DCT shifting delayed/late, normal?

[Memphis17CPM4]

New to DCT and have only had my car since August, have only put 3K miles on it. I have noticed on several occasions that for example if I was entering a highway I would give it say 25% more throttle and the tach would go from 2500RPMs to 4500 then climb to 5000. There are two different scenarios here that have played out. Scenario 1) At a little north of 5K RPMs I lifted ever so slightly. The car stayed in the same gear, at around 5K RPMs at wouldn't up shift. It would stay there for 30-40 seconds (feels like eternity) and I would manually up shift it. In scenario 2) The same situation as scenario 1 however instead of lifting I manage to have the gas pedal in a spot where the RPMs will hover just above 5K RPMs but not climb, again no up shifting occurred.

It feels like it is stuck in gear, it happens in different scenarios. It is as if the car wants to stay in that gear at that higher RPM. It doesn't feel normal, but I am new to this car and was looking to see if this is some what normal or if I need to call my SA.

Thoughts?

[aboulfad]

The only thought I have for you is to drive the car more in manual mode, and in more agressive settings and see if the behaviour persists. You also don't mention your various settings, and we have quite a bit to configure that can affect the car's performance. When I rarely drive the DCT in D mode, I don't pay or care about how the car upshifts/downshifts.

[Memphis17CPM4]

Good point.

This only happens when I am in M2. My M2 settings are DCT - Sport +, Suspension Sport + and Steering Sport. I have the DCT in auto. Sorry about that.

[antych]

You've set it to the most aggressive performance setting so it holds the revs, obviously. That's the whole point.

Stick to more basic settings until you learn how the car works.

[sleeprequired]

Yeah that happens to me too. If I put it in sport+ and d3 on drivelogic. If you put it on d2
With sport it doesn’t happen

I’m still at early days but I suspect if I kept the throttle down it’d change at the redline. I’m trying not to rev past 5000 so it just sits there.

If you were racing and cornering you’d want it to hold the revs to max out traction before it bangs up a gear when it redlines.

I will be interested to try it flat out and see if it changes smoothly. By the time that happens though you’re already speeding big time lol.

[aboulfad]

Here's a final advice, drive the DCT in manual... using auto mode "D" definitely is not appropriate for any track or racing maneuvers, and especially if you want to limit and control your engine revs. The "auto" as most people who tracked their M DCT quickly learn it isn't a Porsche "auto" mode tuned for racing/tracking. It is there for convenience and for lazy drivers

[Memphis17CPM4]

I agree with you as the car has only had 3K miles put on it regarding getting to know it.

However, it's very inconsistent. If it did that 85% of the time, one would be able to know that this is the normal function. I would say it only does it occasionally. When something happens occasionally and not normally that's inconsistent. Inconsistency usually means something is up.

Appreciate all the help everyone.

[antych]

You don't understand how it works. There's a lot of programming there that decides when to shift, depending on things like road inclination, your driving style, or how fast you apply the accelerator, which is extremely sensitive in sport+. It may behave differently as it's warming up as well.

Don't make up theories. You're using it wrong, that's the only thing that's up here.

[Memphis17CPM4]

Originally Posted by antych

You don't understand how it works. There's a lot of programming there that decides when to shift, depending on things like road inclination, your driving style, or how fast you apply the accelerator, which is extremely sensitive in sport+. It may behave differently as it's warming up as well.

Don't make up theories. You're using it wrong, that's the only thing that's up here.

I see why most BMW owner's are considered douchey. Admittedly I've got a lot to learn. One thing I don't need to learn is how to spot...

Thanks all for the help. I'm going to go back up to stands and watch from a distance.

[M3GymNut]

Originally Posted by Memphis17CPM4

I see why most BMW owner's are considered douchey. Admittedly I've got a lot to learn. One thing I don't need to learn is how to spot...

Thanks all for the help. I'm going to go back up to stands and watch from a distance.

Don't let them get to you. In time you'll figure it out. There's always somebody on here that thinks they're the shit.

[Deteria]

The DCT in auto is just like any auto, computer controlled w/ variables that get taken into account. I get annoyed at it too since sometimes it takes too long to upshift or downshift, and it's not always predictable. You can argue with people on here just to argue, but end of the day, if you want the car to shift when it wants, then control it yourself. Now if you were driving in manual mode and you shifting has a big delay, then you have a valid problem.

[antych]

Originally Posted by Memphis17CPM4

I see why most BMW owner's are considered douchey. Admittedly I've got a lot to learn. One thing I don't need to learn is how to spot...

Thanks all for the help. I'm going to go back up to stands and watch from a distance.

You're free to live in ignorance. Enjoy driving your broken car then.

[Memphis17CPM4]

Originally Posted by Deteria

The DCT in auto is just like any auto, computer controlled w/ variables that get taken into account. I get annoyed at it too since sometimes it takes too long to upshift or downshift, and it's not always predictable. You can argue with people on here just to argue, but end of the day, if you want the car to shift when it wants, then control it yourself. Now if you were driving in manual mode and you shifting has a big delay, then you have a valid problem.

@Deteria you're absolutely correct, it's stupid to argue. I was thinking I could come here and post random questions without prejudice, lol.

I've barely got to know my car. If you subtract the drive home from the dealership, I just calculated that I have put 2450 miles in 5 months. I really need to get to know this car better. I've taken your advice and am driving it in manual mode for a while. I've simply been putting it in auto mode for 90% of the time.

Appreciate your help. I'm going to change my settings and take M2 DCT down to Sport also. No real need for any high settings while I have training wheels attached.

[aboulfad]

You have not explained why you aren't driving it in manual mode? And that was the first advice I gave further up. Are you worried about something?

[Memphis17CPM4]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

You have not explained why you aren't driving it in manual mode? And that was the first advice I gave further up. Are you worried about something?

@aboulfad I thought I had acknowledged that earlier, sorry friend. I must have missed that.

There really isn't a good reason other than I put it in drive and head out. I don't drive the car a ton, as you can tell. And, when I do it's not often I have it in manual. I've only been putting it in manual if I were going to have some fun. My drive to work and back is pretty lame. I live 1/4 mile from highway and my office is 1/4 mile off highway. Probably 80% of the 2.5K miles I've done are driving to/from work.

Do most people exclusively drive the DCT in manual?

[Memphis17CPM4]

@aboulfad as for being worried, no. It just never ran across my mind to always have it in manual. I think part of my lack of knowledge was having S+ for the DCT tied to M2. I would put it in M2 nearly 90% of the time, as I would imagine many do for the better HUD and for a different preset ride.

[aboulfad]

Ah, gotcha. I think most people w DCT do drive in manual, there was a poll somewhere... even for short distances, get into the habit of driving in manual. FYI you can switch to manual very easily, pull on the paddle shifter, push gear shifter to the passenger side or use it.

IMHO, driving a car like this in auto is a bit lame but to each his own. I drive in auto mode in very heavy traffic.

You can configure any setting and assign it to any M button. Search and read, there are many threads on DCT tips and techniques.

[Memphis17CPM4]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

Ah, gotcha. I think most people w DCT do drive in manual, there was a poll somewhere... even for short distances, get into the habit of driving in manual. FYI you can switch to manual very easily, pull on the paddle shifter, push gear shifter to the passenger side or use it.

IMHO, driving a car like this in auto is a bit lame but to each his own. I drive in auto mode in very heavy traffic.

You can configure any setting and assign it to any M button. Search and read, there are many threads on DCT tips and techniques.

I used the gear shifter exclusively today, much nicer way to shift gears. I had only used the paddles before today when in manual mode. Good stuff.

[aboulfad]

Great to hear that, enjoy your car soon you will learn how to do a kick down in manual mode and be ready to be thrown back in your seat :-)

[sleeprequired]

Originally Posted by antych

You're free to live in ignorance. Enjoy driving your broken car then.

Easy tiger

[Memphis17CPM4]

@aboulfad Deteria First thanks, I drove my car 3 times today for about 90 minutes, abnormal amount of time. I took both your advice and it was a blast! Using the Center gear shifter with the car in manual is very natural. I'm guessing since my last 5-6 "Comfort" sedans all had similar functionality with a manual/auto trans that I just was driving this like every other car I've had in the last 12 years.

Aboulfad, correct I've never used the switch under the pedal. Hell, I've yet to floor the car. I also want to test the drag race feature. But, one must floor the car first.

This car is a freaking blast.

[aboulfad]

I am happy for you, but a bit shocked that you didn't discover and have fun with your car yet! Using the shift paddles is even faster bcoz ur hands are on the wheels but who's timing you ?
And kick down in manual mode is special, I think you floor the pedal to activate the kick down switch followed by the downshift paddle, depending on your speed/gear, the car will downshift to the lowest gear, but be ready to upshift if not you'll be revving your engine