DCT Paddles

[colink]

What is the current paddle situation on the DCT boxes for the 2012 models? Is it still the push-me-pull-you ones on both 35i and 35iS or are they now right up/left down as in the M3?

I had the pleasure of battering a 35iS at Brands Hatch earlier in the year courtesy of BMW but I must admit the operation of the paddles on the DCT box were counter-intuitive. Almost enough to make me consider a 35i instead so I can specify a manual box. That said, I love the concept of the DCT box and as I'm likely to use the car for commuting (including a rush hour crawl round the Edinburgh bypass) then an auto would be very advantageous.

 

[Wondermike]

They are now left-down and right-up like every other paddleshift car. This is on all the Z4s now, DCT or automatic too, like on the 20i and 28i.

 

[colink]

Fantastic It was at the back of my mind that I'd heard this change was happening but couldn't find out - knew I should have tried a proper forum first - that's where all the experts are

 

[Taz]

er, i just had a loan car for a week, i never thought have putting in sports mode and trying the paddles

 

[Wondermike]

Just to add - the change is recent and there will likely be a built but unregistered car sitting somewhere. No doubt the dealer will try and offload this first, prior to a factory order, and you might find you can get a really good deal on that instead. I do think that after a while you seldom use the paddles.

 

[All Pina]

Just my opinion, but really don't understand the fuss about the push/pull paddles. They may be counter intuitive for 10 minutes, but very easy to use in reality. The point is that you can up or down shift easily at any steering input angle or with one hand.

 

[shambolic]

Loving that interior colour.

 

[Adamski]

I drove a paddle shift at Silverstone. Right paddle shift up, left paddle shift down. Simples.

And very nice in a Ferrari


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wondermike]

Just my opinion, but really don't understand the fuss about the push/pull paddles. They may be counter intuitive for 10 minutes, but very easy to use in reality. The point is that you can up or down shift easily at any steering input angle or with one hand.

Yeah I would agree with this, once you've driven the car for any length of time then you would get used to the paddles. But much easier just to floor it.

Do you use the paddles much All Pina?

 

[djtex]

Hmmm I had a loan 23i with the old push/pull system and I hated, never got used to it, so unintuitive. Proper paddles are where it's at.

 

[tot]

I find the push-pull paddles a bit hard to use, and Iam pretty much all the time in the manual mode and use them. I don't have any other experience of using paddles so I can't say they are something I am not used to. The good thing is that you can shift with up and down with one hand, but I just don't like the feel of them, I'd just prefer a bit lighter and shaper feel.

This brings the obvious question: how hard can it be to retrofit the new paddles to older model? Is it enough to replace just the paddles or is a new steering wheel needed... I guess time will tell, realoem does not yet have part numbers for new models.

 

[All Pina]

Do you use the paddles much All Pina?

Yes, pretty much all the time. I find a manual down change useful when approaching roundabouts or non compulsory stop junctions useful, where you can put some human input into best likely gear for the conditions. If you want an adrenaline rush, rapid upshift/acelerlrtion in Sport mode is fairly rewarding

 

[Zed_Steve]

Do you use the paddles much All Pina?

If you want an adrenaline rush, rapid upshift/acelerlrtion in Sport mode is fairly rewarding

Indeed
I use the paddles with sport mode engaged on spirited runs, being able to up/downshift manually maintains that driver involvement. Great fun

 

[Wondermike]

Do you use the paddles much All Pina?

If you want an adrenaline rush, rapid upshift/acelerlrtion in Sport mode is fairly rewarding

Indeed
I use the paddles with sport mode engaged on spirited runs, being able to up/downshift manually maintains that driver involvement. Great fun

Interesting. Never had them before. Maybe on my next car

 

[jaz4]

Im sorry but even after a month in my 10 plate auto it does not matter.

My only complaint is In sports when it selects 1st by default when coming to a junction or roundabout, turning left or right using the paddles is pure stupidit.

They are undreneath the wheel and you dont know which is up or down, push me pull you wont matter as they move with the wheel, so I use the gear stick.

 

[Zed_Steve]

Im sorry but even after a month in my 10 plate auto it does not matter.

My only complaint is In sports when it selects 1st by default when coming to a junction or roundabout, turning left or right using the paddles is pure stupidit.

They are undreneath the wheel and you dont know which is up or down, push me pull you wont matter as they move with the wheel, so I use the gear stick.

That is one issue i have with the paddles, turning and upshifting at a junction for example is awkward. I either engage normal mode so it pulls away in 2nd allowing more time to upshift, or briefly revert back to auto. Pulling away rapidly in a straight line using the paddles is good though

 

[KDB]

I love paddle shifting! In the Z4 we have the automatic gearbox.

I only had experience with paddles driving my Ferrari with a F1 gearbox with the left-paddle "down" and the right-paddle "up". But this is a complete different kind of gearbox (dry gearbox).
So, indeed in the beginning the shifting was strange. But very soon it began to feel really good. And in everyday traffic it can be really helpful to be able to shift up or down at both sides. Also it can be fun; shifting up I like the most in Sport+ mode and shifting down in Sport mode. In Sport mode the shifting is a bit slower, so when shifting down you can kick a bit in between to get a nice sound out of the 6 cilinders.