[M2CLBB437M]

A few weeks until I get mine - what's the gearing like in 6th? I'm assume shorter than than the 'auto' but is it too short - like the manual M140i?

[Veebee]

The gearing is shorter than m140/m240... the topspeeds on each are the same but the redline is higher 7600 rpm vs 7000 rpm. It rotates 3000 rpm at 130 kmph.

[TTBear]

From the BMW web site:


Transmission

TYPE
6-speed manual transmission

MANUAL GEAR RATIOS – I / II / III
4.11 / 2.32 / 1.54

MANUAL GEAR RATIOS – IV / V / VI / R
1.18 / 1.00 / 0.85 / 3.73

MANUAL GEAR RATIOS – FINAL DRIVE RATIO
3.46

TYPE
7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic

AUTOMATIC GEAR RATIOS – I / II / III
4.81 / 2.59 / 1.70

AUTOMATIC GEAR RATIOS – IV / V / VI
1.28 / 1.00 / 0.84

AUTOMATIC GEAR RATIOS – VII / R
0.67 / 4.17

AUTOMATIC GEAR RATIOS – FINAL DRIVE RATIO
3.46

[CSBM5]

It would be nice to have a 7MT like a C7 Vette. The S55 can obviously pull that 7th gear (witness the 20% drop in gear ratio for 7th in the DCT). It would make highway cruising at 80mph a lot more relaxing (saying this after spending over 1400 miles on the highway in the past 10 days).

Looking at those ratios, it's astounding that they went with a 17% steeper 1st gear in the DCT. BMW likely uses a lot of torque management in 1st in those as I can't imagine a 17% steeper 1st gear only having driven the 6MT car. It's definitely not needed with this brute of an S55.

[frosty2k]

Basing this on the rear tires information from TireRack. 790 revolutions per mile converted to meters, then to figure out car speed at 2500 rpm. I was doing this to try and figure out my true max speed on the Autobahn because I cant see my spedometer in the video I took, but I can see the tach. Not sure how to properly setup tables in forum posts.

Anyone want to check my math?

790 1 mile
790 1609.34 meters
2.037139241 meters per revolution

Manual Engine RPM Drive Shaft RPM Wheels RPM Speed kph
1st 4.11 2500 608.27 175.80 21.49
2nd 2.32 2500 1,077.59 311.44 38.07
3rd 1.54 2500 1,623.38 469.18 57.35
4th 1.18 2500 2,118.64 612.32 74.84
5th 1.00 2500 2,500.00 722.54 88.32
6th 0.85 2500 2,941.18 850.05 103.90

Final 3.46


DCT Engine RPM Drive Shaft RPM Wheels RPM Speed kph
1st 4.81 2500 519.75 150.22 18.36
2nd 2.59 2500 965.25 278.97 34.10
3rd 1.70 2500 1,470.59 425.03 51.95
4th 1.28 2500 1,953.13 564.49 69.00
5th 1.00 2500 2,500.00 722.54 88.32
6th 0.84 2500 2,976.19 860.17 105.14
7th 0.67 2500 3,731.34 1,078.42 131.81

Final 3.46

[skier219]

Here's what I get for KPH per RPM in each gear:

MT GEAR KPH/RPM
1 0.008855736
2 0.015722279
3 0.023603811
4 0.030871142
5 0.036397076
6 0.043022549

[Anthony1s]

None of that is what I get...

6th gear on the manual is 0.85 which translates to 3006rpm at 80mph/129kph

6th gear on the dct is 0.84, which translates to 2970rpm at 80mph/129kph

7th gear on the dct is 0.67, which translates to 2369rpm at 80mph/129kph

6th gear on the manual at 6801rpm is 181mph/291kph

7th gear on the dct at 6812rpm is 230mph/370kph

Think I'm right because 6th and 7th gear at 80mph in my DCT match exactly in real life tests to what my calculations are here.

[mcgarnigle]

The gap between 1st and 2nd ratios in the 6mt are annoyingly far apart.

The rpm drops too much when driving in traffic, and if you don't wait long enough to let the clutch out going into 2nd, it's easy to have a jerky shift.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by mcgarnigle

The gap between 1st and 2nd ratios in the 6mt are annoyingly far apart.

The rpm drops too much when driving in traffic, and if you don't wait long enough to let the clutch out going into 2nd, it's easy to have a jerky shift.

I hear you, I haven't driven an M2C manual (only DCT), but the huge ratio gap is a feature of M cars going back to E46 at least. They are all jerky experiences from 1 -> 2 if you're not perfect. I am not sure why this gearing is necessary for the turbo engines. It makes some sense for S54 and S65. Strange that DCT 1st gear is even shorter, but at least there the software will make the best of it.

[Proctor750]

short 6th is a good excuse to stay off the highway. M2 doesn't appreciate the highway miles when there are beautiful side roads.

I think on ED I touched the highway for maybe 15 miles out of 1100+

[nearwater4me]

Wow, over 3k rpm @ 80mph is a bit too much.

[chakatrain]

Hi gang,

Has anyone tried to change out the 6th gear of the MT for one with a smaller ratio value (so the RPM at 80MPH could drop down from 3K to 2.5 or even lower)?

I'm curious to hear if anyone has tried that and if so, how stupidly expensive or difficult would that be to do? Thanks!

[Moflow]

Originally Posted by chakatrain

Hi gang,

Has anyone tried to change out the 6th gear of the MT for one with a smaller ratio value (so the RPM at 80MPH could drop down from 3K to 2.5 or even lower)?

I'm curious to hear if anyone has tried that and if so, how stupidly expensive or difficult would that be to do? Thanks!

I doubt anyone has or would do this. You'd have to remove the transmission and then dig around inside the guts of the transmission, which is usually the type of job that's reserved for a specialist, not a backyard mechanic.

Changing out the rear end however, IS the type of thing that could be done by a backyard mechanic, but that would result in all gears being longer, not just 6th.

Note: It's not just backyard mechanics who prefer the simpler solution of changing out a rear end. If you go to buy a mustang, they will give you the option of two different rear end ratios. And if you think about it, nobody gets the longer rear end for gears 1-5. They're doing it entirely for the longer 6th gear. And yet the cost of just changing out that one gear by its self is so much higher, Ford would rather change rear ends and just inadvertently mess with gears 1-5 in the process.

[Bumpinjeep]

I can tell you one thing, it's unnecessarily short. Would have loved to have a 7th gear, like a C7 and 991 911s do.

[doughboy]

I love the short gearing. It adds urgency to the drive i find.

More use of all the gears with a closer box. I often find myself steady at 100 mph in 4th before thinking oops then going for 5th.

6th only when the wife is there...😂

[Montaver]

The engine is basically inaudible unless you are at WOT or above 4K RPM. My E90 M3 had more engine noise at 3K RPM and you could always hear it rumbling. The annoying thing about the M2C is the amount of road noise, tire roar in particular. Its not helped by the fact the stock sound system is complete garbage. I find that (tire roar, poor sound system) along with the crooked drivers seat far more irritating on a long journey than the gearing.

[2020m2c]

I only put on ~200miles before putting it away for the winter. Strangest thing I found was how high the 6th gear rpms are in "average" freeway traffic. Literally no point in downshifting as it perpetually feels like I'm already in 5th lol.

[doughboy]

Is the crooked seat a left hand drive thing?

[aerokubectl]

this crooked seat discussion never ends lmao. How much do you guys smoke before you get into the car?

[Madmat]

Originally Posted by Montaver

The engine is basically inaudible unless you are at WOT or above 4K RPM. My E90 M3 had more engine noise at 3K RPM and you could always hear it rumbling. The annoying thing about the M2C is the amount of road noise, tire roar in particular. Its not helped by the fact the stock sound system is complete garbage. I find that (tire roar, poor sound system) along with the crooked drivers seat far more irritating on a long journey than the gearing.

Due I'm about to order mine, I wanted to ask.
By the poor sound system you mean the Karman hardon one, right?

I heard it is not optional there, but it is in Europe and was planning to get it.

Do you or anyone know how better is it compared to the "standard"? Would you get it or leave it pass and get some other system out there?

Note: my current OEM sound system is Meridian and its pretty much enough for my taste.

[Montaver]

Originally Posted by Madmat

Due I'm about to order mine, I wanted to ask.
By the poor sound system you mean the Karman hardon one, right?

I heard it is not optional there, but it is in Europe and was planning to get it.

Do you or anyone know how better is it compared to the "standard"? Would you get it or leave it pass and get some other system out there?

Note: my current OEM sound system is Meridian and its pretty much enough for my taste.

Never heard the base system, Harmon Kardon is standard in the US. The Harmon Kardon system is terrible to my ears, particularly coming from EPS in my e9x M3. The speakers themselves are harsh, the midrange is basically non-existent, and the centre channel isn't a proper a centre channel. The centre speaker is a mashup of the left and right channels and makes music sound very odd. I plan to unplug the centre speakers and upgrade speakers to Bavsound to get a chance. Make sure you disable ASD (fake engine noise) as it makes the speakers basically unlistenable. Although I did that with Bimmercode and get hissing because of the stupid amp setup. The whole sound design of the M2C is the most disappointing aspect of it IMO, my brothers MK7 Golf GTI sounds way better and it was half the price.

[Montaver]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Is the crooked seat a left hand drive thing?

Yes, the rear of the seat is set slightly inwards so if you sit straight in the seat you are actually facing to the left towards the pillar. It was one of the first things I noticed about the car. I believe it was due to crash regs.

I really like the M2C and it puts a big smile on my face driving it but lot of my gripes could of been very easily fixed by BMW, as an overall package it's got some pretty obvious flaws IMO. Why is there no rev match option in idrive for example..