F10 M5 DCT gearbox question

[Cyrus1971]

My 2012 BMW F10 M5 gearbox seems to do 2 annoying things. I was wondering if these are "stock" features and expected behaviour ? or not....

1 - when in drive and you use the paddles to drop a gear or two it then stays in that gear and never (say 10 seconds later) resets automatically to Drive. So you have to use the gear selector to re-set to drive or remain for the rest of time in that 1 gear. Most cars reset after an interval.

2 - When doing 1 above (even if or if not using M1 or M2 mode) the car revs up but then only bounces off the rev limiter and NEVER changes up automatically. So you have to input the next gear and can't rely on the gearbox to just do it for you. Sure you have more control in theory but in practice who ever does hit max revs and then wants to stay there bouncing off the red line - ever ? This is despite a setting in the iDrive that, perhaps misleadingly, allows you to configure automatic up shifts when at max revs. Does not seem to work - perhaps it is just my car ?

Is there some hierarchy to the settings I am not considering ? Overall it really reduces the usability and increases driver tasks, when it seems like a simple software option would stop it hitting the rev limiter and staying there. More time to focus on the road...

Any insights ? Thanks.

[Huskyman]

https://f10.m5post.com/forums/attachment.php?attac...

[Stever]

I have a 2014 M6GC same gearbox though

!. no it doesn't reset the auto boxes do but not the DCT.

2. Surely the whole point of using the paddles is for YOU to up shift before the rev limiter by which stage you would be going very rapidly anyway in any gear except 1st. If you can't manage that leave it in drive?

Maybe this is a wind up in which case I have fallen for it hook line......

[theboss]

Exactly as per design and the car is better for it

I've never seen any idrive setting about auto shifting at the limiter - where is it?

[jm doc]

Definitely doesn’t auto shift at the limit, why are you using it in manual in the first place if you want it to auto shift?

[TheAngryDog]

It's an automated manual with an auto mode. Treat it like a proper manual, or treat it like an auto, but don't expect it to do both things without telling it.

[Cyrus1971]

Thanks for the replies.

In response to questions I do exit Drive and change down using the paddles as that has the advantage of having me ready and in the right rev range for an overtake, but after that I have no interest in upshifts and want a drive function to do that for me.

There should be some kind of Car based decision to move between the 2 states (drive and sequential) and I think it has been thought about as when in the M1 or M2 button menu for the Gearbox you can choose D for Drive or S for Sequential. The thing is it does not work on my car.

So I think the intention is there. Perhaps a previous owner has re-done the software. Though it was BMW main dealer car.

Anyway I have adjusted, it was more for curiosity. From your replies it seems it is expected behaviour. Thanks.

[Stever]

could you not press M2 on the wheel to bring the paddles into life and then do your overtake and then press M2 again to cancel it and return to automated changes?

I appreciate this is probably more thumb action than you wanted but at the end of the day it's all interaction with your car?

[Cyrus1971]

Stever said:

could you not press M2 on the wheel to bring the paddles into life and then do your overtake and then press M2 again to cancel it and return to automated changes?

I appreciate this is probably more thumb action than you wanted but at the end of the day it's all interaction with your car?

Yes that is an alternative. Attached are picture of the iDrive sub-menu for M1 (or M2) for the Gearbox (at the place where if one went "Back" on the iDrive menu it would then give you all the config options for : suspension, gearbox, steering, traction etc) there are 2 x states. S (not shown yet) and as shown in the pic D saying it is Automatic upshifts. Following several tests this morning there seem to be no difference between the 2 settings on how the gearbox functions !?! It is like it is turned off or permanently on Sequential no matter what the menu says. That is what I can't understand. This suggests to me that BMW thought of drivers like me and anyone used to normal automatic like in the regular F10 5 Series, and built the F10 M5 DCT to work like a normal auto box.

Edited by Cyrus1971 on Friday 17th June 09:21

[theboss]

I'll have to do some tests now to confirm exactly what happens, but I'm fairly sure that if I set the mode to D for M1 and S for M2 then it will switch between those modes when the buttons are engaged - it essentially sets the 'default mode' for that setting but once you change it (with the gearshift or by using a paddle when you're in D) it stays changed until you either switch it back manually or re-press the relevant M1/M2 button.

I find it a very natural setup and prefer it to the new ZF8 implementation in the F90. It's a shame to see it gone.

Edited by theboss on Friday 17th June 11:26

[Cyrus1971]

theboss said:

I'll have to do some tests now to confirm exactly what happens, but I'm fairly sure that if I set the mode to D for M1 and S for M2 then it will switch between those modes when the buttons are engaged - it essentially sets the 'default mode' for that setting but once you change it (with the gearshift or by using a paddle when you're in D) it stays changed until you either switch it back manually or re-press the relevant M1/M2 button.

I find it a very natural setup and prefer it to the new ZF8 implementation in the F90. It's a shame to see it gone.

Edited by theboss on Friday 17th June 11:26

Just curious did you do the tests you mention. I did the same and it made no difference. If I was in D and used the paddles to downshift and then accelerate, by the time I hit the rev limiter in either iDrive scenario or setting (Either D or S) then I would bounce off the rev' limiter. So no difference unfortunately. So why the iDrive config option remains my question.

Interestingly (well to me anyway !) I realised that the gearbox does do the auto shifting even when in D and using manual (sequential) paddles but only as one slows. So say you are in 7th Gear, Manual Mode, as you slow to 0 MPH it does downshift of course to prevent stalling.

So clearly the SW has the capability when slowing, it is just the upshift when hitting the red line that does not seem to work.

Anyway it is off for some new rear pads so I will get BMW have a look under warrantee then too.

[Ollerton57]

The setting in idrive sets how the car shifts when you enter M1 or M2 mode i.e. auto or self-shifting. If you change the setting once underway then it will not default back - same as if you change engine, steering or suspension.

No mode will cause the manual shift to revert back to auto automatically. If you put the car in manual, you will need to put it back to auto yourself.

[theboss]

It's sad to say it, but no, I haven't driven the car for weeks... one of my other cars is with the dealer so I've been using their loaner instead as much as possible.

I'm going to do 4000 continental miles in the car in early August so I will definitely know in about 6 weeks time probably not much help

As above though, the moment you touch a paddle in any mode it switches to S / manual mode and will stay there unless you knock the gear shift back to D again.

[beanoir78]

Both of 1 and 2 are correct for the DCT, there is no setting to override either.

The DCT, much like other dual clutch transmissions (Porsche PDK etc) is more of an automated manual, and so therefore it acts like one. The user still has some control over the selection of gears. The DCT is not an automatic.

The ZF gearbox would give you the automation on both of the points you've raised, but it's an automatic transmission and what you gain in automation, you lose in human interface.