Best term for the M-DCT transmission in the M3

[swamp2]

What is the most appropriate term to describe the type of transmission in the E9X M3, the M Dual Clutch Transmission.

[MDCTFTW]

The general public will consider it an "auto" and it's too hard to explain to chicks wtf it really is.

[milk242]

Automated manual transmission

[DonM3]

So true. Even the some of the dealers dont know what it is....

Originally Posted by MDCTFTW

The general public will consider it an "auto" and it's too hard to explain to chicks wtf it really is.

[Phoenix 21st]

Originally Posted by DonM3

So true. Even the some of the dealers dont know what it is....

exactly! most of them still refer to it as smg. although when you ask about m-dct the normal reaction is 'm what?'

[MDCTFTW]

The second I checked off the MDCT option I knew I would be saying "yes it's auto" to everyone that would sit in my car. But I've come to terms with that. Haha.

[montreal red]

Originally Posted by MDCTFTW

The second I checked off the MDCT option I knew I would be saying "yes it's auto" to everyone that would sit in my car. But I've come to terms with that. Haha.

+1
i tried to explain what SMG is to my girlfriend before and its pretty impossible... they couldnt care less anyway.... as long as you dont have 3 pedals and your wife/girlfriend can drive it, thats all they care about.

[Big Windy]

it is an automatic with two clutches.

[RandyB]

Slushbox.

J/k!

[footie]

I suggest calling it, Z.L.I.F.M. transmission.







Zero Lose In Forward Momentum.

[Davo2003]

I just call it an F1 style racing transmission and they never ask for more info.

[mkoesel]

I like the term Sequential since it emphasizes the fact that you shift the gears in sequence. That is, there's only two operations - upshift one gear and downshift one gear.

(And yes, I know you can skip gears, but you are still doing the above operations, its just that you are doing them repeatedly.)

[AwesomeM3]

Girlie transmission...just kidding!

Actually, I had a ride in Skierman64's M-DCT M3 last weekend, and I was very impressed. The shifts were very quick and smooth. I was impressed at how many auto and "manual" programs there were.

[Patricius]

I either refer to it as F1-style as mentioned above, or "it's a manual box with a hydroelectronically operated clutch." The looks in response to the latter are like "Huh?"

[Keto]

Do I have to start calling the throttle "Automated Manual Throttle" as well?

[Ajax-Prime]

Originally Posted by MDCTFTW

it's too hard to explain to chicks wtf it really is.

Sheez, I know GUYS who don't get htf it works. Pathetic.

[MDCTFTW]

Haha ... I'm also prepared to say "Oh it's not really auto it's some nifty fast race transmission. Let me show you ... hold on to your skirt."

[!Xoible]

none of the options. it's not sequential necessarily btw. it can skip gears as it anticipates. it's not manual coz it has dual wet clutches not operated by a human. not an auto either, but to the public who dont know about cars it is "auto" i guess

it definitely isnt an automated manual either. that would be great to describe SMG

[goldminer]

Originally Posted by Big Windy

it is an automatic with two clutches.

It has no torque converter or planetary gears so why would it be an automatic (or a slush box)?

[goldminer]

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

none of the options. it's not sequential necessarily btw. it can skip gears as it anticipates. it's not manual coz it has dual wet clutches not operated by a human. not an auto either, but to the public who dont know about cars it is "auto" i guess

it definitely isnt an automated manual either. that would be great to describe SMG

If SMG is an automated manual then why isn't M-DKG? They both have hydraulically operated clutches controlled by a computer and conventional constant mesh gears. DKG just has 2 independant clutches, 2 input shafts and 2 lay shafts instead of 1 each in SMG.

So what if the clutches are wet. Wet clutches have been around for decades on conventional manual transmissions. My buddy's old 1960's vintage BSA 650 Lightning had one.

[MVF4Rrider]

Why do you guys think it skips gears?

...and what's not manual about tripping the paddle to shift. Just because your left foot is not involved does not make it any less manual. Personally I've always viewed manual by definition that you control the gearbox. Even if you elect to let it upshift at redline you're still controlling that action. The only thing automatic about it is that it won't let you overrev the engine, especially apparent by not triggering a downshift if the lower gear would send the revs beyond redline.

I think Ferrari calls it the F1 Option if memory serves...

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by MVF4Rrider

Personally I've always viewed manual by definition that you control the gearbox. Even if you elect to let it upshift at redline you're still controlling that action. The only thing automatic about it is that it won't let you overrev the engine, especially apparent by not triggering a downshift if the lower gear would send the revs beyond redline.

Ah, but all the above hold true for BMW's Steptronic "automatic" transmission as well. Should we call it a manual too? Actually maybe we should.


Some other things to ponder:

What would we call a theoretical transmission that had a torque converter but could only be shifted manually?

What would we call a theoretical transmission that had a clutch (or clutches) but could only be shifted automatically?

Seems to me that the first would have to be called a manual and the second an automatic. So, in the end the mechanics of the transmission should not really even be a factor for any modern naming convention. I suppose the best name for both M-DCT and Steptronic would be "auto/manual" (with emphasis on the slash).