DCT Owners, what you prefer?

[Justin Case]

So what do you use most of the time? Paddles, Stick or Auto?

Personally 70% of the time I use the Stick, not a fan of the auto for most of my driving. Go to the paddles when i want to give it some beans.

[BobS]

I never use auto... But I also don't daily drive my m3. It's way more fun to shift. I also always put the trans on all 5 bars for shift speed no matter what.

[grantmax]

I go through phases. Sometimes it's all about D4, other times I hit the M to enable S5, EDC1, Euro MDM.

How do you prefer your beans?

[Justin Case]

See I find 5 bars in town a bit jittery, normally S1, S2 for town. M mode 5 bars.

[Justin Case]

Originally Posted by grantmax

I go through phases. Sometimes it's all about D4, other times I hit the M to enable S5, EDC1, Euro MDM.

How do you prefer your beans?

On toast with a sprinkling of CHEZE.

[Semi-Poor]

D3 or 4 for first 10+ miles until oil at temperature, then S4 and paddles.

[jtodd_fl]

S3 all the time. Unless, of course, I hit the M button. S5, EDC2, MDM.
D4 is for when the wife the wife drives it.

[grantmax]

Originally Posted by jtodd_fl

S3 all the time. Unless, of course, I hit the M button. S5, EDC2, MDM.
D4 is for when the wife the wife drives it.

THE HORROR!

Just wait until she sees the "M" with a circle around it. I got a frantic call one day with an engine screaming in the background. She thought she had managed to blow the transmission. One week later I caught her pressing the button for the luls.

Women

[6underpressure]

Stick- S3-every thing in comfort about 50% of the time. When needed M mode with every thing up!!!

[Chris M4CS]

98% paddles and about 1% stick and auto

[AR155]

D2 to warm up while I wait for the oil level to display. I used to use D4 for this as I was a little concerned about the propensity for D2 to shift into a higher gear at as little at 1500 rpm and the effects a high-load, low-rev situation might create, while D4 when driven sedately during the warm up seemed to maintain what I thought is a better 2000-3000 RPM. However, I have now decided to back the D2 'computer knows best' approach that BMW recommend (well I assume so given that this is their default).

Once warm, S5, paddles:stick 75:25.

For periods of irrational exuberance, M (S5, euro MDM, and 'sport' for the rest).

[eNViou$$$]

I use auto 3 bar around town quite a bit with traffic, and stick full everything when i wanna flirt with a reckless ticket, also when i start spinning the tires and get sideways around a corner and start to have to counter steer to recover, its much easier for me with the stick to keep from getting crossed up and grab a quick gear. The M Double Clutch is an amazing piece of engineering, but the paddle setup is disappointing for me in the fact that the paddles move with the steering wheel. They should be stationary like almost all the exotics are. Its goofy when your making a right or left hand turn and trying to shift with the paddle and its down between your knees or at 12 noon.

[foam]

I'm driving to work all the time in traffic so I'm always in D4. S5 is only for the weekend fun

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by AR155

D2 to warm up while I wait for the oil level to display. I used to use D4 for this as I was a little concerned about the propensity for D2 to shift into a higher gear at as little at 1500 rpm and the effects a high-load, low-rev situation might create, while D4 when driven sedately during the warm up seemed to maintain what I thought is a better 2000-3000 RPM. However, I have now decided to back the D2 'computer knows best' approach that BMW recommend (well I assume so given that this is their default).

Once warm, S5, paddles:stick 75:25.

For periods of irrational exuberance, M (S5, euro MDM, and 'sport' for the rest).

This.

[RR-NYC]

S4 with paddles for the majority of the time. D4 if I am in traffic

[Craigy]

On my morning commute or in traffic I try to put it in D but I just can't help myself with the paddles, they're too much fun.

I typically only use the shifter when the wheel is turned more than ~180 degrees.

M button is S5. I would prefer sporty puristic 6 but I usually don't have the balls to turn off traction control.

[Craigy]

Originally Posted by eNViouS$$

I use auto 3 bar around town quite a bit with traffic, and stick full everything when i wanna flirt with a reckless ticket, also when i start spinning the tires and get sideways around a corner and start to have to counter steer to recover, its much easier for me with the stick to keep from getting crossed up and grab a quick gear. The M Double Clutch is an amazing piece of engineering, but the paddle setup is disappointing for me in the fact that the paddles move with the steering wheel. They should be stationary like almost all the exotics are. Its goofy when your making a right or left hand turn and trying to shift with the paddle and its down between your knees or at 12 noon.

Even though slow, sharp corners require my hands to come off the wheel, on a quick twisty road the wheel mounted paddles are perfect, and I can keep my hands on the wheel with out having to let go to grab a paddle.

Drove a 599 recently and in a turn you can't keep your fingers on the paddle. Even a slight turn. IMO it's a little strange but I'm sure I'd get used to it.

I think McLaren got it right with their paddles that move with the wheel. Also I think most of the Japanese stuff is wheel mounted.

[jtodd_fl]

Originally Posted by grantmax

THE HORROR!

Just wait until she sees the "M" with a circle around it. I got a frantic call one day with an engine screaming in the background. She thought she had managed to blow the transmission. One week later I caught her pressing the button for the luls.

Women

Haha... nice. She got the full education when we bought the car. She knows how to use it. She is also a car fan. I must admit, she was into fast cars before I was.

I also I realized I left something off my earlier post... paddles, always paddles. I never use the stick. (Well, except for Neutral, Reverse and First, obviously. Just to preempt the pedants among us. )

[Kunman]

great question op. on highways i usually put it in D1 to save gas, other times I shift by hand on s1 with the knob.

I almost never use the paddles.

Does anyone know where I can buy a longer knob, so to mimic the feeling of a sequential shifter?

[schoy]

Originally Posted by eNViouS$$

I use auto 3 bar around town quite a bit with traffic, and stick full everything when i wanna flirt with a reckless ticket, also when i start spinning the tires and get sideways around a corner and start to have to counter steer to recover, its much easier for me with the stick to keep from getting crossed up and grab a quick gear. The M Double Clutch is an amazing piece of engineering, but the paddle setup is disappointing for me in the fact that the paddles move with the steering wheel. They should be stationary like almost all the exotics are. Its goofy when your making a right or left hand turn and trying to shift with the paddle and its down between your knees or at 12 noon.

Say "no" to shuffle steering.

[krx927]

I always start with cold car in S2. For my feeling D2 or higher D is shifting from 1st to 2nd at too high revs (around 2800-2900) for the first kilometer or 2 when you start with totally cold car. I always shift at around 2000ish until I see temp gauge move a bit.

Latter D2 or S2 in city if traffic.

Highway always S setting depending of the amount of traffic.

I use paddles only if I am driving fast. Otherwise is stick.

[CanAutM3]

Heavy stop and go traffic: D2
Daily drive: S2 mostly with the stick
Spirited drive: S5 mostly with paddles
Track: S6 with paddles only