DCT Swap + S54

[Rkymtnrider]

It only suffers for the lazy who drive it like an automatic. SMG was perfectly smooth in my decade of ownership with it.

Absolutely pointless swap, but if you’re bored in a locked down country, I get it.

I totally agree. My m is my 5th vehicle and 1st w/o a 3rd pedal. I’ve always driven it like a manual and responds the same, just faster.

[bjz!]

A few in europe, in fact, even a honda s2000 k24 with dct box in Spain, a e36 m50 i think, with dct in germany...

[Fresh1179]

If it's strictly a track car, have you looked into putting in a Drenth gearbox?

Absolutely, that is the current alternative. The Drenth setup allows for a bunch of different setup options as well. Candidly, I am not as familiar with what the DCT conversion fully involves at this point. My favorite track setup for our car is in the video below (Mike Skeen-VIR w/ Drenth). It's humbling to watch him destroy my home course. The interior setup is in line with my final build plans. Clean. Functional.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIXt0ZV5cDw&ab_channel=MikeSkeen

[Casa de Mesa]

Absolutely, that is the current alternative. The Drenth setup allows for a bunch of different setup options as well. Candidly, I am not as familiar with what the DCT conversion fully involves at this point. My favorite track setup for our car is in the video below (Mike Skeen-VIR w/ Drenth). It's humbling to watch him destroy my home course. The interior setup is in line with my final build plans. Clean. Functional.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIXt...nnel=MikeSkeen

I have thousands of miles at that track in the various configurations, but mostly VIR Full. The gearing in that car is almost perfect for VIR Full: 2nd gear coming out of the tight corners and the car hits max RPM just at the end of the back straight.

Great vid, good stuff.

Casa

[Icecream]

It only suffers for the lazy who drive it like an automatic. SMG was perfectly smooth in my decade of ownership with it.

Absolutely pointless swap, but if you’re bored in a locked down country, I get it.

Right, drive it with the same attention as a traditional 6speed and it’s just as smooth (if you can drive stick well),

[K-Dawg]

Concur. The only advantage of the DCT over the SMG is being able to shift in high G corner. The DCT doesnt upset the car as much as SMG.

I would think more, closer gear ratios is an advantage. The DCT gives you 5 or 6 usable track gears instead of 3 or 4. With DCT you should be able to spend more time in the powerband.

[Cubieman]

A few in europe, in fact, even a honda s2000 k24 with dct box in Spain, a e36 m50 i think, with dct in germany...

These DCT swaps are indeed becoming more popular, on the "All Girls Garge" TV show they used an adapter that allowed usage of a DCT (from an F80 M3) and matted it to a 2jz Supra.

How many iterations of the DCT's are there at this point? I am not well versed at all with these.

[Martyn]

First Gen DCT Short ratio as found in the E9x 335i, E9x M3, and E8x 135i / Z4 35i.
Second Gen DCT Long ratio as found in the F8x M2/M3/M4 and F10 M5.

[Casa de Mesa]

First Gen DCT Short ratio as found in the E9x 335i, E9x M3, and E8x 135i / Z4 35i.
Second Gen DCT Long ratio as found in the F8x M2/M3/M4 and F10 M5.

Out of curiosity, do you know what those ratios are?

[Martyn]

Gear	Stock M3	Long Ratio	Short Ratio
1	4.23	4.81	4.78
2	2.53	2.59	3.056
3	1.67	1.7	2.153
4	1.23	1.28	1.678
5	1	1	1.39
6	0.83	0.84	1.203
7		0.67	1

[Casa de Mesa]

Thank you Martyn ! That's a bigger difference than I would have expected.

[Martyn]

This was my car on the long ratio box with a 4.10 rear end.

[eacmen]

Tough crowd.

advantage of the DCT is smoother shifts than SMG, which allows you to shift even in high G turns on the limit of traction. This would allow shorter gearing so the powerband becomes more dynamic and adaptable to each track.

Am I rushing out to DCT my SMG track car? no
If the DCT evolves to a point where the swap is easier I would consider it when the SMG dies.

[Cronenberged]

I love my car being manual, but daily it again and when stick in traffic would love the use of a DCT. Also when I tracked the car having auto rev match would be nice cause I struggle to brake and rev match at.the same time. I think its more of a pedal spacing thing for me as I don't have the biggest feet.

I've only test drove the DCT once, but curious how it compares to Porsches PDK which I've only heard is quicker and smoother, also more reliable? If I was bored and funds were available that's probably the swap I would am for maybe if its even possible.

[Arith2]

I've only test drove the DCT once, but curious how it compares to Porsches PDK which I've only heard is quicker and smoother, also more reliable? If I was bored and funds were available that's probably the swap I would am for maybe if its even possible.

The PDK beats it in every area, as much as I hate to say it.

The issue would be swapping a PDK. You don't want the ones out the cars that have front engines. Those are ones that always break, even with proper service. One out of a boxster or 911 would be more trouble than it's worth. It'd also have to sit in a custom subframe at the rear. Then there's the software problem. Porsche transmissions talk to everything... even the stupid headlights. The engineers are super quiet about their designs as well. Reverse engineering the software would absolutely be the hardest part. Porsche is sloppy in that sense.

Sorry to be a kill joy. They did nail it with the PDK and I wish BMW could keep up but that PDK is just unmatched.