Review Details

DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) Performance Software for 2007-2013 BMW M3

Product Review (submitted on November 6, 2014):

I have currently had this software for a month now and wanted to give it some time before giving a review. I will first start off with the basics of what I disliked about OEM software, I really do not enjoy the OEM DCT when it comes to downshifting (engaging and disengaging the clutch) at slow speeds and taking turns. I believe this is because since I am not engaging a clutch I seem to feel what a passenger would feel in a MT car. The transmission also seems a bit jolty at times and this is something I have seen in most the DCT M3's that I have driven around so don't come in here saying that something is wrong with my car. Last but no least is the lag in "manual" downshifting when not in D mode, I hate this the most. I have had numerous times where I needed to drop three gears maybe more in a quick time but couldn't get it to that gear like a 6MT could. The lag is annoying!

Now for the meat and potatoes of what you are here for, the BPM software. I am not going to give you a wowo review. I am going to be honest and straightforward. The overall install portion was easy and took about 7 minutes to complete through my BPM OBD tuning cable. This is the same cable I use for my BPM Stage II engine tuning.

I tend to use the S mode in my car just to be a bit more connected with the car. I will say that in S mode I have grown to love settings S3 & S4 with the BPM software. S3 is used for just cruising, the shifts are not aggressive and very very smooth (easy on the clutch in my opinion but still responsive). S4 I have been using for track/spirited driving to achieve smooth and fast shifting up and down without the bucking of a bronco, this shifting is really something in my opinion. S5 & S6 are just scary fast but I don't tend to use them because I think S3 & S4 are the perfect settings. I think the majority of human population always tend to think that bigger numbers are always better but they are not in this situation. For someone like myself who tracks the car often everyone knows that S5 & S6 can be a bit like a bucking bronco. Now where there is nothing wrong with that, when it comes to track days you really don't want anything to cause disturbances to the vehicle in anyway. I would say that S5 & S6 are for the 1/4 mile guys who want extreme shifting as if there is no gear changing. Don't get me wrong, S5 & S6 are fun but I don't use them unless I am just romping the crap out of my car with friends to give them a woo factor or just to get that oh shot feeling when the clutch engages so quickly from the BPM software.

I have tracked my car at the Infamous Nurburgring numerous times and just recently (last Sunday) after having the software and all I can say is WOW! This in my opinion is where the software really shines. I have also noticed this for daily driving as well and it amazes me compared to OEM software. Starting from 5th gear and dropping it down to 2nd there is absolutely no hesitation what so ever, when I mean none I......MEAN......NONE! This is great in my opinion because there were times when I needed a lower gear than planned and the OEM DCT software lagged. This would throw off my times and momentum, no anymore with the BPM software. There have been times where I downshifted so fast that it engaged that gear before it displayed the gear on the cluster. It does all this while still retaining the safety feature of not allowing too low of a gear (I tested that too). The DCT is finally what I expected it to be in the first place when it comes to shifting, we where always faster than manual cars up shifting but now we are even faster than them down shifting more than one gear and this is awesome! I love this the most out of the upgrade but there is more to the BPM software.

I mentioned how I hate the jolt (not severe) of downshifting and while taking turns. With this software I am not going to lie to you and say that it has disappeared but it has GREATLY diminished to the point of non-exsistance. I really do appreciate that for my daily driving from light to light. The car feels almost as if I am actually engaging the clutch now. Another part that I have noticed is when the DCT is cold she is still smooth as butter and initial take offs no longer have that hesitation. The overall performance of the DCT has become much smoother. More great features are that it remembers the sport drive logic mode, it starts in D and the launch control is set at 3500RPM. This in my opinion is great because it allows a smooth launch with minimal loss of rear wheel control. As we all know this is what Mike Benvo and BPM Sport are about! My hat is off to Mike for once again bringing another great product to the people of the M3 community. Thanks Mike for the product and I can't wait for the next item you have in store.