[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Sure looks like blue leather seats.

[oz555]

Originally Posted by DocWeatherington

That's up for debate... the ZF-8 (Auto) while it won't have that same snappy direct feel as the DCT, it's pretty damn good on the track and its all a matter of tuning. BMW does the best tuning of the ZF-8(auto). The only DCT out there that BMW could use is the DCT that Porsche uses but that's not cheap but its also made by ZF, and Porsche also uses the ZF-8 speed auto.

Your talking milliseconds difference in shift times.

ZF-8 150-200ms // DCT 60-150ms // manual 500ms-1s // human blink 100-400ms

Shifting times are not the problem for the ZF-8. Shifting is very quick. Problem with BMW ZF-8 for non M cars is that gearbox is constantly 2 gears up. For example 60km/h on 1100rpm. Engine should never be below 1500rpm while driving because it has no power at all in that range. Calibration for non M cars is also bad. Doesn't shift one gear if You throttle it a bit. Than You add throttle more and the ZF-8 changes 3 gears down without reason. I will buy manual next time. Have no patiente for AT any more.

[JayPichardo]

Cant wait

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by oz555

Shifting times are not the problem for the ZF-8. Shifting is very quick. Problem with BMW ZF-8 for non M cars is that gearbox is constantly 2 gears up. For example 60km/h on 1100rpm. Engine should never be below 1500rpm while driving because it has no power at all in that range. Calibration for non M cars is also bad. Doesn't shift one gear if You throttle it a bit. Than You add throttle more and the ZF-8 changes 3 gears down without reason. I will buy manual next time. Have no patiente for AT any more.

While you're correct.

Non-M or normal people cars are geared and set up for max efficiency. Additionally, the gear ratio spread is also a bit different on a 6 speed vs. an 8speed. Most 8-10 speed transmissions the last 2-4 gears are all to get the cruising revs as low as possible.

There is a reason why Porche has a 7-speed manual

The fix for that is sport+ or manual mode and lockout the overdrives.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by theshawnz

They got Paul Walker back to do the video? 😉

Some nice heel toe action!

It does look like it could be Paul

[04cobra]

I got excited, then remembered how it looked :-/

[Drj161]

I understand it's a business, but I so much rather the dct vs 8zf slushbox.

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by ASAP

I am curious to see the G80 Comp RWD vs MxDrive comparo and see which one would be faster and if the xdrive would make a large difference... interesting they would go this direction... perhaps the MxDrive is a winter enticement only?

Xdrive will be faster. The only question is: By how much?

[bobloblaw]

Originally Posted by Dog Face Pony Soldier

Sure looks like blue leather seats.

I think the interior colors at launch are black, orange/black, and blue/black. Good eye, maybe this is a glimpse of the blue/black.

[Drj161]

Originally Posted by anglo

Mmmmh they rid of the CF strut brace...

I have a feeling it will be a triangular cf brace. If I recall correctly, the prototype f8x also had metal bracing until the final reveal

I'm also curious, does the engine cover also double as the air induction channel like the x3m? the g8x engine cover looks more like an aesthetic than functional

[oz555]

Originally Posted by DocWeatherington

While you're correct.

Non-M or normal people cars are geared and set up for max efficiency. Additionally, the gear ratio spread is also a bit different on a 6 speed vs. an 8speed. Most 8-10 speed transmissions the last 2-4 gears are all to get the cruising revs as low as possible.

There is a reason why Porche has a 7-speed manual

The fix for that is sport+ or manual mode and lockout the overdrives.

You are right. Sport mode is for normal driving while Sport+ is for sporty driving. Comfort is for CO2 Norm only

[SeanWRT]

Originally Posted by oz555

Shifting times are not the problem for the ZF-8. Shifting is very quick. Problem with BMW ZF-8 for non M cars is that gearbox is constantly 2 gears up. For example 60km/h on 1100rpm. Engine should never be below 1500rpm while driving because it has no power at all in that range. Calibration for non M cars is also bad. Doesn't shift one gear if You throttle it a bit. Than You add throttle more and the ZF-8 changes 3 gears down without reason. I will buy manual next time. Have no patiente for AT any more.

I have been daily driving my 540i for 2 years and have exactly the opposite experience.

The ZF8 is extremely sensitive (and smooth) even in the efficient mode. A tiny little throttle input gives you a gear down or two, and the instant torque from the mighty B58 (mine is an earlier none TU version).

The DCT with my M2 is bit dumb by comparison, in terms of eagerness to shift. Although it tends to hold on high rev in sport more than the ZF auto.

However, one thing the DCT does much better is to be in a much more suitable gear going out of corner at track, compared to ZF8 which often requires unnecessary gear changes.

Some may think with AWD, the DCT launches better. It could be true, but the margin is minimal. Because BMW is no Porsche, which grips well clutching at 5k. I would think with BMW's powerful engine, it's still traction limited launching above 3k even with AWD. The ZF8 is able to launch at 2k5-3k albeit in a different way.

Also, in the tuning and logging, I found out the best shift time the M-DCT can do is somewhere between 200-300ms. I know some other DCTs, maybe PDK, Audi R8 dct or more exotic Ferrari/Mclaren's is able to do under 100ms. But that's not possible with BMW M-DCT. Most likely, at this point, M-DCT already has been the slowest high performance DCT in the market.

I don't feel too sorry to see M-DCT to be replaced at its current development. I'm positive with software improvement, ZF8 is able to better the M-DCT in every category including the emotional one.

[MachinesWithSouls]

I see a ton of F80 guys here suddenly going bananas because they own the "last manual comp M3"

You guys do realize the base G80 with stick will be faster in pretty much every regard...

[oz555]

Originally Posted by SeanWRT

I have been daily driving my 540i for 2 years and have exactly the opposite experience.

The ZF8 is extremely sensitive (and smooth) even in the efficient mode. A tiny little throttle input gives you a gear down or two, and the instant torque from the mighty B58 (mine is an earlier none TU version).

The DCT with my M2 is bit dumb by comparison, in terms of eagerness to shift. Although it tends to hold on high rev in sport more than the ZF auto.

However, one thing the DCT does much better is to be in a much more suitable gear going out of corner at track, compared to ZF8 which often requires unnecessary gear changes.

Some may think with AWD, the DCT launches better. It could be true, but the margin is minimal. Because BMW is no Porsche, which grips well clutching at 5k. I would think with BMW's powerful engine, it's still traction limited launching above 3k even with AWD. The ZF8 is able to launch at 2k5-3k albeit in a different way.

Also, in the tuning and logging, I found out the best shift time the M-DCT can do is somewhere between 200-300ms. I know some other DCTs, maybe PDK, Audi R8 dct or more exotic Ferrari/Mclaren's is able to do under 100ms. But that's not possible with BMW M-DCT. Most likely, at this point, M-DCT already has been the slowest high performance DCT in the market.

I don't feel too sorry to see M-DCT to be replaced at its current development. I'm positive with software improvement, ZF8 is able to better the M-DCT in every category including the emotional one.

I agree for shifting times on ZF8. Very quick I must admit but somehow my is constantly in wrong high gear. I'm thinking about backing to manual soon.

[skyscraper_g80]

Some detailed observations/questions on the interior:

1. The new Live Cockpit twin-tachometer view doesn't seem particularly well designed for racetrack use. Whilst better than the backwards tach in the other Live Cockpit views, it doesn't seem as easy to determine how close to the redline you are as say the E and F-series cars with more traditional circular tachs. Perhaps the HUD layout would be more useful in this respect.

2. Do other current M-models have the G-meter within the cluster?

3. The refresh rate for the digital speedo seems to be slower than the F8x (2 fps vs. 3fps)?

4. Anyone know what the temperature display is on the infotainment screen? Is this climate-control related or could it be temperature displays for racetrack driving such as oil, tyres, differential etc.

5. The car seems to have a hard rev limiter compared to the F8x which I believe had a soft limiter. Also, there seems to be no shift lights within the cluster.

[Gdiddy23]

If this thing drives as good as that video made it look, it will be tempting to want to switch up to the G80 platform from my M340.

Still not sold on the front end but I'm sure there will be an aftermarket fix for that. When the AWD comp leases are being had for crazy prices, I may just consider it! Actually kinda interested in the X3M too

[duky]

Originally Posted by SoManyBlueCars

I see a ton of F80 guys here suddenly going bananas because they own the "last manual comp M3"

You guys do realize the base G80 with stick will be faster in pretty much every regard...

SAVAGE

[Mako]

Originally Posted by Zirenz2006

How can they not have the AWD ready to go at launch? So annoying

This is why I traded in my F80 for the X3M lease last fall. Knew it would be about 2-3 years for M3 AWD and them to be widely available

Haven't regretted it at all
Although I do hope they figure out a way to reduce the damn lag when not using launch control. The new engine is insane once it gets going.

[Crazy Penguin]

Originally Posted by M-SP0RT

That statement "...at a later date..." for the AWD is pissing me off. 2 years ago I thought I'd be in a G80 by now but it looks like end of 2021 if anything for the AWD

2021 LOL. You wish. They wont introduce a major change Until LCI so thats at least 2 years after the first model drops.

[OF Hero]

Are we really thinking that AWD comes "much" later? Like LCI later?

[M3EATERS]

Manual shift with no Auto as standard on the entry M3? What are they thinking?

[solstice]

Originally Posted by OF Hero

Are we really thinking that AWD comes "much" later? Like LCI later?

More like this time next year instead of end of this year together with the RWD models. Still that’s quite a disappointment for us that has already been waiting for what seems like forever...one full more year to go

I’ve had the F80 since mid 2014, I’m not going to spend another 4-8 years in a car with pretty much the same technology by skipping AWD. The AWD is what makes the G8X different and far superior to the F8X other than the looks.