DCT mode for track use

alpinefd · 07-03-2022, 10:23 PM

Does anyone leave the DCT in auto mode for track driving?

I like the convenience of leaving it in auto mode (D3), euro MDM mode, the only issue i had was on throttle out of the corners, the car would sometimes downshift unnecessarily kicking the rear out.

After doing some reading, it seems that was caused by me pressing the throttle all the way in triggering the kickdown switch. Maybe?

Just wondering what everyone's DCT preference is.

RugbyBro · 07-03-2022, 10:52 PM

Are you pinning it early out of corners? Full throttle without a straight steering wheel is enough to send the rear loose, throw in a downshift and I can see it getting a bit sketchy.

My settings are:

S2
Efficient or Sport Throttle
Comfort Steering
Sport Plus Shocks
MDM until I am comfortable with a given track

FaRKle! · 07-05-2022, 03:48 PM

If using DCT auto mode on the track put it in D3. D2 holds too high of a gear IME and you end up having to use a throttle blip to make it downshift coming out of a corner.

I frequently play around between comfort steering/Sport+ throttle/S3 DCT and comfort steering/Sport+ throttle/D3 DCT to see how differently I naturally shift compared to the DCT auto routine.

SYT_Shadow · 07-05-2022, 03:50 PM

I use manual mode, on the slowest of the three modes

Suds · 07-05-2022, 08:30 PM

My choice, manual mode in sport so middle setting.
I love being able to choose when the shift happens and control abruptness with the throttle.
This is shifting up and down.
With the DCT I can downshift under partial throttle when I want in large sweepers without upsetting the car at all.

I should have said I don’t want the car to surprise me on the track when it decides to shift. I had always track MT cars until now.

One more thought, I drive my DCT cars in manual mode 99.9% of the time.

RugbyBro · 07-05-2022, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I use manual mode, on the slowest of the three modes

More support for S1. I've seen plenty of vids of these guys drive their F8Xs, usually in S2. Never seen them in S3.

NYG · 07-06-2022, 12:17 PM

I've used both auto / manual in the M4 and R8.

You can run ok times with both but it will lower the ceiling of your performance. It will downshift slower into brake zones so you'll work brakes harder and it might not put you into the optimal gear coming out of a corner (example; wide radius/tons of rear grip you can power out a lower gear or tight radius/low grip where you want to stay in a higher gear to maintain traction).

It's certainly not going to ruin your track day but you'll gain more from using manual mode. I sometimes like to use auto to refamiliarize myself with the details of a track - I can't process everything at once.

maddmatth · 07-16-2022, 05:55 AM

I can't imagine using auto mode when pushing the car on track, having the car change gear when I'm not expecting it would throw me off.

I use S3. As long as your car isn't on old firmware, the later versions (or CS/GTS coding), it's better at not throwing you out of control. In the 2nd gear corners I'd just lift the throttle briefly on upshift, more so when the tyres are cold.

But probably best to start on S2 when you're still getting familiar with the car's limits or just prefer playing it safe. Going straight to S3 from the start is risky.
S1.. I guess if you just want to be super smooth... but I found S2 was perfectly smooth and never kicked when I tried it, S1 is more for a passenger's comfort on street I think.

clutchdj · 07-29-2022, 09:13 PM

Manual mode.
Auto mode slips the clutches too much, no me gusta.
s2 on dry track
s1 in the wet and definitely euro mdm in the wet :-)

Theruleslawyer · 07-30-2022, 05:19 PM

Mostly MDM and S3 here. GTS coding

If I know the track well I'll do manual shifts otherwise it does okay in auto. One less thing to focus on while learning the line. It'll leave me in too high a gear coming out of corners though so I prefer manual.

I'm also not very fast, or maybe the GTS s3 is better. I remember it being a little aggressive before I coded it.

07-03-2022, 10:23 PM	#1
alpinefd Private 19 Rep 80 Posts Drives: M3 F80 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	DCT mode for track use Does anyone leave the DCT in auto mode for track driving? I like the convenience of leaving it in auto mode (D3), euro MDM mode, the only issue i had was on throttle out of the corners, the car would sometimes downshift unnecessarily kicking the rear out. After doing some reading, it seems that was caused by me pressing the throttle all the way in triggering the kickdown switch. Maybe? Just wondering what everyone's DCT preference is. Last edited by alpinefd; 07-03-2022 at 10:35 PM..
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07-03-2022, 10:52 PM	#2
RugbyBro Brigadier General 7609 Rep 3,611 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: SF iTrader: (0)	Are you pinning it early out of corners? Full throttle without a straight steering wheel is enough to send the rear loose, throw in a downshift and I can see it getting a bit sketchy. My settings are: S2 Efficient or Sport Throttle Comfort Steering Sport Plus Shocks MDM until I am comfortable with a given track __________________ Current: F80 Prior: F82, F32
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07-05-2022, 03:48 PM	#3
FaRKle! Brigadier General 4043 Rep 3,549 Posts Drives: 328d Wagon, M2 Comp, i4 eD35 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2023 BMW i4 eDrive 35 [5.00] 2017 BMW 328dx Wagon [10.00] 2021 BMW M2 Competi ... [5.00]	If using DCT auto mode on the track put it in D3. D2 holds too high of a gear IME and you end up having to use a throttle blip to make it downshift coming out of a corner. I frequently play around between comfort steering/Sport+ throttle/S3 DCT and comfort steering/Sport+ throttle/D3 DCT to see how differently I naturally shift compared to the DCT auto routine. __________________ -328d Wagon Build Log (with helpful reference links) -My YouTube Channel for some of the best DIYs and in depth information Please don't PM me for suspension recommendations unless interested in paid private consultations.
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07-05-2022, 03:50 PM	#4
SYT_Shadow ///M Powered for Life 11517 Rep 10,345 Posts Drives: E90M/E92M/M4GTS/M4GT4/X5M Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greenwich, CT iTrader: (2)	I use manual mode, on the slowest of the three modes __________________ DIY: S65 Rod Bearings E9X PFC Z54 BBK on F8X BK harness bar + seats: fit 6 tires in an M3 do88 Cooling Goodies GTS Twins: GTMore project
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07-05-2022, 08:30 PM	#5
Suds /M Enthusiast 1606 Rep 1,619 Posts Drives: Responsiblish Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lone Star State iTrader: (1)	My choice, manual mode in sport so middle setting. I love being able to choose when the shift happens and control abruptness with the throttle. This is shifting up and down. With the DCT I can downshift under partial throttle when I want in large sweepers without upsetting the car at all. I should have said I don’t want the car to surprise me on the track when it decides to shift. I had always track MT cars until now. One more thought, I drive my DCT cars in manual mode 99.9% of the time. __________________ 2019 M2 Comp, Alpine White, DCT, track car build, 1/2 cage, AP Racing Brakes & Nitron Coilovers, BM3 Stage 1 93 Oct. 2018 Porsche Cayman GTS, Night Blue Metalic, PDK, COBB tuned 93 Oct. 2004 Audi A4 Avant USP 6mt, RS4 clutch, built motor, Garrett GT3071r "Big Ass Turbo" Motoza Tune Last edited by Suds; 07-05-2022 at 09:38 PM..
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07-06-2022, 12:17 PM	#7
NYG Brigadier General 11055 Rep 3,792 Posts Drives: Audi R8 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Brooklyn, NY iTrader: (0)	I've used both auto / manual in the M4 and R8. You can run ok times with both but it will lower the ceiling of your performance. It will downshift slower into brake zones so you'll work brakes harder and it might not put you into the optimal gear coming out of a corner (example; wide radius/tons of rear grip you can power out a lower gear or tight radius/low grip where you want to stay in a higher gear to maintain traction). It's certainly not going to ruin your track day but you'll gain more from using manual mode. I sometimes like to use auto to refamiliarize myself with the details of a track - I can't process everything at once.
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07-16-2022, 05:55 AM	#8
maddmatth Major 555 Rep 922 Posts Drives: F82 M4, E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New Zealand iTrader: (0)	I can't imagine using auto mode when pushing the car on track, having the car change gear when I'm not expecting it would throw me off. I use S3. As long as your car isn't on old firmware, the later versions (or CS/GTS coding), it's better at not throwing you out of control. In the 2nd gear corners I'd just lift the throttle briefly on upshift, more so when the tyres are cold. But probably best to start on S2 when you're still getting familiar with the car's limits or just prefer playing it safe. Going straight to S3 from the start is risky. S1.. I guess if you just want to be super smooth... but I found S2 was perfectly smooth and never kicked when I tried it, S1 is more for a passenger's comfort on street I think.
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07-29-2022, 09:13 PM	#9
clutchdj Colonel 1909 Rep 2,408 Posts Drives: a few cars Join Date: May 2015 Location: NY iTrader: (6)	Manual mode. Auto mode slips the clutches too much, no me gusta. s2 on dry track s1 in the wet and definitely euro mdm in the wet :-)
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07-30-2022, 05:19 PM	#10
Theruleslawyer Captain 1023 Rep 837 Posts Drives: 2019 m4 Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (0)	Mostly MDM and S3 here. GTS coding If I know the track well I'll do manual shifts otherwise it does okay in auto. One less thing to focus on while learning the line. It'll leave me in too high a gear coming out of corners though so I prefer manual. I'm also not very fast, or maybe the GTS s3 is better. I remember it being a little aggressive before I coded it.
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