Edmunds on 2011 BMW 135i DCT - the most unfiltered BMW driving experience

[rori zahr]

thanks for using my picture.
would have loved to be asked for permission :-)

[mikeinsf]

Originally Posted by jainism

"The DCT seems to slow on a down shift aspect"

direct quote......

@socal..lol i NEVER get bored with my DCT, and rarely put it in D mode... I test drove the 6mt and the DCT and bought the DCT because of how bad ass it was....Theres a reason the F1 racers use it lol...

Great, so you obviously prefer the feel of your DCT to a manual, and have your reasons for it. Jainism obviously prefers his 6MT for his own reasons, as I do mine. I much prefer an old fashioned clutch and manual gate to run the gears, it's how I like to drive. To each their own.

[Swedish M3ffia]

the 35 engine is good and the 135 seems to be a good car, Its a shame that the thing is so ugly

[Bluesummer]

makes me proud that I drive one

[rwp49]

I love my 135i. As for the looks, this car is truely a coupe with a trunk. It was a great review and I'm happy it's my first BMW.

[natelam]

nice!

[Bimmerforlife]

I was recently at the dealer for service and they gave me a loaner 2011 135i convert with m sport and it had DCT, it was the first time I had ever driven a BMW with DCT and let me tell you that thing was a blast to drive. I had the loaner for 2 days and driving around town in sport mode was so much fun it reminded me alot of my E46.

I really wished my 335i sedan had DCT available when I ordered. I would have ordered it in a heartbeat. It is that much fun.

[TMR013]

Originally Posted by Swedish M3ffia

the 35 engine is good and the 135 seems to be a good car, Its a shame that the thing is so ugly

Why post something like this on a 135 forum???

Nothing better to do? Personally I'd be out enjoying my M3, but I don't have a big (inadequacy?) chip on my shoulder, so I guess that's just me.

[BMW4Life2112]

I absolutely love this car!

[Angry3]

Nice review. I got the chance to spend 4 days with an '11 135 DCT with ZMP, and loved every second of it. The DCT in M+Sport is unreal, and certainly more than makes up for an ponies missing from the single turbo motor vs. the N54.

Only one scary thing about the article, if they think the value of the '11 model is "suspect," they should definitely not go price out a '12 model

[SDSmurf]

Originally Posted by Swedish M3ffia

the 35 engine is good and the 135 seems to be a good car, Its a shame that the thing is so ugly

Originally Posted by TMR013

Why post something like this on a 135 forum???

Because he's entitled to voice his opinion on a forum, whether it's positive or not? You've never criticized ANYTHING on a forum before?

[dmw16]

Great review.

I'm still glad I chose the 6MT, but I'd love to try to DCT.

How does it compare to VW's DSG transmission? I have an 08 GTI w/ a DSG and I find myself rarely in manual mode and missed rowing the gears so I switched back.

[RPM90]

I wouldn't call my N54 135i the most "unfiltered" BMW.
The suspension is not BMW 3 series refined and crisp.
It does lack in that area compared to my 2003 325i sport and current 3 series sport suspenion.

I haven't driven an N55 1 yet, and there was speculation that BMW may have altered something in the suspension when the N55 engine came.
But there is nothing definitive that that happened while I've had some tell me that the suspension is the same as before.

If it is different please post as that is the one area the 1 really needs or needed work to truly give it a BMW ultimate driving machine feel.

A DCT type trans is excellent. But it doesn't give the "best of both worlds".
What's truly "best" about a manual is the actual manual operation giving the driver more things to have to do. The DCT is the better way to do an "automatic" trans, imo, as it gives the driver the more connected feel from engine to drive train.
That said, the MT, Step, and DCT are all very fine trans choices and BMW did a great job on all of them, though I wish they would have put in a shorter clutch pedal travel and shorter throws in the MT.
The best trans choice is the one that works for you and makes you happy to be driving your 1.

[roo97ss]

Originally Posted by RPM90

I wouldn't call my N54 135i the most "unfiltered" BMW.
The suspension is not BMW 3 series refined and crisp.
It does lack in that area compared to my 2003 325i sport and current 3 series sport suspenion.

I think by todays standards it is the most unfiltered, meaning it still has some connection to the road, is still kind of small, doesn't weigh a ton, has suspension reasonbly well sorted but lacks a bit of the smoothness and refinement of the longer wheel base 3 series etc.

But honestly, the hi torque, low revving n54...nothing like the straight 6s of the past; steering feel - where? was that an option you could order because mine didn't get that one; wallowy suspension on rock hard run flats - yes still smooth over the highway expansion bumps. I hate when people start on the good ole days...but here i am doing it.
Yes the car is fast in a straight line, yes stock it's handling limits are high, even though they don't feel it; but it seems quite filtered to me.

Don't get me wrong, the car is the best daily driver BMW i've had, but it's far from the inspiring connection i felt with my previous e46 and e36s i've had.

[Impervious]

Could you imagine what a 1series would be like with an S54.

[miiipilot]

I LOVE manual, but I am regretting that I didn't get the DCT. I was leary of a 1st gen DCT in the 135.

Next time...def!

miiipilot

[JimmyT]

Originally Posted by dmw16

Great review.

I'm still glad I chose the 6MT, but I'd love to try to DCT.

How does it compare to VW's DSG transmission? I have an 08 GTI w/ a DSG and I find myself rarely in manual mode and missed rowing the gears so I switched back.

Far superior piece of kit, DCT>DSG. Coupled with the rumor that the US spec DSG has programming to negate the shift crispness so the transmission acts more like a normal auto tranny, I don't regret getting the DCT in my '11 135i. My BMW replaced an '08 R32.

[dmw16]

Originally Posted by JimmyT

Far superior piece of kit, DCT>DSG. Coupled with the rumor that the US spec DSG has programming to negate the shift crispness so the transmission acts more like a normal auto tranny, I don't regret getting the DCT in my '11 135i. My BMW replaced an '08 R32.

Good info, thanks!

I am still glad I went with the 6MT. The DSG in my GTI while great (after the mechtronics unit was replaced) in traffic is hardly as fun or engaging as a MT.

However it's good to know that the DCT is better so that when I am finally ready to bite the bullet on an M3 I can at least consider the DCT.

[doot]

I'd like to see a good old fashion race 2011 135i DCT vs 1M.

N54 vs N55, with N55 bringing smoother power off the bat, faster gear changes, AND launch control.

1M wouldn't be more than 0.1/second infront to 100km...

[oman135]

Originally Posted by doot

I'd like to see a good old fashion race 2011 135i DCT vs 1M.

N54 vs N55, with N55 bringing smoother power off the bat, faster gear changes, AND launch control.

1M wouldn't be more than 0.1/second infront to 100km...

i would like to see a race between 135i step vs 135i dct !

[cooler2442]

Originally Posted by oman135

i would like to see a race between 135i step vs 135i dct !

Have to remember the 7DCT has launch control, that gives it a pretty big advantage in my opinion.

[mosx]

Originally Posted by jainism

i doubt i will ever even use the launch control on my DCT. And i doubt i will ever redline my 135i..

You probably should have bought a Toyota Corolla and saved yourself $25k.