[JB135MDCT]

Originally Posted by TheRox

Manual is only useful on a weekend car. Too much traffic these days

I have a DCT and prefer a 6dp in traffic. DCT isn't smart enough in the slow.

[SCOTT26]

Do not think that BMW are going after Porsche with a seven-speed manual transmission and that you are going to get the next M3/M4 with one.
The next generation of 3er might benefit but for now...

The seven-speed is developed with efficiency in mind and will begin its life within the BMW City Compactive - The revolutionary small Premium BMW advanced Small car which is FWD.

[Sered]

Originally Posted by M_Power_Fan

i think that - in today's cars and today's technology - a manual gearbox doesnt make sense at all.

i think that DCT, speedshifts and stuff is faster, more suitable on a racetrack and paddles on wheel are cool anyway

A lot of people like to modify their cars. DCTs are generally made of glass. I'll take my very beefy manual transmission anyday, thanks very much.

[Freon]

I wish 5th and 6th were just slightly longer in my 135i 6MT. The gears are progressively tighter towards higher gears. That's generally good, but I think they are too close in 5th and 6th. Only 19% between 4th and 5th, and 15% between 5th and 6th. (1.19 : 1.00 : 0.87 for 4, 5, 6)

If 5th were about 0.96 and 6th were 0.82 I think that would negate the need for a 7th gear. I don't feel the lower gears need to be any closer either. 1st is a tire roaster. The engine with a reflash tune still wins against my 265/35/18 StarSpecs in 2nd gear on anything but a prepared drag strip. With such a wide power band, 3rd is still fine. It would just be nice to turn slightly less RPM when I'm on the highways around here with 70mph speed limits. My gas mileage tanks rapidly above 65mph. At 65mph I can get close to 29-30mpg; at 70mph, I get around 27.5mpg; at 75mph, I down to about 25.5-26.0. It's not just the engine speed, air resistance is an effect, and engine speed doesn't help tire loses, wheel bearing loses, etc. so I wouldn't expect miracles, but I think it would help.

[PaneristiDriver]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Do not think that BMW are going after Porsche with a seven-speed manual transmission and that you are going to get the next M3/M4 with one.
The next generation of 3er might benefit but for now...

The seven-speed is developed with efficiency in mind and will begin its life within the BMW City Compactive - The revolutionary small Premium BMW advanced Small car which is FWD.

Interesting...

Didnt think they were going after Porsche considering Porsche has the best manual and dual clutch transmissions on the market and sets the standard here too.

I do think its a mistake not to offer it in the next M3/4.

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]