BMW 6 Speed Manual Vs DCT

[Lucky777]

Guys,

I am on the hunt for my next car, and I believe I have it narrowed down to a BMW M3..need 4 doors for the kids. This won't be a DD or I would probably go slightly larger in size. I have driven both the 6 speed and DCT, both of which I like. Does anyone here have regrets going with either transmission? This questions is certainly not limited to BMW, as most other manufacturers offer both options...Thanks - Steve

[rr-nyc]

IMO, nothing beats a manual as far as driver engagement but living in NYC and Miami, where traffic is more common than not, I opted for an M3 with DCT (E90 M3)

I had no complaints when I had it. Driving in M mode with S6 brought a whole new level of driving for me. The shifts were so damn fast and ferocious.

Having said that. I would choose any dual clutch transmission over a manual at this point.

[Lucky777]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

IMO, nothing beats a manual as far as driver engagement but living in NYC and Miami, where traffic is more common than not, I opted for an M3 with DCT (E90 M3)

I had no complaints when I had it. Driving in M mode with S6 brought a whole new level of driving for me. The shifts were so damn fast and ferocious.

Having said that. I would choose any dual clutch transmission over a manual at this point.

You have summed up my gut feeling as well. NJ traffic is up there with the others you have mentioned

[nick c]

If you buying BMW m3 it's a 6 speed in my books

[Psmith]

DCT no doubt, unless you love sticks and rarely encounter traffic!

[blassy]

The ultimate car debate. Happens every day on my BMW and Pcar forum.
I love my manual - my 997 is. It great until you hit traffic. My 335 was a DD and I opted to steer away.
Net/net. Daily driver - no manual.
Weekend fun car - manual all the way.

[Lucky777]

Originally Posted by blassy

The ultimate car debate. Happens every day on my BMW and Pcar forum.
I love my manual - my 997 is. It great until you hit traffic. My 335 was a DD and I opted to steer away.
Net/net. Daily driver - no manual.
Weekend fun car - manual all the way.

I went and drove a 911, but there is absolutely no way in hell I am getting 2 car seats in the back. I wanted and tried to force myself into believing it, but it just isn't happening. It is certainly a wonderful problem to have!

[blassy]

Originally Posted by Lucky777

I went and drove a 911, but there is absolutely no way in hell I am getting 2 car seats in the back. I wanted and tried to force myself into believing it, but it just isn't happening. It is certainly a wonderful problem to have!

I have one car seat in the back for my 5 year old...could probably fit two but I'd have to move my seat up. Little one is 2 and her big seat doesn't fit.
Just wait until they need the booster seats and you're good to go. Hard finding ones that fit inside the seat wells....one is made by Porsche for about 4 hundo....other one sells at Walmart for 49 bucks! Fits great.

[Lucky777]

Originally Posted by blassy

I have one car seat in the back for my 5 year old...could probably fit two but I'd have to move my seat up. Little one is 2 and her big seat doesn't fit.
Just wait until they need the booster seats and you're good to go. Hard finding ones that fit inside the seat wells....one is made by Porsche for about 4 hundo....other one sells at Walmart for 49 bucks! Fits great.

I love the enabling that goes on in this forum...I had myself convinced the 911 was too small LOL..guess not!

[blassy]

Enabling is rampant around here. It was actually someone's post about a 911 that got me hunting for my weekend fun car. I love my BMW's...had most of them but even the M3 didn't compare to the 911 from a driving perspective.
Go check out some of the Pcar forums,...lots of discussions on car seats.
My 5 year old is quite comfy back there and even at that age they think the car is pretty cool!

[Lucky777]

Originally Posted by blassy

Enabling is rampant around here. It was actually someone's post about a 911 that got me hunting for my weekend fun car. I love my BMW's...had most of them but even the M3 didn't compare to the 911 from a driving perspective.
Go check out some of the Pcar forums,...lots of discussions on car seats.
My 5 year old is quite comfy back there and even at that age they think the car is pretty cool!

Well versed in the P car discussion, I had a 997 was an excellent car. I frequent rennlist and 6 speed I am a total Porsche fan boy. I wanted to like the Panamera, it just didn't do it for me.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by blassy

Enabling is rampant around here. It was actually someone's post about a 911 that got me hunting for my weekend fun car. I love my BMW's...had most of them but even the M3 didn't compare to the 911 from a driving perspective.
Go check out some of the Pcar forums,...lots of discussions on car seats.
My 5 year old is quite comfy back there and even at that age they think the car is pretty cool!

I guess you missed the part when the OP said he test drove a 911 but 2 child seats won't fit in the back

[GB-man]

I had a dct for a year when they came out. Extremely fast car and I would go dct again given I was using it as a daily and my wife often drives as well.

I have to say coming from a 991 c2 the f80 didn't feel very special. It had more power than it could use with rear wheel drive and the turbo motor sounded horrible. When you cold start it, it sounds like a civic with a pep boys exhaust package. That's no joke!

Typically traction control would interfere with my ability to execute shifts at a high RPM so you would have to live with that or turn traction control off and manage the throttle with extreme care lest you wanted to be the next clown on YouTube.

All said and done I'm being highly critical of what was still a great car for the money. Part of it is me being a sucker for the NA flat 6 and the only reason I said all this is that you seem to be coming from one at some point





Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[FiftyTwoEighty]

Originally Posted by Lucky777

Guys,

I am on the hunt for my next car, and I believe I have it narrowed down to a BMW M3..need 4 doors for the kids. This won't be a DD or I would probably go slightly larger in size. I have driven both the 6 speed and DCT, both of which I like. Does anyone here have regrets going with either transmission? This questions is certainly not limited to BMW, as most other manufacturers offer both options...Thanks - Steve

Do you plan on keeping the car or leasing? Keep the 6 speed and rent the DCT.

I went with a 6 speed for my DD m5 -- and I can easily fit my daughter's child seat in the back.

My wife has flappy paddles in her Audi A3 Quattro. Both of us prefer our 3 pedaled cars.

My opinion: 3 pedaled cars are like mechanical watches. Technology might surpass them, but they will never be outdated.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by Lucky777

Guys,

I am on the hunt for my next car, and I believe I have it narrowed down to a BMW M3..need 4 doors for the kids. This won't be a DD or I would probably go slightly larger in size. I have driven both the 6 speed and DCT, both of which I like. Does anyone here have regrets going with either transmission? This questions is certainly not limited to BMW, as most other manufacturers offer both options...Thanks - Steve

since its not a daily driver, get a manual. its pure, engaging and it'll be easier to sell and likely a collectors item should you keep it more that 20 years.

[bayerische]

DCT. No human can shift that fast.

[FiftyTwoEighty]

Originally Posted by bayerische

DCT. No human can shift that fast.

Some of us like driving our slow cars fast (6 speed) vs. fast cars (DCT) slow.

Hope you're well Andreas!

[Lucky777]

Originally Posted by FiftyTwoEighty

Do you plan on keeping the car or leasing? Keep the 6 speed and rent the DCT.

I went with a 6 speed for my DD m5 -- and I can easily fit my daughter's child seat in the back.

My wife has flappy paddles in her Audi A3 Quattro. Both of us prefer our 3 pedaled cars.

My opinion: 3 pedaled cars are like mechanical watches. Technology might surpass them, but they will never be outdated.

I will buy, and most likely keep it 2-3 years MAX.

[Lucky777]

Originally Posted by GB-man

I had a dct for a year when they came out. Extremely fast car and I would go dct again given I was using it as a daily and my wife often drives as well.

I have to say coming from a 991 c2 the f80 didn't feel very special. It had more power than it could use with rear wheel drive and the turbo motor sounded horrible. When you cold start it, it sounds like a civic with a pep boys exhaust package. That's no joke!

Typically traction control would interfere with my ability to execute shifts at a high RPM so you would have to live with that or turn traction control off and manage the throttle with extreme care lest you wanted to be the next clown on YouTube.

All said and done I'm being highly critical of what was still a great car for the money. Part of it is me being a sucker for the NA flat 6 and the only reason I said all this is that you seem to be coming from one at some point





Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have read the exact same comments before about the exhaust note, and the car having too much power for the rear wheels. In the near future I will have another Porsche in the garage, and it could even be at the same time as the M3 as they will serve two purposes. The symphony of the NA flat 6 is one of a kind, and I am hoping the turbo M3 will hold me over.

[kearez]

I would go for DCT myself, and I love the m3.
To stir the pot have you driven the c63 amg? I was a huge M guy until I started driving amgs.

[cruise_bone]

I have a 2016 M3 that IS my daily driver and I DO have the 6 speed.
It is extraordinary! I absolutely love it.

I disagree with several of GB's comments. It is a beast of a machine.

As I'm sure you know, the DCT is faster, but 3.9 v 4.2 for 0-60 really is splitting hairs. The manual is much more driver oriented and exciting than any DCT ever could be.

[stockae92]

I love stick shift as much as the next guy. And then I had a Z4 35is with 7sp DCT. The shift was so fast and accurate every time.

For a non-DD and if you are not trying to break track record on your favorite local track, then go with 6sp

[Rain49king]

I owned a 2015 M4 with a DCT it was my 6th M car. I personally didn't care for the DCT it is very fast and does its job well but it's quit jerky and clunky compared to other DCT transmissions. Biggest complaint, I felt disengaged with the car it felt more like a point and shoot straight line car instead of a driver car it's known to be. I traded that car for a 2016 M3 6spd last year and I prefer that car dramatically.

[Rain49king]

Originally Posted by stockae92

I love stick shift as much as the next guy. And then I had a Z4 35is with 7sp DCT. The shift was so fast and accurate every time.

For a non-DD and if you are not trying to break track record on your favorite local track, then go with 6sp

My wife had a 335is with that same transmission and I agree that was a nice transmission however that's not the same transmission in the M3/M4. The M transmission is much more performance oriented as it should be but the sacrifice is smoothness. Every time my wife would drive in the M4 she would ask if something was wrong with my transmission and after one time driving she refused to drive the car again. To each their own I am sure guys with the DCT's will tell you they love them but that particular one is not for me. If you're not a fan of rowing gears it's not a bad alternative

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by cruise_bone

I have a 2016 M3 that IS my daily driver and I DO have the 6 speed.
It is extraordinary! I absolutely love it.

I disagree with several of GB's comments. It is a beast of a machine.

As I'm sure you know, the DCT is faster, but 3.9 v 4.2 for 0-60 really is splitting hairs. The manual is much more driver oriented and exciting than any DCT ever could be.

You disagree that the exhaust note is subpar compared to the competition or even the prior gen?

You don't lose traction constantly in gears 1-3 shifting at high rpm? I had traction control engage redline shifting between 3-4th at around 125mph. The engine is seriously underrated in terms of power and torque. It needs wider rear tires at a bare minimum imho. If it wasn't raining I drove with dsc off most times to alleviate the intervention.

Btw I like that color

Originally Posted by Rain49king

I owned a 2015 M4 with a DCT it was my 6th M car. I personally didn't care for the DCT it is very fast and does its job well but it's quit jerky and clunky compared to other DCT transmissions. Biggest complaint, I felt disengaged with the car it felt more like a point and shoot straight line car instead of a driver car it's known to be. I traded that car for a 2016 M3 6spd last year and I prefer that car dramatically.

The more you remind me (I got rid of mine about a year ago) the more I recall how crap the dct was compared to pdk. The car was very jerky in auto mode and as such I typically was rowing myself at all times. It would jump at low speeds and make me look like a fool all the time, while also pissing off the wife PDK never had that issue. Much more civilized for day to day driving.


I change my mind, the 6speed is probably the better choice.

[Rain49king]

GB-man you are correct anyone getting an M with DCT expecting anything close to a PDK will be disappointed. The transmission in the BMW has no idea what to do under normal driving conditions only for doing WOT redline pulls IMHO. Also you are correct about the traction issue although you can fix it. I bought a set of HRE wheels 19X12 in the rear and have 305's also coded in euro MDM. Nothing to do but throw money away when it comes to the exhaust I have Fabspeed down pipes but only because I am running an ESS tune on the car.

[beer]

i like the watch analogy quartz is (functionally) better in every way but people still go for mechanical same with auto / manual cars

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Rain49king

GB-man you are correct anyone getting an M with DCT expecting anything close to a PDK will be disappointed. The transmission in the BMW has no idea what to do under normal driving conditions only for doing WOT redline pulls IMHO. Also you are correct about the traction issue although you can fix it. I bought a set of HRE wheels 19X12 in the rear and have 305's also coded in euro MDM. Nothing to do but throw money away when it comes to the exhaust I have Fabspeed down pipes but only because I am running an ESS tune on the car.

Sounds like a great setup. I always imagined wider rears would make a huge difference. Unfortunately I leased mine so didn't have the liberty to get too creative. I still love BMW

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Rain49king

I owned a 2015 M4 with a DCT it was my 6th M car. I personally didn't care for the DCT it is very fast and does its job well but it's quit jerky and clunky compared to other DCT transmissions. Biggest complaint, I felt disengaged with the car it felt more like a point and shoot straight line car instead of a driver car it's known to be. I traded that car for a 2016 M3 6spd last year and I prefer that car dramatically.

The DCT is definitely clunky and can make for a jerky ride but I could live with it.

My biggest complaint about the new M3/4 is the steering. Now that definitely makes you feel disengaged. It feels like your turning the wheel on a simulator

[DS/B MINI S]

I enjoy driving the DCT in my 135i. I've been driving manual transmissions since the early 80's and do miss the bit of extra driver input. My last DD was a Honda S2000, so that smooth shifting tranny had me spoiled. Figured nothing else I could afford would compare to the S2K, so decided on the DCT. No doubt the DCT provides lighting fast shifts