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BMW DCT Gearbox: The Dual-Clutch Transmission Explained

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Image: BMW M2, M3, M4, AUTOMATIC DCT GEARBOX with just 27K miles for sale at MT Auto Parts DCT stands for Dual Clutch Transmission. Where a traditional automatic gearbox uses a torque converter to manage the connection between the engine and gearbox, a DCT uses two separate clutch packs, one handling odd-numbered gears, the other handling even-numbered gears. While you are driving in one gear, the next gear is already pre-selected and waiting. The result is a gear change that takes milliseconds, with virtually no interruption in drive. BMW’s DCT is officially called the M Double Clutch Transmission, or M DCT for short. It is a seven-speed unit developed specifically for BMW M division cars, where rapid, precise gear changes and maximum driving engagement were the engineering priority. It is not the same gearbox as the ZF 8HP Steptronic found in mainstream BMW automatics; it is a performance-specific unit with a very different character. One line summary: BMW DCT = two clutches, pre-s...

Which BMWs have the ZF8 Gearbox?

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  Image: BMW X3 series automatic gearbox with just 57K miles for sale at MT Auto Parts If your BMW has an automatic gearbox, there is a very good chance it contains a ZF 8HP transmission. Since BMW first fitted it to the 7 Series in 2009, it has spread through almost the entire automatic BMW range, from the 1 and 2 Series through to the 5 and 7 Series, X5, M3, M5, and beyond. It is, by most measures, the finest automatic gearbox ever fitted to a production car. But ‘ZF 8HP’ is not one gearbox. It is a family of eight-speed transmissions in four main variants, each rated for a different torque capacity. Knowing which variant is in your BMW matters if you ever need to service it, replace it, or source BMW auto gearbox parts . This guide tells you everything you need to know, in plain language. About MT Auto Parts MT Auto Parts specialises in used BMW parts for F, G, and U-generation models from 2012 onwards. We stock used BMW automatic gearbox units, including ZF 8HP variants, sour...