Thinking about a 2015 M3 with DCT - Any Issues?

[gqambitions]

Originally Posted by Fast4d

this is my first non-manual trans car. loving the DCT so far despite the strange noises. zero problems with it after 20k.

Yea after reading on here I am seeing that is a concern with a lot of people. Some have even said leather peeling as well. I think the leather is really how you take care of it. But I have seen the leather on my sisters 2012 528i And it started showing a lot of wear with only 35k miles on it .

[skyline408]

I had an E60 M6 with the SMG. Never again....

The DCT on the M3 is very very very good!

[gqambitions]

Originally Posted by skyline408

I had an E60 M6 with the SMG. Never again....

The DCT on the M3 is very very very good!

Just curious what issues did you run into? Looking into purchasing my first M car so want to know what I will be getting myself into .

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by gqambitions

Just curious what issues did you run into? Looking into purchasing my first M car so want to know what I will be getting myself into .

The M5 SMG was very clunky. It did not like stop and go traffic. It was very lurchy and not smooth. Too much stop and go, and the clutch would start to slip.

Also, shifts were felt, and again, not smooth. The slowest shift speed was the smoothest, but was very slow. The fastest shift speed felt like a newby that didn't know how to drive stick.

Jut not a very good transmission. I also drove an E46 with SMG, and felt the same way.

The DCT in my M3 is a whole new world of perfection. Like someone else said, very close to PDK.

[gqambitions]

Originally Posted by skyline408

The M5 SMG was very clunky. It did not like stop and go traffic. It was very lurchy and not smooth. Too much stop and go, and the clutch would start to slip.

Also, shifts were felt, and again, not smooth. The slowest shift speed was the smoothest, but was very slow. The fastest shift speed felt like a newby that didn't know how to drive stick.

Jut not a very good transmission. I also drove an E46 with SMG, and felt the same way.

The DCT in my M3 is a whole new world of perfection. Like someone else said, very close to PDK.

Ahh I see. thank you. And what does PDK mean please? trying to learn all these abbreviations.

[blackout23]

Originally Posted by gqambitions

Ahh I see. thank you. And what does PDK mean please? trying to learn all these abbreviations.

Porsche DoppelKerplunk-ahwhatever.

It's Porsche's version of a dual-clutch transmission, and widely accepted as one of the very best, so the DCT is always compared to it. Some people prefer the DCT, however.

Personally I have both, but the PDK is in a Macan so I don't think it's a 1:1 comparison with the M4... but to me they're both equally excellent. If anything, the PDK seems more "intelligent"; like I could leave it in automatic at the track and it would just do a better job at shifting than I would. The DCT probably could too but maybe not quite as well.

And yeah just to pile on the M3/4 DCT is exceptionally reliable. Not many miles on mine (23k) but zero issues. The noises are normal and not significant.

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by Vigilant

OP: DCT on F80 appears robust at least in the short term. Tranny shifts faster than most humans. I love it on my 2015 M3. 30 for midlife...wow, I just turned 40 and have been saving for this car for a decade...you are lucky my friend

Have over 50,000 miles on my F80 with DCT - and had over 80,000 miles on my E93 with DCT - drove them both very hard and no problems whatsoever -both absolutely bulletproof

[BimmerBahn]

+1 on DCT.... a solid tranny. -1 on the SMG. Never owned a car with it, but my brother had one in his M3 and cursed it every day.

Cheers,

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by BimmerBahn

+1 on DCT.... a solid tranny. -1 on the SMG. Never owned a car with it, but my brother had one in his M3 and cursed it every day.

Cheers,

I loved the V10 in the E60, but hated the SMG. If I had the 6MT, I may have kept the car.

[gqambitions]

Originally Posted by Powerslide

Have over 50,000 miles on my F80 with DCT - and had over 80,000 miles on my E93 with DCT - drove them both very hard and no problems whatsoever -both absolutely bulletproof

ohh wow you for sure drive that thing. I can appreciate that. What are some regular maintenance you have gone through and price points if you do not mind. Anything I should prepare for around those miles etc.

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by gqambitions

ohh wow you for sure drive that thing. I can appreciate that. What are some regular maintenance you have gone through and price points if you do not mind. Anything I should prepare for around those miles etc.

Only the routine maintenance (scheduled maintenance). I daily drive my F80 all year round, including the brutally cold, snowy winters here (acknowledgements to those in the Northeast and Canada who get way more snow than we do).

My only issues were:

1) During the winter with the stock brake pads, I would get brake judder that would very gradually show up around late December, and peak by February (when braking from about 55mph down to 45 mph). I thought it was warped rotors at first, but after swapping out the stock pads in February with the Pagid RS29's, I gradually scrubbed the deposits away, and the brake judder was completely gone by late March/early April. I've kept the Pagids in (for upcoming track events) and I've had zero brake judder since late March/early April. Knowing this, I should not have this problem anymore going forward.

2) Serpentine drive belt and pulley failed during a track event. This was not an uncommon occurrence for F8x's built in mid-2014 while tracking. However, both components were replaced under warranty, and word on the street is that BMW has "beefed up" these components (based on fact that people with later builds who track seem to not have this issue).

Otherwise - DCT and all other components totally problem fee (fingers crossed).

[snowmuch]

Wait...mid life crisis is 30 years old?? Damn...I only have 3 years left then

[gqambitions]

Originally Posted by snowmuch

Wait...mid life crisis is 30 years old?? Damn...I only have 3 years left then

haha and Nice on the 13 S4. Getting rid of my S5 next week in preparation for a 16 M3 ZCP . Starting the search . You miss the S4?

[WI_Rob]

Originally Posted by blackout23

Porsche DoppelKerplunk-ahwhatever.

Hahahaha

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by gqambitions

haha and Nice on the 13 S4. Getting rid of my S5 next week in preparation for a 16 M3 ZCP . Starting the search . You miss the S4?

Whats your budget?

[gqambitions]

Originally Posted by skyline408

Whats your budget?

Looking around $60k MW or MG with SO full Interior . ZCP

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by gqambitions

Looking around $60k MW or MG with SO full Interior . ZCP

Hmm.. You will probably need to up your budget another 5-10K if you want ZCP.

[gqambitions]

Originally Posted by skyline408

Hmm.. You will probably need to up your budget another 5-10K if you want ZCP.

Yea from what I have been seeing I think so too. But I am not in a rush. Looking to buy next year, when the 2018 comes out. Might even look at 17's see some in the $68k range now.

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by gqambitions

Yea from what I have been seeing I think so too. But I am not in a rush. Looking to buy next year, when the 2018 comes out. Might even look at 17's see some in the $68k range now.

Mind pointing me to a link? I would love a '17 ZCP non stripper for $68k!

[gqambitions]

Originally Posted by skyline408

Mind pointing me to a link? I would love a '17 ZCP non stripper for $68k!

check this one out. https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...&modelCode1=M3

[Fake News 2017]

Originally Posted by Andrew115

There would be no shortage of threads here if the DCT was crap. Trust me one thing about the forum is that if there are even a few of the same issues going on it's lobbied for an all out recall campaign.

You don't need to pull teeth here to get responses of issues, just do a search. The DCT is jerky and rough and hold gears a little too long for the street - if your trying to navigate in full sport modes everywhere. Dial the shift back to D2 / Sport mode / comfort suspension and it's great DD if you ask me.

Agree with most of what you said but I don't find it ruff or jerky driving Sport in all settings. I also don't think it holds gears too long during spirited driving. IMHO it is holding revs waiting for you to get back on it. You wouldn't want DCT to change gears mid corner or during a short shoot. Porsche PDK does the same thing. Also, I rarely use Comfort dampers, seems too bouncy for a sports car.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by JNoSol

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INPUT, picked my first M vehicle. Mineral Grey Metallic, Silverstone Extended Leather, Executive Package, and M DCT. Now I just have to figure out how to change the Navigation to night mode when the headlights are on.

More Photos to come. Any quick mod suggestions?

Nice car congrats.

There should be an "automatic" setting for the nav to go to night mode