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New post by the owner:

BimmerPost - BMW Forums - View Single Post - And the wait is now over

There is no doubt in my mind that I would get the M-DCT transmission if I bought a new M3 sedan as an all purpose daily driver and occasional track car.

However, after test driving the 135i 2 days ago with a stickshift, there is no fancy padlle shifting transmission that could ever make me feel more connected and instantly know what gear I'm in than a standard manual transmission. No matter how fast or smooth a paddle shift transmission can shift, I sometimes have to look down at the instrument panel to see what gear I'm actually in, and that is the one aspect which bothers me about them. That's why I rarely use the Manual mode in my C55. Haven't driven a manual in over 6 years, but it sure felt great in the 135i.

I'm glad you liked the 1-series

The main reason why we like to know what gear we're in when we are driving a manual is so that we don't engage the wrong gear damaging the engine. With a SMG and DSG you don't need to know what gear you're in since you don't run the risk of accidentally engaging the first gear while doing 120km/h.

Driving DSG does feel a bit odd to begin with since the manual method of handling a gearbox is in our blood. But after a while you unlearn it and get used to DSG. You wouldn't think that the Formula 1 drivers constantly look at the steering wheel to know what gear they're in?? After a few weeks or months you learn your car and will be able to know what gear to be in when attacking any corner.