Blazing toward 8400 rpm in sixth gear on an autobahn in a BMW M3 is already intense. Doing it in the brand-new Convertible -- roof down with a more direct sonic route from eight open throttles and four fat tailpipes to your ears -- is more intense still. Doing it with the brand-new M DCT double-clutch transmission, the shift lights blinking, just a finger-tap from an instantaneous (and we mean instantaneous) shift to seventh? Well, that's probably all the intensity most of us will ever need.


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M

I wish they had put in a better effort to design the DCT shifter. Perhaps put a dome around it like the old SMG II



Anyways, irrespective of looks it is indeed a masterpiece of a gearbox. I wasnt aware that the R8 isnt offered with DSG until I read the article.

I cant wait to get a feel of this DCT.

^You're right the M3's interior is so dull,the only drawback of the car.

I agree. It should be more exciting. BMW should take a lesson from Audi on how to differentiate regular and sports model interiors (regular B7 A4 interior vs. B7 RS4 interior).

Anyway the DCT gear shifter looks a bit better than the M3's manual stick which looks as exciting as a sleeping walrus...

funniest chit I read all day!

lol the funny thing about the manuals is that they are STILL using the exact same shifter from the good old E30. I dont know if its BMW's way of cutting costs or tradition but that manual shifter seriously needs a FACELIFT!

E30



E36:



E46:



E92:

Why should they disimprove the manual gear stick?! It is nearly perfect…so why change it?!

I don't like the DCT shiter either. It looks very annonymous and deserves a more distinctive design.

yep overall the M3 interior is below par when it comes to details and eye candy..
for a car of that calibre..
the old one was alot better..it had that fancy knob, and those rev lights..and some other goodies

In the standard black interior, it can be a little spartan, and that was BMW's minimalist intent. With an options package (or delving into the Individual catalog), I'm sure you can have a quite impressive looking interior; from austere to somewhat bling, the choice is yours. Even the standard interior rates above par for overall quality. There will be a lot of little buttons missing, but that was the whole point of iDrive, however infuriating it may be.

I agree that the shifter (and surrounding area) look pretty drab. This has to be a deliberate design on BMW's part. I mean, they go through the trouble of shaving weight with CF roof and redesigning the suspension, yet the shifter looks more mundane than what you can get in a standard 3-Series or 1-Series (135i has no-cost optional woods and aluminum where M3 shift surround is vinyl). Curiously, in the US configurator, there aren't any options for a nicer shifter for the M3. There are numerous choices for the 1er and 3er. Who knows, maybe these may work in the M3.