I had an e93 BMW M3 with DCT. Now I have a Porsche with PDK.

You would never know these cars use the same technology. The BMW shifts faster and responded instantly to paddle inputs. It is also more adjustable. It has multiple settings from soft to super fast and hard. I loved it.

While I love the PDK it simply does not compare to the DCT. I assume it is all in the programming. Why did Porsche make it so soft and unresponsive to inputs? Even on Sport plus is it slow to respond. Also the BMW in the fast settings made you really feel the shift. It was awesome.

I hope this changes someday via a program upgrade or something.

 

love X5M with DCT-rthat being said I have never driven a PDK-have a 6SMan. Have driven the 458 Italia on a track with DCT-beautiful shifts-hopefully my next big purchase.

 

The X5M has the ZF built M sport auto it is not available with a DCT transmission.

 

as far as I am aware my car has a 7 seep DCT(Canada).

 

7 speed sorry

 

I am not sure if some of the rapid shifts comparison is tainted by the fact that one car is a Turbo and the other is normally aspirated . They are such different cars. For the record my 08 as well as my 2011 M3 are both manual 6 speed . I shyed away from buying the DCT in 08 because there were a few issues with it . I do realize that that BMW offers a lot of settings but with that I have read some complaints (that it's too many settings for daily use).

I have the PDK in my 09 997S (I also still have my manual 07 Turbo too ) . I bought the PDK because i wanted to try it and the deals at that time were great . In sport plus mode the shifts are so fast that i am amazed . I usually drive it in "sport" mode with manual shifting and I still feel its fast . I am NOT pleased with the auto modes at all .

I feel the closer comparison might be to try both systems back to back on an NA car .

Lastly .. I am not sure if my next car will be a manual or PDK. If it's a Turbo I would want PDK.

 

When the shifts occur they are speedy, you are correct. That is not really my issue. My biggest complaint is that in manual mode, when I demand a shift, it takes time to make that shift actually occur. My m3, in any mode, shifted on command. The shifts, especially the 1-2 shift, just don't happen when I want to in manual mode. The other less important complaint is feeling the shifts. In the more aggressive settings in the M3 you can really feel the shifts, made it very sporty. The PDK feels like a regular automatic all the time.

 

http://www.bmw.ca/ca/en/newvehicles/...ission.html?x5

 

I believe that is the car placing you in 7th gear in the highway and when you stop on it the car needs to go perhaps 2 or 3 lower. I remedy this by hitting the downshift lever 2 or 3 times. Make the pass and it returns to full auto mode on short order. I love the pdk. Never thought of it as slow in any way.

 

From my experience the PDK is shift more direct and quick on N/A Car than Turbo.

 

I am speaking mainly of paddle commands. When I push shift, especially from 1st gear, the car does not shift right away. There is always a delay before the shift commences. The shifts themselves are smooth and fast. On the BMW, if I hit the upshift paddle, the car shifted without delay.

Maybe there is a problem with my car but I don't think so because I drove a boxster spyder with pdk and it did the same thing.

 

^^

What your saying sounds normal... I wish the response was quicker too, but I think all turbo PDK cars are like that.

 

Interesting observation and discussion!

I've driven Turbo PDK, Cayman PDK, and Boxster PDK; thought they shift fast enough but I didn't have another system to compare to.

 

X5M's are 6 Speed Auto Transmissions. Your X5M is a 6 Speed as well. When in D notice the car only goes to 6 even if you upshift.

(PS - I have a X5M as well)

 

K thx