Do you all know this DCT trick? It's AWSOME

sameh · 09-03-2010, 11:28 AM

I am new to BMW in general and of course to M3 class. As I’m driving the car on DCT I realized the following but am not sure if that is known to all DCT owners or not. If yes, you all know about this, then my apologies for the time wasted reading my input. BUT if you don’t, then you’ll love this:
There is a button behind the gas pedal (you can check it) that clicks when you floor the pedal. This is the button that activates the Launch control sequence. BUT, if you floor the pedal while driving and click that button (whether you’re on M mode or not D5 or not), this is what happens:
1) The car down shifts to whatever gear that offers 5500RPM or higher in milliseconds.
2) The car accelerates like a maniac till 8300 RPM and up-shifts automatically, also in milliseconds.
3) Repeat #1 & #2 till max speed, or till you quit flooring the pedal
I have always liked the DCT but this right here has made me IN LOVE with it. I like to believe that I’m a good stick shift driver but I’ll be lying if I said I can do the same as fast with a clutch.
I mentioned this in previous post but when I got no comments I figured may be everyone knows about that and me being new to M3 is what it is. The reason I put it on a new post is that if there is one driver out there with a DCT who doesn’t know that, I just made his day.

aajami · 09-03-2010, 11:38 AM

Yeah, it's called the kick-down button. I used it once -- pretty useful on the freeway.

M3PGH · 09-03-2010, 11:39 AM

Im pretty sure that applies to any car

Frozen Black Panther · 09-03-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3PGH

Im pretty sure that applies to any car

lol

BigHat · 09-03-2010, 11:40 AM

I was unaware of this so thanks for posting.

M3maniac20 · 09-03-2010, 12:01 PM

Not hating on you...but this is pretty standard on most foreign cars.

sameh · 09-03-2010, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3maniac20

Not hating on you...but this is pretty standard on most foreign cars.

The part where it shifts right at the red line is what I thought is M3 specific but may be I just never kept my foot down till the end in other cars.

sor · 09-03-2010, 12:08 PM

It's ok. Others do it too, but the M3 does it more impressively ;-)

bobbyd1961 · 09-03-2010, 12:10 PM

i dont understand so if you floor in in D mode its downshifts then keeps shifting up to 8400 RPM. whats special about that? unless it does that in paddle mode?

ChrisK · 09-03-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3PGH

Im pretty sure that applies to any car

Maybe he only drives manuals?

Brknbones · 09-03-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbyd1961

i dont understand so if you floor in in D mode its downshifts then keeps shifting up to 8400 RPM. whats special about that? unless it does that in paddle mode?

In manual mode if you floor it past the button, and down shift it will automatically shift to the lowest gear possible. But you still need to shift when you hit redline.
I love this feature, I use it all the time on the highway, or most of the time when I am in 6 or 7 gear and want to pass/ accelerate.

I also love the Poor mans launch control where you just floor it and it revs before engaging first gear. I have not felt the need to use the actual launch control feature - is it that much better?

3XTR3M3 · 09-03-2010, 01:24 PM

I know for a fact that Audi, Benz and BMW have had this on their automatic cars for years. Dont know about the Japanese or Italian.

bobbyd1961 · 09-03-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brknbones

In manual mode if you floor it past the button, and down shift it will automatically shift to the lowest gear possible. But you still need to shift when you hit redline.
I love this feature, I use it all the time on the highway, or most of the time when I am in 6 or 7 gear and want to pass/ accelerate.

I also love the Poor mans launch control where you just floor it and it revs before engaging first gear. I have not felt the need to use the actual launch control feature - is it that much better?

so lets say im in manual mode and instead of downshifting with the left paddle i floor it and it automatically downshifts to the lowest gear possible? if thats the case thats pretty neat.

outie · 09-03-2010, 02:09 PM

I used it after making a turn and I waited a good ~2 seconds before anything happened. It felt like time has frozen. Next thing you know it roared to 5k rpm and you have to let go or it'll be too fast on local.

elh0102 · 09-03-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3XTR3M3

I know for a fact that Audi, Benz and BMW have had this on their automatic cars for years. Dont know about the Japanese or Italian.

Yes, the kickdown feature has long been standard with AT, but the DCT is not an automatic, and some do not have this feature.

Serious · 09-03-2010, 02:20 PM

So bascially it works just like every other automatic transmission.

elh0102 · 09-03-2010, 02:33 PM

Drives similar to an automatic, but works like what it is, a manual; gears and clutches, not belts and fluid.

Brknbones · 09-03-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbyd1961

so lets say im in manual mode and instead of downshifting with the left paddle i floor it and it automatically downshifts to the lowest gear possible? if thats the case thats pretty neat.

Yup, pretty neat. Just be ready to upshift as it will go to redline quickly.

Dntlvet · 09-03-2010, 04:58 PM

Launch mode is very neat.

graider · 09-03-2010, 05:02 PM

that sounds wicked. thanks OP. i don't have DCT but I think my SMG does the same.

MMMorish · 09-03-2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serious

So bascially it works just like every other automatic transmission.

+1

sehrgut · 09-03-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3PGH

Im pretty sure that applies to any car

May be, but its gotta be M-DCT to really enjoy it!

09-03-2010, 11:28 AM	#1
sameh Lieutenant Colonel 171 Rep 1,530 Posts Drives: 2015 Porsche 911S Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Do you all know this DCT trick? It's AWSOME I am new to BMW in general and of course to M3 class. As I’m driving the car on DCT I realized the following but am not sure if that is known to all DCT owners or not. If yes, you all know about this, then my apologies for the time wasted reading my input. BUT if you don’t, then you’ll love this: There is a button behind the gas pedal (you can check it) that clicks when you floor the pedal. This is the button that activates the Launch control sequence. BUT, if you floor the pedal while driving and click that button (whether you’re on M mode or not D5 or not), this is what happens: 1) The car down shifts to whatever gear that offers 5500RPM or higher in milliseconds. 2) The car accelerates like a maniac till 8300 RPM and up-shifts automatically, also in milliseconds. 3) Repeat #1 & #2 till max speed, or till you quit flooring the pedal I have always liked the DCT but this right here has made me IN LOVE with it. I like to believe that I’m a good stick shift driver but I’ll be lying if I said I can do the same as fast with a clutch. I mentioned this in previous post but when I got no comments I figured may be everyone knows about that and me being new to M3 is what it is. The reason I put it on a new post is that if there is one driver out there with a DCT who doesn’t know that, I just made his day.
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09-03-2010, 11:38 AM	#2
aajami Brigadier General 432 Rep 4,567 Posts Drives: Space Gray '09 E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA iTrader: (4)	Yeah, it's called the kick-down button. I used it once -- pretty useful on the freeway. __________________ '09 E92 M3: Space Gray, Black, Carbon Leather \| ZTP 2MK ZPP 2MT 6FL \| link 1 / link 2 Mods: M Performance exhaust \| ZCP retrofit \| Euro airbox \| GTS DCT flash \| JPN 240 ECU flash \| Euro LCI taillights \| CRT lip \| OEM alarm retrofit \| Space Gray bumper plugs \| BMW Performance: Mk. II spoiler / Mk. II non-electronic steering wheel / mirror caps / front grilles / side gills / intake louvers / emblem
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09-03-2010, 11:39 AM	#3
M3PGH Major 824 Rep 1,404 Posts Drives: Too Many Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pittsburgh,PA iTrader: (1)	Im pretty sure that applies to any car
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09-03-2010, 11:40 AM	#5
BigHat Lieutenant 7 Rep 513 Posts Drives: '11 M3 E93 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NoVa iTrader: (0)	I was unaware of this so thanks for posting.
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09-03-2010, 12:01 PM	#6
M3maniac20 Captain 87 Rep 725 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW 335is Coupe Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Austin, Texas iTrader: (0)	Not hating on you...but this is pretty standard on most foreign cars. __________________ 2016 340i M-Sport 6-MT(on order) 2013 335is (still have) 2011.5 M3 ZCP (traded in)
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09-03-2010, 12:08 PM	#8
sor Brigadier General 3115 Rep 3,076 Posts Drives: 2023 iX M60 Oxide Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: UT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW iX M60 [0.00]	It's ok. Others do it too, but the M3 does it more impressively ;-)
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09-03-2010, 12:10 PM	#9
bobbyd1961 Banned 43 Rep 2,406 Posts Drives: 2009 M3 sedan LeMans Blue Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: new jersey iTrader: (0)	i dont understand so if you floor in in D mode its downshifts then keeps shifting up to 8400 RPM. whats special about that? unless it does that in paddle mode?
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09-03-2010, 01:24 PM	#12
3XTR3M3 Lieutenant Colonel 99 Rep 1,575 Posts Drives: E92 AW M3 6MT Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: LA iTrader: (1)	I know for a fact that Audi, Benz and BMW have had this on their automatic cars for years. Dont know about the Japanese or Italian. __________________
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09-03-2010, 02:09 PM	#14
outie Lieutenant 92 Rep 567 Posts Drives: 2022 Porsche Taycan GTS Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 Tesla Model X [0.00] 2023 McLaren 720S S ... [0.00] 2022 Porsche Taycan ... [0.00]	I used it after making a turn and I waited a good ~2 seconds before anything happened. It felt like time has frozen. Next thing you know it roared to 5k rpm and you have to let go or it'll be too fast on local. __________________
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09-03-2010, 02:20 PM	#16
Serious 1M advocate 214 Rep 878 Posts Drives: 2018 S4. 2011 M3. 2012 S1000RR Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	So bascially it works just like every other automatic transmission. __________________ 2012 BMW S1000RR 2011 BMW M3
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09-03-2010, 02:33 PM	#17
elh0102 Captain 15 Rep 751 Posts Drives: 2009 335i coupe Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Drives similar to an automatic, but works like what it is, a manual; gears and clutches, not belts and fluid.
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09-03-2010, 04:58 PM	#19
Dntlvet Dntlvet 11 Rep 447 Posts Drives: 10 M3 Sedan,13 GT-R BE,13 Pors Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	Launch mode is very neat.
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09-03-2010, 05:02 PM	#20
graider Colonel 35 Rep 2,406 Posts Drives: py/kiwi e46 m3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: toronto iTrader: (0)	that sounds wicked. thanks OP. i don't have DCT but I think my SMG does the same.
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