BMW M to phase out DCT (dual clutch) and manual gearboxes in favor of traditional automatics

[93siro]

Porsche sells about 225,000 total cars per year, while BMW produces 2 million (excluding Mini and motorcycles).

Every car that Porsche produces amount to just over 11% of BMW production.

What matters is the numbers of DCT cars which now is solely M car production number. Probably less than 20000 cars.

Dont get me wronf im not defending BMW. Their manual excuse is BS and lame. But DCT has had sketchy future from day 1.

[Velocity26]

A few random facts I want to throw out:

It has been over 10 years since a car (911) was the top produced model at P.
SUVs now comprise 64% of their production, with the 911 in 3rd place with only 16% of units produced.

To my knowledge, nearly all of the trucks have an Auto (non-DCT) transmission.

The total number of DCTs sold by P is a small percentage of total production and a tiny percentage of the
auto industry as a whole.

[BlackJetE90OC]

SUVs now comprise 64% of their production, with the 911 in 3rd place with only 16% of units produced.

To my knowledge, nearly all of the trucks have an Auto (non-DCT) transmission.

All Macan models are dual clutch. Macan was Porsche's number one selling auto last year.

[subaru335i]

LOL this Peter Quintus guy is a humongous $#@!. None of his arguments make any sense and his statement is literally just "blah blah blah M cars will go to slushbox automatic now because AMG did it and we are too stupid and money hungry to design real enthusiast cars anymore"

Seriously $#@! BMW and the M division in particular. BMW should strive to make M more like Porsche not AMG. Porsche has no problem making strong, reliable, fast, nicely shifting DCT's and Manual gearboxes.
"ultimate driving machine" my ass.

[Velocity26]

All Macan models are dual clutch. Macan was Porsche's number one selling auto last year.

I stand corrected. Even with that, they do not produce enough cars to move the needle on overall car sales.

There has always been a manual transmission car in my garage, and it can be fun for a short time, but it will never be my DD. I could easily live with a DCT as a DD.

[AWSAWS]

Well looks like my DCT equipped 335i will become a sought after classic thanks to this move!

On a serious note. It's easy to see why DCT came about compared to the old SMG gearboxes that had a huge lag back in the day. The simple solution was the second clutch. But not the automatics have vastly improved from how they used to be. The shift times and flexibility on those have dramatically improved as well. When you consider these things it makes sense. Turbos have drastically impacted the torque profiles of cars.
The manuals do offer the greatest driver involvement but so many manufacturers compete on statistics to sell cars. I find a manual great fun but in heavy traffic in cities where it's all stop start driving it's a PITA.

[csu87]

Goddam millennials making companies phase out manuals.

I guess it is hard to tweet while your shifting.

[ezec63]

I'm pretty sure the new E63 uses the 9 speed MCT built in house by Mercedes/AMG and is not an out sourced ZF torque converter that everyone else is using?

[Sticky]

Ford is switching to regular autos from what i see and all you mentioned above are either transaxles or transverse transmissions. Completely different

Sure but they still had to be developed and supplied.

They are simply not enough players left to justify pushing DCT's forward.

Meh, plenty of DCT cars so not sure what you are saying. McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, are not going to autos any time soon.

The top of the line still has the best option.

[Sticky]

I'm pretty sure the new E63 uses the 9 speed MCT built in house by Mercedes/AMG and is not an out sourced ZF torque converter that everyone else is using?

Crap I think you're right. My mistake.

[ezec63]

Crap I think you're right. My mistake.

I wonder how the 9 Speed MCT stacks up to the newest ZF 8 speed in shift time, down shifts, throttle response etc. I would think the ZF has the edge in comfort and stop/go drivability.