[RagingKileak]

Hi guys,

Quick question(s) for you all!

I've driven a few DCT cars now, but none of them a 335i, which is what I would like to think about purchasing at the moment.

So, based on it being a 2009 car with the later HDD based I-Drive, what gearbox options am I going to have? The M3 had about 6 settings and 7 gears, plus it also blipped the throttle on changing gear.

Does the 335i share any/all of these functions? For example I think it has 7 gears and a sport mode, but searching for the 'blip' feature usually leads me to a thread about M3's.

Is there a 'full' manual mode where it will really rev to the line if I want it to?

Last question - can it be remapped like the DSG box? Does it need to be or is it perfect?

Thanks
Matt

[Boz335i]

It doesn't have quite as many features as the M3, I think with the M3 you can adjust the launch control revs. It has 7 gears and can be driven in:
Auto
Auto + Sport
Manual
Manual + Sport
Both manual modes can be taken to the red line, if you make a mistake and go into the red it will shift gear for you to protect the box.

I don't really drive anywhere in auto, especially if you're approaching a roundabout and go to pull it quickly, it can leave you hanging around a bit as it's not sure which gear to be in.

You get rev matching on the downshifts which make you sound like a pro driver and do sound pretty cool, plenty of bubbling and popping if you're shifting down at high revs.

Launch control is superb and will cost you a few quids worth of rubber everytime, but is pretty exhilarating. You must launch with all traction off, so there's lots of smoke and drama and it can be pretty frightening the first time until you get used to the back end snaking all over the place. Everybody I've taken on a L/C absolutely love it.

I run JB4 with mine with no issues at all.

Hope this helps.

[RagingKileak]

Thanks for the post mate, that will clear most of the questions I think!

Launch control in the 360 bhp Golf is manic (and useless) so that will be fun!

Matt

[rogerxp]

Isn't the point of launch control to avoid tyre smoke; kind of defeats the point. Fun nethertheless (until you shred those rears of course).

[RagingKileak]

As I understand it, a small amount of spin is best.... Just not much.

Matt

[creepy coupe]

The 335i doesn't have the 6 options to adjust gear change ferocity. It has full auto, full manual and a sport button, which holds the RPM between changes slightly longer.
You can still use it in sequential mode when in manual and it does blip the throttle on down changes.

[Boz335i]

Another feature I found by accident was that I can change gear on the knob by moving it up and down (that sounds a bit rude). Not sure what the point is, but I use it now and again for a change.

Just realised, rev matching = throttle blip...doh!!

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Boz335i

Another feature I found by accident was that I can change gear on the knob by moving it up and down (that sounds a bit rude). Not sure what the point is, but I use it now and again for a change.

Just realised, rev matching = throttle blip...doh!!

You can still use it in sequential mode

As already mentioned

[Boz335i]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Isn't the point of launch control to avoid tyre smoke; kind of defeats the point. Fun nethertheless (until you shred those rears of course).

I'm glad you wrote this, cos I couldn't remember what RPM it launched at, I thought it was 6000 rpm, hence the smoke, huge wheel spin etc.

After googling it, I've just found out that I can launch anywhere between 1500 rpm and 6000 rpm by lifting off at the appropriate point. I was waiting until the revs hit the top, what a plum I am!!

Also, I didn't realise that I could launch with the traction only half off, hence the snaking!

Here's the link for anyone interested.
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=7270

Now I'm looking forward to the pod even more on Sunday.

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

You can still use it in sequential mode. As already mentioned

Thanks for that, I never knew what that was called either.

[creepy coupe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7dE_3MwHTk

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Isn't the point of launch control to avoid tyre smoke; kind of defeats the point. Fun nethertheless (until you shred those rears of course).

Launch control is for posing of course, the wheelspin etc is usually programmed-in for max drama!

Although it seems this 335i Launch control is semi-manual they way you can affect it by the brake release point and whether DTC is on or DSC off.

On supercar Launches, its seems 'fixed' i.e. only one method and the revs / spin / drama are all set.