535i Manual gearbox.
Discussion
iSore said:
Manual gearbox? Might as well spec it with cloth, a cassette player and wind up windows. Some people prefer that sort of thing, apparently.
Now, an E36 328i? About 1350 kg. A manual box? Most definitely.
And it's people like you that are the reason it is so hard to get a big engined manual cars Now, an E36 328i? About 1350 kg. A manual box? Most definitely.
iSore said:
Crackie said:
Unfortunately BMW only made manual E60 M5s in left hand drive; hypothetically would you have the manual or red cog of death box ?
Of the two, I'll choose the W211 AMG E63. Proper big FO V8 and an auto. Cheers!Welshbeef said:
Or better still the W211 E55 K AMG faster than the E63 and more fitting for the car than a high rev option hence the switch back to the bi turbo instead.
True! We could also mention old AMG Hammer or E500 but that's a museum piece now. Still FQ tho. No manual option?
Edited by iSore on Saturday 2nd January 13:34
iSore said:
Crackie said:
Unfortunately BMW only made manual E60 M5s in left hand drive; hypothetically would you have the manual or red cog of death box ?
Of the two, I'll choose the W211 AMG E63.Simple A or B question..........
Edited by Crackie on Saturday 2nd January 19:10
Crackie said:
I get that you're an auto fanboy but try to put that aside; Merc wasn't an option was it.
Simple A or B question..........
Sarcasm passed you by!Simple A or B question..........
Edited by Crackie on Saturday 2nd January 19:10
If I ever felt the need to own a 13 mpg ticking bomb, then it would have to be the DIY manual and not the semi DIY manual.
iSore said:
Crackie said:
Thanks.Why did you ask though?
Crackie said:
Just curious really........I've only ever owned cars with manual boxes but, after 5 years, I'm thinking of changing my E92 335i. I've been impressed by the DSG in my wife's 3.2TT and the ZF 6 an 8 speed auto boxes. I don't think there is a right or wrong choice on a car like a 535i though, it would be fine with a manual/DCT or auto box.
I think if you prefer a manual you will always miss one to be fair and over the last few years I have had a S-Tronic TTS and currently got a ZF6 in a 330i and ZF8 in a 640d but prior to that pretty much everything I had was a manual.I respect Auto and twin clutches as they are quick at changing gears and better on fuel mostly and also have lower emissions...but I just can't love them and I think that sums it up for me, they are nice to have in heavy traffic for sure but when out on an open twisty road I always crave for the interaction that a three pedal manual always gives you.
cerb4.5lee said:
Crackie said:
Just curious really........I've only ever owned cars with manual boxes but, after 5 years, I'm thinking of changing my E92 335i. I've been impressed by the DSG in my wife's 3.2TT and the ZF 6 an 8 speed auto boxes. I don't think there is a right or wrong choice on a car like a 535i though, it would be fine with a manual/DCT or auto box.
I think if you prefer a manual you will always miss one to be fair and over the last few years I have had a S-Tronic TTS and currently got a ZF6 in a 330i and ZF8 in a 640d but prior to that pretty much everything I had was a manual.I respect Auto and twin clutches as they are quick at changing gears and better on fuel mostly and also have lower emissions...but I just can't love them and I think that sums it up for me, they are nice to have in heavy traffic for sure but when out on an open twisty road I always crave for the interaction that a three pedal manual always gives you.
On the 535i specifically, I'm sure it would be fine with a manual (if you can find one!) but at the end of the day it's a relatively big, heavy, barge and my guess is that an auto may be a little bit better suited to the character of the car? The fact BMW no longer offer a manual would tend to suggest there wasn't enough demand to justify offering the choice and that probably says it all....
JNW1 said:
The fact BMW no longer offer a manual would tend to suggest there wasn't enough demand to justify offering the choice and that probably says it all....
New BMWs are invariably not bought by enthusiasts, unfortunately. Keen drivers are a dying breed and as technology progresses and the functionality and usability of auto boxes have improved, along with marginal emissions gains, so the purchase of manuals has waned.Those of us that prefer manuals and don't want to spend 50k on a new car are left to scrabble over the slim pickings!
hornetrider said:
JNW1 said:
The fact BMW no longer offer a manual would tend to suggest there wasn't enough demand to justify offering the choice and that probably says it all....
New BMWs are invariably not bought by enthusiasts, unfortunately. Keen drivers are a dying breed and as technology progresses and the functionality and usability of auto boxes have improved, along with marginal emissions gains, so the purchase of manuals has waned.Those of us that prefer manuals and don't want to spend 50k on a new car are left to scrabble over the slim pickings!
Not about being for enthusiasts for me, it is about the right feel for a certain car.
I just hate big cars like the 5 series with a manual 'box, it takes away from the pleasure of the car for me.
My old man used to have an E34 530i which was manual, and that was nice, but the auto 'box back then was not great, but I did like it compared with his E320 that replaced it and was auto, but didn't think the E320 would have suited being a manual, and didn't actually prefer the BMW it was just different.
I then decided to get a 528i manual, in fact I did, but realised straight away it simply wasn't as good as the auto I had on demo when deciding to get an E39, so I swapped for an auto, something I never thought I would do, especially as I was only mid twenties at the time, but the auto just suited that sort of car.
Also, the only reason I never bought an E39 M5 or E61 M5 was there was no auto.
Don't get me wrong I loved my SMG M3, if I hadn't had the CSL I would have gone manual, but I loved it, and when I bought another regular M3 after the CSL I chose SMG, but when I went to swap my 335i Touring for an M5 the SMG put me off, I thought that would be a good compromise on big car and semi manual, but I didn't like it. The Alpina B5 was a much nicer car because it was a proper auto.
All personal choice, but for me a manual would have to be a 911 or similar, in fact, 911, Z4, Cayman etc. are the only cars I can think I would even consider being worthy of a manual 'box these days.
I just hate big cars like the 5 series with a manual 'box, it takes away from the pleasure of the car for me.
My old man used to have an E34 530i which was manual, and that was nice, but the auto 'box back then was not great, but I did like it compared with his E320 that replaced it and was auto, but didn't think the E320 would have suited being a manual, and didn't actually prefer the BMW it was just different.
I then decided to get a 528i manual, in fact I did, but realised straight away it simply wasn't as good as the auto I had on demo when deciding to get an E39, so I swapped for an auto, something I never thought I would do, especially as I was only mid twenties at the time, but the auto just suited that sort of car.
Also, the only reason I never bought an E39 M5 or E61 M5 was there was no auto.
Don't get me wrong I loved my SMG M3, if I hadn't had the CSL I would have gone manual, but I loved it, and when I bought another regular M3 after the CSL I chose SMG, but when I went to swap my 335i Touring for an M5 the SMG put me off, I thought that would be a good compromise on big car and semi manual, but I didn't like it. The Alpina B5 was a much nicer car because it was a proper auto.
All personal choice, but for me a manual would have to be a 911 or similar, in fact, 911, Z4, Cayman etc. are the only cars I can think I would even consider being worthy of a manual 'box these days.
JNW1 said:
Tend to agree with you Lee but I guess for most people the vast majority of their time in their daily driver isn't spent on twisty, open, roads! For a fun weekend car I'd certainly have a manual but for the daily grind it's a different matter and I think modern autos are now so good that it's quite difficult to make a case against them (especially if a chunk of your driving involves stop-start traffic).
On the 535i specifically, I'm sure it would be fine with a manual (if you can find one!) but at the end of the day it's a relatively big, heavy, barge and my guess is that an auto may be a little bit better suited to the character of the car? The fact BMW no longer offer a manual would tend to suggest there wasn't enough demand to justify offering the choice and that probably says it all....
Yes I agree and you sum it up nicely, a 5 series is a car that tends to suit an auto and a weekender suits a manual. On the 535i specifically, I'm sure it would be fine with a manual (if you can find one!) but at the end of the day it's a relatively big, heavy, barge and my guess is that an auto may be a little bit better suited to the character of the car? The fact BMW no longer offer a manual would tend to suggest there wasn't enough demand to justify offering the choice and that probably says it all....
gizlaroc said:
Not about being for enthusiasts for me, it is about the right feel for a certain car.
I just hate big cars like the 5 series with a manual 'box, it takes away from the pleasure of the car for me.
I just hate big cars like the 5 series with a manual 'box, it takes away from the pleasure of the car for me.
Am I right in saying you only have experience of a manual 5 series in an E39 528i?
gizlaroc said:
I then decided to get a 528i manual, in fact I did, but realised straight away it simply wasn't as good as the auto I had on demo when deciding to get an E39, so I swapped for an auto, something I never thought I would do, especially as I was only mid twenties at the time, but the auto just suited that sort of car.
I'd agree that the auto suits the E39 very well. Even in Sport guise the car is a bit of a barge and I feel well matched to the auto. A pleasant drive.
Certainly when I took my 530iA to test drive a 540i with MT, whilst I was looking forward to driving the car, in reality I felt the gearbox was a horrid thing. Long throw, imprecise, unpleasant. A major disappointment. I won't mention the steering either!
The same day I went to try the 550i MT. What a difference! Stubby gear lever, short throw, firm precise feel. The whole car had a completely different character and it's all the better for it. I walked so as not to seem to keen but did the deal a couple of days later.
3 years and 60k on I still have no thoughts on replacing it, despite being an AT barge thread junkie. If only the clutch was a bit better, really need to bin the CDV.
gizlaroc said:
Not about being for enthusiasts for me, it is about the right feel for a certain car. All personal choice, but for me a manual would have to be a 911 or similar, in fact, 911, Z4, Cayman etc. are the only cars I can think I would even consider being worthy of a manual 'box these days.
I agree to a point but for me the only reason you can really justify a manual nowadays is about the desire to feel involved in the driving process and the reality is it's probably only enthusiasts who think that way; the vast majority of drivers couldn't care less and hence a machine that does it all for them - whether it be a traditional auto or a DCT-type arrangement - is fine as far as they're concerned. Given that's the majority view its no real surprise that the manual gearbox is gradually becoming a thing of the past; if most buyers opt for the auto when given the choice manufacturers will simply stop offering the manual (as for example BMW have done with both the 535i and the F31 340i and even Ferrari have done with the 458). So yes to some extent it's about the type of car but to some extent I think it also reflects that drivers who want to be part of the process in the traditional way are a dying breed; you'd think a 458 would be one of those "certain cars" that would be offered with a manual option but sadly Ferrari don't see the need (presumably because there would be so little demand). Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff