7-Speed DCT - Flash Settings
- Christoph Wallnoefer
- Clemens Muehlbacher
- Martin Paulik
Flash Settings 7-Speed DCT
xHP has “Flash Settings”, allowing the user to change specific settings before flashing an OTS or Custom Map. This injects these user-defined values into each map before it is flashed.
Use is simple:
adjust the desired settings
save the settings
flash any map to apply the settings.
The 7-speed is a very different gearbox to the six and eight-speed units of ZF. Manufactured by Getrag, it consists of two parallel manual gearboxes, each with a clutch. A gear change is made by pre-selecting the target gear in the adjacent transmission and then opening/closing both clutches at the same time. As one clutch opens, the other closes at the same time, allowing the transmission to make "seamless" shifts. BMW has been using it for about ten years, mostly in M cars and some of the sportier AG cars, such as the 335is E92 and Z4 sDrive 35i. While its raw upshift performance is unparalleled, it has its drawbacks in everyday driving compared to the six and eight-speed torque converter transmissions.
For example, spontaneous multi-speed downshifts at cruising speeds are much quicker with the 6HP and 8HP, and manoeuvring in tight spaces is also much easier with the ZF units. Last but not least, the DCT is much harder to adapt to different power levels and requires more set-up work when mated to different engines.
You must flash your car after changing settings. Being connected to the car is not enough.
You can access the module via the “edit” button. right next to “Flash Settings” at the bottom.
Please note that the module is not available for all vehicles and engine/gearbox combinations.
Due to the different generations of transmission controllers used by BMW during production, some cars may not support all existing custom features.
To see what Flash settings your specific car can support, connect the app to your car and click on it. Then click on “FLASH THIS CAR” and then on “Edit” right next to “Flash Settings”.
This can be done without purchasing a licence.
Launch & Performance Options
Kickdown – Launch
For E-Series - 135i / 335i / Z4
You can choose between a performance-oriented take-off behaviour at full throttle (including Kickdown) or a burnout mode.
Burnout mode - The clutch is applied very aggressively to spin the rear wheels immediately.
Performance Mode - the clutch is applied gradually to build up traction.
In both modes, you can select the rpm at which the clutch engages.
For F-Series - M-Cars
The DCT has two modes of full throttle/kickdown clutch engagement at a standstill, based on the current state of the DSC (stability control). The standard setting on all F8x M-Cars is as follows:
DSC ON - The clutch engages gradually at around 1000 rpm.
DSC OFF - The clutch engages at around 2800 rpm. Depending on your setup and available traction, you may want to change the RPM at which the clutch begins to engage in each of the modes. For example, higher traction (sticky track, slicks) means that higher revs are possible/necessary before braking traction. Also, cars with upgraded turbos may benefit from increasing the RPM at which the clutch engages.
These launch modes are NOT related to launch control, which can be set in the Launch Control panel in xHP.
General
If you have used tools such as MHD/bootmod3/MG-Flasher to disable Kickdown, these modes (and Launch Control) will no longer work. Kickdown must be turned on in the DME.
Launch Control Setup
xHP allows you to configure the launch control function of your DCT fully. xHP allows you to change the launch speed, as well as advanced settings to control engine torque and allow slip during acceleration. The standard values are set for a stock car. Especially for heavily modified cars with sticky tyres, big turbos, etc., these values need to be adjusted up/down for optimal acceleration.
Min: The minimum engine speed (RPM)can be adjusted in the car using the cruise control up/down buttons.
Base: The initial RPM that Launch Control targets when activated.
Max: The maximum RPM can be adjusted in the car using the cruise control up/down buttons.
Desired Slip at Rear Wheels (DS): In a nutshell, this slider makes the wheels spin more or less during the launch. Move it to the right for more wheel spin, and move it to the left for less wheel spin. The desired slip is the main variable used by the Launch Control to regulate engine and clutch torque during launch.
The DCT calculates the actual slip during launch by reading the front/rear wheel speed sensors around 30 times per second and adjusts the engine torque and clutch slip to achieve the pre-programmed values. The optimum slip depends on many factors, such as climate, tyres, road surface, suspension setup, etc.
BMW has set this for a standard car on an "average" road surface. As a rule of thumb, on wet roads or in cold climates (winter), lowering the slip values will probably give you better times.
On the other hand, on grippy surfaces (e.g. drag strip or new country road) and tyres, higher slip values can generate more traction.Torque Initial Slip-Phase (TI): This slider adjusts the initial torque when the LC releases the clutch. It affects how aggressively the clutch is released and how much boost your engine will target in the first few moments. This phase is crucial for a good start as it loads the drivetrain, sets the car's springs and gets the tyres spinning. Immediately afterwards, the LC will start to regulate based on the "desired slip". Too much torque will just burn rubber, and the LC will have to adjust downwards a lot in the first ~1.5 seconds. Too little will result in a weak launch.
Torque after Slip-Phase (TAS): This setting adjusts the second part of the launch approximately 1.5 - 2.5 seconds after starting when the second gear is engaged. Shifting from 1st to 2nd can make the car unstable. Too much torque will cause the wheels to spin immediately on a 1-2 shift (which the LC will then have to counteract based on the "Desired Slip"), and too little will waste time on pulling into 2nd gear as the engine may not be targeting full boost instantaneously, even if the traction is there to put all the power to the ground.
Take Off in 2nd Gear as Standard
This option allows you to choose whether the transmission uses first or second gear for starting from a standstill. This function is not active in the following situations:
Only active with D-DriveLogic 1
The transmission immediately returns to 1st gear when kickdown is activated (emergency function).
During a cold start with some cars
On steep roads
When the transmission is overheated
Comfort & Economy Options
Configure Creep
Select whether your car starts to move/crawl when the brake is released or only when the accelerator is touched.
Default means that the flashed file will not be modified.
Enable makes the car creep when the brake is released.
Disable makes the car move only when the throttle is applied.
Stop-Go
When a traffic jam is detected, the Stop-Go function keeps the transmission in 2nd gear. It's a convenient function to avoid constant shifting between 1st and 2nd gear in stop-go situations. The user can choose whether to enable or disable this function.
Shifting
Shiftmap Editor with Presets
The Shift Map Editor allows you to change all shift points in D- and S-mode to suit your personal preferences. For example, you can make your car shift later from 1st to 2nd gear when accelerating, or vice versa. Or keep the car in 7th gear longer when accelerating on the motorway. For an easy start, xHP offers four presets: Relaxed, Relaxed+, Sport and Sport+.
These presets make it easy to do a quick test on your car and experience the changes. Select a preset and flash any map again. xHP will automatically apply the presets to your shift map during the flash. Presets work with your stock calibration, with all OTS maps and with custom files flashed.
Relaxed and Relaxed+: Your car shifts up earlier and is less eager to downshift when you press the accelerator.
Sport and Sport+: Your car shifts up later and stays in lower gears longer. It will also respond more quickly to throttle inputs and be more willing to shift down.
Shiftmap Editor: Editing Presets
For further customisation, you can also edit any of the presets and save your changes in up to three custom slots. Select a preset from the drop-down list and click the toolbox icon next to it. This will load the preset into the editor and reveal its saved settings. You can now edit each individual up- and downshift and then save your changes to one of the three custom slots.
The Presets themselves remain untouched, so you can always return to them. Your Custom Slots are also exported when you use the Import/Export feature, so you can easily share them with other users!
Shiftmap Editor: Setup hints
The Shift Map Editor allows you to change all shift points in D- and S-mode to suit your personal preferences. A "shift map" consists of 12 lines spread across the throttle input.
Six for upshifts (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) and six for downshifts (7-6-5-4-3-2-1). The upshifts and downshifts can be configured independently. The settings made in the editor are always relative to the flashed map. You do not set exact shift points, but you can change the shifting of a given OTS or custom map! The range is from +50% to -50% for each shift.
Make sure you make sensible changes. If you change 1-2 up, you should do the same gradually with the subsequent shifts to get a 'natural' shift feel while driving. A good rule of thumb is to make larger changes in the lower gears and smaller changes in the higher gears.
However, you are free to experiment with these settings. xHP pre-calculates and validates all changes against each OTS map stored on the unit. A fixed set of rules is applied to correct 'wrong' settings and prevent deadlocks automatically. Such a deadlock could occur if your 2-3 upshift point was set below the 3-2 downshift point or if an upshift resulted in a target RPM below engine idle.
Below is an example of how the standard Stage 3 map of a 335i in D-mode can be turned into a very comfortable and low-shifting map:
UPSHIFTS
1->2: - 24%
2->3: - 20%
3->4: - 16%
4->5: - 12%
5->6: - 8%
6->7: - 4%
DOWNSHIFTS
2->1: 0%
3->2: 0%
4->3: - 2%
5->4: - 2%
6->5: - 2%
7->6: - 2%
This is just an example, but users are encouraged to experiment and find their own personal best shift map. The Shiftmap Editor lets you change the character of a given map very much by just pulling a few sliders.
Use Stock Shiftmaps
This option will always keep the stock shift points, no matter which maps you flash.
With this feature enabled, changes in the Shiftmap Editor will be relative to the stock shift maps, not the shift maps of any OTS map you may have flashed!
Torque Reduction during upshift
During each shift, the transmission instructs the engine to reduce power as the transmission pulls down to the target RPM for the next gear. The amount of torque reduction must correlate with the clutch timing and torque at the clutches to produce a quick, consistent and reliable shift within the clutch specifications.
In high-performance cars, the DCT often suffers from “spongy” and delayed shifts as a direct result of de-calibrated torque models in the DME and unadjusted transmission mapping.
The DCT is very picky and not very flexible in terms of self-adjustment and may need further adjustment via the Torque Punch and Torque Reduction options, depending on your engine mods.
If your tuner asks how to "adjust for xHP", tell them to keep the load-2-torque calculation as close to reality as possible.
Slider to the right means "more reduction" → the gearbox will drop more torque when shifting.
Slider to the left means "less reduction" → the gearbox will drop less torque during a shift.
Torque Punch
This option allows the user to configure the amount of torque that is added on each shift in Sport/Sport+ and DSC OFF modes (AG cars) and S2/S3/M2/M3/DSC OFF (M cars).
During an upshift, the transmission sends a request to the engine to reduce power briefly to ease the shift. The time frame for this is about 100 - 200 msec. Depending on the amount of torque drawn during this short period, the transmission calculates the pressure required by the clutches to complete the shift. The Torque Punch setting allows you to add a factor to this calculated pressure to create a more aggressive (or tame) shift.
The punch can be felt in the car as a slight forward pull during the shift.
Slider to the right means a harder shift!
Slider to the left means a softer shift!
This custom option interacts directly with the “Torque Reduction” option. (see above)
True Manual
True manual means that when you’re in manual mode, the car won’t upshift by itself when the engine reaches the redline.
Instead, it will bounce off the rev limiter, just like a car with a manual transmission.
The rev limiter will still protect the engine from over-revving. Usually, this behaviour is desired for drifting or track racing.
Depending on your car, this panel allows you to activate/deactivate True Manual for certain modes or switch it on/off generally.
Driving
Kickdown
Allows the user to enable/disable the use of the kick-down switch.
There are two settings: Enabled and Disabled, which override the default settings in the map.
Limiters
Valet-Mode
Lend your high-performance vehicle to your children safely, or make sure the garage mechanic does not show off your car to his mates. Valet Mode can be applied to any map and works safely in all driving environments.
Limits your vehicle's power to approximately 100 hp in lower gears and 130 hp in higher gears.
Limits max. RPM to approx. 2500-3000 (depending on vehicle)
Disables kick down
Prevents premature downshifting in manual mode (max. 2500 rpm)
Locks the transmission in its slowest operating mode
Disables launch control
Max. RPM
The AG cars (335i, Z4) have different target revs for D-, S- and M-modes at full throttle. Instead of shifting at a specific vehicle speed, the transmission shifts at a fixed rpm for each gear. This option allows you to set this target RPM for each mode and gear. Note that the transmission does some pre-calculation, so it may shift a little earlier than set in this panel, for example, when wheel spin occurs or when accelerating down a hill.
M cars only have one automatic mode and, therefore, only one setting for D mode. (Called S in M cars)
Miscellaneous
Rear-Axle Ratio
The DCT's shift and throttle blip calculations need to know all the ratios in the drivetrain. If they are not set correctly, all the target RPM calculations will be off, resulting in spongy shifts and incorrect blips on downshifts.
Back to the Overview Page.