The current manual fascination can be hard to understand in some ways. When three pedals and a stick have been offered as a regular option in recent years, it’s largely been ignored, with buyers opting for the automatic instead. See the Porsche sports cars as the perfect example. But ensure the manual is produced in limited numbers, make a big fuss about the launch and give it an evocative name and watch the people flood in - see the 911 Sport Classic. Almost like the excitement around manuals is purely about collecting them, rather than actually driving them…
The same would happen with BMW manuals, of course. It has stuck with six-speeds for longer than most, and it’s still there in the M2 for those that want it - but you can guarantee that autos have outsold manuals in M cars for yonks. In all BMWs, for that matter. But should there be another Handschalter like the Z4 for the UK - a last of the line manual M before the Neue Klasse era - there’s going to be an onslaught. After no manual M3s for two generations, as nobody bought them here.
Which has always made sense, really, various DCTs and torque converters being so well integrated into BMW products that the manuals often seemed a bit awkward. Even the most ardent fan would have to concede that. But there really is nothing like changing gear for yourself, even with a less-than-perfect shift action. And with new car ranges seemingly being thinned out by the day, discovering a real curio in the classifieds is quite exciting; those cars that were bought new by the most dedicated of enthusiasts. Cars just like this manual 335i.
The N55-engined 3 Series was always a rare car, because this was the time when diesel ruled the world - and the 335d was one of the best. This particular example is particularly interesting, as it’s a Modern - the entry-level spec on a 335i, with M Sport and Luxury above it - albeit with £12,000 of options. So the interior resembles that of a small 7 Series, with leather, wood and chrome throughout. Maybe not to all tastes, if preferable the usual black with black and more black.
Nowhere in that options spend was the eight-speed automatic. The first owner wanted all those extras with a six-speed manual gearbox. Given our fondness for an M Sport in the UK, as well as so many going for the auto, you’d expect this 335i to be rare - and it certainly is. Rare to the point of unique, in fact: HowManyLeft features other Modern 335is, though only one with a manual gearbox. The definition of a Last Chance Saloon, then. There really doesn't seem to be another one in the UK.
Not that this is in danger of being scrapped anytime soon - it’s far too nice. Just 31,000 miles have been covered since 2012, a couple of thousand added each year by the MOT history. There have been ten services, including one six months ago. You wouldn’t normally regard a 3 Series as something to keep for best, though a manual 335i with this spec would surely make any journey feel very special indeed. It’s for sale at £12,995, this F30 era of 3 Series retaining its value very keenly indeed. There are still newer 340is and 335ds at twice this money with similar sorts of miles. It’s a nice era of 3 Series, modern enough to be useful for a long time yet without being quite so tech-obsessed as more recent offerings. A manual might make it to old school for most - or the ideal one-of-one throwback for a BMW aficionado…
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