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

[BoostedTerp]

Originally Posted by pDz

if you want pure straightline speed time and time again, i'd go 2011 mustang GT.

That car is a lot more than just straight line speed nowadays.

[pDz]

Originally Posted by BoostedTerp

That car is a lot more than just straight line speed nowadays.

agreed.

but one advantage of the solid rear axle is much better robustness for drag racing compared to indy rear ends.

that they have gotten the GT able to handle well (on smooth roads) is a bonus.

[FJUNO78]

Originally Posted by BoostedTerp

That car is a lot more than just straight line speed nowadays.

+1

the 2011 5.0 is going to be something special.

[grant]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

It does. It should be right in line with the manual as far as drivetrain losses go.

With Porsche's PDK (same as DCT), the top speed is slightly slower for the Dual-Clutch equipped car compared to the 6spd manual (same ratio in 6th in both boxes), due to the higher drivetrain losses.

I expect it will be the same situation here (Manual has the least losses by a small amount).

[Moo]

Originally Posted by SlickShift

I wish the OP actually read the article before posting this. Those numbers are estimates people. Let's not get into a N54 vs. N55 battle!

Did you somehow miss the bolded C/D EST in the first post?

[BSM 335I]

Originally Posted by NYC6

4.7 0-60, low 13's in the 1/4 mile, 150mph top speed, Smooth reliable shifing. Dont feel sorry for us. In fact, we should feel sorry for you. TBD as your listed car and wishing one day you might have one. But from what we all know these wishers often dont get what they're wishing for on forums. You keep wishing, we'll keep driving..........fast.

Lmao! Let me know when you run out of lube after raping others from a dig hah.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by twoturboz

Lol, don't feel sorry for AT's.....

.1 or .2 of a second oh god what will I do now.

and gas mileage? whatever, I drove freeway this morning on cruise control and got anywhere from 28-38 at any given time @ 75

no doubt dct is nice though. enjoy

The official BMW rating for the auto is that it has a 1mpg better highway rating. But, how in the world do you guys get 28mpg, let alone 38!, at 75mph? In top gear in a manual, as the auto would be, the best I've seen is 25mpg, but more like 23-24mpg real calculation.
38mpg? That just can not be real.

[RPM90]

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.


to each their own.

Here it is again, but never substantiated.
The best for a manual tested is 4.6. I haven't seen an auto that hit that, let alone "marginally quicker".
The manual and auto are pretty much the same in accel.

To each their own opinion, indeed.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

It does. It should be right in line with the manual as far as drivetrain losses go.

It should be closer to the manual than the auto, but the DCT uses an oil bathed clutch, so it'll have a bit more loss. Guess, 1 or 2%.
I don't think it will be as high as the slushbox though.

[SlickShift]

Originally Posted by Moo

Did you somehow miss the bolded C/D EST in the first post?

Why would you post it in the thread title?

[roundel]

Originally Posted by BoostedTerp

That car is a lot more than just straight line speed nowadays.

+1

[M3Newbie88]

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.

For once someone who knows what he is talking about.. AMEN.. be happy with what you got.. as long as it fits your needs and your happy who cares..

Don't feel sorry for anyone as everything has its pros and cons.. yes the 2011 has DCT.. yes the N54 is way more mod friend.. yes there are a marginal .1 or .2 differences in 0-60 times but y compare because a the end of the day there are always bigger and better things out there.. everyone just be HAPPY!!!!!

[sb335is]

Originally Posted by RPM90

The official BMW rating for the auto is that it has a 1mpg better highway rating. But, how in the world do you guys get 28mpg, let alone 38!, at 75mph? In top gear in a manual, as the auto would be, the best I've seen is 25mpg, but more like 23-24mpg real calculation.
38mpg? That just can not be real.

It must be? Considering there is 0 traffic or instances where I have to stop, and I'm on cruise control, [I think colder mornings help too] my actual average is about 30-34. I also feel like the freeway I'm usually on [I-5 mission viejo to anaheim] slightly slopes up and down a lot especially on curves and the coasting via cruise control really takes full advantage. I probably sometimes artificially throw my milage up about 1mpg when I get off a long off ramp I'll stick myself in a dead exit lane and coast down for about 1/4th mile before the actual off ramp and it usually works out where I can just downshift and not even brake.

[BSM 335I]

Originally Posted by 1LazyBmw

For once someone who knows what he is talking about.. AMEN.. be happy with what you got.. as long as it fits your needs and your happy who cares..

Don't feel sorry for anyone as everything has its pros and cons.. yes the 2011 has DCT.. yes the N54 is way more mod friend.. yes there are a marginal .1 or .2 differences in 0-60 times but y compare because a the end of the day there are always bigger and better things out there.. everyone just be HAPPY!!!!!

Well said!

[emtrey]

forget the OBC--close but can not be trusted in "spurts"...Just fill the tank--let it stop automatically and divide mileage on odo by gas consumed.

Do this for 2-3 tanks and you will have your true AVERAGE gas mileage. I average 23 with 70% highway and somewhat spirited driving. NO burnouts. (my car is a steptronic--DS engaged when off highway most of the time and sixth gear on highway)

[BSM Bimmer]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

It does. It should be right in line with the manual as far as drivetrain losses go.

Pretty impressive... The question now is what kind of power it can hold. I can only imagine how high the cost would be to build the tranny. It is not the same transmission as the current M3, is it?

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by BSM Bimmer

Pretty impressive... The question now is what kind of power it can hold. I can only imagine how high the cost would be to build the tranny. It is not the same transmission as the current M3, is it?

Actually, as a couple of other people point out, there's a slight bit of loss due to the wet clutches.

The power question is a good one, and I'm also concerned about the long term reliability, and how much it costs to replace the clutchs when they actually do wear out.

It will also be interesting to see how well the launch control works.

I like the idea of the DCT, but I don't think I'm going to jump on one until they're on the next generation at least, and maybe not even then.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by BSM Bimmer

It is not the same transmission as the current M3, is it?

The descriptions on the BMW NA website are similar, except that the M3 DCT is touted as having "Drive Logic" and costs nearly twice as much.

Tom

[pDz]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

The descriptions on the BMW NA website are similar, except that the M3 DCT is touted as having "Drive Logic" and costs nearly twice as much.

Tom

it 'could' be the same, though, right?

DCT is limited more by torque than anything else and the e92 m3 has roughly the same torque numbers.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by pDz

it 'could' be the same, though, right?

DCT is limited more by torque than anything else and the e92 m3 has roughly the same torque numbers.

The M3 transmission is described both as a "DCT" and a "DKG" (Double Clutch Gearbox) and costs $2,900. The 135i DCT lists for $1,575, but the M3 "specs" page does not list gear ratios for the DKG - only the manual 6 speed. While, as you point out, they both handle around 300 ft. lbs. of torque, why is the M3 unit so expensive if they are the same transmission?

BTW, the 7 speed SMG which is standard in the M5 & M6 has different ratios than the 135i DCT as the 1er's 7th speed is direct drive, but the M5/6 unit has 6th as 1:1 and 7th as OD.

And then there is the 8 speed Steptronic found on the 5 and 7 series...

Tom

[pDz]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

The M3 transmission is described both as a "DCT" and a "DKG" (Double Clutch Gearbox) and costs $2,900. The 135i DCT lists for $1,575, but the M3 "specs" page does not list gear ratios for the DKG - only the manual 6 speed. While, as you point out, they both handle around 300 ft. lbs. of torque, why is the M3 unit so expensive if they are the same transmission?

BTW, the 7 speed SMG which is standard in the M5 & M6 has different ratios than the 135i DCT as the 1er's 7th speed is direct drive, but the M5/6 unit has 6th as 1:1 and 7th as OD.

And then there is the 8 speed Steptronic found on the 5 and 7 series...

Tom

if there are indeed different double clutch units used, talk about an expensive manufacturing costs!

i'm with everyone else on the wait-n-see as to how reliable the units are and the potential failure rates. it's remarkably easy to service a clutch on a manual transmission and i cannot imagine the costs per hour for any shop to drop a DCT and to service the clutches.

[TreDirtyFive]

in over a 1000 miles of mixed city and hooligan highway driving in europe I avg'd 24.8mpg on the counter when I left it for return to portt. DCT too...Not too shabby!