6MT to DCT E92 M3 Ownership Experience

[Finnegan]

I think it all comes down to preference like the OP said. I've owned two e9x M3s, the first one with 6MT, the second one with a DCT. The DCT was brilliant, and fast, and darn near perfect. But I preferred the MT (which was the only option in the car I now have: a Z4M). I just thought it was more fun.

It's not about "connection" for me. Like others have noted above I simply enjoy the act of rowing gears, moving the lever through the various shift gates, trying for that elusive mastery of heel/toe (that day that will never come where I get them all just right on the track or a back road). It's fun for me. I guess if the DCT had shift gates that would push it closer to something I'd consider. (Still would miss fun of a perfect start, a perfect heel/toe though--can't ever quite get there, but maybe that's why like golf too.)

I live in an area where I see some stop and go traffic too, but that's not the bulk of my driving. If I lived in the S.F. Bay Area or L.A. I'd go with the DCT in a heartbeat. Been there, done that, hated it with the MT in stop and go hell.

I'll be sad if the only option available is the DCT or something similar. That day is coming no doubt and there's no denying technology--I guess I'll have to hang on to something with an MT as long as we're allowed to drive at all.

[KGB7]

Originally Posted by OC3

Sure, but is that ever really an issue?

Try this.

Floor the gas in 1st, shift to 2nd still flooring, now at 8k rpm let go off the gas as you shift to 3rd.

Now do the same, but match the revs when you shift to 3rd. If you do it properly with practice, it will feel as if you are driving an automatic.

Let me know the difference.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by KGB7

Try this.

Floor the gas in 1st, shift to 2nd still flooring, now at 8k rpm let go off the gas as you shift to 3rd.

Now do the same, but match the revs when you shift to 3rd.

Let me know the difference.

Wow, you've stumped me, buddy. Do expound.

[KGB7]

Originally Posted by OC3

Wow, you've stumped me, buddy. Do expound.

Less stress on drive tranny. But you already knew that.. no?

[Totti]

Rev-matching upshifts

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by Totti

Rev-matching upshifts

Maybe I'm missing something...doesn't the principle of "rev matching" apply both to upshifts as well as downshifts?
The only difference being that where'as in downshifts you apply throttle so that when the clutch is released it matches the engine speed to the "gearbox speed" while in upshifts you time the shift so that the engine speed falls to match the "gearbox speed".

[sameh]

My contribution to the DCT MT subject after reading many threads and one year if DCT experience is:
MT is better for drifting and predictability of multiple downshifts (2-3 gears in 2seconds). Any further "driver involvement" is a very subjective matter that you can't objectively quantitate.
DCT is better of course in traffic and faster upshifts (no arguments about those 2 issues) what I add is:
DCT makes you more up to be in the right gear than an MT considering the ease of shifting. (more DCT drivers will be in 2nd or 3rd when you should be even if it's only for few seconds than MT drivers who may skip shifting if it's for short period and modulate they throttle to get by). Now being in the right gear for this M3 is a huge must if you want to keep it at peak performance.

[gthal]

I have owned both as well. Until I owned the DCT I was of the opinion that anything but 6MT sucks and isn't fun. I bought the DCT out of necessity only.

Having owned both, I can say that all 6MT guys who talk about the 6MT being more fun should not comment until they have driven a DCT for more than an hour (plus I'm convinced many will say they have experienced one option or the other and really haven't). Anyway, I am NOT saying DCT is better... I am saying it is every bit as fun, if not more so. If you are a very, very skilled 6MT driver, you can get close to the driving experience of a DCT but only a few are of this skill level. I find I can drive my DCT much faster into corners, always in the best gear, complete control all of the time. I can focus on driving fast and pushing the car. It is, in fact, a slightly less "involving" experience but it is a more "fun" experience IMO. The car is faster... period. Everyone says that one of the advantages of the M3 is the ability to drive the car quickly and explore it's limits... The DCT makes this even more the case.

I was very skeptical going in but am very, very happy now. I love both trannys. My assessment having actually OWNED both... 6MT is slightly more involving.... DCT is slightly more fun overall.

[Z06M3]

I've also gone from 6mt to DCT. Driving in the LA traffic the DCT is awesome! But I really miss the manual. I really miss rowing through the gears. If I could do this over again I would choose the third pedal option. Either way both transmissions are great.

[chris s]

blah blah blah...

[Templar]

ITT: People get upset about points that have been brought up before.

On topic though, you gave a great write up.

In the end, it still seems to be personal preference, and one isn't really much better than the other...

[saeedg48]

Originally Posted by VVG

My M3 is going to be my pure fun car, and traffic is a non-issue for me. I have test driven many dual-clutch system cars, and I have ordered a manual transmission vehicle. The interaction of the manual is more than choosing the gear. It is the actual physical action of using a clutch and a shifter that I find so satisfying and enjoyable.

After having driven enough variants of both transmissions, I have decided that dual-clutch technology needs a little more work. Yes, it can shift faster than any human, but that is the only thing it does better. It can still not sufficiently emulate the human nervous system's ability to infinitely and variably modulate the interface between engine, throttle and gearbox. I do believe that given time and evolution, they will be better, but for me, it is not there yet.

If I really liked a particular car and it only came with dual clutch, it wouldn't prevent me from buying the car. Likewise, if the car was my only vehicle and/or I did a lot of driving in traffic, I would opt for dual clutch. For my intended purpose, however, I have ordered my M3 with a proper manual.

+1

[PINHEAD]

all 6MT guys think they're pro racing drivers :/

[PKL]

Originally Posted by PINHEAD

all 6MT guys think they're pro racing drivers :/

I would actually say that is more true of DCT drivers

click click click click

[jrlee53]

Exactly. 5 million threads later on this subject and surprise, it goes no where as fast as the M3 goes.

Reply: Ahh, but as fast as a DCT M3 or a 6MT M3?

No No, make it stop..

[LarThaL]

Originally Posted by PINHEAD

all 6MT guys think they're pro racing drivers :/

Far from it. Infact, if this were primarily a track car, I would most certainly opt for DCT as it would enable me to turn faster times. I hardly ever get to a track these days, however. I am buying this car as a fun car, and am getting a MT since, to me, they are just more fun. And since I am 45 years old and have been driving MT cars since age 17, I do feel that I am pretty slick at it.

[PINHEAD]

Originally Posted by PKL

I would actually say that is more true of DCT drivers

click click click click

oh here comes the racing driver excuses
btw i've had a good 30 track days on my E46 M3 which was a 6MT
so yes I can. shifting isn't even a thought for me on the track so the shit about how "involving" and how it "makes the experience so much involving"...doesn't really matter when your pushing it on the track..

also, my C2S is a 6MT as well and at the end of the day the DCT reigns supreme.