The iconic supercar-baiting BMW M3 is now available with the option of dual-clutch transmission. The seven-speed unit is supplied by Getrag, in collaboration with BorgWarner, and is the first-ever inline application of DCT on a rear wheel drive car.

On the top-specification M3 the transmission, which BMW designates M DCT DriveLogic, has a torque capacity of 600 Nm and helps reduce the model’s 0-100 km/h acceleration time by 0.2 seconds compared with the standard manual gearbox.

With a rev limit of 9,000 rev/min the transmission not only further enhances the M3’s performance but is responsible for efficiency improvements, too, boosting fuel economy by 4 to 10 percent in comparison with a conventional automatic transmission.

In the M3 application the transmission can be programmed through the vehicle’s sophisticated DriveLogic system, accessed vie the iDrive controller. A console-mounted switch gives the choice of seven different sensitivity and shift-speed settings.

Further versions of the transmission will appear on additional BMW models, such as the 330i coupé and convertible. The transmission hardware remains substantially unchanged, but some of the user programmability is simplified.

Story Filed: 1/05/2009
By Tony Lewin, managing editor DCTfacts.com