Car & Driver: 2011 135i DCT First Drive Review - 4.6s / 13.2s (estimated)

[heffergm]

Originally Posted by RPM90

It still amazes me, 30-34mpg?
I drive to Indy on I65, which is flat an straight, no stops for about 140 miles, and the best I've seen is 25-28mpg at about 80mph avg, depending on the wind.

Your issue is that you're doing 80mph. There's a huge falloff in mileage after you pass 70mph. You start moving so much air that your economy tanks.

Try the same trip at 70mph and I bet you'll see 30mph easy.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by heffergm

Your issue is that you're doing 80mph. There's a huge falloff in mileage after you pass 70mph. You start moving so much air that your economy tanks.

Try the same trip at 70mph and I bet you'll see 30mph easy.

I have done lower avg mph on other trips, and interestingly it's not much different. I've never seen 30mpg even sitting in the dead air behind a semi.
I have experimented.
If you find the right spot you can actually feel the need for less power as your car is still moving at the same speed. That's where I saw close to 28mpg. Speed was about 65mph, truck limit (car speed limit is 70mph on that road), with nearly no head wind resistance as the semi took care of that.

I don't know what you consider huge, but I haven't experienced a huge drop off in mpg between 70mph and 90mph.
There is some for sure, but it's not like a 5mpg difference.
Now, averaging 120mph does require more HP, and that will result in mpg drop.
We can't do that in the US.
It would be interesting if some our Autobahn cousins could post their MPG's when doing well over 120mph for long runs.

My A4 2.0T would see 30mpg with a manual and AWD.
But that engine is 33% smaller with similar power difference.
With an ECU tune I picked about 1-2mpg on all around daily driving, but nearly nothing more on highway.

I actually find it impressive that I can still get 25mpg while averaging 80mph, and even at 90mph for a long run, the comp still showed 25.5mpg. I don't think our cars are as aero limited as the chunkiness makes it appear to be.

[egainer]

try driving 55mph. Anything over 55-60 is where the mpg falls off, not 70. I drove over 500 miles on one tank in my manual AWD audi 2.0t a4. filled up before i left, drove, filled up when I arrived. Averaged 36mpg. I drove only 55 the whole way because it was 2am, and extreme downpour. I also have APR 93 oct flash

If you want to max out your mileage, try one straight trip, 55mph, highway only, fill up before and after to get exact mileage reading.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by egainer

try driving 55mph. Anything over 55-60 is where the mpg falls off, not 70. I drove over 500 miles on one tank in my manual AWD audi 2.0t a4. filled up before i left, drove, filled up when I arrived. Averaged 36mpg. I drove only 55 the whole way because it was 2am, and extreme downpour. I also have APR 93 oct flash

If you want to max out your mileage, try one straight trip, 55mph, highway only, fill up before and after to get exact mileage reading.

Man, if I drove 55mph on my commute I'd be getting run over in the SLOW lane.

On long trips, nearly all highways outside or metro areas are 70mph.
Can't do it. If I have to drive below the speed limit or the flow of traffic to get an extra 3-5mpg, I'd rather just get a less powerful car.
25mpg at 80 or 90mph is quite acceptable to me.
I didn't buy this car to try and extract the best mpg.
I would have gone with the 128i or the new A4.

I had the APR 93 as well. Very nice tune.
I prefer ECU flashes to all those piggyback and plug in units.

[egainer]

I didn't drive 55 ever either. It was in the middle of the night, everyone else was driving slower. I was exercising the quattro. I will miss that when I finally pick up my 135. That was the max I could drive, and still see ahead of me. Typically, I drove between 70-90 and averaged 27-32mpg. And yes, I prefer flashes instead of plug in too.

Is there a bmw equivalent of VAG-COM? I'd like to change some settings on my bmw when it arrives, but I don't know if that's possible.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by egainer

I didn't drive 55 ever either. It was in the middle of the night, everyone else was driving slower. I was exercising the quattro. I will miss that when I finally pick up my 135. That was the max I could drive, and still see ahead of me. Typically, I drove between 70-90 and averaged 27-32mpg. And yes, I prefer flashes instead of plug in too.

Is there a bmw equivalent of VAG-COM? I'd like to change some settings on my bmw when it arrives, but I don't know if that's possible.

I've read talk of APR and GIAC maybe entering the BMW market.
Seems most say APR will get here first.

The most popular for our engines is the JB (Juice Box) products.
These are not flashes though, but the cost is lower.

For changing settings I think you can get a "BT" scan tool cable that runs software on a PC, and you can access nearly everything.
But, I'm going with what I've read as I don't have any tuning items of the BT software, so no direct experience.
I'm sure someone will chime in. If not do a search in the engine mods section.

[OhDasCrazy]

MT, Step, DCT, who cares get what works for you not what gives you .2 sec off your 0-60 because most people that drive the car wont be clocking their 0-60 anyway! And no matter how much control you have with the DCT, its not a manual! And I wouldn't even consider getting a sports car with a automatic unless it was a Ferrari or something!

It just trips me out how people try to make the DCT sound like a manual, its not!

[TwinTurbos]

Originally Posted by Bizall

Looks good. Still nothing official yet...right? Still glad I choose the "Year One of the One"...2008 FTW!

Mines is a 09 but I still got the "year one of the 1" around my push start button and I still got the gifts saying how its the 1st year of the one so Im assuming 08 09 10 models will have the same, but Im just guessing . .

[Alex@Alpine]

Very nice, 4.6 wow

[Oulixes]

"We generally prefer the driver involvement of traditional manual transmissions, especially when they’re as good as the ones offered on most BMW models. In the case of the 135i, the fitment of the DCT may close the preference gap for some, and will very likely improve acceleration times."

Coming from people who test lots of cars, this is interesting.

[Migsboyfresh]

Originally Posted by Bizall

Looks good. Still nothing official yet...right? Still glad I choose the "Year One of the One"...2008 FTW!

n54 "year one of the one" ftmfw +1!

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by OhDasCrazy

MT, Step, DCT, who cares get what works for you not what gives you .2 sec off your 0-60 because most people that drive the car wont be clocking their 0-60 anyway! And no matter how much control you have with the DCT, its not a manual! And I wouldn't even consider getting a sports car with a automatic unless it was a Ferrari or something!

It just trips me out how people try to make the DCT sound like a manual, its not!

Don't trip man, who say's it's like a manual?
I've said, it shifts like a manual in FEEL. After nearly 30yrs of driving I know the difference.
However, if you don't feel the difference between a slushbox auto and a dual clutch trans, then you need more seat time.
It trips me out how many don't know the difference.

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by kioko12

C&D has always been a bit optimistic when it comes to acceleration times. For instance, they tested the 135i 'vert from 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, whereas Insideline tested it at 5.5 seconds. Even factoring in various conditions (tires, weight of driver, transmission, temperature, etc), that's a pretty significant difference.

I would say the opposite, it seems like Insideline's drivers can't drive because their times are always slower than pretty much every other publication.

[Evice]

Originally Posted by RPM90

I have done lower avg mph on other trips, and interestingly it's not much different. I've never seen 30mpg even sitting in the dead air behind a semi.
I have experimented.
If you find the right spot you can actually feel the need for less power as your car is still moving at the same speed. That's where I saw close to 28mpg. Speed was about 65mph, truck limit (car speed limit is 70mph on that road), with nearly no head wind resistance as the semi took care of that.

I don't know what you consider huge, but I haven't experienced a huge drop off in mpg between 70mph and 90mph.
There is some for sure, but it's not like a 5mpg difference.
Now, averaging 120mph does require more HP, and that will result in mpg drop.
We can't do that in the US.
It would be interesting if some our Autobahn cousins could post their MPG's when doing well over 120mph for long runs.

My A4 2.0T would see 30mpg with a manual and AWD.
But that engine is 33% smaller with similar power difference.
With an ECU tune I picked about 1-2mpg on all around daily driving, but nearly nothing more on highway.

I actually find it impressive that I can still get 25mpg while averaging 80mph, and even at 90mph for a long run, the comp still showed 25.5mpg. I don't think our cars are as aero limited as the chunkiness makes it appear to be.

I get 33-34mpg easy with 78-80 mph on a 90 mile with very few hills. I am sure you can do 30 with 135i. 3 mpg means 10% so it is big difference. 128i is listed 28mpg officially.

[Angry3]

Originally Posted by Evice

I get 33-34mpg easy with 78-80 mph on a 90 mile with very few hills. I am sure you can do 30 with 135i. 3 mpg means 10% so it is big difference. 128i is listed 28mpg officially.

If you're averaging 34 mpg at an 80mph cruise with a 6MT 128 make sure you keep it, because yours is apparently the only one ever made that's so fuel efficient

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by BSM Bimmer

Is there any info on whether the dct transmission has less parasitic loss than the automatic?

It doesn't have a torque converter and has gears.. so it should be as efficient as a manual gearbox.

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by egainer

try driving 55mph. Anything over 55-60 is where the mpg falls off, not 70. I drove over 500 miles on one tank in my manual AWD audi 2.0t a4. filled up before i left, drove, filled up when I arrived. Averaged 36mpg. I drove only 55 the whole way because it was 2am, and extreme downpour. I also have APR 93 oct flash

If you want to max out your mileage, try one straight trip, 55mph, highway only, fill up before and after to get exact mileage reading.

I can't think of a situation where I'd want to drive 55mph to save a few dollars on gas. I drive how I like and pay whatever the gas pump stops at.

[Yogijet]

Originally Posted by FJUNO78

Why would you? The STEPs are marginally quicker than the MT's.. The DCT may be marginally quicker than the STEP.

Using that same logic, do you regret your MT purchase being that the STEP is prob .1-.2 quicker?

You do not buy MT or a STEP for the difference in .1-.2 seconds... you buy it to fit your needs. MT typically enjoy being more connected with the driving experience. AT guys, may not like the idea of rowing their own boat, or may simply do not know how to drive a MT in a spirited manner, heel to toe shifting etc etc.

I can drive MT to get from point a to b. I'm not going to stall or grind gears... To me MT seems like a chore... others love it. Am I confident I can drive in a spirited manner and achieve results anywhere close to the STEP... not at all.

to each their own.

My thoughts exactly. People choose the transmission that fits their needs. In my case, being pretty adept at a manny trans, that would have been my first choice except for a nasty left knee injury which needs some time to permanently heal so I can eventually return to a manny, but in the meantime, I am more than happy with the STEP in my 3T (T-wenty five To T-wo - think clock ).

[Yogijet]

Originally Posted by OhDasCrazy

MT, Step, DCT, who cares get what works for you not what gives you .2 sec off your 0-60 because most people that drive the car wont be clocking their 0-60 anyway! And no matter how much control you have with the DCT, its not a manual! And I wouldn't even consider getting a sports car with a automatic unless it was a Ferrari or something!

It just trips me out how people try to make the DCT sound like a manual, its not!

It's not a conventional three-pedal manual but it works in pretty much the same way, except that instead of a clutch operated by the driver, the clutch actuation is automated and there are not one, but 2. This is conceptually very different from how an automatic transmission works but not fundamentally different from the way in which a conventional manual works. Don't be tripped out as the people who "try to make the DCT sound like a manual" are more right than they are wrong.

[M34lnch]

Originally Posted by crzy4135i

It doesn't have a torque converter and has gears.. so it should be as efficient as a manual gearbox.

Well actually, it isn't. But I don't know why. So can someone explain to me why the 2011 135i coupe manual gets 20 city | 28 highway, and the DCT equipped cars get 18 city | 25 highway?

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by M34lnch

Well actually, it isn't. But I don't know why. So can someone explain to me why the 2011 135i coupe manual gets 20 city | 28 highway, and the DCT equipped cars get 18 city | 25 highway?

My initial guess would be that they're running a lower final drive ratio on the DCT cars.

[JB135MDCT]

Originally Posted by M34lnch

Well actually, it isn't. But I don't know why. So can someone explain to me why the 2011 135i coupe manual gets 20 city | 28 highway, and the DCT equipped cars get 18 city | 25 highway?

it's an error, it should be 20/28