RE: BMW M5 gets a manual gearbox

[Zod]

Have they said we're not getting the Touring? If so, bad, bad, BMW.

[Cigar2]

It's not to surpising especially if you look at the used M5 market here in the States for the older gen M5.
Which is still strong here are the Kelly Blue Book prices:

2003 BMW M5 $48,000 - $50,600
2002 BMW M5 $42,700 - $45,600
2001 BMW M5 $37,800 - $40,900
2000 BMW M5 $32,900 - $36,100
Also has an added kicker we are also getting the M6 with that new thing called a stick in the next year or so too.

[JonRB]

Zod said:

Have they said we're not getting the Touring? If so, bad, bad, BMW.

I'd be stunned if they didn't. The RS4 and RS6 (amongst others) have clearly shown that we in the UK seem to like fast estates so you would think that they would see a market.

[rnjk4982]

Fear not, I know a company the is already working on the LHD to RHD conversion (not at liberty to say who at the moment). I can say it will be under £3k!!

[Road_Terrorist]

rnjk4982 said:

Fear not, I know a company the is already working on the LHD to RHD conversion (not at liberty to say who at the moment). I can say it will be under £3k!!

Wouldn't it be easier just to swap the gearbox

Also remember the US got the M3 CS as a halfway house CSL with manual gearbox well before they decided they would flog the last few left over here.

No doubt there will be a 'limited edition' RHD M5 manual to run out the existing M5 model in a couple of years.

[Vesuvius 996]

vjj said:

So the yanks get a manual, the Germans and italians get a tourer, and no doubt they will all get a manual tourer at some point - LHD, you see.

I would buy one of these. Much as I like my XC90 and love my Griff, I would swap them both for a safe, spacious, practical car with supercar performance and a manual 'box.

I am considering going to look at an RS4 Avant in Guilford on Tuesday, but I pretty much already know it won't be big enough for a family of 3 with a wife does triathlons.

COME ON BMW, give us what we want.

Can't the selfish woman just run alongside?

Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Thursday 16th November 16:56

[noneedtolift]

Unlikely that this will happen in the near future - due to requirements on BMW's clutch release mechanism there are no manual gearboxes for engines in excess of approx. 400Nm. There have been actvities that indicate that this will change sometimes in the future. However I doubt that this will concern the current M5 series.

[Dino D]

trenchtown said:

I happen to like that site too, but any article with more Mwaaa-haaa-haaa's in it than an average Borat interview is obviously not to be taken as serious as you you are doing right now.

Oi mate. You do know that I was being sarcastic??

[b10brw]

Ashok said:

At least it won't need replacing as often. My M5 is on it's THIRD SMG gearbox!!

You should stop using the Launch Control too much Ashok

[Dino D]

b10brw said:

Ashok said:

At least it won't need replacing as often. My M5 is on it's THIRD SMG gearbox!!

You should stop using the Launch Control too much Ashok

We used launch control once with MD's M5. It spun the wheels right through 1st and 2nd gear so was actually slower than a normal standing start and I would think gentler on the transmission.

Immediatley after the warning lights came on and the car said 'drive moderately'. The lights went away after a few miles of moderate driving. However they reappeared a week later along with DSC Failure and then mysteriously went away again.

BMW looked into this and said they did a 'software' upgrade. The lights would still come on randomly though. Strangely, one effect of this 'uphrade' was an mpg improvement from 14.9 to 17mpg although the driving style got harder and harder the more used to the car he got.

[Ashok]

No launch control and driven "normally". Surely M cars are designed to be tracked etc - doesn't M stand for Motorsport?

First two transmissions went with less than 10,000 miles on the clock. Most unreliable car I've ever owned. Still - it's awesome when it does work.

[trenchtown]

Dino D said:

trenchtown said:

I happen to like that site too, but any article with more Mwaaa-haaa-haaa's in it than an average Borat interview is obviously not to be taken as serious as you are doing right now.

Oi mate. You do know that I was being sarcastic??

I do know...

Coming to think of it; someone else was already pointing this out to me earlier on. Sarcasm just well... I JUST DON'T GET IT SOMETIMES!

[greybeard]

Don't know that I'm too happy with the put-downs of us Yanks, but I can tell you that I personally have driven stick-only since 1974, and sporadically before that. Note that the Acura Integra GS-R that I owned in the '90's was offered only in stick, no automatic at all, as was the Honda Prelude SH that I drive now. I'm sure the BMW will sell briskly.

[cross-eyed-twit]

Mr Greybeard, you are an erudite thespian in a sea of Monkeys. America needs more people like you to move the balance of intellect into the ... erm... above average...

[Dino D]

greybeard said:

Don't know that I'm too happy with the put-downs of us Yanks, but I can tell you that I personally have driven stick-only since 1974, and sporadically before that. Note that the Acura Integra GS-R that I owned in the '90's was offered only in stick, no automatic at all, as was the Honda Prelude SH that I drive now. I'm sure the BMW will sell briskly.

I don't believe it!!! You must have been born outside the states!

If you driving Vtecs thne the only way to go is manual...

[Zod]

greybeard said:

Don't know that I'm too happy with the put-downs of us Yanks, but I can tell you that I personally have driven stick-only since 1974, and sporadically before that. Note that the Acura Integra GS-R that I owned in the '90's was offered only in stick, no automatic at all, as was the Honda Prelude SH that I drive now. I'm sure the BMW will sell briskly.

You are a fine exception, Sir.

[StuB]

Ashok said:

doesn't M stand for Motorsport?

Sorry, but I think it's been superceded by

arketing

[mybrainhurts]

Manual box for the States...?

And he's me, thinking the krauts had no sense of humour...

Magic...

[Zod]

StuB said:

Ashok said:

doesn't M stand for Motorsport?

Sorry, but I think it's been superceded by

arketing

In one repsect, you're right: the appalling overuse of the M badge on tarted up non-M cars. Otherwise, you are not correct: to have developed a bespoke engine and gearbox for the M5/M6 is utterly Motorsport.

[Lance Boyle]

In Canada, the M5 is already available with the 6 speed manual with the SMG a $2200 option. BMW Canada seems to be shying away from the SMG in general as it has been discontinued as an option on the rest of the 5 Series line. On a seperate note, BMW Canada has gone "package crazy" i.e. to get heated rear seats one has to drop $6400 for the Executive Package which includes the dreaded active seats.