DCT Sequential or Drive mode for daily driving?

[dezzracer]

So this being my first German hot rod I'm still in process of learning the car and how to drive it correctly .There are a lot of buttons and of course I have been experimenting. For laid back easy cruising I just leave it in the default efficient/auto/soft setting. For more aggressive driving I have my M 1 button set on sport sport sport, MDM, and auto. Seems to suit me fine for most conditions including those pesky Mopars that always seems to be calling me out. Lol. I haven't really decided on a good setting for the M2 button yet.

I've mainly been using the DCT auto function for all driving conditions because I guess I just assume it is smart and knows what it's doing and is in the right gear at the right time and l knows better than me.

However ...as I have become more comfortable with the car I am finding that using manual and shifting myself is A) funner and B) I believe I am discovering that I can choose which gear for any driving circumstance I am in better than the DCT can. For example if I punch it in Auto for the first two or three gears and then let off when I hit the speed limit it seems to hold the revs for way too long before it upshifts where as if I gas it aggressively in manual mode through first and second and then let off I can quickly upshift to third or fourth or fifth and immediately ease her down at a lower relaxed RPM if that makes sense.

Same with down shifting. It's kind of fun to hear the throttle blip as your down shifting and slowing for a stoplight or a corner. And even if you don't use the paddle shifter (or forget your in manual mode ) to downshift it does a pretty good job of dropping you down through the gears and putting the car in first for a complete stop or second for example for a corner. Just curios what most of you guys do when cruising the mean streets. I'm starting to lean towards always shifting the car myself. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and input.

[Humdizzle]

I've driven all of my DCT cars in manual mode. Auto mode takes the fun out of driving, and it can't predict what's ahead of you. Better to downshiff before a hill then to come to it in 7th, strain the motor at 1200rpm, then have it downshift.

Only time I use auto is so I can use my phone.

[Alpine_F82]

Current procedure

1: Seatbelt
2: Start engine
3: Change suspension to comfort steering sport plus and after cold start push into sport throttle
4: Switch into manual shifting mode on my DCT
5 Leave the house wake all the neighbors up through my drive through carport at my house.
6: Shift on the shift nob no paddles unless straight line driving.



Shifting on shift nob or paddles if personal preference

Once you start shifting in manual mode you’ll never want to stop

[dezzracer]

Originally Posted by M4BimmerChris

Current procedure

1: Seatbelt
2: Start engine
3: Change suspension to comfort steering sport plus and after cold start push into sport throttle
4: Switch into manual shifting mode on my DCT
5 Leave the house wake all the neighbors up through my drive through carport at my house.
6: Shift on the shift nob no paddles unless straight line driving.



Shifting on shift nob or paddles if personal preference

Once you start shifting in manual mode you'll never want to stop

I like it. So 6 months in and just today I started manual shifting all day to test and practice and yea... dont think I can go back now. Maybe on a long cruise or if I'm just feeling lazy. Or on the phone or having a smoke. Haha. Kidding. I don't smoke.

Regarding using the paddle versus shifter I do notice if you're turning a corner it's easier to use the shifter as the paddle ends up in an awkward spot for a shift. Then it's back to the paddles when going straight.

[joooiiiiii]

Originally Posted by dezzracer

I like it. So 6 months in and just today I started manual shifting all day to test and practice and yea... dont think I can go back now. Maybe on a long cruise or if I'm just feeling lazy. Or on the phone or having a smoke. Haha. Kidding. I don't smoke.

Regarding using the paddle versus shifter I do notice if you're turning a corner it's easier to use the shifter as the paddle ends up in an awkward spot for a shift. Then it's back to the paddles when going straight.

I only use auto when I'm using my phone or something else--other than that, it's usually hitting the paddles or shifter. My car is in the shop right now and they gave me a car with 6 speed and I definitely don't want to go back to manual shifting.

[maul3d]

Hey,

Having acquired the vehicle a few months ago; I have now fully went from MDM M1 mode, to MDM M1 but Manual shifting the DCT paddles.

It takes some time to get accustomed, but I enjoy it more then driving manual now.

One of the advantages driving thr Dct in manual mode is being in the right gear, and not having the car ringing out the motor prepared for attack at select lower gears. Yes, one can put the DCT settings lower, but then its asleep.

Overall , being a previous diehard MT guy.. DCT is quite an enjoyable and great transmission..one of the reasons majority of ferrari, and lamborghini and other exotic cars have stopped offering manuals.. quicker, faster, comfort, etc.

[pikkagtr]

I believe my f80 has only been in auto mode at the dealership in my ownership

[Maitre_Absolut]

Originally Posted by dezzracer

I've mainly been using the DCT auto function for all driving conditions because I guess I just assume it is smart and knows what it's doing and is in the right gear at the right time and l knows better than me.

Stop there. Doesn't matter if it knows better than you or if its marginally faster. Drive it in manual mode and have fun.

I flick to auto when coming to a stop or in traffic sometimes

[FIN_Nole]

Similar to many here, I was a die hard three-pedal MT guy prior to purchasing my current '17 ZCP. Funny thing was I only test drove manual F80's before buying mine on impulse without even driving a DCT first. Kids, dog, wife that doesn't drive manual all made it seem more 'logical' (plus I was intrigued by the, in large part, overwhelmingly positive reviews).

Long story short, I don't regret the decision to go with the DCT one bit. I drive it in manual mode 100% of the time (with M settings adjusted to meet current driving mood) and use the shifter for the 1st to 2nd shift when turning, and then the paddles for almost everything else.

My advice: drive it in manual mode as often as possible!

[dezzracer]

Thanks all. Good advice and I appreciate the replies. It's manual mode for me from now on.

Interestingly tho, as I peruse the Bimmerpost sub menu for auto-crossing and racing there are posts over there that claim unless you are expert/ pro level driver, that in (most cases) you will be faster around the track leaving the car in auto mode.

The thought process being it takes a lot of skill and concentration just to focus on hitting the right lines, breaking points and turn in speeds let alone knowing what gear to be in at a particular speed and point on a racetrack. . Apparently the DCT, especially in "sport plus" mode is better suited at knowing what gear you should be in on a race track at speed than it is when driving on public streets. Makes sense to me as after all it is an "M car" which has been set up, tuned and coded by pro level factory drivers.

Not that it matters to me as I do not track my car. I just thought it was an interesting observation I've gleaned from this forum.

[maul3d]

I agree with thr above statement.

I still at times, havent figured out the gear display is on my HUD.. Yet, always looking at the cluster for nonapparent reason. Lol

Just got back from a game of tennis with my son, thinking.. why am I looking at the cluster ?

Driving the past 20 years.. it's all habit!

Lol

[CanAutM3]

I mostly use Sequential mode since I prefer to be the one selecting the gears. I will use Drive on occasion if I am occupied with other tasks in traffic (examples: phone call, loading an address in the navigation system).

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by dezzracer

I've mainly been using the DCT auto function for all driving conditions because I guess I just assume it is smart and knows what it's doing and is in the right gear at the right time and l knows better than me.

It CANNOT know better than you, because it cannot anticipate the road ahead nor your intentions.

[Alpine_F82]

Originally Posted by maul3d

I agree with thr above statement.

I still at times, havent figured out the gear display is on my HUD.. Yet, always looking at the cluster for nonapparent reason. Lol

Just got back from a game of tennis with my son, thinking.. why am I looking at the cluster ?

Driving the past 20 years.. it's all habit!

Lol

Idk about you but I look at the cluster because it looks cool. Even tho I have hud

[maul3d]

Originally Posted by M4BimmerChris

Idk about you but I look at the cluster because it looks cool. Even tho I have hud

Haha , don't blame you. Indeed it does.

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by M4BimmerChris

Idk about you but I look at the cluster because it looks cool. Even tho I have hud

Turn off HUD and you get shift lights on the rpm gauge. Very cool to see.

[maul3d]

Originally Posted by shortseller

Turn off HUD and you get shift lights on the rpm gauge. Very cool to see.

Learned something new today.

Thanks

[kyrix1st]

Why waste your time driving the ultimate driving machine if you are going to leave everything up to the car?

[SMGCFP]

Good thread here. I've used the sequential mode on the car. It's fun. I don't use exclusively. Actually I don't use it much at all. It's not because it's not fun, because it is. I think I'm just lazy when it comes to this. Forget sequential mode when the wife is in the car, she doesn't like the way I drive to start with...

This notion that being able to shift the gears manually somehow puts you in better control of the car than the computer. Maybe marginally, at least for me. I'm sold on the fun of it, but probably not doing for better car control. In the hands of an expert, or an above average driver, sure. I'm neither of those as much as I'd like to believe I am. Experienced, sure. Expert. No.

[Revzyuu]

I keep it in manual mode cause I read about the crank hub issues and i rather do the blips myself to get around traffic at the second shift setting. Only time I use auto is when im in 5-20 mph traffic.

GTS trans flash made this a bit easier though in auto mode.

[jc05e46m3]

Auto only for longer drives on the highway. Otherwise, Manual all the way.

[N1rve]

I leave mine in Auto 90% of the time because I'm always just stuck in traffic