PLACING ORDER ON FRIDAY - DCT or Manual?

[SFT33]

All -

Placing my order on Friday - Azurite/Nutmeg Full/Piano Black/CCB, etc. I am debating ordering the 6 speed.

I currently have an E28, E34 and E60 M5. The E60 is SMG - the other two are 5 speeds. While I like SMG - the other two cars are much more fun to drive/more involving etc.

Can any 6 speed owners comment on their experience with the manual in the F10. Do you regret not getting DCT?

[RPiM5]

DCT.

Dude, you seriously own all of those M5's? I'm going to need to come over to your house for a visit. Lol!

The 6MT is sublime on E28, E34, and E39 M5's, functional on the E60 M5, and not well suited for the F10 M5. The DCT is amazing, although there is ZERO feedback feeling from the transmission. The DCT feels like a knob for a computer, while on the SMG at least the knob is mechanically connected to the transmission.

[SFT33]

Here they are

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by SFT33

Here they are

Nice! Have you done anything to your E60?

[jbyeatman]

I have a manual and in all honesty would go DCT if I could do it over again. I ordered my car without having driven the 6MT because there weren't any in my area available to test drive. I figured this would be the last gen M5 available with the manual option so went for it.

I find that it is not well-suited to the car. It is not easy to drive smoothly and the gear ratios seem oddly spaced (and before I get flamed for not knowing how to drive, I do race formula cars with manual transmissions on the weekends!). The drivetrain was designed with the DCT in mind and from my experience the manual seems out of place.

I am a die-hard MT fan but I do regret it in this car. If you have an opportunity, test drive one yourself before ticking the box! Good luck!

[SFT33]

The E60 is bone stock.

[Phatcat]

Originally Posted by jbyeatman

I have a manual and in all honesty would go DCT if I could do it over again. I ordered my car without having driven the 6MT because there weren't any in my area available to test drive. I figured this would be the last gen M5 available with the manual option so went for it.

I find that it is not well-suited to the car. It is not easy to drive smoothly and the gear ratios seem oddly spaced (and before I get flamed for not knowing how to drive, I do race formula cars with manual transmissions on the weekends!). The drivetrain was designed with the DCT in mind and from my experience the manual seems out of place.

I am a die-hard MT fan but I do regret it in this car. If you have an opportunity, test drive one yourself before ticking the box! Good luck!

I heard with the 6MT in the F10, the turbo lag is more pronounced, where as in the DCT it's almost non-existent.

[akbast]

I haven't driven the 6MT version of the F10 but I the DCT is just way too good. I love how smooth it is in stop-n-go traffic yet I can ramp it up to S3 and it's fun as heck on the track. I would think that all that torque would be a bit to handle in traffic.

[jbyeatman]

Originally Posted by akbast

I haven't driven the 6MT version of the F10 but I the DCT is just way too good. I love how smooth it is in stop-n-go traffic yet I can ramp it up to S3 and it's fun as heck on the track. I would think that all that torque would be a bit to handle in traffic.

Yes, there is noticeable turbo lag which adds to the lack of smoothness.

I will say that it is a lot of fun on twisty back country roads! The rev-matching on downshifts works very well once you get used to it.

[lsturbointeg]

my vote is for DCT! CONGRATS on your upcoming purchase!

[bmellion]

DCT

[Bluehorseshoe]

I would say that it almost all comes down to how you will be using your new M5.

If, like me, you will use it as your fun car and not your daily driver I'd say go for the manual.
Or even if it is your daily driver but you don't have a commute full of daily traffic go with the manual.

But if you will be driving for work daily and in traffic a lot you will probably be very happy with the DCT as it is almost the best of both worlds.

[Tanin]

Originally Posted by SFT33

All -

Placing my order on Friday - Azurite/Nutmeg Full/Piano Black/CCB, etc. I am debating ordering the 6 speed.

I currently have an E28, E34 and E60 M5. The E60 is SMG - the other two are 5 speeds. While I like SMG - the other two cars are much more fun to drive/more involving etc.

Can any 6 speed owners comment on their experience with the manual in the F10. Do you regret not getting DCT?

Like you I had to order without ever driving the F10 M5 manual. Went to multiple dealers and drove the DCT a half dozen times and each time left impressed but not convinced. Came to the realization that although uncertain how the M5 will drive with a manual, I was confident the DCT wasn't the proper transmission for me.

Just broke the 1 year mark with my '15 6MT. Love the transmission and wouldn't want to own this car in any other configuration. Everyone will have an opinion, just make sure you listen to the guy paying.

Feel free to PM specific questions if you have any.

[chong0]

have not driven M5 DCT, but have driven panny, e90 m3, and 911 pdk/dct. since all my cars are MT, i am biased but here are my thoughts:

seems like you tend to keep your cars. Given that this is likely the last manual M5, that would automatically push me towards the MT. i have an MT cayenne which makes no sense but indeed makes it more enjoyable.

There is turbo lag in comfort, but only below 2k rpm. if you are keeping the rpm over 2k on upshift it is nonexistent. Improved with sport response. much less noticeable after dinan upgrade.

heavy stop and go traffic is a pain and tricky to keep smooth. engine shut off requires anticipating the other direction's street light to turn yellow to turn the engine on. you can not instantly push clutch in, turn engine on and drive as car will buckle. (you can always disable this)

despite the above, it is still immensely enjoyable and i know for me the DCT would be less engaging for the everyday commute.

[Bimmer6]

The manual was never designed for the F10 as it was an after thought because some die hards pushed it. I would be hesitant as you keep you cars parts will be scarce, and resale sucks because they are in low demand. I traded my 991S MT for my GT3 optioned well it sat on the lot for about 4 months. I got a good trade dealer hated the paper weight that sat on the lot, and it only had 4500 miles on it.

[Lalit@autocouture]

DCT all the way, from a genuine 6MT enthusiast.

[The Kid]

Originally Posted by Lalit@AUTOcouture

DCT all the way, from a genuine 6MT enthusiast.

I agree DCT all the way.

[sdf10m5]

The dct is phenomenal , however for me -6mt all the way. I love my big three pedal monster and have never regretted it.

[soooma]

Drive Manual though not M5 for more than 10 years but this M5 DCT left bribing for me to be desired !!
DCT,
Also for the looks man,
The manual in the console looks awkward in such a high tech cabin!

[Lawaia]

No complaints here for DCT. I do however miss heel-toe shifting during spirited drives.

[SFT33]

Decided against the standard after driving the DCT. Very impressed and felt that I would be dissapointed with the clunkiness of a traditional manual. Thanks for the input.

[6spdterror]

Ive owned 4 manual cars before my M5 and there is no doubt the DCT was made for this car! Drove both and decided to go DCT.