I have officially lost all faith in BMW.

"Van Man, rocks the Man Van" (jacoboconnell)
08/28/2015 at 18:03 • Filed to: Save the Manuals, BMW

Earlier today, I was messing around on BMW’s configurator, when I discovered something. BMW no longer offers a manual transmission on the 228i (aka “The Best Enthusiast Bimmer You Can Buy” per FP), 328i, and 428i. Yes, that’s right, you can no longer get manual transmission with a 240 hp turbo 4 from the makers of the so-called “Ultimate Driving Machine.” (It is still available with the turbo 6 cylinder for those models.)

Also, the 320i “Jalopnik Edition” still exists, but is now different and more expensive. The manual transmission is still available, but the sport package is gone, replaced by the “Track Handling Package,” which includes M-sport brakes and other stuff. The price increases by well over $1,000. (EDIT: I’m an idiot and somehow totally missed the sport pack. It exist alongside the Track Handling package. Hat tip to Party-vi for the correction.)

There is some good news, though. Sakhir Orange is back as a color for the M4!

That’s about it.

All photos by other people.

DISCUSSION (46)

MultiplaOrgasms > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:07

How’s it feel knowing that you don’t live in a free country?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:07

Meh. The designation of “ultimate driving machine” still gives me the giggles.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
08/28/2015 at 18:10

I still want a stick.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > MultiplaOrgasms
08/28/2015 at 18:10

We're so free we don't even have to shift our own gears, even if we want to.

Sam > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:10

I’m absolutely shocked that they took away an option that almost nobody bought in the first place! What kind of business sense does that make?!?!

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Sam
08/28/2015 at 18:11

I get that. But seriously, how can you make a small sporty coupe and only offer it with an auto (looking at you, Alfa)?

wiffleballtony > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:14

I lost faith with the engine noise synth.

Cé hé sin > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:15

“Yes, that’s right, you can no longer get manual transmission with a 240 hp turbo 4 from the makers of the so-called “Ultimate Driving Machine.”

Actually, I can. You, maybe not so much.

RallyWrench > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:16

Took you long enough.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:17

Buy a 1

Spridget > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:17

Kinja'd!!!

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Cé hé sin
08/28/2015 at 18:18

You Europeans could get a manual transmission with scrambled eggs and it would sell like crazy. I was speaking about the American market.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > wiffleballtony
08/28/2015 at 18:19

I don't mind that since you can turn it off. But manuals are sacred.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > RallyWrench
08/28/2015 at 18:19

*confused*

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Cé hé sin
08/28/2015 at 18:23

Rekt :p

B_dol > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:23

Waiting for a confirmation. It seems to be off the webpage but some sources say its still on the physical dealer order sheet.

If it is out, then the 228i Msport MT in my garage will have slightly better resale in 20 years haha.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:24

Took you long enough to realize that your ideal BMW has been dead for years haha!! ^_^

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > B_dol
08/28/2015 at 18:26

I sincerely hope that’s the case. I was actually thinking to myself writing this, “All the owners of manual 228’s will be happy because their cars will go up in value.”

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
08/28/2015 at 18:27

I guess, but this was really kind of the last straw for me.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:31

Really? Killing off the V10 and V8 M3 and artificial sound and oversized overweight cars didn’t do it for you?

Damn.

RallyWrench > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:32

To officially lose faith in BMW. Most around these parts did quite some time ago.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
08/28/2015 at 18:33

That mostly did it for me. But BMW still had great little stuff like the 1 and 2, and now that they've ruined that...

djmt1 > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 18:40

Not really. Manuals are dying here since they failed in their ultimate purpose.

You guys may think that we Europeans love manuals because they are cheaper and more involving but that isn’t the case.

Now as you know everybody on Earth (apart from you guys) likes football and one of the most sought after qualities in the beautiful game is left footed players. Problem is for the last 25 years there has been a real shortage.

So UEFA (European FIFA) forced the EU to pressure automakers to start installing manuals into cars in order to get the populace of Europe to start using their left legs. The hope was that the sudden shock to the system would force an evolutionary change on the genetic level and increase the numbers of let footed children being born.

Unfortunetly the plan failed as rising fuel prices meant people just went straight to fifth gear and let their left foot go back to sleep as par usual. Shame really as I liked manuals and wished we would stop over hyping any young player with a good left foot.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > RallyWrench
08/28/2015 at 18:46

Like I said to K-Roll, BMW still has small, fun to drive stuff like the 2 series, but they took away half of the fun to drive with the manual.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > djmt1
08/28/2015 at 18:47

I knew it was a conspiracy!

jkm7680 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/28/2015 at 19:50

The rear seat lumbar in the 1 is horrible and I choose to blame you for it.

Where shall we fight?

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 20:07

That’s a bummer, but I still don’t understand how the 228 is crowned “the best enthusiast Bimmer you can buy” over the 235. Who doesn’t want more power and a proper BMW inline 6? I haven’t driven the 228, but the 235 is a fun time.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > wbizarre - OEM fetishist
08/28/2015 at 20:09

I’d rather an M235i as well, but according to Patrick, the 228i is better balanced (less weight over front tires because of a lighter engine). Here’s the article I was referencing:

http://jalopnik.com/the-bmw-228i-i…

Luken10 > djmt1
08/28/2015 at 20:46

Is this actually part of what happened?

djmt1 > Luken10
08/28/2015 at 20:52

Part? Did I leave something out?

Party-vi > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 21:01

I just built a 320i with the Sport Package. It exists along side the Track Package.

Luken10 > djmt1
08/28/2015 at 21:03

I am just assuming that can not be the ONLY reason manuals are popular in Europe.

Steve in Manhattan > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 21:03

I’m guessing the 4-6M wasn’t selling and the 6-6M does OK. Vote with your wallets people if you want manufacturers to make (and import) the cars you want.

And buy a Chevy SS so they’ll keep making it.

djmt1 > Luken10
08/28/2015 at 21:38

I will put it like this. We Europeans are not an industrious people, we are not fans of “hard work”. As a result we are either efficient (Northern Europe) or lazy (Southern Europe). Manual gearboxes do not fit into either of these life styles BUT.

Kinja'd!!!

We take football VERY seriously and when I say we I mean everyone from the every man,

Kinja'd!!!

to Royalty.

Kinja'd!!!

So when presented with an opportunity to not only help the game we love but to serve our countries, we went out in flocks and bought 1.2l diesel Polos, Puntos, Corsa, Fiesta etc with MANUALS because some things in life are truly worth working hard for.

Kinja'd!!!

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Steve in Manhattan
08/28/2015 at 21:56

If I were looking in the segment I'd actually think long and hard about an SS.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Party-vi
08/28/2015 at 21:59

Wow... I must have missed it somewhere. I just checked and it’s right there (new wheels look very good for the sport package). I have no idea how I didn’t see it. I’ll edit the post, but I’d actually rather get the Track Handling package for the brakes and stuff.

Steve in Manhattan > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 22:31

They did in fact stop making SR-T Vipers for a while because people were not buying them. I’ve said it before - if you clamor for X Car with Y transmission and Z sport package, step up and buy one when the manufacturer accedes to your wishes.

Sam > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 22:40

It is silly, but it’s the unfortunate truth of people who buy these things. The least they could do is put a nice DCT in it, though.

Party-vi > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/28/2015 at 23:18

Apparently when you want the 18” wheels you have to get the track package anyway.

Nauraushaun > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/30/2015 at 07:12

How can Americans buy so many fast cars with autos? It goes both ways.

Nauraushaun > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/30/2015 at 07:17

Can get it in Australia. You can also get a 220i with a manual. We don’t love the manual, but we don’t loathe it like America does.

BMW isn’t to blame here. BMW should be commended. They tried - they offered the 228i with a manual in a country that would never buy them. There’s no business case for it, but they tried anyway. And nobody bought them.

Blame Americans for not driving manuals, BMW did all it could.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Nauraushaun
08/30/2015 at 07:19

I get that Americans don’t buy manuals, but they could at least keep it here for the small portion of enthusiasts who want a stick.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Nauraushaun
08/30/2015 at 07:21

If you buy a manual with a car, you can’t eat or text or put on makeup while driving (joking, but that really is most Americans’ excuse for driving auto).

Nauraushaun > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
08/30/2015 at 23:34

It’s a nice thought, but you can’t blame them for ditching a model that nobody buys. They’re a company that makes money. I’d wager most enthusiasts don’t look for BMW’s cheapest model when they go looking for a new car. It doesn’t exactly scream “performance vehicle”

HiredDriver > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
10/08/2015 at 18:21

GOod thing I got mine with a clutch.

http://www.rightfootdown.com/reviews/2012-b…

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > HiredDriver
10/08/2015 at 18:40

Wow, great looking car! Nice review as well.