DCT or not to DCT?

[badbeef]

I'm in the market for an e90. Probably a 2011. When I started the search about 6 weeks ago, I was sure the manual transmission was for me. I had ridden in a DCT and had driven a few manuals at that time. My primary car has always been a manual and I really enjoy the 3rd pedal. To be honest I wasn't even considering a DCT, until...a forum member let me drive his DCT and he urged me to drive it. During the test drive when the car downshifted it blipped the throttle and I was so impressed with the sound that I kept doing it...and laughed every time it did its magic. Plus the motor itself seemed better matched to the DCT gearbox and it felt more responsive. I'm not the guy who cares about an extra tenth or two of acceleration...I'm a driver...but it just felt faster.

I'm leaning towards the DCT because of these things, but am afraid I'll regret it later.

If I go the manual route, I'll always be thinking of this test drive and second guessing myself. I'm not in a good situation.

I do 99% of my driving around town, and I don't put many miles on the car...so sitting in traffic really isn't a big deal. I may do a drivers event once in a blue moon as well -- so this isn't really a decision maker or breaker for me. I'm getting an e90 so I can take this car with the kids more than the dang minivan. Damn I hate that thing...more than you can imagine. I hate it even more because that thing never breaks down. Ever. My wife hated my e46 and complained every time she had to lean forward to let the kids in the back seat. So hence the e90.

Has anyone owned both a manual and a DCT? Has anyone bought the "wrong" transmission -- and regretted their decision down the road? Is there anyone out there who struggled with this decision and were glad with what they selected? Why? Thanks in advance.

[FormulaMMM]

I have both. You can't go wrong. Comes down to what you want.

[Raypan]

You know that MT is the right decision. When you have to foot a giant repair bill you will be wishing you got an MT.

I do approve of this thread

[CanAutM3]

[badbeef]

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

I have both. You can't go wrong. Comes down to what you want.

I was afraid of that answer. That's why this is so difficult. Which one do you enjoy driving more -- for around-town type driving? Why do you have both? Is one your DD and your other a track car?

[///M///]

I grew up on manuals and my last car, E46M3 was a manual as well but when I test drove E90 in Manual and then the DCT, it was an easy choice for me. I went with the DCT and totally love it. Go with what makes you happier and based off your personal needs.

The E90 was my 2nd car but for the last 5 months it has been my DD and now it makes me even happier that I decided on going with the DCT.

[badbeef]

Originally Posted by Raypan

You know that MT is the right decision. When you have to foot a giant repair bill you will be wishing you got an MT.

I do approve of this thread

Are the DCT's known to be prone to problems? I thought they were pretty bullet proof.

[Raypan]

Originally Posted by badbeef

Are the DCT's known to be prone to problems? I thought they were pretty bullet proof.

Do you consider numerous reports of leaks, over heating and the car not going into gear bullet proof?

Granted most times it's only a software glitch but in my book that is far from bullet proof. And if it is something serious like a mechatronics or clutch you're looking at serious repair bill. If you're under warranty I suppose it will only cost you time and aggrevation.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by badbeef

I was afraid of that answer. That's why this is so difficult. Which one do you enjoy driving more -- for around-town type driving? Why do you have both? Is one your DD and your other a track car?

I'm moving from 6MT to DCT for family/practical reasons. I'll have both only temporarily.

There is no easy answer or right choice of transmission for this car. It really does come down to what you want at the time of purchase.

There are numerous threads on the subject with owners giving various reasons for why they prefer one or the other. I don't actually have a preference. If I retained both, believe they'd get about equal use.

[Downshift22]

I was in the same position as you before buying my car. Every car that I have owned in the past has been a manual. When I first started looking for an e92, I didn't consider DCT either. However, it sparked my interest after hearing so much about it and I really wanted to try something new.

Even though I have only put 1,000 miles on my car, I have no regrets and am happy with that I chose to go with DCT. While you give up the connection to the car that you get with a third pedal, DCT is fun in its own right. Especially around town. Downshifting is even more addicting than in a 6MT, in my opinion (look at my username for validity ). Upshifts are so quick and I feel that 7 gears suit the engine very well.

My suggestion would be to try to drive both on the same day so that both transmissions are fresh in your mind.

[Kurt_OH]

You're right - the DCT and the high-rpm S65 ARE a perfect match.

It's a fabulous, high-tech engine, and a fabulous, high-tech transmission. Want easy access to those high revs, without flailing like an orangutan? Get DCT.

[FormulaMMM]

^^^
Club 6MT



Don't be an orangutan, buy DCT.

[IzzyGray]

I've had manuals before and always enjoyed them but for e92 M3, I chose the dct. Working long hours and driving quite abit daily can tire the whole 3rd pedal thing out after a while. However, reading your situation, id get a manual. Don't get me wrong, I love my dct but you stated you won't be driving the car much. If I'm not putting so many miles on my car, I'd get a manual. Those downshift blips are something you ought to be doing when downshifting (rev matching) in manual anyways.

[Vic311]

I vote 6MT. Guess that makes me an early primate?

[jaehshim]

we've had enough MT vs DCT sessions here at the forum so i'm not flaming anything here.
Both are great transmission, DCT will be a blast to drive on tracks without much difficulty, yet could be a bit boring at times. MT will make every drive interesting and engaging, yet could be a bit annoying around city traffic and this is your only car for daily commute.

Cars like this get driven and kept for a long time.
if you'd like to drive the car a good 4~5 yrs then move onto another car, get DCT. if you want to drive this car for a long time and keep it long, then get MT i'd say.

[Eau Rouge]

Either a manual is or isn't for you no matter the circumstances this side of series racing. OP, it seems to me that you can go either way. In that case, DCT is how you should go. GL

[///M3Owner]

I currently have a DCT, but I wish I had a MT. DCT is great for quick downshifts and upshifts, but I wish i had that connection with my car that you get in a MT. The DCT can get quite boring..and launch control is honestly only useful when you're trying to show off to your friends in my opinion. I'd say go for a MT

[Someone?]

DCT all the Way, you can get any POS with a MT, you can only get Bad Ass cars with a DCT.

[FogCityM3]

I have tracked both the MT and DCT and own an MT. Love my MT, but if I were in traffic would definitely do DCT and if I were interested in the absolutely fastest lap times/best performance I would go DCT. MT if you want the most fun, engaging experience, I actually prefer it on the track but I'm just out there to enjoy myself and love the challenge of rev-matching and full engagement/concentration and feel of man-handling/ripping through the gears, which is quite gratifying..lol. From what it sounds, forget that you're looking at an M3, which transmission would you prefer in any car if you had the choice. That will probably be the right answer for you in the M3. My view is that the MT is a dying breed and my next car will likely be some sort of DCT/auto (not even sure I'll have the choice) so with the M3 which I will keep for a long time, I want to hold onto the last vestiges of rowing your own gears in a high-revving, N/A application.

[Eau Rouge]

Originally Posted by ibmike

DCT all the Way, you can get any POS with a MT, you can only get Bad Ass cars with a DCT.

Fess up. You work in the ///Marketing department, right?

[Gumulri]

when I having my car for a year with the 6mt and I regret little bad did not get the Dct tranny. because bmw put very nice dct in our car and a little faster than mt. but now I am having this car for three years who cares about which is faster. I am just happy with my car right now and my warranty expired too.
I just paid off the loan of that car and I am planning to having that car for util
V8 engine died that's why I got a brand new fj cruiser for daily and m3 for weekend and track.

[Ezio]

I consider my self a manual guy. I gave the dct a chance because i was having a hard time finding a stick. I was also leasing. So it wasn't like I would be stuck with this car. I ended up really liking the dct. Fits the car so well, downshifts are also nuts. I am one of those people who like them both. Next car might be a dct or manual. I am not sure!