Dual Clutch (DCT) or Manual: which BMW M transmission is best? (F80 F82 F83 M3 M4)

Find me on Instagram: @TommyLGarage

My YouTube Camera Equipment (Amazon Affiliate Links):

Other:

[jameswillard]

As the new owner of a 2020 M2 Competition with DCT I can safely say with confidence to BUY THE MANUAL! I wish I would have

[alfonsealbanese]

I totally agree. It makes doing back roads much more fun. On the highway it's mostly irrelevant. Sadly finding cars in the same league(power AND handling) as an M3/4 with a manual is becoming more difficult.
Unless my wife is in the car, I never use the cars stereo either. I love hearing the sound of the engine as I shift and drive.

[mpierce]

As an older man in my 60's who raced a lot of cars in the 70's and 80's, I loved your review. But having a car with the DCT, I'd never go back. Who wants to scape their knuckles in a single seater and be slow again! Tech has evolved. Everything must change...

[chrischow]

MT :) Thank you very much sir. Driver engagement, 100% agree with being rewarded with smooth upshifts/downshifts when it happens. I love my car and brings smiles :)

[larrycampbell]

I'll take the 6 speed transmission, manual - thank you

[Billybobthor]

I daily my M3 CP 6 speed manual. It’s not as fast as the DCT, but I wanted to have one last manual “visceral” experience before going to an automatic.

People definitely give you more respect when they see it’s a manual too.

[milou-psychicmedium]

I have owned many BMWs with manual transmissions over the past twenty years, about four years ago I purchased my first with DCT, I am not going back to manual. Now I own a 2016 M4 with DCT transmission, it's the most fun car I have ever owned. I always drive it on manual mode.

[JB-wzke]

6MT all the way. I also have a F80 which I had to order through the dealer as none had a manual. Waited 8 weeks for it from Germany and worth the wait. Great review!

[Ducabjorn]

Hi Tommy, as a owner of a M2 with DCT, you missed out, not going for a spirited drive with DCT, in the twisties! Always on the boil, always in the the gear. Bought DCT because of dayli driving in traffic, what a bonus it was, first time out having fun. Like a racecar. Keep up the good work. BR: Bjørnar

[JacesOwnWorld]

Both a great transmissions. My money would include two cars. One manual, one DCT. C8 Vette and manual supercharged E46 M3 🙂

[bukdavid]

I've been looking into getting one of these and I'm torn between the 2 choices.. my gut tells me 6 speed though! Thanks for the review, very helpful.

[alexthurgood]

Got the DCT, hands down every day. Over here in Europe, most cars are manual so not really as exciting shifting for us I think. So much nicer having an automatic for daily driving and find it so much fun slamming my foot down puts a smile on my face every time. But each to their own, get what you will enjoy!

[AarmOZ]

Sounds like a priority and personality thing as to which transmission is right. I want to get a M2 Competition and I definitely want the DCT. DCT is for those who want to go ridiculously fast. Not just fast, but ridiculously fast. Manual is for people who want a driver's car. I think the hardcore car enthusiast will always opt for more mechanical options than the latest tech. I love driving manual in my 20s, but I am ready to upgrade to DCT.

[Kid_Ellipsis]

They’re both great. I drove them back to back intending to get the 6spd but the DCT just clicked for me with the motor. I find that the automatic shifting is only useful when you need another hand - even in traffic the paddles make it less jerky esp from 3-2. Some days I miss a 3rd pedal and wish I could have both!

[PeRRXX]

I personally prefer a good DCT/Auto to a manual. Feels more like a race car to me. And on a backroad and track, I feel way more comfortable using paddles to shift, rather then taking my hands off the wheel to shift with a manual.

[cccc]

Love your vids. Its simple. If you are a driving enthusiast, the manual is the way to go if your car is mainly street driven. However, if racing and lap times are most important, than I think a DCT is sensible choice. Automatics are boring unless they are driven at 110%.

[dougcampos]

100% agree. I’ve got 6speed manual in my m4 and Zl1. I tested the 7speed auto and the 10 speed auto in the zl1 (which has issues) and I’m w/u Tommy old school is the way to go you feel “one with the car” and those auto rev downshifts into corners are what we wake up for:). Cheers my friend another great video!

[rochleeg]

I have a e93 M3 with the DCT and I love it with that V8. I would say for my generation BMW it was the right choice because of the low torque.

[BlakesGarage]

So.... having a DCT M4 first thing I do is double tap the M2 button.... Sport + Throttle /Sport Plus Damper /Comfort Steering Manual DCT Level 3 Shift Intensity Traction full off. Cars a beast and I definitely wouldn't get a Manual because it would feel much slower. Also DCT will get you into trouble much quicker than the Manual in my opinion. I pretty much do about 5 nice drifts to 1-2 nice burnouts everyday on the way home. I have actually never driven it in Eco or full Auto mode. I hate any other throttle map but Sport + all the torque all the time. Wish you would have matted the throttle with traction full off in the DCT and you could see how the car revs up and dumps the clutch very aggressively. DCT in Manual mode keeps you fully engaged in the car.

[ItsumiSensei]

Who cares about lap times?
Just have fun.