DCT Automatic mode question

[patrick888]

This is my first BMW. It's a new to me 2008 M3 Convertible with DCT. Had the car a few days now, I've been driving mostly in manual mode with paddles.

Today, I decided to try driving in auto mode (drive logic set to 1) and notice that it shift into 7th gear at around 50 Km/Hr or 30 miles/hr. Is this normal ? I always thought we should be around 4th or 5th gear at this speed.

It's driving fine at 7th gear. I am just curious if this is normal.

Thanks

[saeedg48]

Ya it's normal.. It's in drive logic 1 the pussiest of them all. Try a higher setting and you'll be at a higher RPM and lower gear. I think there's a way to reset the memory of the gear box to re-learn your driving style, considering there was a previous owner.

[G.R]

D1 starts in 2nd gear I believe and should only be used in snow type conditions.
Even using drivelogic at the most aggresive setting D5 you will still find it will go to 5th gear once you get to around 65km

[RayC]

I keep forgetting there's a D1 setting. :/

[SenorFunkyPants]

I find D4 to be the best compromise D setting...as long as you aren't too heavy with the right foot.

[sameh]

Since my M3 is my daily drive (2000miles/month) I am mostly on D mode. I started at D3 for a while, was too weak for my liking, then D4 which I enjoyed for sometime till I wanted more aggressiveness, then currently D5 that I like alot. It makes 2nd gear longer, 6gear is the top one untill you're cruising at same speed for a while then the car gets in 7th. And best of all the car is more responsive to down shifts and quick pick ups after cornering. A little less gas milage than before but who the he'll cares!

[grendelrt]

Question out of curiosity for you guys. When you are in Manual mode with the DCT and you are slowing down to come to a stop say at a stop light. Do you let the computer downshift or do you manually downshift using the paddles? Ive been doing both, just curious what others do.

[sameh]

Originally Posted by grendelrt

Question out of curiosity for you guys. When you are in Manual mode with the DCT and you are slowing down to come to a stop say at a stop light. Do you let the computer downshift or do you manually downshift using the paddles? Ive been doing both, just curious what others do.

Good question, I would like to hear others comment on this subject. What I do while on S is : if I'm alone in the car and don't give a flip how smooth my slow down to stop feels, I just let the computer down shift it. But with someone with me or if I care how the car looks to other drivers around, I downshift manually to be able to sync the down shift with throttle/break for a smoother slow down. the computer downshifting on S5 is harsh.

[Radiation Joe]

There have been a hundred threads on this stuff, but my experience was:

D2 = 60 percent of the time
D4 = 30 percent of the time
S2 = 05 percent of the time
D5 = 04 percent of the time (for reasons noted by others - holds gears longer)
S4 = 01 percent of the time

Let it downshift it's self about half the time in manual mode.

[Hunter399]

Even on the most aggressive setting it goes to 7th gear wayyyy to quickly. I find it extremely annoying so I typically drive in manual mode.

[sor]

Still on the steptronic, but with this and when I test drove the DCT, I manually downshift pretty much the same as I would in a manual, using the engine to help slow the car a bit rather than the brakes. I drive about 99% in manual mode, felt more natural coming from manual vehicles, never got used to letting the car do it for me.

[grendelrt]

Doesn't sound like I am alone then :O I thought I was just being lazy letting the computer downshift in S mode lol.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by grendelrt

Question out of curiosity for you guys. When you are in Manual mode with the DCT and you are slowing down to come to a stop say at a stop light. Do you let the computer downshift or do you manually downshift using the paddles? Ive been doing both, just curious what others do.

I downshift myself because I am accustomed to driving a stick for the past 20 years (including currently, in the 335i). And as we know, a stick won't downshift for you.

Also, I just love an excuse to rev the engine up.

[Frozen Black Panther]

d5 ftw to hear the "woof"

100% of the time

[calintexas]

It upshifts pretty quickly at least in D1 - D3 if you are fairly light on the throttle. It's fuel economy tuning by BMW.

[Lodaka]

Originally Posted by grendelrt

Question out of curiosity for you guys. When you are in Manual mode with the DCT and you are slowing down to come to a stop say at a stop light. Do you let the computer downshift or do you manually downshift using the paddles? Ive been doing both, just curious what others do.

I find that, when the car is at 4th gear or lower, the car seems to downshift sequentially better than I can, or I am just getting the timing wrong. So I downshift myself until 4th and then let the car do it for me.

[mrkbbd]

D1, S1, S6, only modes I use

[infamxkris]

quick question.. when i am in manual mode (s mode) i am usually in s5.. and when i am coming to a stop like at a red light or something.. and lets say i am in 5th gear.. i usually downshift all the way down to 1st gear manually... now when i do this the car begins to shake and get really jerky and uncomfortable when slowing down.. mostly in starting from 2nd to 1st gear.. now is this because i am going to such a low gear and the car is revving too high? which is causing the jerkiness?.. is this bad for the car as in the clutch? or is this not normal and i should get it checked out?...

[grendelrt]

Originally Posted by infamxkris

quick question.. when i am in manual mode (s mode) i am usually in s5.. and when i am coming to a stop like at a red light or something.. and lets say i am in 5th gear.. i usually downshift all the way down to 1st gear manually... now when i do this the car begins to shake and get really jerky and uncomfortable when slowing down.. mostly in starting from 2nd to 1st gear.. now is this because i am going to such a low gear and the car is revving too high? which is causing the jerkiness?.. is this bad for the car as in the clutch? or is this not normal and i should get it checked out?...

Jerkiness will happen if you get in first gear at a higher rpm, same thing if you accelerate and let off in 1st gear at high RPM. Wait until you are a lower RPM in second to shift down to first or let the car do it.

[BigHat]

Originally Posted by grendelrt

Question out of curiosity for you guys. When you are in Manual mode with the DCT and you are slowing down to come to a stop say at a stop light. Do you let the computer downshift or do you manually downshift using the paddles? Ive been doing both, just curious what others do.

I let the car do it as it does it as well or better than I can.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by BigHat

I let the car do it as it does it as well or better than I can.

If you feel that way, I am curious why you use manual mode to begin with. Keep in mind, in manual mode, the car only downshifts to prevent a stall. It's really a minimalist way of downshifting IMHO, and is not the same as when it downshifts in D mode.