You know you want the last M5 with three pedals

"E90M3" (e90m3)
10/24/2019 at 09:33 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping with E90M3

I was b owsing Carmax for manual BMWs when I came across !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . While most of the F10 M5s came with a DCT, this one is a bit different, it has a true manual box.

The shift knob isn’t too my tastes, but that’s not a deal breaker. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , albeit with the DCT, and I found it substantially quicker than my M3 thanks to the twin turbo V8.

Unfortunately , for me to get this it would require me to offload my beloved M3, which is not something I’m willing to do. At $45k , it’s not what I’d call cheap, but it’s also not a terrible price.

DISCUSSION (44)

Spanfeller is a twat > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 09:39

Of all the problems I can think of with BMWs, the design of the manual shift knob is not exactly one...

Kinja'd!!!

Actually, BMWs have some of the more classic, attractive shift knobs.

Also, that steering wheel looks as if it needs a bit of love.

I say, throw caution to the wind; sell your E90s and get this thing.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 09:40

Has to be a future classic, right?

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 09:40

No I don’t.

Spanfeller is a twat > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/24/2019 at 09:42

it hasn’t depreciated like one....

E90M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/24/2019 at 09:42

Maybe, I wouldn’t be surprised either way.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 09:47

I’ve got an F10 535i manual, it is capable of getting me int enough trouble.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > My X-type is too a real Jaguar
10/24/2019 at 09:49

My F10 535 is an auto, but I agree. I’d probably be in jail with a M5.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 09:50

Just based on rarity alone.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Spanfeller is a twat
10/24/2019 at 09:51

Stress on “future”. It may just be an unloved goofball, like a manual X5.

E90M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/24/2019 at 09:52

Probably, I think it’ll fall into some weird niche.

Spanfeller is a twat > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/24/2019 at 09:57

Nowadays we live in BaTs world; where unloved goofballs start peaking interest early on.

I imagine it’s going to be a toss up... its the last manual M5; first twin turbo M5.... but it was also unloved by journalists for being too heavy and large

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Spanfeller is a twat
10/24/2019 at 10:00

Not really old enough for BaT yet.

Yeah, it’s really too big and heavy for the manual to be fun.

Not and “end of an era” car like the E60 (or E9x) with a high-revving NA engine and hydraulic steering.

Ash78, voting early and often > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 10:04

Hmmm, with an extended powertrain warranty to 100k you have a pretty good deal here. That’s what I love about Carmax...their cars might be 5% overpriced, on average, but you can search for what you want and most of it can be transferred. I’ve never even come close to finding anything good on CL, ever.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Spanfeller is a twat
10/24/2019 at 10:11

This one appears to have some kind of large aftermarket knob that looks like it belongs in a Dodge Challenger.

Discerning > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 10:23

If you’ve driven a 550i with a manual, the experience is pretty much the same - and it’s not a great one.

W eird clutch feel and a long and rubbery shifter. I didn’t like it at all and I’m 100% manual supporting.

I actually didn’t love it in the e 90 either though. But that car had a good clutch and good shifter. It just didn't like fast shifts in the upper end of the rev band. Maybe the car was just a tired example though.

shop-teacher > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 10:30

I do not have the intestinal fortitude to maintain such a car. Cool piece though, no doubt.

E90M3 > Discerning
10/24/2019 at 10:30

Which manual E90? My 328i doesn’t seem to like the upper rev shifts, the M3 seems unfazed .

E90M3 > shop-teacher
10/24/2019 at 10:31

They are certainly not cheap to maintain.

Spanfeller is a twat > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/24/2019 at 10:34

Its also the last RWD M5 if that helps. But it has to compete fiercely with the new generation.

Given how good the new gen M5 is; I don’t imagine the manual F10 will ever be worth more than a used F90; even in ten years.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Spanfeller is a twat
10/24/2019 at 10:37

Yup. The new one’s a beast. Glad they seem to be getting their priorities a little straighter. Hopefully the new M3 is equally great (and doesn’t have the terrible snout of the 4-series concept...).

Discerning > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 10:56

It was an M3. I might have been driving it hard. I was looking at a C6 grand sport or a C5Z at the time, so I was used to having to slam it into gear. But I had to shift a little slower and more deliberately or it didn't want to go into gear. Power shifting was a complete no-go.

I nterestingly, the only other car that didn’t seem to like high rpm shifting was an STI I drove.

Co uld have just been how I was driving it. Bear in mind that the car I had directly before this test drive was a 2003 Cobra with an aftermarket clutch and a manual clutch action. Lol

Rahul2601 > Discerning
10/24/2019 at 12:08

That’s strange. BMW is noted to have awesome manuals. Both in feel for every gear you shift in and the power you get from each shift. BMWs manuals are brilliant in b oth mechanical and precise shifts.

Rahul2601 > Discerning
10/24/2019 at 12:08

Saracen > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 12:50

Unicorn!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 12:54

I want the last M3 with 5 pedals...

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 13:17

Had no idea that was an option, but man is that a boring looking car.

Vicente Esteve > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 13:42

The actual move is to buy an M6 Grand Coupe LCI with the stick shift.

Improved engine and one of the best BMW designs in history.

E90M3 > Vicente Esteve
10/24/2019 at 13:50

Good luck finding one.

Wasn’t aware they changed anything in the S63 engines.

Vicente Esteve > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 14:00

No need to search, BAT will find one someday.

They made slight changes in the TU version.

Also, this is my new BMW. I haven’t presented it to Oppo

Kinja'd!!!

Discerning > Rahul2601
10/24/2019 at 14:22

I remember reading an editorial from a couple of magazines a while back that mirrored my impression. You can probably find it if you search for tests and reviews.

E90M3 > Vicente Esteve
10/24/2019 at 14:35

It’s been almost two years since you’ve posted an article to oppo. Sweet hatch though.

Spanfeller is a twat > Vicente Esteve
10/24/2019 at 14:47

m135i.... that’s a really nice car. congratulations.

I guess it’s the 8AT.... did they even sell the 6MT in Mexico?

Rahul2601 > Discerning
10/24/2019 at 15:31

I’m talking about the Manuals in BMWs overall. They’ve been awesome at shifting. That is s ince the E-chassis line to the newest lineup overall.

Blackbeard Ben > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 16:07

Meh. If I'm going to have a manual M5, it's going to be naturally aspirated. Preferably with a V10 and a rebuilt bottom end.

Ben > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 16:45

My understanding is there’s 700-800 of these (only in NA — no where else ). Pretty rare.

Fi nding one is tough. Most sellers consider the DCT to be manual, and list it as such. A real PITA when specifically looking for stick.

Ask me how I know?

After a year of looking for this vehicle, in July of ’18, I bought a ’14 with 13k miles from a dealer in Utah and drove it home to Calif (great road trip, BTW).

I got really good at finding vehicles, and quickly scanning the interior photos. I could visually pattern match the DCT “stick” in a fraction of a second, and move on. The car I bought didn’t include a pic of the stick. First thing i asked: ” send me a picture of the shifter”... Proof of Life scenario.

My review is mixed. The electronics in the car are inconsistent/buggy. It’s scary fast (duh). Some annoying rattles, which is frustrating to me in a newer car that originally sold for over 100k.

It’s solid car and fun to drive , but does n’t illicit the same emotional response my e34 M5 or e36 M3 did ... Maybe an M2c or 911?

PardonMyFlemish16 > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 17:21

This is the worst M5, only slightly improved by the 3rd pedal. Hard chest pass

Vicente Esteve > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 17:45

Been really busy lately, but I am here almost daily. Thanks!

Vicente Esteve > Spanfeller is a twat
10/24/2019 at 17:46

Thanks!

Yep, 8AT. There are some manuals in the country (About 5) but I have only seen 1 for sale.

Spanfeller is a twat > Vicente Esteve
10/24/2019 at 17:54

Yeah, our collective hatred of manual transmissions has unexpected victims. I wished BMW imported more manual cars... even if they were only under order.

404 - User No Longer Available > Rahul2601
10/24/2019 at 19:05

Actually even within the same model they can have different manual transmissions.

e.g. My 328i has a Getrag unit but the 335i has ZF one. I would not be surprised if the base ones aren’t that good, since personally I have the rubbery feel complaint for mine as well.

This was also noted on Motor Trend’s H2H with the ATS:

Blackbeard Ben > 404 - User No Longer Available
10/24/2019 at 20:28

It definitely seems BMW keeps the good manual transmissions for the more powerful cars.

The transmission on my E90 328xi (a Getrag I think, but I’m not sure ) had mediocre shifter feel, but the one on my E61 535xi (a ZF box) has a superb snickety snap into gear feel.

Once you hit the threshold on the 535xi, it just pops all the way in. On t he 328xi you really had to shove it all the way in through the rocks that seemed to be in there.

I once drove a manual E92 M3 that had an excellent feeling transmission as well.

All of them had isolated feeling clutches with the dual mass flywheel and clutch delay valve, the M3 being the least worst of them. My 535xi does need new clutch pedal bushings though, so that doesn’t help.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Vicente Esteve
10/24/2019 at 23:02

Uuuuurgh I want. Love the 1 series 3 dr. There was one with Mexico plates in my apartment complex a few years back, got to walk by it every day

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > E90M3
10/24/2019 at 23:53

Give me a 6-figure job, and maybe THEN, I’ll consider the V8 M3 with a manual.

PG; the scalpel wielder > E90M3
10/25/2019 at 05:32

Beemers have the easiest to replace gearknobs . Just pull up and it comes off. ZHP gear knob should be mandatory on all manual bmws in my opinion. They don’t cost that much on ebay for genuine ones. Improves the whole driving feel .