Is the manual transmission 5-series dead in the US?

"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
08/04/2014 at 17:12 • Filed to: BMW, 5-series, manual transmission, lottery

Feeling lucky after winning $560 worth of Cards tickets at work the other day, I contemplated what I would buy if my luck held out and I won the lottery as well. I don't know what I would get for myself, but instead was thinking of what car to get for my dad as a replacement for his E-class. A car for mom would be easy as she must have an automatic due to a knee injury from skiing, but I know dad wants something with a manual, preferably another BMW (he had nothing but BMWs for over 20 years).

I started working up what I would like in a nice 5er for myself (small engine, MT, no nav, sport package, upgraded stereo) and was surprised that there wasn't a choice of transmission. The only thing that came close was the optional paddles for the gearbox. Huh? No manual 5? A sad day indeed.

The only consolation I could come up with was the revelation that a modern 3-series is probably about the same size as an older 5, so perhaps it would be time to downsize. It's not like dad needs lots of room in the back of the car, and as I recall there was sufficient, albeit not exceptional, room in the back of the E34. Yet more evidence that I'm older than dirt...

DISCUSSION (13)

Saracen > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/04/2014 at 17:14

I'm pretty sure the only manual 5-series you can get now are the 550i with RWD, and the M5.

Edit: wow, not even the 550i anymore. That must have happened during the 2014 model year.

Brian Silvestro > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/04/2014 at 17:15

Yeah, it's been dead for almost a year now I think.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/04/2014 at 17:17

Partial season tickets?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/04/2014 at 17:17

I just noticed that even in the UK, where not a lot of people drive anything other than a manual, a lot of the 5 series range offers manual. The smaller petrols and most of the diesel engines offer it but not the larger engines.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/04/2014 at 17:24

No, just four very good seats down low by home plate. Unlike the cheap seats I usually get, these were nicely padded and had plenty of legroom. A very nice night out, even if we did lose the game.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/04/2014 at 17:28

Sweet. Do some of those come with food and drinks included?

My brother used to work for a bank in St. Louis and got us amazing seats, just a few rows off behind the home dugout. Haven't been up there for a game yet this season - need to get back...

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Saracen
08/04/2014 at 17:31

In the US I'm used to manuals being available only on the most basic models, so that's what I started with. But I guess BMW's current clientele aren't big on the MT anymore, and in a way I'm not surprised. The E34 was gutless with an auto, and more tolerable with a manual, but by no means quick (Toyota Siennas would blow me away). Nowadays, autos have gotten quite good, and most cars are ridiculously overpowered, and the need for a manual just isn't there like it used to be. The need may be gone, but the want is still there.

Perhaps I'll revert back to my previous fantasy car plan, and restore an E24 M6 instead of buying new. I'll have to make it an order for two as I still want one of those for myself.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
08/04/2014 at 17:35

I noticed that when I went on to BMWs site in Germany a few years back and tried to build the perfect manual transmission, diesel, brown, 5-series wagon, this at a time before this phantom vehicle became a meme around these parts. I was disappointed to learn that even in Germany I couldn't get the big TD with a MT. Smaller engines, yes, but not with the big motors. I guess I'll just have to build it myself.

CAR_IS_MI > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/04/2014 at 17:37

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Yes.

Sorry.

It makes me sad too.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/04/2014 at 17:41

This would drive me away as I like both diesels and manuals and actually drive a diesel manual car. Not that I'll likely ever be able to afford a shiny new 5 series though...

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/04/2014 at 17:47

No food or drink included, but since I provided the tickets my friends paid me back with snacks and libations. The favorite had to be Angel's Envy bourbon with lemonade and a splash of Coke; I forget what they call it, but it was fine.

Unlike Staples Center back in LA, the only separation between the privileged few and the plebeians was a ticket check on the way down to the seats. At Staples I wasn't willing to pay $48 for a can of Red Bull or whatever ridiculous price they were expecting skybox patrons to pay for food and drink (it was a company box, and nobody else wanted the tickets to this event so they went to us lowly IT geeks that didn't have expense accounts). Finding access from the boxes to the snack bars for the commoners proved to be quite a challenge, and I know that wasn't by accident. But of course, nothing tastes better than beating the system.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/04/2014 at 17:56

That sounds pretty fantastic, might have to mix one myself.

Have you checked out Ballpark Village yet? Haven't been up since it was completed; just wondering if they did a good job with it.

Only one game back - hope they can finish strong.

Captain_Spadaro > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/06/2014 at 01:37

Yup. The 528i and the AWD cars lost the manual when the F10 came online, and the 550i lost it when the LCI happened. Some time during the 2014 model year, BMW dropped it from the 535i. Only way to get a stick 5er is to pay nearly 100k for the M5, and from what I've read its not that good in that car.