutely don't miss 6MT at all, on the street or the track

EDIT: and even when I drive the 8spd sport automatic (torque converter!) in my F30 335, I still don't miss 6MT. automatic transmission tech has made some huge leaps forward in the last 4years....

[kirryccc]

DCT for heavy traffic

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

I don't see how you can reconcile those two statements.

If 50 pounds matters (-100 lbs = -1/10th of a second), how do a couple tenths to 60 or 100?

For me the importance of less weight is about better and livelier handling, not so much quickness.

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

For me the importance of less weight is about better and livelier handling, not so much quickness.

That's certainly a valid and valuable point.