General Advice- Fiat 500 (2017) Dualogic Lounge

Prit92 · May 17, 2017

Hi everyone! I was hoping I could get some advice. Thinking of swapping my 2015 Pop (manual) to a new Lounge (dualogic); however I'm worried about the stories regarding transmission failure!

Absolutely love my car but want to change due to back pain worsened by manual driving. Seems like the best option is for me to swap cars (new PCP) instead of giving in my current car (two years left on contract).

Also, test drove one and found the gear changes choppy- dealer assures me the car adapts to your driving style in time (thus becomes smoother). Can any current owners comment on this?

John202020 · May 17, 2017

Can't advise but would say try several other makes of auto before deciding and if you can still get them try a "old fashioned " slushbox type auto just for comparison?

p6baseunit · May 20, 2017

I have had a twinair dualogic since January 2014. Have covered 24000 miles in the car, trouble free so far. I love the auto gearbox and have found it very smooth. I have the paddles on the steering wheel for the times I want to take control. I have noticed from various demo cars (on buying this one and looking for a second 500) this slow pondering type car change and can only say the car I have isn't like this at all.
There will be a load of people on the forum who will try and put you off, as it isn't the most reliable set up. But all of the car manufacturers that use these kind of robotic gear change mechanisms have issues with them. VW have had many issues with their DSG boxes and a massive recall in China.

p6baseunit · May 20, 2017

John202020 said:
if you can still get them try a "old fashioned " slushbox type auto just for comparison?

Only generally in the large cars will you find a slushbox autobox these days. Although I think Hyundia use one in their i10 and petrol consumption and Co2 suffer massively as a result.. which is why the European car manufacturers use the robotic type.

p6baseunit · May 20, 2017

That's the problem with forums I suspect, you any get people with issues (in this case gearbox issues) seeking them out. I just checked the Hyundia forum and it's littered with i10 gearbox issues lol

John202020 · May 20, 2017

p6baseunit said:
That's the problem with forums I suspect, you any get people with issues (in this case gearbox issues) seeking them out. I just checked the Hyundia forum and it's littered with i10 gearbox issues lol

I agree generally people consult a forum when things go wrong or general advice ?

ahmett · May 21, 2017

If you are going to keep the car for 3 years, then there is no issue with the dualogic as you will be in warranty.
Generally you have issues later in life, so if you plan on keeping the car forever, plan on spending about 1500 GBP every 5 years or so to replace the unit.
The gear changes will always be choppy, that's the nature of the gearbox.
You get used to it eventually. The smoothest gear changes are when you are in manual mode and you lift off when changing. But Auto works just fine all the time, just 'choppy'.

Ahmettt - 147,000 kms on the 1.4 Dualogic Fiat 500.
2nd clutch and 2nd Dualogic Unit (first one replaced after it kept on messing up and throwing good money at bad equipment - total 5 breakdowns in 7 years due to dualogic)

John202020 · May 21, 2017

ahmett said:
5 breakdowns in 7 years due to dualogic)

33 years of driving and only once called the RAC man, so that alone would make me cautious?

ahmett · May 21, 2017

John202020 said:
33 years of driving and only once called the RAC man, so that alone would make me cautious?

Well I have only broken down in 2 cars.

1. Fiat 500 Dualogic
2. Lancia Ypsilon Dualogic

Both broke down due to Transmission issues, although the 500 also had 2 batteries die completely requiring replacements!

= )))

I would never consider driving my Fiat without breakdown cover, thank god my insurance covers it!

p6baseunit · May 21, 2017

ahmett said:
The gear changes will always be choppy, that's the nature of the gearbox.
You get used to it eventually.

Ahmettt - 147,000 kms on the 1.4 Dualogic Fiat 500.

I don't know about your 1.4, but my twinair dualogic is driven like a hot hatch and the gear changes are perfectly smooth... in auto or manual. There is the odd clunk from the gear change from 3rd down to 2nd when working hard.. but generally its smooth, quick and quiet.

Fiat dealers in the UK don't seem to have much experience with the box for whatever reason. Out of 4300 second hand Fiat 500s on autotrader in the UK there are 229 dualogic cars... so its not like they don't sell any! So if it starts playing up its best to take it to a Fiat or Alfa specialist who has more experience with the Selespeed system or just get Fiat to replace the whole unit as Ahmett suggests.

The Fiat/Alfa specialist who I used quite a bit before I moved abroad, would tell me that the dualogic system is generally reliable but in his words, some people seemed to have repeated issues with them.

Think of it as a hydraulic computer controlled bolt on to the manual gearbox and clutch. If you keep the car from new 7-10 years it is almost guaranteed that it will need replacing or servicing (there are two individuals that advertise reconditioned units on eBay for £450 or a new unit retails at £760 before Vat and fitting). The major issue seems to be finding a Fiat dealer who can effectively trouble shoot and repair an issue with the unit and because of this lack of expertise, it is often just easier to just replace it.

I still think its generally more reliable and its definitely cheaper to repair/replace than a VW group DSG autobox on one of their cars!

ahmett · May 22, 2017

p6baseunit said:
I don't know about your 1.4, but my twinair dualogic is driven like a hot hatch and the gear changes are perfectly smooth... in auto or manual. There is the odd clunk from the gear change from 3rd down to 2nd when working hard.. but generally its smooth, quick and quiet.

Fiat dealers in the UK don't seem to have much experience with the box for whatever reason. Out of 4300 second hand Fiat 500s on autotrader in the UK there are 229 dualogic cars... so its not like they don't sell any! So if it starts playing up its best to take it to a Fiat or Alfa specialist who has more experience with the Selespeed system or just get Fiat to replace the whole unit as Ahmett suggests.

The Fiat/Alfa specialist who I used quite a bit before I moved abroad, would tell me that the dualogic system is generally reliable but in his words, some people seemed to have repeated issues with them.

Think of it as a hydraulic computer controlled bolt on to the manual gearbox and clutch. If you keep the car from new 7-10 years it is almost guaranteed that it will need replacing or servicing (there are two individuals that advertise reconditioned units on eBay for £450 or a new unit retails at £760 before Vat and fitting). The major issue seems to be finding a Fiat dealer who can effectively trouble shoot and repair an issue with the unit and because of this lack of expertise, it is often just easier to just replace it.

I still think its generally more reliable and its definitely cheaper to repair/replace than a VW group DSG autobox on one of their cars!

The Fiat tech who fixed my box told me that so far they have not had to fix any of the new Fiat group Dual Clutch gearboxes yet. He then said he hopes they don't have to, as they cost 2000 EUR to repair!

Frankly my next car is going to be a manual, especially if I buy the car to keep it many years. For now I stick with my Dualogic until it breaks. I assume 2-3 years more before I need a new unit = )

Super Uwe · May 22, 2017

Prit92 said:
Hi everyone! I was hoping I could get some advice. Thinking of swapping my 2015 Pop (manual) to a new Lounge (dualogic); however I'm worried about the stories regarding transmission failure!

Absolutely love my car but want to change due to back pain worsened by manual driving. Seems like the best option is for me to swap cars (new PCP) instead of giving in my current car (two years left on contract).

Also, test drove one and found the gear changes choppy- dealer assures me the car adapts to your driving style in time (thus becomes smoother). Can any current owners comment on this?

Hi Prit92,

As others have said, if you buy new then you should hopefully be OK with the Dualogic.

If your car currently has two years to run on its PCP deal, and you are potentially swapping from a Pop to a Lounge, you may end up being quite shocked at the figures.

Unless you have already secured a good deal, you will almost certainly have some money to pay in order to cover the difference between the settlement figure and the outstanding finance amount. Also, your monthly payments will probably go up quite a bit too.

Sorry if the money isn't an issue though, just the first thing that came into my head when I read your post!

chas379 · May 25, 2017

I had a TA Dualogic for 18months and no issues and I found it performed very well. My OH is on her 3rd 1.2 with Dualogic (she keeps for 3 yrs from new) and is hoping to go for her 4th in Nov. this year.

During her ownerships there has only been one issue which was quickly sorted under warranty.

Have no experience of what could happen after the 3 yr period but there are plenty of posts on the Forum. As has been mentioned the forum does lean towards what is/has going/gone wrong.

44sunsets · May 27, 2017

chas379 said:
As has been mentioned the forum does lean towards what is/has going/gone wrong.

True, this forum dominates all the top Google search results for Dualogic problems.

Having said that, there's no way I'd touch a 2nd-hand Dualogic-equipped car. You never know if the owner might be trying to get rid of a lemon.

chas379 · May 27, 2017

44sunsets said:
There's no way I'd touch a 2nd-hand Dualogic-equipped car. You never know if the owner might be trying to get rid of a lemon.

My sentiments exactly! Hence my OH changing after 3 yrs when out of warranty.

p6baseunit · May 28, 2017

chas379 said:
My sentiments exactly! Hence my OH changing after 3 yrs when out of warranty.

I don't really feel £760+fitting+Vat to replace the dualogic unit once in a 6 or 7 year period of ownership, justifies a new car every three years and the massive expense in doing that.

chas379 · May 28, 2017

p6baseunit said:
I don't really feel £760+fitting+Vat to replace the dualogic unit once in a 6 or 7 year period of ownership, justifies a new car every three years and the massive expense in doing that.

Maybe not for you but it is a personal preference and fortunately within my OH's budget and if that is what she wants to do then so be it.

jrkitching · May 28, 2017

p6baseunit said:
I don't really feel £760+fitting+Vat to replace the dualogic unit once in a 6 or 7 year period of ownership, justifies a new car every three years and the massive expense in doing that.

I'd agree, but if you are planning to keep the car for a long time, then it effectively adds about £1500 to the price of what is already an expensive car in its class.

The long term keeper will likely find it cheaper than buying a new car every three years, but it is probably still going to be more expensive than buying a different marque with a better track record for durability in the first place. The dualogic gearbox is a well-known long term weakness; unless your heart is set on a 500, why take the risk?

p6baseunit · May 28, 2017

I had a much bigger bill (3 times) for replacement of an automatic gearbox on a Honda CRV (owned from new) at 5 years old and 30000 miles. I would have until that point made the assumption that the Honda was more reliable. The Honda cost £28k and my TwinAir Dualogic with all the bits £18k

ahmett · May 29, 2017

p6baseunit said:
I had a much bigger bill (3 times) for replacement of an automatic gearbox on a Honda CRV (owned from new) at 5 years old and 30000 miles. I would have until that point made the assumption that the Honda was more reliable. The Honda cost £28k and my TwinAir Dualogic with all the bits £18k

28k for a Honda? wow = )

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