By not using the DCT manual mode, am I missing out on the best part?

[Spiff7]

I picked up my M3 DCT July of last year. It's my dd and I just hit 4500 miles. My guess is 99% of those miles have been driven in auto. Am I missing out not driving it in manual mode??

Some of the reasons I think I don't drive in manual mode are the following:
1. Always drove automatic BMWs in the past so I'm not used to shifting
2. I second guess myself if I really know when to upshift and downshift; therefore also concerned of causing damage
3. I assume auto can do it better than me

Reasons I want to start driving it in manual:
1. I think it will be more engaging
2. I can control how far I want to ride out a gear before shifting
3. Lots of times even adjusting the auto shifting I find myself in too high of a gear at lower speeds

Curious to know from those of you with DCT, what percent of the time are you in auto vs manual.

[G4BR13L]

I have:

- M1 button: D3 / Efficient / Comfort / Comfort / DTC ON
- M2 button: S3 / Sport+ / Sport+ / Sport+ / MDM

Best of both worlds! M1 for commuting to work and M2 for having fun.

[paliknight]

Originally Posted by Spiff7

Some of the reasons I think I don't drive in manual mode are the following:
1. Always drove automatic BMWs in the past so I'm not used to shifting
2. I second guess myself if I really know when to upshift and downshift; therefore also concerned of causing damage
3. I assume auto can do it better than me

Can't really cause damage in a DCT

[RustySeatbelt]

What is your concern in regards to shifting? You can't stall the dct, it will automatically downshift for you should you let the rpms fall too low. DCT also won't let you shift down to a gear that would throw you over redline, so you're safe there also. As for upshifting, turn on your shift point indicator for the HUD if you have it. That will help give you a little bit of an extra assist. Otherwise, you can redline, it'll just peg of the limiter. When that happens, shift. I wouldn't make that a habit, but point is that you won't blow the motor.

Just find a nice quiet back road, pull a paddle, and drive easy for a while to get the hang of it. Just feel the car out, and upshift when you want. You're obviously not going for any record laps, so there isn't exactly a wrong point in your shift timing. It's really not difficult, and you'll find it's really enjoyable if you just relax and don't over think it.

[CigarPundit]

I drive in manual 99% of the time. Wouldn't have it any other way. You are missing out.

[boglehead]

Is there a proper technique to paddle shifting? Should I be letting off on the throttle during shift points?

My other question would be when is a good RPM to shift and what do you guys "cruise" at for RPM?

[CigarPundit]

Originally Posted by boglehead

Is there a proper technique to paddle shifting? Should I be letting off on the throttle during shift points?

My other question would be when is a good RPM to shift and what do you guys "cruise" at for RPM?

The first thing I would say is: just drive it and shift where it feels right given what you are doing. You don't need to do anything with the throttle--just pull a paddle.

That said, I like to run a little higher in the revs, So I typically keep it in a gear that results in about 3,000-3,500 RPM. I may or may not downshift from there to accelerate, but unless I want to go really hard, I'll just accelerate without a downshift.

I take it as far up the scale as I want to and seems appropriate under the circumstances, including occasionally to redline.

I typically downshift at 2,000 if I'm just driving around.

[eonflux]

I suggest driving only in manual mode for a while. Shift up/down at low RPMs, high RPMs, learn how the engine responds and feels at different RPMs, etc.

This graph may help.

[mjposner]

I drive manual mode 99% as well. Use your M buttons. My setup is virtually the same as G4BR13L except sport for steering, to heavy imho in plus. I use M2 all the time except in the rain. I have owned many manual cars and for a daily driver I would never go back (tried to with an M235i, but yearned for a dct again).

[shortseller]

In D3, for the most part it wants to take you to redline. It will back off eventually while driving moderately, but still keeping you from going into the highest gears.

D2 for me seems the most natural for daily driving, if you kick down the throttle it will still take you much higher into the rev range without sticking you there while you back off the gas like it does in D3.

D1 is completely a waste of time and I actually think slips the clutch way more than acceptable.

S3 is fine for fun but gets less satisfying than an actual manual transmission, the paddles are problematic around sharp corners if you are downshifting but this can be somewhat alleviated by using the single shifter knob vs the paddles. As always YMMV.