Comments on: GBMINI#3 Automatic Transmission

By: Ian C.

Ian C. — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 21:48:32 +0000

That brings up an interesting question – where is the MCS auto transmission controlled? Is it by the same EMS2000 that controls the engine (which is what does the CVT on the MC) or is there a different computer?
Can Franz/MTH alter the transmission control algorithms?
More importantly, can JCW (when their upgrade for the MCS auto is released) …

By: MrV

MrV — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 20:05:40 +0000

Bill, you might ask Franz if he could program something like that into the MCSa MTH software. I know for a fact that he has a version done for the MCSa.

By: COOPR SS

COOPR SS — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 19:51:46 +0000

Ian,

Thanks for the answer and checking that out for me. I was/am considering a MCSa but since I like to drive well into the 6500-7200 range, made possible by MTH and a lot of M7 goodies, this is disappointing news. I suspected this was true but nobody ever wrote about it. Quite often on the track and at AutoX events it is faster to momentarily bump up against the rev limiter for a few seconds than it is to up shift and then immediately down shift for the next corner. I guess if I end up with an auto trans I will have to switch from my “Boy Racer” phase into my “Cruising” phase, and for that I might as well get an MCSCa and just let what little hair I have left fly in the wind.

Bill

By: MrV

MrV — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 03:51:54 +0000

I’ll agree with you on most of this Ian, but I have to disagree on the comments on manual mode. Most noticeable for me is taking corners at speed, I find that I get a better response in coming out of the turn in the gear that I select, rather than letting the car figure it out. Even in SD mode I notice a bit more of a lag than I like, or than I get if I am in Manual.

Of course there is also a big fun factor in doing the shifting yourself. For those of us coming from a manual, it’s just more comforting at times to do the shifting yourself. And it goes without saying that the paddles are a fantastic feature, in fact I would enjoy the manual mode a whole lot less without the paddles.

I agree totally with your comments about the normal D mode. I call it boring mode, and really only use it when I am ….. well, now that I think about it, I don’t really use it much at all!

I think all the detractors of the auto in the S should really try one out. I loaned mine for a trip around the parking lot of someone who drives a JCW MCS and he loved it (and in all fairness, I loved trying his car out for the same trip!).

Great comments. I like hearing others experiences with this transmission. It’s worth noting I think that I haven’t seen any posts from anyone on any of the boards from someone who bought the autoS and didn’t like it.