DCT update in the US ...did any one get it?

[Hellride]

Got my car back today. Kudos to BMW, kudos to the dealership. A great experience. Took all day, but well - well worth it. If you have DCT, don't hesitate but get the update. In short - wow.

What I have noticed, with my short drive home:

1) Shifts were very near instantaneous. It never really bothered me before but this is what should have been the experience from the lot. By the time the paddle clicks back to its original position - car is in gear and I only drove in S3 so far. This is for both up and down shifts. I am amazed it can do it this quickly! Also tried under "harder" braking, no problem to d/s - but, of course this doesn't prove track performance. It also seemed to idle a little higher, say 700RPM versus 500RPM or so. As for the "surge," can't really say as I drove home in S3 and there wasn't any there to begin with.

2) Throttle response is far better - no need for "rethinking" the pedal, or press "power" map as a workaround. YMMV, but this is a solid improvement with no squishy throttle pedal. I cannot wait to try in the sport or sport + mode.

3) LC. Works just fine. After my short ride home, engaged LC and got the checkered flag - actually easier to get than before the update. Foot off brake and it'll come right up. Did not try a run - will save for another time.

4) Seat, mirror, and all quick button memories were erased - did not check M button. BUT, in Navigation all recent addresses and address book entries remained. Easy to remap all buttons from the address book AND since Bluetooth pairings were also NOT cleared, easy to remap any phone numbers. I will have to find that perfect seat position again, though... Small price to pay.

5) Something else that hasn't been addressed yet AFIK, but the phone volume through Bluetooth is MUCH better. For the first time I had to turn the volume down. Could have nothing to do with the update, but I noticed it right away. However, preprogrammed extensions, pauses, etc. will still not go through Bluetooth. More than likely a problem with Bluetooth than BMW.

6) NAV did seem to come up far quicker and respond much better. This could just be me being excited about 1-5, but something I noticed.

For sure, this update seems to have covered far more than just the DCT. For just a short drive a lot of new impressions. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much but everyone that has reported back are right. An amazing fix to an already amazing car. Get the update.

[Hellride]

Originally Posted by 2high2aim

WOw hearing all this news makes me feel a lot more better thank you god and BMW, I am considering of purchasing a M3 I just cant make my mind b/t the coupe, sedan, manual, or DCT lol or color. I wanted the DCT in the beginning but after hearing lag issues I was going to get the manual and now I back to the start but now I am really considering the DCT sense their is no lag and as a daily driven car it would be a lot more luxurious.

It sure has made that decision far more difficult. DCT is now a manual, F1 style. If you test drove one, test drive one with the update before you make the call.

[masmole]

Originally Posted by Hellride

If you test drove one, test drive one with the update before you make the call.

^^ what he said ^^

I'm still pretty shocked at how much of a transformation it turned out to be... even after reading the first guinea pigs use words like "instantaneous" and "zero lag". M-DCT is now the perfect transmission in my book. I wonder how long it will be before BMW starts making it an option for some non-M models.

[aggie57]

Originally Posted by masmole

^^ what he said ^^

I'm still pretty shocked at how much of a transformation it turned out to be... even after reading the first guinea pigs use words like "instantaneous" and "zero lag". M-DCT is now the perfect transmission in my book. I wonder how long it will be before BMW starts making it an option for some non-M models.

It is already offered on 335i models but without the "M" modes.

[masmole]

Originally Posted by aggie57

It is already offered on 335i models but without the "M" modes.

Wow, I didn't know that. But I guess Oz often gets the goods before the US.

Here, the 2009 335i's only have 6mt or steptronic available... which means a DCT option won't be likely until model year 2010 if it even happens.

Although American enthusiasts may love M-DCT on the M3, the majority of the rest still prefer the comfort and simplicity of torque-converter autos in their vanilla-flavored luxury marques. Perfect example: the highly anticipated upcoming Audi Q5. Available with a dual-clutch tranny everywhere else but only available as a torque-converter automatic in the US because according to Audi marketing specialists "Americans may find the dual-clutch too jerky in certain situations and dismiss it as unrefined". Sad but true.

[tabolau]

Originally Posted by Ronin13

Anyone else with the update who no longer can engage LC?

me too, I can no longer use LC.

[Blake]

no launch control?!?! i've only used it once, but i haven't had a chance to really use it at a drag strip or something similar.

i pick my car up tomorrow morning. can't wait to experience the new programming.

[aggie57]

Originally Posted by masmole

Wow, I didn't know that. But I guess Oz often gets the goods before the US.

Here, the 2009 335i's only have 6mt or steptronic available... which means a DCT option won't be likely until model year 2010 if it even happens.

Although American enthusiasts may love M-DCT on the M3, the majority of the rest still prefer the comfort and simplicity of torque-converter autos in their vanilla-flavored luxury marques. Perfect example: the highly anticipated upcoming Audi Q5. Available with a dual-clutch tranny everywhere else but only available as a torque-converter automatic in the US because according to Audi marketing specialists "Americans may find the dual-clutch too jerky in certain situations and dismiss it as unrefined". Sad but true.

I wonder what shift option the non-M DCT cars will ship with. Interesting.

[islandguy19]

I brought my car in for some services 2 weeks ago. They said they updated a software program on my iDrive system? I'm assuming that was the PROG 31.1. is there a way to check what i have?

[masmole]

Originally Posted by islandguy19

I brought my car in for some services 2 weeks ago. They said they updated a software program on my iDrive system? I'm assuming that was the PROG 31.1. is there a way to check what i have?

Only the dealer can check by plugging-in their gear. No way to check on your own even with the hidden iDrive menu as far as I know.

[ihyln]

After doing some extensive driving today I'm convinced there is NO SURGE in S5 anymore. It's completely absent on my car even under full throttle. I'm not complaining because it feels like I'm driving a F1 car. The S6 mode has the brutal surge if you are into that sort of thing.

[valeram]

Originally Posted by aggie57

I wonder what shift option the non-M DCT cars will ship with. Interesting.

From what I read, there are less programs mode available. Maybe S1 to S3 and D1 to D3 only.

[Blake]

got mine back from the dealership today...everything seems 10x better. the shifts are noticeably quicker and smoother. under hard braking, it behaves like it should. so far so good, but didn't really get a chance to really wring her out because traffic was horrid today. i'll do some fun driving tomorrow and really get a good feel.

[Mack211]

Originally Posted by blakepilot

got mine back from the dealership today...everything seems 10x better. the shifts are noticeably quicker and smoother. under hard braking, it behaves like it should. so far so good, but didn't really get a chance to really wring her out because traffic was horrid today. i'll do some fun driving tomorrow and really get a good feel.

Check the Launch Control please!!! I am going to get this done next week hopefully.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by Mack211

Check the Launch Control please!!! I am going to get this done next week hopefully.

launch control does still work. one of the first things i tried. even though i didn't do a launch, everything came on as it should.

[BarryC]

Had mine updated today - I agree with everyone's comments here and LC still works. Definitely much better!

BC

[apw2607]

I had mine done yesterday. Jury is out though. I'm not seeing any radical difference just driving around in D3 and S3.

All my Bass / Treble and EQ settings were erased too :-(

[tmntmn]

i got mine updated yesterday but i still have all my setting there, all my bass/treble and eq setting are still there. my downshift changes right away before it click back but the upshift still has that lag . is there a certain RPM where i should test the upshift at? or it should change gear with no lag where ever the RPM is?

how do i find out if they really updated my software, the invoice only says reprogram DCT but that nothing else.

[Archon]

Originally Posted by tmntmn

i got mine updated yesterday but i still have all my setting there, all my bass/treble and eq setting are still there. my downshift changes right away before it click back but the upshift still has that lag . is there a certain RPM where i should test the upshift at? or it should change gear with no lag where ever the RPM is?

how do i find out if they really updated my software, the invoice only says reprogram DCT but that nothing else.

The telling sign is some of your settings especially the audio ones are reset.

I'm thinking your update didn't fully take and the dealer didn't want to restart the process.

[BIGNTASTIE]

wow from everyone so happy about the update now my next 4 hours are going to take forever . I cant wait til i get my car backk , its getting updated right now !

[tmntmn]

Originally Posted by Archon

The telling sign is some of your settings especially the audio ones are reset.

I'm thinking your update didn't fully take and the dealer didn't want to restart the process.

is there a way for me to found out what verison my software is without taking it to the dealer?

[erio]

Did everyone have their settings all erased? Mine all seem to have been saved after the update. Not sure what this means. I do detect a diff in the shift times, but have not had much chance to experiment.