EU BMW 335i with DCT

My next car will either be the facelifted E92 to come or Audi A5.. whichever one introduces DCT to the US models first will most likely win my $45k.

I honestly can not tell a difference in shift speeds when compared to BMW’s Sport Auto used in the 5 and 6 series. Assuming that BMW will charge a pretty premium for DCT over the typical automatic, I don’t quite see the point. I would still much rather have a proper gearbox.

I am not saying that there isn’t a difference. Only that the difference is too minor in my opinion to justify the likely premium that BMW is going to charge for the gearbox. I’m sure that there are going to be those that are going to revel in the technical brilliance of the gearbox but I’m not one of them.

I think anyone who has seen the second episode of the latest Top Gear season where JC drives the ZR1 will remember when JC proclaimed his love for the manual gearbox. I’m not saying that his opinion is gospel, just that I think did a great job articulating the joys of a proper gearbox.

The pricing in Australia is the same. The E92 328i has only the Steptronic option, and the E92 335i has only the DCT option. The price for each option over the 6MT is identical.

I do think that compared to a good Steptronic, which the one in the 335i really is, the difference probably isn’t that great. However, I AM truly jealous that I could not get DCT on my MY09 E90 – I certainly would have chosen DCT over my Step….