[Adem1534]

Hey everyone. So, I got an exciting call from my dealer, and he said that they have received their first allocation spot (I'm #1 on the list).

I was told it is a launch car, intended for show rooms, but he said he will sell it. (This is in accord with what I've heard from other forum members).

Anyways, the car is...

Mineral Grey (I REALLY lucked out, it's what I wanted here)

Executive Package (I wanted this as well).

DCT (I wanted manual)

I had never owned a manual or DCT M car. I wanted to hear your opinions.

People who have driven both, can you still have fun in the DCT?

I would have preferred manual, but my dealer is small, and they likely will not get more allocations for a long time. And I don't have a lot of time left in me to wait.

Thanks all

[M3 Number 86]

The DCT is a really good transmission. Since the manual gets rid of heel toe, at this point why not.

I have a 6mt and wife had a dct before. I enjoyed both. Is it as fun? Not 100% as fun but it was still fun banging out gears instantly.

[Adem1534]

It's also going to be my only car, and thus my daily driver.

[Gibson6594]

If you never owned a manual, I think you're fine. It's us stubborn folk who only own manual who I think would have a problem going DCT.

[BruceM]

I own manual cars (Dinan e36 M3, Porsche 930) and paddle shifter cars (Jaguar XKR). The shifter cars are cool, no doubt, and the DCT is better than the Jag system. But invariably, after a few weeks of driving the Jag when the others are in the shop, I feel like I am missing something. I'm spec-ing a manual now in the M2 because I don't know how much longer I'll have the opportunity to do that, and I want to teach my boys how to shift a car for nostalgic reasons before it is too late.

But, as the prior poster said, it's hard to imagine you missing it if you've never had it. So that DCT sounds good to me for you. An excellent system.

[Skwinglos]

Don't compromise.
Wait it out for the manual.

[OG///M]

Only ever owned manual. Driven DCT for periods of time, did not feel connected and was bored few minutes into it. And I DD all my cars in traffic and it was no problem for me.

It really depends on how your situation is, if you really really can't wait then I say go ahead.
If you can wait, I say wait for the Manual. DCT is great but compare to manual, IMO is just not as connected.

Either way good luck to you Alex, and looking forward to see pics of the car.

[Big Tuna]

I certainly wouldn't pay more for a transmission that I do not want.

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

The DCT is a really good transmission. Since the manual gets rid of heel toe, at this point why not.

I'm hopeful we'll be able to code out that ridiculous programming decision on BMW's part in the not too distant future.

Seriously, what the hell were they thinking not adding a button?

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by PrematureApex

I'm hopeful we'll be able to code out that ridiculous programming decision on BMW's part in the not too distant future.

Seriously, what the hell were they thinking not adding a button?

i know! and ok then put it in sport+ if you want to heel toe yourself but good luck with that on/off switch of a throttle lol.

[LinkF1]

I was manual driver almost excusively (E36 318i, E36 M3, E46 325Ci) until my 135i in 2013. The DCT in the 135 doesn't compare to the M-DCT in the F8X with all of it's cusomization but it is a fantastic transmission. When I was test driving cars in late-2012/early-2013 the combination of the N55 and DCT was too addictive to pass up.

While at times I do admit that I miss having the manual, after driving manual for so many years it became almost easy and effortless to execute heel-toes. With the new manual transmission taking that satisfaction away from you unless you have traction control turned off, there isn't that much for the driver to truly control anymore. You can clutch in, you can row the gears, but most of the magic happens with the clutch out motion. The Auto-Rev features take control away from the driver.

M-DCT in the F8X is not your father's auto. It does not creep forward with your foot off the brake (unless you activate creep mode). It does not upshift unless you tell it to. It allows you to execute the shifts you would normally do in a manual in a more precise, much quicker fashion. It executes pefect downshifts, even in the middle of a corner where it is a terrible idea in a manual. Will the M-DCT be implemented in this same way in the F87? We will have to wait and hear from the reviews.

Will these things make the M-DCT a less fun transmission than the manual? That will depend on you and how you drive it. Drive it like a manual and downshift to the gear you want exiting the corner and in some situations it can be even more satisfying than the manual. Drive it like an auto and leave it in gear (or in auto mode) and wait until the software makes a decision on what gear it wants to be in, it will almost certainly be less satisfying than the manual.

[chmura]

So this means being #1 on the list is not really a good thing..

Basically the dealer chooses the color and options and you just have to accept it?? Screw that!

Give me a number 2 spot so I can configure MY CAR!

[Skwinglos]

Originally Posted by chmura

So this means being #1 on the list is not really a good thing..

Basically the dealer chooses the color and options and you just have to accept it?? Screw that!

Give me a number 2 spot so I can configure MY CAR!

You're still at the top of the list if you pass on the dealer car. They just go down the list and offer it to the next person. When it comes to placing orders you're still #1. Overall this is not unexpected.

[hyperzulu]

Do you drive Gran Turismo in manual or automatic?

I don't know. That's all I got. I love the DCT on BMW's. Feeling them crack through gears during WOT is amazing to me. It's just a rifle kick and no loss in boost, like you might never run out of power if only the car had 22 gears and the roads never ended... haha

If you want a manual though, don't compromise. Wait for the #2 spot.

[Artemis]

Ask your dealer whether BMW still allows to modify the configuration. Probably too late. But never say never.

Of course, a dealer prefers selling M-DCT, because it's a cost option.

[chmura]

What is part of the executive package?

[W///]

Honestly, the only way you'll know is if you go drive one. You can never take what people say and assume you'll feel the same way.

My personal experience: First time I drove DCT (and e92 M3 as a matter of fact) was at the Performance Center. LOVED it. 2nd and 3rd time I drove DCT was again on e92 M3's, but this time in Munich. I rented them for a weekend each and went to have fun out in the Alps and city driving. I got bored of the transmission (not the car) after a couple of hours. When it was time to buy my own E92, it was 6MT or bust.

Is it as quick? No. Do I care? No. What's great for me is that even at 30 mph, you're still doing something with the car. It's more interactive for me. So even a small trip to the gas station turns into something special for me. I will admit though, sometimes it is nice to just drive my 4Runner with a 4spd auto and just relax after a long day at work, but on the M2, I'd go with a 6MT myself.

Yea yea, someone will ask me if I still prefer Walkmans over having music on my phone. Would you like a self driving car that can lap the Nurburgring while you sit as a passenger? Everyone is different. At the end of the day, you can't go wrong with either, you just have to know what you want.

My E36 M3 is a 5MT. My E92 M3 is a 6MT. My F80 will be a 6MT. There will be plenty of time to drive AT/DCT's when the MT's go bye bye.

P.S. Don't compromise just to get the M2 ASAP

[Denk]

DCT is a blast! I was a manual guy for 30 years but have converted. I do like the new manual in the F8x M's much better than previous gen's. Try to get your hands on a DCT and 6MT F8x to see which tranny clicks with you.

[j997tt]

Congratulations! LinkF1 did a great job describing DCT. It is a great transmission and can be as fun a manual IMHO. Just got back from a spin in my M4 DCT with MPE - epic in S3, sport + mode... Either way good luck in making your decision.

[JustChris]

I found the DCT in my M4 ruthlessly efficient at what it does and boy is it fast!

....but for ME it was lacking the fun and real engagement.

Is this a DD car fir you, might need DCT, if not hold out fir the manual perhaps?

[SW19]

Why don't you ask your dealer if they are able to change the specs of there M2 launch car?Some people are saying in this pricing and ordering thread that they were able to change the color and options on there dealers launch M2.


http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1217136

[3tekcorps]

I thought this was interesting to watch. You can skip the first 3 minutes or so, but at least watch the "launch procedure" at about 6 minutes.