For those of you who were debating between an E92 or E93 and/or a DCT vs Manual:

[IS350]

Originally Posted by snoopy

how about this.

if you get the coupe get a manual, if you get the vert get paddle. This way speed wise you'll be about the same either way and that wont be a factor in your choice. Now just choose based on looks and feel.

Perhaps the best advice I've seen yet!

[IS350]

Originally Posted by sayemthree

e92 MT - for the most pure drving experience.

Did you or anyone who went with the MT ever test drive the DCT?

[armyav8tor]

Originally Posted by IS350

Did you or anyone who went with the MT ever test drive the DCT?

I went with the DCT and have driven the MT extensively before. The M3's MT is a little better than the 335's as far as feeling a bit less rubbery and the CDV is not as intrusive but I have driven much better MTs. A short throw shifter would be one of my first mods if I would have gone with the MT. If you are not proficient with a MT then by all means, get the MT and learn but if you are already skilled at heel/toe then you might want to consider the DCT. The MT is a dead end street in terms of technology.

P.S. I read the new 370z has a rev match assist on its manual transmission so heel/toe won't be necessary. What do you current MT owners feel about that? LOL

DCT Rules!

[watrob]

Originally Posted by armyav8tor

I went with the DCT and have driven the MT extensively before. The M3's MT is a little better than the 335's as far as feeling a bit less rubbery and the CDV is not as intrusive but I have driven much better MTs. A short throw shifter would be one of my first mods if I would have gone with the MT. If you are not proficient with a MT then by all means, get the MT and learn but if you are already skilled at heel/toe then you might want to consider the DCT. The MT is a dead end street in terms of technology.

P.S. I read the new 370z has a rev match assist on its manual transmission so heel/toe won't be necessary. What do you current MT owners feel about that? LOL

DCT Rules!

6MT = Twentieth century

7 DCT = Twenty-first century

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by armyav8tor

P.S. I read the new 370z has a rev match assist on its manual transmission so heel/toe won't be necessary. What do you current MT owners feel about that? LOL

Heard that from autoblog? I am pretty skeptical of that claim myself.

[Wads]

I started out wanting an E92 6MT but as soon as my wife had her say ("if its not a convertible you ain't having one") quickly changed to the E93 6MT..... as the vert was obviously slower on paper I went for the DCT in the hope that I wouldn't be too embarrassed if I ever lined up next to a manual coupe.

Before buying the E93 DCT I had several days to test both an E92 M3 manual and an M5 SMG..... yesterday I managed to get some data on my verts performance. The following graphs show the speed against distance and speed Vs time for the three cars, all with the same driver (me) in similar conditions with UK 99Ron fuel.

The E93 was D5 MDM (ie without Launch Control) with top down (Blue line)
The M5 was in S6 without LC (Green line)
The E92 was launched as hard as I dared with DSC off without power shifting to 2nd (Red line)





On the speed Vs distance graph the vert has the advantage until just before hitting 60mph at which point the M5 has clawed back a 5ft lead..... at the same point the E92 trails the E93 by 28ft (two and a bit car lengths?). The E92 gear change from 1st to 2nd costs nearly 30ft on the road compared to the E93 DCT.

Basically I'm astonished at just how quick the DCT makes the lardy arsed vert..... so much so that I was kidding myself thinking that the I'd be quicker in the manual coupe (I've driven manuals exclusively for 22 years with plenty of track time).

In gear the vert does show its mass compared to the coupe and feels noticeably slower and we all know that on track the coupe should be faster and probably more fun.....

One other thing you get with the vert is the vastly more satisfying noises, with the roof down the volume level is almost doubled compared to the coupe with windows down..... and DCT S5 downshifts also occasionally treat you to a gunshot like crack/pop on the overrun

P.S. All measurements taken with a Racelogic Performance Box setup with a 1ft rollout

[mkoesel]

Wads again, thanks for the legwork on this. Very interesting data.

One more piece of data could help explain some of this. That is, has anyone actually weighed an E93 M3 yet? I suspect we might be in for another "surprise" there. As with the E92 M3, people wondered why it weighed more than a 335i before data was available other than that from BMW. Now that people have weighed there cars, it is clear the difference between and E92 M3 and 335i is really quite small. I think that the same is likely to hold for the E93 M3. This would perhaps put it below 4000lbs. Still heavy, but over 100lbs lighter, potentially, than BMW's claim.

[ebohon]

You either want a 6MT or DCT based on your experience with autos and mts... yes, the DCT is not really an auto...I get that. I can already see the hate mail. But, saying stuff like 6MT is 20th Century vs. 21st is like saying all our cars are old dead end 1900 Petro technology. True but who cares. Just be happy with what YOU buy. My wife thinks the 6MT is a pain and my son, who rode quite a bit in his friend's 08 DCT thinks my slower 09 6MT rocks and now understands why I went with grandpa's technology.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by ebohon

You either want a 6MT or DCT based on your experience with autos and mts... yes, the DCT is not really an auto...I get that. I can already see the hate mail.

I doubt you'll get any hate mail, but (like so many before you) you're comment appears to completely miss the fact that many of us chose the M-DCT *despite* our experience with automatic transmissions, not because of it. Also, its been said 100 times before, but nothing forces the driver to use the automatic modes. I don't.

my son, who rode quite a bit in his friend's 08 DCT thinks my slower 09 6MT rocks and now understands why I went with grandpa's technology.

You're son should ask to actually drive the car, or find another to drive. As should you. Everyone owes themselves at least a chance to try both. You won't hate it unless you are damned determined to from the outset.

[ebohon]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I doubt you'll get any hate mail, but (like so many before you) you're comment appears to completely miss the fact that many of us chose the M-DCT *despite* our experience with automatic transmissions, not because of it. Also, its been said 100 times before, but nothing forces the driver to use the automatic modes. I don't.


It makes no difference why you or the rest of you chose DCT, inspite or despite of your experience. I'm not 'hating' on you for that. Quite frankly, at 2 weeks with my 6MT car, I miss an auto mode on 6MT because I drink coffee, water, etc. most of the time when I'm on the road. My previous car, an IS had the shifting on the steering wheel. I also found myself rarely using the car in auto, similar to you on the DCT. I can relate.

You're son should ask to actually drive the car, or find another to drive. As should you. Everyone owes themselves at least a chance to try both. You won't hate it unless you are damned determined to from the outset.

There goes that 'H' word again. I drove the DCT this week while my car was in for service due to a 'Restraint System Malfunction' (which will not be fixed because a part has to be ordered from Germany GRRRRRRRRRR).

[graider]

if i'm into a convertible thing, e93 m3 is the only convertible out there i would buy. I love the idea of the hard roof.

but i'm a couple type of guy and I want performance, so I will go with e92 m3. my car should have no sunroof, no nav, nothing. just basic with manual seat. save ton of weight.

[ebohon]

Originally Posted by graider

if i'm into a convertible thing, e93 m3 is the only convertible out there i would buy. I love the idea of the hard roof.

but i'm a couple type of guy and I want performance, so I will go with e92 m3. my car should have no sunroof, no nav, nothing. just basic with manual seat. save ton of weight.

I agree with the hard roof.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by ebohon

It makes no difference why you or the rest of you chose DCT, inspite or despite of your experience. I'm not 'hating' on you for that.

Ok no problem. I guess I don't really understand what you meant by the first part of your post then. It seemed like you were implying that the biggest reason to go M-DCT is if you were used to an automatic trans which I believe is not accurate. Also, I never read it as you hating on us, however I did mis-read (apparently) a bit or ignorance in your post.

There goes that 'H' word again. I drove the DCT this week while my car was in for service due to a 'Restraint System Malfunction' (which will not be fixed because a part has to be ordered from Germany GRRRRRRRRRR).

Sorry to hear about the issue, hopefully it gets fixed soon.