DCT owners do you drive in Smode?

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

You can't rev the crap out of the 35i, the turbos run out of wind. There is plenty of power in the mid band rev range. Its far from a slug, its a 5 second car?!

Try wide open throttle in 3rd gear at 40mph. Car doesn't have much go. Needs to be in 2nd and revved hard.

Power drop at high rpm but still gearing benefit and 7000 rpm power isn't below 5000rpm

[ManiacGT]

You need to get your car checked... at 3000rpm my car takes off...

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

You need to get your car checked... at 3000rpm my car takes off...

IN what gear?

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

IN what gear?

And what is your basis for comparison....

[InsanePineapple]

I almost always drive in Sport mode with manual shifting.

[nicknaz]

Hey guys, I found out that when the indicated oil temp exceeds 270F the DCT S mode changes shift points to keep the engine at lower RPM.

For example, with the kick down switch pressed, the computer will allow the engine to rev to 7000rpm before shifting up, but when the oil temperature is elevated, the computer will short shift to a higher gear at a much lower RPM.

I believe the shifting is slower as well, because the changes we not as noticeable, but that could be because of the engine power reduction that is also taking place at the same time

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Hey guys, I found out that when the indicated oil temp exceeds 270F the DCT S mode changes shift points to keep the engine at lower RPM.

For example, with the kick down switch pressed, the computer will allow the engine to rev to 7000rpm before shifting up, but when the oil temperature is elevated, the computer will short shift to a higher gear at a much lower RPM.

I believe the shifting is slower as well, because the changes we not as noticeable, but that could be because of the engine power reduction that is also taking place at the same time

Do you mean the certain point during the process of pressing down on the gas pedal?

That's good to know, that means the DCT is self-regulating/proactively avoiding prbs, so hopefully that should translate into zero/less issues down the road. I haven't really pushed the tranny but it really seems solidly-built (knock on wood).

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Hey guys, I found out that when the indicated oil temp exceeds 270F the DCT S mode changes shift points to keep the engine at lower RPM.

For example, with the kick down switch pressed, the computer will allow the engine to rev to 7000rpm before shifting up, but when the oil temperature is elevated, the computer will short shift to a higher gear at a much lower RPM.

I believe the shifting is slower as well, because the changes we not as noticeable, but that could be because of the engine power reduction that is also taking place at the same time

Mine does not short shift when set to Sport or Sport+ no matter what the oil temp is. But then again my transmission is always in the manual mode.............




You guys are so lucky to have the computer thinking for you in regards to the care and well being of your vehicle and DCT, with never a thought to the dreaded "Money Shift".

NOT

Yet another reason to "Save The Manuals"

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Do you mean the certain point during the process of pressing down on the gas pedal?

That's good to know, that means the DCT is self-regulating/proactively avoiding prbs, so hopefully that should translate into zero/less issues down the road. I haven't really pushed the tranny but it really seems solidly-built (knock on wood).

Right, I'm talking about that button right at the gas end of the pedal travel that gives more resistance.

Yes DTC does seem solidly built *touch wood*. All components have a "useful life" though, and with the oldest BMW DCT being those in the '08 M3 I guess time will tell when we start finding the limits of the gearbox.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by HerrK

Mine does not short shift when set to Sport or Sport+ no matter what the oil temp is. But then again my transmission is always in the manual mode.............




You guys are so lucky to have the computer thinking for you in regards to the care and well being of your vehicle and DCT, with never a thought to the dreaded "Money Shift".

NOT

Yet another reason to "Save The Manuals"

Dude, where did that come from? Srsly.

If it's one thing I can't stand is retrogrouchs. The M/T is virtually DEAD, deal w/ it...or should we also reminisce when we all used to crank start our engines? ...wait for it....NOT!

[InsanePineapple]

I say... Save the manual shift mode!

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by HerrK

Yet another reason to "Save The Manuals"

I used to feel the same way until I tried the Porsche PDK and now the BMW DCT

Max effort braking and downshifting as well as mid corner shifting are trivial and allow for focus on position the vehicle and other driver development tasks

I'm not a pro driver, obviously, and I'm sure the DCT tech is making me faster

[GooDy151]

How can we get into Sport+ and completely turn off traction ?
When I'm in sport plus and push DSC off (hold 3-5secs) then it seem like it go back to the normal mode.

[Nik z]

there is no way to set sport+ and dct off it wont let you..its difficult to drift in normal mode.. steering wheel and throttle response feels terrible in normal mode..thats another reason i am saying its not a sports car but another luxury convertible tow seater car ..some times i feel like i am driving a girls car wont let you do anything by your self . its a pity so mach power is wasted ..corect if i am wrong ..

[mbetoni]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I used to feel the same way until I tried the Porsche PDK and now the BMW DCT

Max effort braking and downshifting as well as mid corner shifting are trivial and allow for focus on position the vehicle and other driver development tasks

I'm not a pro driver, obviously, and I'm sure the DCT tech is making me faster

+1 to this. LIFELONG manual driver, never, ever thought I'd want to switch. Then I was introduced to DCT.

There's a reason while all the top end motorsports now use this technology. I think one way to look at it, transmissions like the DCT and PDK (and pro gearboxes in race cars) actually ARE manual transmissions - they just don't have a clutch pedal. Sure, you can let a computer shift for you, but you can don't have to. And, you can concentrate on braking points, turn in points, and car position much more closely while the car takes care of matching RPMs on downshifts and working the clutches.

Now, of course, there's always the argument that shifting yourself w/ a clutch pedal and gearbox is just more fun, that's subjective (and a fine personal choice!). For me, the perfect throttle blips and exhaust burble on downshifting proved too intoxicating, couldn't resist.

[Asbjorn]

Originally Posted by Nik z

there is no way to set sport+ and dct off it wont let you..its difficult to drift in normal mode.. steering wheel and throttle response feels terrible in normal mode..thats another reason i am saying its not a sports car but another luxury convertible tow seater car ..some times i feel like i am driving a girls car wont let you do anything by your self . its a pity so mach power is wasted ..corect if i am wrong ..

What you need is the ESS tune. It sharpens up the throttle response in any mode and the car becomes very controllable on over-steer (for a turbo car that is) . I am still learning, but so far I prefer ESS stage 1 for these wonderful occasions.

With ESS the car is very eager to kick out its tail, and I can vary the RPMs rather nicely while counter steering to control the direction of the skid. You may find that with ESS, the throttle response in sport+ is a actually tad "over-boosted"/"nonlinear". You may however still miss the sport+ suspension. Mine has the regular suspension so that is not an issue for me. Steering in normal mode is lighter than sport+, so it helps when making quick corrections, and it still has the function, which is a unique possibility with electric power steering i think, that it actively "helps" you to counter-steer doing drifts. Of course the feel is more disconnected compared to sport+, but while you may complain about that in theory, in reality and while drifting, I never found that to be an issue or limiting factor. When drifting I honestly care much more about feeling what the rear wheels are doing.

And while on the topic of sportscar or not. One thing you dont get with a farrari or lambo is the seating position of the Z4! And that is important because drifting is even more fun, when sitting as far back as you do in the Z4. What you loose in feel about what the front is doing, you gain in feel about what the rear is doing! And what it does on over-steer, and when you are in control of it, is absolutely wonderful!

I wish all Z4 owners could get a chance to experience this, but perhaps 99% of owners never get to use the DSC=off mode?

[nicknaz]

I agree it would be nice to have the option for dsc truly off when in the sport+ setting

From my experience though, the DTC / sports+ setting is not that restrictive and will allow you to slide all four wheels when exiting a corner at the traction limit and I noticed the traction control aid only when it kept me from putting the car into a spin from adding too much throttle at the wrong time

I think with more cooling equipment and a different tire choice than the RE050A (fun fact... Aston Martin uses it as their OE tire also!) the E89 would be a lot of fun for prolonged hard driving. In its 100% stock form it really is more of a capable cruiser than a track missile (but then.. are any BMWs really track missiles from the factory anymore...)

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by mbetoni

+1 to this. LIFELONG manual driver, never, ever thought I'd want to switch. Then I was introduced to DCT.

There's a reason while all the top end motorsports now use this technology. I think one way to look at it, transmissions like the DCT and PDK (and pro gearboxes in race cars) actually ARE manual transmissions - they just don't have a clutch pedal. Sure, you can let a computer shift for you, but you can don't have to. And, you can concentrate on braking points, turn in points, and car position much more closely while the car takes care of matching RPMs on downshifts and working the clutches.

Now, of course, there's always the argument that shifting yourself w/ a clutch pedal and gearbox is just more fun, that's subjective (and a fine personal choice!). For me, the perfect throttle blips and exhaust burble on downshifting proved too intoxicating, couldn't resist.

Exactly. Lazy detractors of DCT/PDK/DSG/F1/etc just notice the lack of a 3rd pedal and automatically assume that it's an A/T...well, no, it's not. There is no power-sucking torque converter, which imo is the main criterion of whether a tranny is M/T or A/T, NOT the # of pedals. This relatively 'new' type of M/T, read: DCT/PDK/DSG/F1/etc, offers undeniable superior performance and flexibility vs the stick.

[nicknaz]

times are indeed changing because I drove the 8 spd "sport auto" in the 28i and it had smooth rev matched downshifts and firm upshifts, reasonable response time to shift requests, and torque converter locked up to simulate a fully engaged clutch

Driven back to back with the DCT I noticed the DCT was smoother/faster and preferred the DCT, but the latest torque converter based automatics aren't the dogs they used to be...

EDIT: I was reflecting on this, and I really enjoy driving traditional manual, but I enjoy going as fast as possible even more so I guess i am ok bowing down to the car's electronic overlords....

[jparnes1]

1. Does the transmission shift for you?
2. Can you ruin your transmission by over-revving your downshift?
3. Is there a neutral position?
Its not a manual. It's a very good transmission that shifts lightening fast. You always get a good shift. But it's not a manual. It's controlled by you and a computer.
I'm not sure why there's always this "issue" about the DCT but it seems that those that drive it must hold a traditional manual as the gold standard because they're always comparing the DCT to it.
Drive what you like but know what you're driving.






let you go past 7000 rpm?
3. Is there a nuetral?

[Putzo]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

EDIT: I was reflecting on this, and I really enjoy driving traditional manual, but I enjoy going as fast as possible even more so I guess i am ok bowing down to the car's electronic overlords....

+1

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

Its not a manual. It's a very good transmission that shifts lightening fast. You always get a good shift. But it's not a manual. It's controlled by you and a computer.
I'm not sure why there's always this "issue" about the DCT but it seems that those that drive it must hold a traditional manual as the gold standard because they're always comparing the DCT to it.
Drive what you like but know what you're driving.

For me at least, there is no issue.

I am clear my car is automatic / computer controlled / has no clutch pedal and compare to traditional 3 pedal manual because that's what i've been driving daily since I started driving up until 10 months ago. I'm also clear I'm faster in my automatic DCT 35i and I would be in the same car with a 3 pedal manual so all good here!

The comparison for me is from disbelief since for as long as I can remember I thought "automatics were worse for performance" and have found myself proven wrong in a big way.