[DLerner]

To each his own, go with the transmission you prefer. The fact that the F10 can still be configured with either a manual or auto or a number of other options is what makes it so great.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by Bmrmeup

I must say that this post seems to have sparked some fires, but I must say it has been a great read and interesting none the less....

Must you?

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by YodaSyrup

To each his own, go with the transmission you prefer. The fact that the F10 can still be configured with either a manual or auto or a number of other options is what makes it so great.

The 550i will no longer be available with a manual in the US. According to a previous post, the 535i stick is also discontinued in the UK.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by The X Men

The 550i will no longer be available with a manual in the US. According to a previous post, the 535i stick is also discontinued in the UK.

For the North East drivers... would you want a manual Xdrive option? Is it available like the 335xdrive Manual transmission?

I find Xdrive to be a great option for the snow and ice we get. I won't buy a RWD daily driver anymore after driving an Xdrive 335i. I might have to say the same about the 535xdrive...

[JK479]

Originally Posted by Boulder Bill

X-traneous silliness aside, I'm sure you are right. Next car around, it will be interesting to see what MT options there are in this segment, if any. Acura still makes a MT, but it is not really a comparable car from a handling standpoint. But BMW is less and less about handling over the last few model reboots anyway.

As to the poor OP who simply wanted some feedback on MTs, the best thing would be to drive them both (which I did), but it is hard to find a six speed to test out.

Good luck with your choice. You are unlikely to be disappointed either way.

Thanks... my real question is... can we get Xdrive on this 535i with a stick? I've tried to read through the order guide, but I am unsure.

In the end, maybe an 8 speed automatic isnt the boring transmission I thought it was. Maybe its the best for this 5series.

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by JK479

For the North East drivers... would you want a manual Xdrive option? Is it available like the 335xdrive Manual transmission?

I find Xdrive to be a great option for the snow and ice we get. I won't buy a RWD daily driver anymore after driving an Xdrive 335i. I might have to say the same about the 535xdrive...

All the F10 with stick I have seen have been RWD with Summer tires. I don't think BMW make a 535xi with stick for the US market. You will probably have better control in the snow with an automatic since you will have two hands on the steering wheel at all time. Fuel economy is also better with an automatic. Like some have mentioned already, the first gear in the 535i is very short to get such a heavy car moving quickly. You also lose a cup holder in the stick shift model and the one that remains is directly behind the shifter, which gets in the way if you want to use the center arm rest. The shifter also get in the way of getting to the iDrive knob. It just seems like the whole interior layout is not as nice in the manual.

[JK479]

Its almost as if the 6 speed was a afterthought on the interior of the 5. You are right about the cupholder too. Why couldnt they have kept the cupholders as it? The new F30 manual has the cup holders there.

For the gents who have the 8 speed automatic that used to have a manual 5 or 3... will the experience of paddle shifters add to the experience? I realize the last of a third pedal makes it a true automatic, but do you have some control with paddle shifting?

Or are we really pretending to shift, with no real difference in control?

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by JK479

Its almost as if the 6 speed was a afterthought on the interior of the 5. You are right about the cupholder too. Why couldnt they have kept the cupholders as it? The new F30 manual has the cup holders there.

For the gents who have the 8 speed automatic that used to have a manual 5 or 3... will the experience of paddle shifters add to the experience? I realize the last of a third pedal makes it a true automatic, but do you have some control with paddle shifting?

Or are we really pretending to shift, with no real difference in control?

I had paddle shifters in my A6, it just doesn't feel the same as a stick shift. 8 speed is way too many speed to paddle shift, it almost like you are constantly shifting.

[K-A]

Originally Posted by JK479

Its almost as if the 6 speed was a afterthought on the interior of the 5. You are right about the cupholder too. Why couldnt they have kept the cupholders as it? The new F30 manual has the cup holders there.

For the gents who have the 8 speed automatic that used to have a manual 5 or 3... will the experience of paddle shifters add to the experience? I realize the last of a third pedal makes it a true automatic, but do you have some control with paddle shifting?

Or are we really pretending to shift, with no real difference in control?

I find that the 8 Speed SAT when shifting with paddles is as controlled and "close to manual" as you'll ever feel an auto tranny (maybe except for Porsche PDK but even then, my cars paddles shift rapidly, DO NOT auto-correct you at all, and let you really control the car and shifts how you want). I think it gives you a slight "sensation" of how a manual would feel but after a while can get boring and tedious. It does feel like you're controlling your car with a video game as opposed to the analogue stick shift BUT sometimes really does add to a connection with the car, when you want to control RPM's and all that. However, nothing is as good as the auto simply in "Sport Mode" letting the computer do its magic, and if you want it even more aggressive, DS + S/S+ Mode is amazing.

The SAT makes a nice difference in how aggressive an F10 drives.

BTW, MAN is that layout kind of hideous with the manual shifter in the F10. Looks like it takes that portion of the interior back a decade. At least they could have kept the original format and materials and simply add the stick.

[DLerner]

Originally Posted by The X Men

You also lose a cup holder in the stick shift model and the one that remains is directly behind the shifter, which gets in the way if you want to use the center arm rest. The shifter also get in the way of getting to the iDrive knob. It just seems like the whole interior layout is not as nice in the manual.

You do lose a cup holder - bad.
The one cup holder gets in the way of the center arm rest - not a problem for me.
The shifter gets in the way of the iDrive controller - not a problem for me.

Given everything BMW needed to get into the center console with the MT, I'd say it all works very well.

My only complaint would be the loss of some wood trim vs. the auto - not sure why that was necessary.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by K-A

I find that the 8 Speed SAT when shifting with paddles is as controlled and "close to manual" as you'll ever feel an auto tranny (maybe except for Porsche PDK but even then, my cars paddles shift rapidly, DO NOT auto-correct you at all, and let you really control the car and shifts how you want). I think it gives you a slight "sensation" of how a manual would feel but after a while can get boring and tedious. It does feel like you're controlling your car with a video game as opposed to the analogue stick shift BUT sometimes really does add to a connection with the car, when you want to control RPM's and all that. However, nothing is as good as the auto simply in "Sport Mode" letting the computer do its magic, and if you want it even more aggressive, DS + S/S+ Mode is amazing.

The SAT makes a nice difference in how aggressive an F10 drives.

BTW, MAN is that layout kind of hideous with the manual shifter in the F10. Looks like it takes that portion of the interior back a decade. At least they could have kept the original format and materials and simply add the stick.

excellent reply. thank you.

[K-A]

Originally Posted by JK479

excellent reply. thank you.

No prob.

To go further on the "won't correct you" part. This could actually get you in trouble on such a quiet car like the F10. I've accidentally downshifted too much several times and found my car instantly wailing needlessly almost at redline when I'm only driving at moderate speeds (on cold engines at that). It truly let's you control it when you want to. It ain't like my M-B's paddle shifts which seemed more-so for either marketing gimmicks or for simple and telegraphed passing (i.e they took a few minutes to shift, it was impossible and ultimately boring/tedious/regressive to even attempt to drive-by-shift them, and they auto corrected constantly).

[Ballzilla]

The manual looks so out of place.
You just never expect to see a car like this have a manual. So off!

[james550imanual]

I'm in the market for a 5, specifically because the 6MT is available. Always been a manual guy..always will.
I'm not even taking a look at A6 or E-class due to this feature (or lack of)

Comes down to personal preference. My left foot simply has to be engaged I need that mechanical connection with the car.

My wife has an Infiniti M37..awesome car but after driving it, I'm more inclined than ever to get a ultra luxury sedan mated with a manual transmission to give me the best of both worlds. Enter BMW 5 series.

[Rbembas_M3]

I hear you, loving my 535i 6MT drove the auto boring... next looking for a 550i 6MT. Over the weekend I drove in the north Georgia mountains to my in-laws, beauitiful drive and love get on it.

[DLerner]

Originally Posted by Ballzilla

The manual looks so out of place.
You just never expect to see a car like this have a manual. So off!

Never expect to see a manual in a BMW? That's some serious crazy talk. Am I on a Lexus forum?

[Boulder Bill]

Amen brother. Crazy talk indeed.

[Marksman63]

Sport auto, paddles, right foot on throttle and left foot on brake: pure fun! MT R.I.P.

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by YodaSyrup

Never expect to see a manual in a BMW? That's some serious crazy talk. Am I on a Lexus forum?

I think he is talking about the KMart looking center console of the manual F10 being out of place. That plastic center console looks like it belong in a Kia, not a $80000 550i.

[bubbahead]

I'm wondering for those who have the manual transmission in the f10would even consider ordering one in the 7-series if it was available..... its only 6 inches longer...anyone?

[8042]

"Wow, your 5 series has an automatic transmission?"

Words that will never be said.

Kidding aside, I have a 2013 535i with manual. It's tremendous. Such a fun car to drive.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by bubbahead

I'm wondering for those who have the manual transmission in the f10would even consider ordering one in the 7-series if it was available..... its only 6 inches longer...anyone?

It's not available in any market. Years ago I had an E32 735i with a stick. It was a very nice car, about the size of today's 535i with a normally aspirated 3-1/2 liter six. It was enjoyable. But what would discourage me from ordering a 535i manual is the turbo lag. Who wants that after every shift?