BMW refers to their torque converter auto box as a steptronic transmission. The Steptronic transmission has two clutches in addition to the same torque converter system. Similar to the DCT box, one clutch is in charge of the odd-numbered gears, and the second clutch is in charge of the even-numbered gears.
In This Article...
BMW Steptronic Transmission: What is It?
You’ll adore a BMW with a manual transmission if you’re passionate about driving dynamics since it gives you the control you need in a variety of situations. When you need to be a little bit more practical with your car, an automatic gearbox may be what you need for the times when the car should be determining when to shift.
You have options with the BMW’s Steptronic automatic transmission, so you’re not forced to pick between an automatic or manual transmission. You have the option to use a manual shift when you want to or switch to the multi-drive mode automatic when you need it with the Steptronic gearbox.
For nearly 20 years, BMW was the primary designer and exhibitor of the Steptronic transmission. Since then, engineers and the Munich design team have worked to make the transmission more useful for drivers. The most recent Steptronic generation can be employed in a number of circumstances and shifts quite quickly. This allows the driver a wide range of options for performance, driving manner, and selected driving mode.
The Best of Both Worlds with the BMW Steptronic Transmission
There has long been a compromise when deciding between a manual and an automatic transmission for drivers who are serious about performance. While an automatic gearbox allows you the flexibility to let the automobile pick the shift timings when appropriate, such as during your morning commute, a manual gearbox gives you greater control in those situations.
There is no need to make a decision with the Steptronic automatic transmission offered by BMW. Its is due to the fact that this “manu-matic” gearbox combines the best of both worlds, providing both a manual shifting experience when desired and a multi-drive mode automatic when necessary.
Nearly 20 years ago, BMW released the first generation Steptronic transmission, and the Munich design and engineering team has been working to improve it ever since. The most recent Steptronic transmission generation offers exceptionally rapid and versatile shifting. Depending on the drive mode and driving style you select, they provide a vast array of performance possibilities.
DCT says goodbye!
When Dual Clutch Transmission disappears, it’s undoubtedly a sign of the times. Whether you love it or detest it, it will be missed! The DCT proved that BMW truly is the Ultimate Driving Machine and was the best there is!
The popularity of the dual-clutch transmission (DCT) used by BMW M, a multi-speed transmission technology that uses two distinct clutches for odd and even gear sets, cannot be questioned. In fact, drivers who had M vehicles with it were head over heels in love with it! This is due to the fact that it produced rapid-fire shifts, was simple to use in any traffic, and provided more theater than the standard automatic. Bottom line: DCT sped up automobiles!
The DCT’s gear selector, which was described as a “bizarre type of transmission,” had the look of a frozen tear drop and had the most peculiar pattern. However, that pattern gave it personality and made it evident that it wasn’t your ordinary automatic gearbox. On the contrary, it was far more intriguing and unusual. The ancient DCT was in so many fantastic automobiles. It had excellent paddle shifters behind the wheel and had many levels of shift aggressiveness. You could be certain that you were operating a performance vehicle with a DCT and extremely quick, jerky shifts.
Fans of the DCT were a little miffed when the F90 M5 moved to a traditional, torque-converter 8-speed automatic from ZF. Even though the 8-speed was a top-notch automatic, people craved the quicker, full-throttle upshifts of the previous DCT. So, fans were much more disappointed when BMW gradually stopped offering the DCT for the M. That’s because the original DCT was associated with so many fantastic automobiles.
However, BMW has made the decision to abandon Dual-Clutch Transmissions in favor of conventional 8-speed torque converters, even in the M vehicles. The F90 generation M5’s 2018 model year launch marked the start of this transformation.
Following the phase-out of the DCT were the F10 BMW M5, F06/F12/F13 BMW M6, F80 BMW M3, and F82 BMW M4. DCT was originally an option for these cars, but it is no longer available. The new G80 BMW M3 and the G82 BMW M4 have both switched to the ZF 8-speed, hence the M Division no longer offers a dual-clutch option. And that modification is long-lasting.
Fans of the DCT should be aware that the BMW M2 is the only vehicle still using the BMW DCT.
All self-shifting transmissions for the M Division moving forward, whether they be the present ZF 8-speed or an upgraded model, will be conventional torque-converter automatics. Sadly, neither now nor in the future will there be a dual-clutch option. The DCT has officially said goodbye since efficiency is of the utmost importance in today’s automated environment!
BMW use twin clutch transmission, right?
Before the new 2-series is released, you should probably buy an M2 if you enjoy BMW’s dual-clutch transmission. According to BMW Blog, BMW is abandoning its dual-clutch transmissions across its lineup in favor of conventional eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmissions. Indeed, even in M vehicles.
Fortunately, a six-speed manual will still be available, according to the BMW representative. But depending on the model, there will be different iterations of an eight-speed automatic transmission listed there in place of the DCT.
The current M 8-speed automatic (8HP) has the following advantages over a 7-speed M dual-clutch transmission (DCT):
- matches the DCT’s performance
- More gears can be placed more closely together.
- increases fuel efficiency.
- enables use with xDrive all-wheel drive, whereas the DCT transmission was only intended to be used with rear-wheel drive vehicles.
The BMW Blog provided their own explanations for why this is plausible. Right now, efficiency is king, and the ZF eight-speed is simpler to tune for that. BMW’s significant electrification aspirations, though, are also set to materialize soon. When you know electric M vehicles are on the road, investing in the development of an upgraded DCT that could equal the performance of the eight-speed automatic doesn’t make sense.
With the new toothy G80 M3 and G82 M4 being the latest to swap the DCT for ZF’s eight-speed auto, that leaves the M2 as the final M-car with a DCT. The silent phase-out of the DCT began with the 2018 model-year launch of the F90-generation M5, according to BMW Blog. The M2 is already outdated, and spy images of the upcoming model are already circulating.
Given the current confusion around BMW’s marketing and overall direction, you might want to buy a new M2 nevertheless. It’s a tiny rocket that might end up being remembered as one of the greatest internal-combustion BMWs ever produced.
Which models of BMW feature a dual clutch?
The first M vehicle to include the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic was the E90/E92 BMW M3. The F10 BMW M5, F06/F12/F13 BMW M6, F80 BMW M3, and F82 BMW M4 then came after that. DCTs were available in all of those vehicles, at least as options, and they were all superb transmissions. But now they’re gone.
BMW first used dual clutch transmission when?
BMW M Gmbh originally unveiled the 7-Speed M BMW Double-Clutch Transmission (DCT) on November 1st, 2008. The 7-Speed DCT gearbox was first proposed for the M division by BMW, the first automaker in the world. It guarantees smooth gear changes, offers more dynamic acceleration, and lowers fuel consumption.
Has a clutch been added to a BMW automatic?
The 335i Coupe and 335i Convertible models from BMW will use the new Sports Automatic Transmission with Double Clutch (quite a mouthful and without a doubt quite a gearbox) by the end of the year.
The new Double Clutch transmission, which has seven speeds, takes the place of the old optional six-speed Steptronic gearbox and is available in addition to the six-speed manual transmission.
There are several advantages to the new seven-speed transmission. A 335i equipped with the seven-speed will accelerate more quickly than one with the six-speed manual while using less fuel and emitting fewer emissions. It’s good for your wallet, the environment, and most importantly, your ego.
The central console houses a newly created shift lever with an integrated display for the chosen shift program. There is no direct link between the transmission and the shifter; instead, the shift lever electronically regulates the gearbox’s operations.
Although the shift lever always returns to its initial position after making a decision, BMW kept the familiar shift arrangement of a standard automatic transmission. The shift lever display and instrument panel both display the current shift program or gear position.
The new transmission is made to handle the 225kW and 400Nms produced by the delicious six-pack and was developed with the 335i Coupe and 335i Convertible in mind.
So how quickly do the gears shift? According to BMW, the seven-Speed dual-clutch transmission can change gears in less time than it would take a normal manual transmission to simply disengage the clutch.
These quick shifts enable a dual-clutch equipped 335i Coupe to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds quicker than the same vehicle equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and 0.3 seconds quicker than the BMW 335i Coupe with the antecedent six-speed automatic transmission. The same vehicle will have a combined cycle average of 9.1 L/100 km, which is 0.4 L/100 km less than the manual and earlier auto-equipped vehicles.
The BMW 335i Coupe and Convertible will start offering the new optional sports automatic transmission with double clutch in December 2008 for a price of $3500.