[watoowatoo]

Do you think there is any way to order manual transmission for 528i in Canada or USA?
I don't see it in the options list and on the bmw website configurator.

[RichReg]

Nope ;;cannot be ordered ....yet.

I have a feeling they'll make it available eventually.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by RichReg

Nope ;;cannot be ordered ....yet.

I have a feeling they'll make it available eventually.

I wish I shared your optimism. But I think (a) the 528i is destined to make a contribution (a positive one, that is) to BMW's CAFE, and (b) the automatic will yield better fuel consumption numbers than a stick would.

[watoowatoo]

But it's available on all models in europe.
Could we Special order it you think?

[raleedy]

No chance. The only chance would be a mass action by potential customers. But I don't believe there is enough real demand to influence the management, which would be understandably resistant to any pressure of that kind.

[RichReg]

I talked about this with a dealership on Monday

They said that the option is blocked out when they try to order
the car that way. But if its actually, REALLY available with a 6 speed
in Europe, I'm sure it has to come here eventually because then there
would be no point in allowing it for the 535 & 550.

Also, I seriously believe that the 8 speed is going to allow all of the
models to perform better. That includes the 3 & the 7 whenever they
get it.

[funbob]

Originally Posted by RichReg

I talked about this with a dealership on Monday

They said that the option is blocked out when they try to order
the car that way. But if its actually, REALLY available with a 6 speed
in Europe, I'm sure it has to come here eventually because then there
would be no point in allowing it for the 535 & 550.

Also, I seriously believe that the 8 speed is going to allow all of the
models to perform better. That includes the 3 & the 7 whenever they
get it.

I'll stick with the 6 speed for now thank you.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by RichReg

I talked about this with a dealership on Monday

if its actually, REALLY available with a 6 speed
in Europe, I'm sure it has to come here eventually because then there
would be no point in allowing it for the 535 & 550.

There are a great many choices available in other markets that are not offered in the United States by BMW and its German competitors. The many additional engine choices are just one example. There are undoubtedly many reasons for this: the long pipeline, the relatively smaller market, the different regulatory and certification requirements, and the generally lower profit margins, to name just a few. The fact that a manual transmission is available for the 528 in Europe or for the 535 and 550 in the US doesn't, unfortunately, mean anything with respect to 528 options in the US market.

[hinckley]

Makes you wonder how those product guys think . . .

The 550 is only available with a stick in the North American market. There's no 550 stick in the rest of the world.

So of course, the 528 gets a stick in the rest of the world, but not one in North America. It's especially odd considering that when you can opt for a stick in other North American cars, it's almost always offered only on the low-end model, and not available at all on the higher end models.

I'm just not smart enough to understand all this . . .

[Hoss NY]

I've heard the 5-series product manager answer the question this way:

In North America, the stick is targeted at the enthusiast market (high-end 550 and 535) only. Very few non-enthusiasts buy a stick in the US. Typically 10% of the 550s are sold with a stick vs about 5-6% for the 535s. In Europe, the stick is targeted at the low end, low cost market while the automatic is viewed as more of a high end option.

[RichReg]

I think another reason may well be that the 8 speed makes the car perform much better....possibly a larger difference than would apply to the 535 & 550. Could the weight of this car be dragging it down as the other thread from today suggests?

[raleedy]

At least they haven't given up the manual entirely, the way other manufacturers have pretty much done. I've always thought BMW manual transmissions were more superior to their competition than their automatics are. The 8-speed might be different; I hope it is.

[uhn2000]

The 528 is the same as the older 530 which was a delight to drive in 6 speed - had mine for 4 years and its stilling going with a friend. I think they may bring it eventually. The straight 6 (non-turbo) is a jewel and might be under powered for an 8 speed auto.

[watoowatoo]

Originally Posted by uhn2000

The 528 is the same as the older 530 which was a delight to drive in 6 speed - had mine for 4 years and its stilling going with a friend. I think they may bring it eventually. The straight 6 (non-turbo) is a jewel and might be under powered for an 8 speed auto.

Couldn't agree more.
I was hoping somebody knew of special order a MT since it was already in product line for other markets.

[raleedy]

Why don't you just try to order it and see what happens?

[watoowatoo]

Originally Posted by raleedy

Why don't you just try to order it and see what happens?

Actually I am waiting for CA to call me back on this. Was great to hear other comments. I will post if I had any news

[watoowatoo]

Confirmed by CA, bmw NA decided no manual tranny for 528i even with soecial ordering.

[dpwr]

i'm a MT driver, but I don't think there's a point for MT on 5 series, but thats just me

[shipill]

Originally Posted by dpwr

i'm a MT driver, but I don't think there's a point for MT on 5 series, but thats just me

+1