Dual Clutch Reliability ?

Depends really, if stopped for a while in traffic or at the lights it goes into P otherwise sits in D.

Is this the norm? I thought I'd read that you shouldn't go into P because if someone hits you from behind, it'll lunch the box. I put mine into N with handbrake if I'm there a while.
 
Is this the norm? I thought I'd read that you shouldn't go into P because if someone hits you from behind, it'll lunch the box. I put mine into N with handbrake if I'm there a while.

You might break the parking pawl, which could cause other damage - but you'd be quite unlucky to experience that, or any other damage, I think. I put a transmission into park once at 15mph to see what happened - the parking pawl just bounced up and down, making a clicking noise, until it engaged and locked the wheels at about 2mph. Don't know any more than that.

I generally just drop it into neutral and put it on the parking brake, too, though - just feels quicker and easier to me, and stop you shifting through reverse all the time (causing momentary panic to those behind you).
 
What's it in, Housey? Not uncommon for some to behave like that - although annoying, it tends to be a trait of the transmission rather than a flaw. You also get some odd quirks like that, in some cases, as OEMs try to get the engine/transmission temperatures up more quickly. Could also be a software update-related issue, which isn't uncommon for BMWs.

It is my first DCT box so I am still learning. It gets confused when cold sometimes, not always and certainly you can sometimes get it confused when you pick up the throttle when the computer thinks you are about to stop. That tends to show itself as a chugging as it realises you don't want first, you want 3rd but again I suspect a foible of the type of box. As you will know the 570S has a nice feature of telling you when oil, water AND gearbox are up to temperature, the box being usually the longest of all 3. I rarely use the car in auto, I am a get in, sport button on, manual paddle changes but when cold I leave it in full auto with no sport button until properly warmed up. I never drive a cold car hard, not in my DNA.
 
Strange! Last one I drove was absolutely on point, even when stone cold. Which mode do you usually have it in? I always drove with the powertrain in Track.
 
Ah, I follow. Doesn't surprise me that it might be a little finickity, then. Never know, it might get updated at the next service. Keep us posted!
 
Ah, I follow. Doesn't surprise me that it might be a little finickity, then. Never know, it might get updated at the next service. Keep us posted!
I am going to get it serviced and checked over shortly. Few things for Audi to look at, but I shall use my specialist as first line again. He can liaise with his local Audi dealer to get the work needed done and the appropriate parts replaced under warranty. Worth me paying for that based on my Audi experiences to this point. I am tempted still to get a new one, think the 570S is still a bit rich for me right now, not least as I want my wife to retire next year.
 
I am going to get it serviced and checked over shortly. Few things for Audi to look at, but I shall use my specialist as first line again. He can liaise with his local Audi dealer to get the work needed done and the appropriate parts replaced under warranty. Worth me paying for that based on my Audi experiences to this point. I am tempted still to get a new one, think the 570S is still a bit rich for me right now, not least as I want my wife to retire next year.

Wait, a first-gen R8 V10? R-Tronic?
 
Hi there

Most of my cars have being manual, pretty much driven every automatic on the market though but from the ones I've owned:

SMG2: This is old and is actually a manual with a hydraulic clutch. Never really had much issue with them, but over time they can be prone to slurring gears or otherwise known or feels like slip, in short not banging in due to the box learning lazy habits. After a lot of trial and error the way around this other than keeping it in perfect mechanical shape was when cold to keep the car in automatic mode for the first 10 minutes or so and when driving in town or just pottering around leave the SMG in S3 or A3. If you want to drive harder then use 4 or above. For me this has kept the box sharp, never had any issues myself with SMG but they do have their problems, but maybe blown at of proportion due to the amount of E46 M3's running around with this box. Its a poor automatic but once you learn it then it is perfectly smooth. But on the paddles in manual mode they are pretty superb if fresh and very raw/mechanical which is what you want in a M3 when giving it some stick.

DSG: No idea what type was on the Golf R, but in short. Cold in D engine braking was a bit harsh / jerky until fully warmed up but then totally smooth, though some passengers did not really notice it. In S or manual even cold it was smooth. Once warm very smooth and an incredibly fast gear box for changing gears and responsive on paddles. Annoying about auto kick down in manual and auto upshift, but a remap solves those issues.

ZF8: Still need to learn it, but I've never experienced a full blown automatic be so quick and well so much fun. :)
 
I wonder if people are aware you shouldn't creep with a dual clutch, wears the clutches out.

Indeed, that's why I mentioned sitting in traffic in D, but others on here say no.

Low speed stuff like reversing a caravan or uphill parallel parking is fine for a fluid DC system or a conventional torque convertor but will
unduly lessen the life of a [dry] dual clutch system like Ford's Powershift.
 
Indeed, that's why I mentioned sitting in traffic in D, but others on here say no.

Low speed stuff like reversing a caravan or uphill parallel parking is fine for a fluid DC system or a conventional torque convertor but will
unduly lessen the life of a [dry] dual clutch system like Ford's Powershift.

Ford use wet-clutch boxes for the most part in their UK Powershift models.
 
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