E60 530d manual gearbox. Any good?
Discussion
As per title really. I am looking at 530d's and have come across a manual one. Quite an unusual thing it seems? I don't have a particular preference for auto boxes, so if there are no issues with the manual in these cars I would happily go for one. Does anyone have first hand experience of this combination, and if so how is it? Thanks.
They are very hard cars to drive smoothly with a manual.
With the low down grunt every minor error is exacerbated - that is presuming you make any.
If you watch an auto, they change gear all the time with the engine being so flexible - I would imagine you would be forever changing gear yourself.
Id stick with the auto, unless you're on the lookout for a long term bargain.
With the low down grunt every minor error is exacerbated - that is presuming you make any.
If you watch an auto, they change gear all the time with the engine being so flexible - I would imagine you would be forever changing gear yourself.
Id stick with the auto, unless you're on the lookout for a long term bargain.
Hi
I just spent 3 years in a E60 530d manual and thoroughly enjoyed it.
On the plus side, I didn't find it jerky, or harsh, and it was easy to drive smoothly.
Good fuel economy too.
Negatives were a notchy first to second change, tiring to drive in traffic, with a leg position that gave me pain in the knee - but that's probably the same for any manual I drive.
Now that I drive an auto E60, I miss the control of the manual gear change, but love the auto for traffic.
I just spent 3 years in a E60 530d manual and thoroughly enjoyed it.
On the plus side, I didn't find it jerky, or harsh, and it was easy to drive smoothly.
Good fuel economy too.
Negatives were a notchy first to second change, tiring to drive in traffic, with a leg position that gave me pain in the knee - but that's probably the same for any manual I drive.
Now that I drive an auto E60, I miss the control of the manual gear change, but love the auto for traffic.
Can't agree with getting the gear change in a manual version, smooth.
I got ours to change super smooth 90% of the time...the 10% was me being lazy.
Defo harder to sell on than an auto, but 10%+ better economy and lower tax bracket AND cheaper to buy in the first place than an auto, makes it a better buy....a MUCH better buy.
We now have a facelift E53 X5 and comparing the power delivery tells me the manual was better to get the torque when you want it. Obviously different cars, but in the auto when in changes down a gear or two, this makes the revs too high, but with the manual, getting the revs low and sinking the accelerator makes for a better power hit.
I got ours to change super smooth 90% of the time...the 10% was me being lazy.
Defo harder to sell on than an auto, but 10%+ better economy and lower tax bracket AND cheaper to buy in the first place than an auto, makes it a better buy....a MUCH better buy.
We now have a facelift E53 X5 and comparing the power delivery tells me the manual was better to get the torque when you want it. Obviously different cars, but in the auto when in changes down a gear or two, this makes the revs too high, but with the manual, getting the revs low and sinking the accelerator makes for a better power hit.
It's absolutely fine with a manual box - infact if you dont spend all of your time in traffic its probably preferable to the auto - the reason being you can get reasonable economy out of the manual but the auto knocks the combined mpg well down into the mid 30's and it isn't worth putting up with the diesel-din to get mid 30's mpg.
I've just bought a 2004 e60 530d manual and the gearbox setup is not one
of the best, looks like the 1st ratio is low to help stop stalling due to
poor torque at low revs which is due to the turbo lag from the large single turbo.
You have to get the 1st to 2nd change exactly right, and it's slightly notchy (100k miles)
so I'll change the gear oil which should help.
I had the same 1st to 2nd ratio problems on a Yamaha TDM 850, bought the TDM 900 with 6 speed
box, happy as larry. The 2nd gear synchros always used to go on the Porsche 924 turbo for a
similar reason
Well I got used to it after a few hundred miles, and it seems to be the only thing
that lets the car down ( apart from rear wheel drive being usless in the snow)!
It's a really good motorway starship, a bit of a drag around town, I'll have to have a
go in the 535d, the twin turbo set up should be a lot better!
Steve
of the best, looks like the 1st ratio is low to help stop stalling due to
poor torque at low revs which is due to the turbo lag from the large single turbo.
You have to get the 1st to 2nd change exactly right, and it's slightly notchy (100k miles)
so I'll change the gear oil which should help.
I had the same 1st to 2nd ratio problems on a Yamaha TDM 850, bought the TDM 900 with 6 speed
box, happy as larry. The 2nd gear synchros always used to go on the Porsche 924 turbo for a
similar reason
Well I got used to it after a few hundred miles, and it seems to be the only thing
that lets the car down ( apart from rear wheel drive being usless in the snow)!
It's a really good motorway starship, a bit of a drag around town, I'll have to have a
go in the 535d, the twin turbo set up should be a lot better!
Steve
I remember this thread! Update is that I did buy the car. A very well spec'd one owner LCI M Sport for significantly less money than equivalent autos, so if it is worth less when I come to sell, the reduction is already factored in. I am really happy with it, and no difficulties at all driving it smoothly. Have never had an auto, so do not miss it. Because it is so torquey, and much of my mileage is A roads and motorway, it seems to spend most of its life in 6th anyway. I agree though that 1st is quite low - The feel of the gearbox is very similar to the 520d that I came from, so I don't know if it is the same box?
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