[Theride]

Why doesn't bmw offer a manual with the 528?

I find it weird that the weakest engine does not have a manual gear box, which in my opinion needs it more than the 535 and 550.

[ibimmer954]

My guess: Because BMWUSA believes only the 'enthusiasts' will buy the 6MT. And those enthusiasts will probably not want the 528i.

[URBAN LEGEND]

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

My guess: Because BMWUSA believes only the 'enthusiasts' will buy the 6MT. And those enthusiasts will probably not want the 528i.

Lol!

[stealth.pilot]

Because it costs them a lot more to make a manual, and there isn't enough margin to give that away on a 528.

[1HOT BMR]

Because it would be an economy car with a manual that nobody would buy. It's hard enough for them to sell the other manual cars they make since there are so few of us who are willing to fork out the bucks to row our own gears

[A900ss]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

Because it costs them a lot more to make a manual, and there isn't enough margin to give that away on a 528.

Are you sure about that?

MT is standard on the 528 in UK (as it is on most 5er engines). If you want auto, it's an extra £1,500 to pay.

[Theride]

Originally Posted by A900ss

Are you sure about that?

MT is standard on the 528 in UK (as it is on most 5er engines). If you want auto, it's an extra £1,500 to pay.

thats it here.

IMO, it simply makes no sense to not make the 528 a manual. Not everyone wants to race, but some of us simply want the pleasure of a manual shifting gearbox.

Isnt manual on the 328 AND 335?

[Alan l.]

Aside from the enthusiasts on the forums majority of the BMW sold are automatics. Personally I think the F10 is better suited as an automatic anyway. With the latest automatic transmissions by BMW, its no longer slower than the manual cars like they were in the past. At least that's the case for the 3 series crowd and I own a 6MT myself.

Alan

[paulbazo]

Originally Posted by Theride

thats it here.

IMO, it simply makes no sense to not make the 528 a manual. Not everyone wants to race, but some of us simply want the pleasure of a manual shifting gearbox.

Isnt manual on the 328 AND 335?

There is no pleasure in manual shifting a 528, there is pleasure in manual shifting a 335 or a 911.

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by Theride

Why doesn't bmw offer a manual with the 528?

I find it weird that the weakest engine does not have a manual gear box, which in my opinion needs it more than the 535 and 550.

Umm, the auto has 8spd. That's 2 more than the manual, so it WOULD make sense for them not to offer the 6spd manual. 8spd auto offers quicker gear change, shorter ratio, and better fuel economy than the 6spd manual.

I agree with most. Enthusiasts will not buy a base model 5 series, so why offer a manual option in the U.S.?

As for saying the 528i being weak, have you driven the new one with the N20 motor? It has plenty of power for daily driving. The torque and power delivery is very close to my 535i.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

I just find it entertaining that only "enthusiasts" would want a manual gearbox. And as there is apparently no pleasure in shifting in a 528 I take it that the pleasure I get from shifting in my 520d is a figment of my presumably deranged imagination?

BTW some of the costs attributed to the two boxes are laughable. A computer controlled box with 8 ratios will cost more to manufacture than a manual box with 6 ratios. That's why auto transmission is a cost option in the markets where the car is manufactured. If BMW USA is charging more for a manual, its clearly raking it in.

[E90Fleet]

There is a manual box for the 528i, BMW USA just do not offer it.

Each country can choose what they want to offer.

Here you cannot get a new 335i with manual, Auto only, even though teh factory here make manual 335i versions for a large part of the world including the USA.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by A900ss

Are you sure about that?

MT is standard on the 528 in UK (as it is on most 5er engines). If you want auto, it's an extra £1,500 to pay.

The problem isn't manufacturing cost. It is testing and government approval to sell it in the USA. While the 528i powertrain is identical to the 328i powertrain, the US government requires EPA testing and certification for each car, and this has fixed costs. The fixed costs are ammortized over a very small volume of sales, and in the US, BMW obviously decided it wasn't worth it given that this is a low price model within the F10 range.

[kave]

Poor americans, we pay twice the amount you pay and that gives us freedom to chose manual on all engines except 535D. Id rather have auto on all and half price.

[Theride]

Originally Posted by paulbazo

There is no pleasure in manual shifting a 528, there is pleasure in manual shifting a 335 or a 911.

Thats bull because i had a 92 honda accord and I LOVED driving it compared its auto counter part. Hell, its one of my favorite cars to DRIVE. I have also owned a 528i auto (e39) and I didnt think i needed any more power for what I used it for.... every day driving, but would have more pleasure if it was a manual.

Not that I am complaining about more power, but as everyone knows, bmw has never been about the most power, its the FEEL of the overall package.

also, if the reasoning is nobody would buy a manual 528, get rid of the manual all together because i am certain majority of the 5 series buyers ON THIS SITE does not own a manual; and if this site represents car enthusiasts, the regular individuals out there is even worse when it comes to owning a manual.

[Theride]

Originally Posted by Rochdale Pioneers

I just find it entertaining that only "enthusiasts" would want a manual gearbox. And as there is apparently no pleasure in shifting in a 528 I take it that the pleasure I get from shifting in my 520d is a figment of my presumably deranged imagination?

BTW some of the costs attributed to the two boxes are laughable. A computer controlled box with 8 ratios will cost more to manufacture than a manual box with 6 ratios. That's why auto transmission is a cost option in the markets where the car is manufactured. If BMW USA is charging more for a manual, its clearly raking it in.

There is a no cost option between the auto and manual on the BMWNA website. regarding the 3 series.

[Amleto63]

Originally Posted by Theride

Why doesn't bmw offer a manual with the 528?

I find it weird that the weakest engine does not have a manual gear box, which in my opinion needs it more than the 535 and 550.

It is strange that US bimmers want today a manual gearbox. It could be a right choice some years ago when automatic gearboxes were slow, not intelligent and unefficient in term of fuel consuption. But today the 8 gears ZF is the state of the art of gearboxes.
I always owned manual gear cars (even 3 BMWs) but today I'm absolutely not missing the manual ones!
Are you wondering why Ferrari, Lambos and all the top cars are not offering any more the manual option?

[Superspeed]

Originally Posted by Amleto63

It is strange that US bimmers want today a manual gearbox. It could be a right choice some years ago when automatic gearboxes were slow, not intelligent and unefficient in term of fuel consuption. But today the 8 gears ZF is the state of the art of gearboxes.
I always owned manual gear cars (even 3 BMWs) but today I'm absolutely not missing the manual ones!
Are you wondering why Ferrari, Lambos and all the top cars are not offering any more the manual option?

I totally agree. I never doubted ordering manual on my previous cars, but on the F12 this was no option. And now I am extremely happy with the 8-speed auto, and would never dream of having anything else - not even when driving in "sport" mode

[Theride]

Originally Posted by Amleto63

It is strange that US bimmers want today a manual gearbox. It could be a right choice some years ago when automatic gearboxes were slow, not intelligent and unefficient in term of fuel consuption. But today the 8 gears ZF is the state of the art of gearboxes.
I always owned manual gear cars (even 3 BMWs) but today I'm absolutely not missing the manual ones!
Are you wondering why Ferrari, Lambos and all the top cars are not offering any more the manual option?

I get what you are saying about improvements to automatics. But guess what? No automatics will replace a manual gearbox, no matter how good it is.

I think many people are missing the point between an auto and manual.

Its not that the auto isnt good,( I have own an acura and the auto was horrible compared to a subaru that ive owned) but no gearbox in the car industry will replace rowing your own gears with a real shifter....even the paddle shifters.

But i dont want this to be a war between gearbox.

I think many appreciated the manual in the E39 528I.

In any case, I hope bmw bring back the manual in the 528.

[Amleto63]

Originally Posted by Theride

I get what you are saying about improvements to automatics. But guess what? No automatics will replace a manual gearbox, no matter how good it is.

I think many people are missing the point between an auto and manual.

Its not that the auto isnt good,( I have own an acura and the auto was horrible compared to a subaru that ive owned) but no gearbox in the car industry will replace rowing your own gears with a real shifter....even the paddle shifters.

But i dont want this to be a war between gearbox.

I think many appreciated the manual in the E39 528I.

In any case, I hope bmw bring back the manual in the 528.

I totally understand you points as we are car enthusiast.
It is like the good music on vynil or CD. We know that the CDs have wider dynamics, no background noise and top music performance but when I put a vynil disk on my Linn-Sondek turntable it is a different emotion. However this is technology and if you want in near future a manual gearbox you should look for a vintage car.
Cheers

[Marcus Frost]

Originally Posted by Amleto63

I totally understand you points as we are car enthusiast.
It is like the good music on vynil or CD. We know that the CDs have wider dynamics, no background noise and top music performance but when I put a vynil disk on my Linn-Sondek turntable it is a different emotion. However this is technology and if you want in near future a manual gearbox you should look for a vintage car.
Cheers

Having spent considerable time on both sides of the pond I feel that Europeans have grown tired of manuals at a much faster pace than Americans, because the simple reality is most cars in europe were manual until recently. Driving a 90hp diesel with a manual transmission was never fun, and having done it for the past 10, 20, or 30 years just wears on you.

On this side of the Atlantic, most cars have been automatic for a long time, including basic economy cars. As such, we tend to feel much more enthusiastic about having a high-HP car with what is a unique transmission - a manual one. Driving automatics all the time is boring and the manual transmission offers people an engaging, fun, and different driving experience.

I myself am a diehard manual transmission fan, but I can appreciate a good flappy paddle gearbox or well engineered auto. If I have a choice on a particular car, I will almost always lean towards having a manual... even over the latest and greatest dual clutch gearboxes - again, IF I have a choice

[reaper1]

Originally Posted by kave

Poor americans, we pay twice the amount you pay and that gives us freedom to chose manual on all engines except 535D. Id rather have auto on all and half price.

Vote your goverment out! They are the ones taxing you so much.