Question about M4 "automatic"

[bmw246]

Currently I have an E93 (auto) but I really like the M4; however, I'm used to driving autos and much prefer it. I know they make the M4 with "auto" but it still needs to be shifted manually even though it doesn't have a clutch petal, right? Am I missing something? Is there a drive mode where the car shifts itself all the time I can leave on? Thanks for the help.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by bmw246

Is there a drive mode where the car shifts itself all the time I can leave on?

Yes.

[Hawaii i8]

The M3/M4 have a drive mode "D" that shifts the gears completely automatically. I never personally use that mode as I love changing the gears with the paddle shifters but you can drive the car in full auto mode if thats what you prefer.

[pbar]

Originally Posted by BigIslandM4

The M3/M4 have a drive mode "D" that shifts the gears completely automatically. I never personally use that mode as I love changing the gears with the paddle shifters but you can drive the car in full auto mode if thats what you prefer.

...and if you set the shift aggressiveness to D3 then the car will *sometimes* even be in a sensible gear when pulling out of a fast corner

If you leave it in D1 or D2 then you will be driving everywhere in 7th gear at 1000rpm

Personally I prefer to use the paddles since it's way more fun, the downshifts are awesome and I can choose how aggressively I want to shift based on the road conditions.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by bmw246

Currently I have an E93 (auto) but I really like the M4; however, I'm used to driving autos and much prefer it. I know they make the M4 with "auto" but it still needs to be shifted manually even though it doesn't have a clutch petal, right? Am I missing something? Is there a drive mode where the car shifts itself all the time I can leave on? Thanks for the help.

The E93 and F83 have (arguably) the same DCT transmission so there's zero practical difference. They're both dual-clutch, both have an auto-mode, both will roll backwards at stop-lights, etc. No difference.

(for nerds: yes programming and other stuff)

[captainaudio]

As opposed to the jerky SMG that was used in the E46 M3 the DCT in the E9x and F8x is a very good automatic transmission when used in auto mode.
The user interface is for all practical purposes identical to the interface on the "conventional" planetary geared ZF 8 Speed on the regular 3/4 Series. I would venture to say that the average driver in an M3/4 in full auto mode would probably not tell the difference between the DCT and the ZF 8 Speed.

CA

[JeffM-Houston]

If you leave it in D1 or D2 then you will be driving everywhere in 7th gear at 1000rpm

Well, nothing like telling a complete exaggeration to get your point across.

The DCT works excellent as an automatic, maybe I'm more aggressive on the throttle than some, but I don't think so. Mine seems to shift around 2000 rpm using a light throttle in normal commuting to work every morning, where speeds don't typically get over 50 mph or so, and with lots of traffic lights. I keep mine in the slowest shifting mode for everyday and it works great. Although I do find myself using the shifter more and more.

Just my casual observation but it seems to want to keep rpm's around 1600-1800 when driving sedately. If I back off the throttle and just cruise at 45 mph mine doesn't even shift into 6th, stays in 5th at that speed.

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

The E93 and F83 have (arguably) the same DCT transmission so there's zero practical difference. They're both dual-clutch, both have an auto-mode, both will roll backwards at stop-lights, etc. No difference.

(for nerds: yes programming and other stuff)

His e93 looks to be a 335i. Not an is.

Also I thought the f80 DCT is the same as the f10s?

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by dmk08

His e93 looks to be a 335i. Not an is.

Also I thought the f80 DCT is the same as the f10s?

Ah - well then yeah, the DCT will take a bit of getting used to but it does have auto mode.

Yes, same a F10 as well but I thought I read that the M-DCTs were 90% the same from E to F, with the core difference being software. Appreciate anyone who has the details on this. The F definitely shifts faster.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

The E93 and F83 have (arguably) the same DCT transmission so there's zero practical difference. They're both dual-clutch, both have an auto-mode, both will roll backwards at stop-lights, etc. No difference.

(for nerds: yes programming and other stuff)

Nerd chiming in:

No, it is not the same DCT at all as the E9X. Not only programming, hardware also completely new. On the E9X DCT, 7th gear was the direct drive, on the F8X 5th is the direct drive.

The F8X shares its DCT with the F1X M5/6 down to the gear ratios.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by captainaudio

As opposed to the jerky SMG that was used in the E46 M3 the DCT in the E9x and F8x is a very good automatic transmission when used in auto mode.
The user interface is for all practical purposes identical to the interface on the "conventional" planetary geared ZF 8 Speed on the regular 3/4 Series. I would venture to say that the average driver in an M3/4 in full auto mode would probably not tell the difference between the DCT and the ZF 8 Speed.

CA

I beg to differ. The driver interface of the ///M-DCT does differ from standard BMW automatics. I would say the driver interface on the M-DCT even differs from non-M DCT applications (135i/335i/is/Z4).

I would say the main difference is the absence of "creep" when the brake is released. On M-DCT the driver needs to press the accelerator before the car starts moving. Another main difference is the operation of the selector lever which is quite different. The M-DCT also has Drivelogic which allows the driver to select the aggresvness of shifts.

Nomenclature is also different. On the M-DCT, manual mode is "S" mode while on the standard auto "S" mode is the sport automatic mode and "M" is the manual mode.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Nerd chiming in:

No, it is not the same DCT at all as the E9X. Not only programming, hardware also completely new. On the E9X DCT, 7th gear was the direct drive, on the F8X 5th is the direct drive.

The F8X shares its DCT with the F1X M5/6 down to the gear ratios.

Friggin nerds. Ok, fine ... but do you have more info on the GETRAG F8x M-DCT? a link to the tech docs with pics and what not? I haven't been able to find much ...

thanks!

[pbar]

Originally Posted by JeffM-Houston

Well, nothing like telling a complete exaggeration to get your point across.

Forgot the smilie,.. but yes a bit of an exaggeration.

However, as somebody who drove exclusively MT for 22 years then recently switched to DCT I really dislike that feeling of being in too high a gear when you back out of the throttle.

I need to feel engine braking when I lift otherwise it seems like I'm getting sucked into the back of the car ahead!

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Friggin nerds. Ok, fine ... but do you have more info on the GETRAG F8x M-DCT? a link to the tech docs with pics and what not? I haven't been able to find much ...

thanks!

In the Technical doc, starting at page 36, there is a good run down of the 􏰖􏰧􏰨􏰩􏰢􏰪􏰓􏰖􏰈􏰔􏰈􏰩􏰐􏰘􏰈GS7D36BG M-DCT:

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/att...5&d=1406475520

[Richy Rich]

Originally Posted by bmw246

Currently I have an E93 (auto) but I really like the M4; however, I'm used to driving autos and much prefer it. I know they make the M4 with "auto" but it still needs to be shifted manually even though it doesn't have a clutch petal, right? Am I missing something? Is there a drive mode where the car shifts itself all the time I can leave on? Thanks for the help.

I'd ask if you posted this from your Vagina, but that would be offensive to Lups.

Therefore I don't know how to respond.

[bmw246]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Ah - well then yeah, the DCT will take a bit of getting used to but it does have auto mode.

Yes, same a F10 as well but I thought I read that the M-DCTs were 90% the same from E to F, with the core difference being software. Appreciate anyone who has the details on this. The F definitely shifts faster.

So getting used to? In what way? Can I leave it in auto mode? Because I wouldn't be using the paddles a lot.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by bmw246

So getting used to? In what way? Can I leave it in auto mode? Because I wouldn't be using the paddles a lot.

I'm not the right person to answer because I never drive my DCT in "auto mode".

That said, the difference is not paddles - forget about that, the difference is that a DCT is an automated manual transmission - it pushes the clutch for you, but otherwise acts like a manual:

* Rolls backwards at stop lights, so benefits from e-brake use
* Has a "neutral" between "drive" and "reverse"
* The concept of "park", like on a manual, is when the car is in gear and off.

But you can also put it in "d" and forget about all of that - it's just that for dorks like me, there's other stuff going on.

This other stuff behavior is not because it's cool, it's because that's how the mechanics of the device work; thus a decent amount of manual experience make the DCT a no-brainer ... if not then, well you'll still be fine because ...

My wife cannot drive a manual transmission but has had zero problems with either M-DCT we've had. I don't even think she knows there ARE paddles. She calls my style "driving in plus mode" which she equates to jerkiness (but it's actually my throttle setting, hehe). It took me 2 years to figure out that she calls it "plus mode" because the "-" and "+" light up on the stick when you're not in "D". Who knew?

Anyway, if my wife can handle it, I gotta believe you can.

[bmw246]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

I'm not the right person to answer because I never drive my DCT in "auto mode".

That said, the difference is not paddles - forget about that, the difference is that a DCT is an automated manual transmission - it pushes the clutch for you, but otherwise acts like a manual:

* Rolls backwards at stop lights, so benefits from e-brake use
* Has a "neutral" between "drive" and "reverse"
* The concept of "park", like on a manual, is when the car is in gear and off.

But you can also put it in "d" and forget about all of that - it's just that for dorks like me, there's other stuff going on.

This other stuff behavior is not because it's cool, it's because that's how the mechanics of the device work; thus a decent amount of manual experience make the DCT a no-brainer ... if not then, well you'll still be fine because ...

My wife cannot drive a manual transmission but has had zero problems with either M-DCT we've had. I don't even think she knows there ARE paddles. She calls my style "driving in plus mode" which she equates to jerkiness (but it's actually my throttle setting, hehe). It took me 2 years to figure out that she calls it "plus mode" because the "-" and "+" light up on the stick when you're not in "D". Who knew?

Anyway, if my wife can handle it, I gotta believe you can.

Well put haha thanks! Just learned that if you flick the shifter to the right it's completely automatic... the only reason I asked is because when I test drove the e93 M3 with the "auto" a few years back, the salesman said he had to put it in auto mode doing something in the dash by the odometer so I didn't think it was as simple as flicking the shifter over. Well, live and learn that's why there are forums. Thanks!

[SMOKE EM IF U GOT EM!!]

Originally Posted by Richy Rich

I'd ask if you posted this from your Vagina, but that would be offensive to Lups.

Therefore I don't know how to respond.

Lol