[Woodstock]

Hi. I have been lurking a while, .

I have a 335is with DCT. I love the DCT, and would like for al of the rest of my cars to have one. The 335is is great, but, it has been back and forth in the dealer's shop for the last three weeks. Sensors and HPFP. I have been racking up a lot of miles in 328 loaners. 4 cyl turbos with start stop.

One day, I drove my son's 128 to work. It is actually more fun to drive than my 335is. The 128 is very quick handling. Since the 335is is almost out of the warranty period, I am looking for something under warranty. I don't want to be stuck with a big repair bill.

So I was excited to hear about the M235. But when I looked at the info, I noticed that there was no DCT option. 135's have the DCT option, why not the M235.

[Trolls, don't tell me to learn to drive a stick. I have been driving sticks for many years. I have a rotator cuff issue, so I want a DCT.]

[pikcachu]

It's cause the ZF8 is almost as fast as the DCT, it's also lighter and better fuel efficient

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

It's cause the ZF8 is almost as fast as the DCT, it's also lighter and better fuel efficient

incorrect.

the ZF is significantly cheaper to manufacture.

As a gearbox, the DCT is vastly superior in every way. I've driven both and there is no comparison.

[Woodstock]

Thanks for the reply.

I have actually been impressed with the 328 loaner cars. I have had 4 over the last 3 weeks. The 8 speeds in the loaner cars are OK. The direct injected 4 cyl turbos are also surprisingly OK. Even start - stop is surprisingly OK. I would have never guessed it until I drove it myself.

But the 4 cyl is no straight 6, and the 8 speed is no DCT.

[PopsnBurbles]

Get a 135i DCT.

- The ZF8 most likely costs less than a DCT
- It MAY also weigh less, less weight is the "it" thing for cars today.
- Supposedly, the ZF8 is a reasonable substitute for a proper DCT in terms of performance. (With that said, I've never driven a ZF8 car before.)
- BMW probably wants to make a further distinction between the real, full blooded M cars versus the half-assed M cars (yes, the M235i is a half-assed M car...just like my 135is...just like OP's 335is...just like all those M-sport cars running around). Implying that they want the higher performing option left with the real M cars.

I actually appreciate conventional torque converter automatics now given how smooth they are in regular driving and in heavy traffic. At the same time, I love the DCT's seamless power delivery with its insanely fast shifts and the noises my car makes when shifting.

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

incorrect.

the ZF is significantly cheaper to manufacture.

As a gearbox, the DCT is vastly superior in every way. I've driven both and there is no comparison.

What's incorrect?

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The 8-Speed Automatic Transmission makes the car more efficient than a DCT Transmission. DCT will come to the 1er and the 3er. But not every model or engine option.

It's not almost as fast, lighter and more fuel efficient?
Might have missed is cheaper too... also smoother

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

incorrect.

the ZF is significantly cheaper to manufacture.

As a gearbox, the DCT is vastly superior in every way. I've driven both and there is no comparison.

Shouldn't you be on the 1er forum ? For someone who has said repeatedly you aren't getting a M235, that you make love to your 135is every day...you certainly spend a lot of time picking the new car apart. That you haven't even driven - do you stay in a Holiday Inn Express every night ?

To the OP, I'm sure the ZF is being used for cost reasons and that the DCT will be full on ///Ms only going forward. Check out Chris Harris on the M135, he seems to like the ZF pretty well, and has some interesting observations on it.

For what it's worth, I have the DCT in my current 135 and I find it to be uninteresting and generally devoid of involvement. But this is all about personal choice, so hopefully the ZF is close enough to the DCT in your 335is...coming from someone who also tore his rotator cuff, but it was my left arm, so shifting still works for me.

[vinny84]

ZF 8spd is fine.

Drove a few Bimmer's with the ZF 8spd and you can't knock how fast they shift and how smooth they operate. Honestly, I see no issues with not having DCT. Would of been nice, but it certainly isn't a deal breaker.

If you really want a DCT, either stick with your 335is or purchase a used e92 M3.

[DieGrüneHölle]

I found the DCT in the 335is/135 inferior to the DCT in the M3. Not sure what is different mechanically or if it just software. Honestly didn't like it at all. If had gone with the 335is, I would have gone manual.

Haven't had a chance to try the 8speed, Chris Harris seems to like it a lot.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Shouldn't you be on the 1er forum ? For someone who has said repeatedly you aren't getting a M235, that you make love to your 135is every day...you certainly spend a lot of time picking the new car apart. That you haven't even driven - do you stay in a Holiday Inn Express every night ?

It is almost comical how much time he spends in the 2-series forum. Not to mention he is one of those types that hates everything but his current car.

[Woodstock]

Originally Posted by vinny84

ZF 8spd is fine.

Drove a few Bimmer's with the ZF 8spd and you can't knock how fast they shift and how smooth they operate. Honestly, I see no issues with not having DCT. Would of been nice, but it certainly isn't a deal breaker.

If you really want a DCT, either stick with your 335is or purchase a used e92 M3.

It is a deal breaker for me. I'm still not convinced about the ZF 8 speed, and I have driven a few. Also at rebuild time, which costs the most to rebuild. BMW autos are serious $$ to rebuild.

I got the 335is to get the DCT.
Then, I wanted a 1M - but no DCT.
Now 1M deja vu with M235,..... but the previous model 135 had the option.
M2 will have it, ...but which engine will power it?

The DCT is the perfect transmission for my needs. It shifts faster than a human, and when I want. In economy mode, it is right on. In sport mode, awesome. If I want to control the shifts, manual mode has no lag or vagueness - unlike most slushboxes.

My wife cannot drive a stick, but if she needs to borrow the car, she is OK with the DCT. It is a perfect transmission for a marriage.

BMW only puts DCT in the higher model cars, but there are some like me that would pay extra to have the option to put it in a lesser car. If I'm paying 50 grand, I should have it if I want it. Some marketing person says no I can't.

So, my DCT choices are limited.
- Stick with the 335is and drive loaners, and hope that everything is ironed out before the warranty runs out.
- 135 DCT
- E92 M3 out of warranty
- M435 - Serious $$
- wait 3 years for an M2.

Roundel had a poll asking if the DCT was the transmission of the future. No it can't be because BMW has decided to only put it in very few models. We will be stuck with slush boxes forever. F-o-r-e-v-e-r.

[ska///235i]

Cuz DCT is for the M2...duhh

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

So, my DCT choices are limited.
- Stick with the 335is and drive loaners, and hope that everything is ironed out before the warranty runs out.
- 135 DCT
- E92 M3 out of warranty
- M435 - Serious $$
- wait 3 years for an M2.

There are some CPO M3's out there with DCT, that are less than $50k.

[Powaup]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

So, my DCT choices are limited.
- Stick with the 335is and drive loaners, and hope that everything is ironed out before the warranty runs out.
- 135 DCT
- E92 M3 out of warranty
- M435 - Serious $$
- wait 3 years for an M2.

Roundel had a poll asking if the DCT was the transmission of the future. No it can't be because BMW has decided to only put it in very few models. We will be stuck with slush boxes forever. F-o-r-e-v-e-r.

Lease a 135 DCT then M4 or M2 in 3 years once lease is over. However time frame for M2 is really uncertain but by the time your lease is over there will be used M4s/M3s for sale or you could do ED with the wife

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

It is a deal breaker for me. I'm still not convinced about the ZF 8 speed, and I have driven a few. Also at rebuild time, which costs the most to rebuild. BMW autos are serious $$ to rebuild.

I got the 335is to get the DCT.
Then, I wanted a 1M - but no DCT.
Now 1M deja vu with M235,..... but the previous model 135 had the option.
M2 will have it, ...but which engine will power it?

The DCT is the perfect transmission for my needs. It shifts faster than a human, and when I want. In economy mode, it is right on. In sport mode, awesome. If I want to control the shifts, manual mode has no lag or vagueness - unlike most slushboxes.

My wife cannot drive a stick, but if she needs to borrow the car, she is OK with the DCT. It is a perfect transmission for a marriage.

BMW only puts DCT in the higher model cars, but there are some like me that would pay extra to have the option to put it in a lesser car. If I'm paying 50 grand, I should have it if I want it. Some marketing person says no I can't.

So, my DCT choices are limited.
- Stick with the 335is and drive loaners, and hope that everything is ironed out before the warranty runs out.
- 135 DCT
- E92 M3 out of warranty
- M435 - Serious $$
- wait 3 years for an M2.

Roundel had a poll asking if the DCT was the transmission of the future. No it can't be because BMW has decided to only put it in very few models. We will be stuck with slush boxes forever. F-o-r-e-v-e-r.

Pretty sure it's much more expensive to fix a DCT than a ZF8....

Main advantage of the DCT is that the next gear is already in before you switch gears so then you just release one clutch and engage the other which makes the gear shift faster....

Turns out the ZF8 is almost as fast, cheaper, lighter and more fuel efficient, so it probably doesn't justify to put DCTs anymore but for M cars where you want to squeeze every single little bit of performance and where fuel economy is not a priority....

[BMW269]

DCT is only for M cars. M2 will have DCT (with I4 ).

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

incorrect.

the ZF is significantly cheaper to manufacture.

As a gearbox, the DCT is vastly superior in every way. I've driven both and there is no comparison.

This.

The only two reasons there's no DCT in the M235 (or M135) is as said, it's cheaper and more importantly DCT technology is being reserved for ///M cars only.

As good as the ZF8 is (and it is a very good slushbox) it's not as good as the DCT.
If you want DCT and a BMW you will have to buy a ///M car

Only non-M car still with DCT is the Z4 35i IIRC.

[Woodstock]

Originally Posted by Levi

DCT is only for M cars.....

So, according to that logic, the M435 is an M car, and the M235 is not.

[Woodstock]

Originally Posted by GeeRam

This.

The only two reasons there's no DCT in the M235 (or M135) is as said, it's cheaper and more importantly DCT technology is being reserved for ///M cars only.

As good as the ZF8 is (and it is a very good slushbox) it's not as good as the DCT.
If you want DCT and a BMW you will have to buy a ///M car

Only non-M car still with DCT is the Z4 35i IIRC.

M435.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

So, according to that logic, the M435 is an M car, and the M235 is not.

There isn't a M435........

(not yet)

[Woodstock]

Originally Posted by Powaup

Lease a 135 DCT then M4 or M2 in 3 years once lease is over. However time frame for M2 is really uncertain but by the time your lease is over there will be used M4s/M3s for sale or you could do ED with the wife

ED for the M2 is the current plan. Whenever that is.

[Woodstock]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

M435.

Just looked at the BMWUSA site. I guess not.