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!
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How to operate the dual-clutch transmission according to BMW M
Do you still recall how BMW marketed themselves as the Ultimate Driving Machine? Even though those times are long gone, BMW continues to produce a few hits.
Despite this, it is obvious that BMW’s primary customer base has shifted, necessitating the release of a video by the car manufacturer demonstrating how to operate its own dual-clutch transmission. While manufacturers like Honda want you to appreciate manual transmissions, BMW should demonstrate how to put one of its M vehicles in park.
The issue here is that there is nothing near the gear selection that says “Park.” Instead, you just need to turn off the automobile to activate Park. The remainder will be handled by the transmission and computers, and the gauge cluster’s signal will certify that the BMW has truly been moved into Park.
However, once you’re upright and prepared to move, you might require assistance finding out how to do it. Just press the gas and start moving. Despite occasionally acting like a manual transmission, The Ultimate Driving Machine’s gearbox is still primarily an automatic. We should advise you that using a DCT in first gear occasionally results in a clunky, unpleasant experience. It’s not a BMW problem; it’s a problem that almost every dual-clutch transmission on the market has. In order to overcome this, you can either floor it or slowly roll away till you’re moving smoothly. With half stepping, there is no smoothness to be discovered.
Drivelogic is a system that BMW has. This enables you to control the intensity and pace of the gear shifts. There is a simple button, and pressing it makes the Drivelogic system more aggressive. There are four settings, and moving from one to the next only requires a quick touch of the aforementioned button.
Therefore, if you’re a lucky automobile buyer with the means to buy a BMW M car, you might also need to know how its transmission works. To sum up, you select Drive and press the throttle to advance. Simply turn off the automobile to put it in park. Turn the car back on, put it in drive, then go to your dealer and ask for a car with a manual transmission to fully reward yourself with a thrilling driving experience.
Double-clutch gearbox
Diagram of a DCT
Using two distinct clutches for odd and even gear sets, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), sometimes known as a twin-clutch gearbox, is a form of multi-speed automobile transmission system. The layout frequently resembles two independent manual transmissions functioning together as a single unit, each having its own clutch housed in its own housing. The DCT operates as an automated transmission in vehicle and truck applications, requiring no driver input to change gears.
The Easidrive automatic transmission, which debuted on the 1961 Hillman Minx mid-size automobile, was the first DCT to go into production. Several tractors from eastern Europe that operated manually and had a single clutch pedal came next in the 1970s, and in 1985 came the Porsche 962 C racing vehicle. The 2003 Volkswagen Golf R32 featured the first DCT of the current era. Since the late 2000s, DCTs have proliferated and replaced hydraulic automatic gearboxes in a number of different car types.
A transmission with multiple clutches is more often referred to as a multi clutch transmission. One clutch is used for each gear in the transmission of the Koenigsegg Jesko, for instance, for a total of seven clutches.
Find the finest automobile offers with two modes: automatic and manual!
When operating in automated mode, the conventional DCT will pre-select the next gear and then carry out all the operations required to switch between gears. The two clutches will be activated and deactivated by the DCT as required to upshift during acceleration and downshift while braking. Sequential gear changes occur up and down, in numerical order. The dual-clutch gear pre-selection procedure allows a DCT to quickly shift through its whole range of gears.
A contemporary DCT can function as a clutchless manual in addition to automatic operation. This implies that the next gear can be chosen manually by the driver, typically utilizing levers (paddle shifters) on the steering wheel. There is no requirement for the driver to press a clutch pedal or engage a clutch in any other way. Both internal clutches in the transmission are automatically engaged by its hydraulics and electronics. Fast up-and-down gear changes are made possible by manual shifting, which also offers the driver total control over the way the transmission behaves.
How is the BMW DCT used?
These DCTs often use a straightforward PRND gear selector and no clutch pedal, operating similarly to a standard automatic transmission. They may also function autonomously, moving gears just like an automatic transmission, or they may be manually operated by paddle shifters or a separate gate on the gear selector.
Who produces BMW DCT?
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.
BMW discontinued DCT, why?
The ZF eight-speed is more effective and simpler to adjust for maximum efficiency, which is the real cause. The DCT is a victim of the times since efficiency in today’s automotive environment is more important than virtually everything else. Additionally, BMW M will soon make the transition to electrification.
Reliability of the BMW DCT transmission
DCT is a powerful unit. It is capable of 400lb-ft of torque at 9000 rpm. Strong, however, does not equate to trustworthy. In the end, it is more complex than the MT, and complexity equates to less reliability.
DCT is it automatic or manual?
As we mentioned previously, a clutch separates the engine’s power-generating crankshaft from the transmission so that the driver can change gears without perhaps causing the machinery to become jammed.
It should not be surprising that a dual-clutch transmission contains two clutches. Why? Since a DCT essentially combines two gearboxes, each of which needs a clutch for the same reason that a manual transmission does,
Additionally, drivers of vehicles with dual-clutch transmissions do not have to manually shift from one gear to another by utilizing the shift lever. Instead, the process of choosing a gear is automated, allowing a DCT to function like an automatic transmission. It does not, however, choose the gears in the same manner as a typical automatic transmission with a torque converter, as we will explain.
The dual-clutch transmission’s beauty is in how swiftly it can shift from one gear to another. This quick shifting is made possible by the fact that, when a gear is engaged in one of the DCT’s two internal transmissions, the second internal transmission already has the selected gear selected and is prepared for immediate engagement.
As a result, switching between gears with a DCT is substantially quicker than switching between gears with a typical manual transmission or a standard automatic transmission. In performance and racing cars, where split seconds can mean the difference between winning and losing, this is very useful.
Is DCT preferable to manual?
DCTs can shift more quickly than a person can, and they can be as efficient as manual transmissions. Because of this, it makes perfect sense to use DCTs in performance vehicles. DCTs will, however, find it difficult to squeak through traffic and up hills in normal driving. DCTs’ innate tendency to judder at low speeds is a flaw.
DCT: Is it quicker than automatic?
One method of an automated transmission is the dual-clutch transmission. Imagine it as a computer-controlled manual transmission with two clutches as opposed to one. The even gears are controlled by one clutch, and the odd gears by the other.
Although that isn’t always the case, dual-clutch gearboxes are intended to shift between speeds more quickly and efficiently than a traditional automatic.
(A clutch is a mechanical component that allows the transmission to shift gears by connecting and disconnecting the engine.)