Tag: BMW M3

BMW Chose Control Over Out-And-Out Shift Speed For the New M3/M4 Transmission

In its latest video, BMW has taken six minutes to explain the reasoning behind its decision to fit the new M3 and M4 with a torque converter automatic transmission instead of a dual-clutch one.

With the help of a transmission designer named Karsten, the advantages of the torque converter gearbox are outlined. The move away from a DCT transmission in any M car is noteworthy because its speed is hard to beat.

“Yes, changing gear with a double-clutch transmission is even faster and sharper with the optimal gear because it can also use inertia, which we can’t with a torque converter transmission,” says Karsten.

Read Also: Is The 2021 BMW M4 With The Six-Speed Manual The One To Buy?

Despite that, the M3 and the M4 now use a slightly slower torque converter transmission because it’s a question of considering the full package. These are known to be smoother at low speeds, which makes them better for luxury applications.

Their sluggishness made them unfashionable for performance cars in the oughts and the early teens, but they recently had a renaissance. Thanks to the hard work of people like Karsten, torque converter transmission shift speeds have improved and this one can shift gears in as little as 150 milliseconds. There are other advantages, too.

“With the torque converter transmission, through the converter lock-up clutch and the direct clutch to clutch shift, we now have, in principle, all gears pre-selected,” says Karsten. “Whereby with the double-clutch transmission, just one other gear can be preselected, which means that you can shift very quickly into this gear. If you decide on a different gear, then the gear shift is not optimal.”

That means that drivers have better shifts more of the time, and smoother changes at low speeds. Indeed, BMW feels it’s the best transmission for even high-performance applications like the M3/M4.

“I think the gear change is pretty close to perfection both as regards speed and comfort,” says Karsten.

[embedded content]

For GREAT deals on a new or used Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or RAM check out Envision CDJR West Covina TODAY!

Is The New BMW M3 Competition Better To Drive Than The Alfa Romeo Giulia QV?

The first reviews of the controversially-styled 2021 BMW M3 are out and in this clip, Piston Heads compares it to one of the finest sports sedans of recent years, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Featured in this video is the flagship M3 Competition variant, albeit not one equipped with the optional all-wheel drive system. It is finished in grey and if you can ignore the massive kidney grilles, certainly has an aggressive shape and lots of road presence. Does it look as good as the Alfa Romeo? Of course not.

Powering the M3 Competition is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six with 503 hp, matching up perfectly with the Giulia Quadrifoglio that rocks a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with the exact same output. Both are rear-wheel drive and use automatic transmissions, rather than dual-clutch gearboxes.

Read Also: Ah To Be A 2022 BMW M3 Touring Test Driver, Running Rings In The Snow

One of the first comments the reviewer makes about the M3 relates to its suspension setup. He says that even when driven in Comfort mode, the ride is firm, and questions whether buyers in the UK will ever be able to change the suspension into its even firmer Sport and Sport+ settings. He also isn’t a big fan of how the new engine sounds but does say it is very, very fast.

Compared to the previous-generation M3, this new one handles much better and delivers a more refined driving experience. Sure, the eight-speed automatic transmission isn’t as snappy as some dual-clutch ones, but it does the job.

However, can the all-new M3 Competition beat the Giulia Quadrifoglio? Watch the full review to find out.

[embedded content]

For GREAT deals on a new or used Harley check out Shasta Harley Davidson TODAY!