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BMW News: M5 finally gets a manual/535 diesel coming to the USA

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Old 11-12-06 | 10:37 AM
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Thumbs up BMW News: M5 finally gets a manual/535 diesel coming to the USA

Amazing that it was AMERICAN buyer uproar that caused BMW to build a proper manual. HOWEVER, if you get the manual, you cannot complete disengage some of the traction control electronics.
http://www.mwerks.com/artman/publish...cle_1146.shtml

Looks like its going in the M6 as well.






AS for the the 535, in reading here
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2...the-5/

It is coming. A do wonder will they badge it a 535, since the tt 3 is a 335.....

That car has gotten great reviews in Europe.
Old 11-12-06 | 10:44 AM
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So does it still have the 500hp POWER button??

I dont like the looks of the 5-series at all, but the addition of a 6-speed manual is quite attractive.

Amazing that the manual is going to be sold in NA only.

Diesel Bimmers are finally coming.
Old 11-12-06 | 10:51 AM
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I'd take the M6 manual
Old 11-12-06 | 11:11 AM
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I saw a post quite a while ago about an M6 being brought to a car show that had a shirt thrown over the shifter and you could clearly see a clutch pedal.
I'm pretty sure they were always planning on releasing a manual version.
Old 11-12-06 | 11:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Koma
I saw a post quite a while ago about an M6 being brought to a car show that had a shirt thrown over the shifter and you could clearly see a clutch pedal.
I'm pretty sure they were always planning on releasing a manual version.
I posted that pic
Wish it was my car
Old 11-12-06 | 11:34 AM
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excellent...nice to know BMW is listening to its American customers.
Old 11-12-06 | 12:06 PM
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BMW listens to the consumers and Kudos to them!

On the other hand, Lexus doesn't. Bring manual for IS350!
Old 11-12-06 | 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by GFerg
So does it still have the 500hp POWER button??

I dont like the looks of the 5-series at all, but the addition of a 6-speed manual is quite attractive.

Amazing that the manual is going to be sold in NA only.

agree, can't wait for the next gen/new style and no more I-drive (wishful thinking).
Old 11-12-06 | 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by STIG
BMW listens to the consumers and Kudos to them!

On the other hand, Lexus doesn't. Bring manual for IS350!
Agreed. Its all about brand image. Driving enthusiasts want a stick, and now they have it.
Old 11-12-06 | 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
Amazing that it was AMERICAN buyer uproar that caused BMW to build a proper manual. HOWEVER, if you get the manual, you cannot complete disengage some of the traction control electronics.
I don't see anything wrong with that, myself. T/C was put in there for a reason....to keep the car under control under hard cornering or on less-than-optimal surfaces. Powerslides and drifting not only tear up the rear tires on dry pavement but can be dangerous as well.


I understand the desire for many BMW owners for a conventional stick, and that's fine for rural or uncongested areas, but too many roads nowadays just aren't suited anymore for true manuals. What BMW should be doing, IMO, is developing a transmission similiar to the VW / Audi DSG, an absolutely superb gearbox that combines the responsiveness of a stick with the smoothness of an luxury-car automatic, without the banging and lurching you get with BMW's rather poorly-designed SMT.

Last edited by mmarshall; 11-12-06 at 04:04 PM.
Old 11-12-06 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by DASHOCKER
Agreed. Its all about brand image. Driving enthusiasts want a stick, and now they have it.
They also want a stick because SMG sucks.
Old 11-12-06 | 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by bitkahuna
They also want a stick because SMG sucks.
SMG is a second-rate gearbox.....no arguements there. But a stick alone is not the answer for a lot of people. The best solution, IMO, is to have both a stick AND a VW / Audi-type DSG gearbox, although, granted, the copyright and infringement laws may give VW and Audi exclusive rights to this type of gearbox for a certain number of years.
Old 11-13-06 | 12:08 AM
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very nice, love to see the manual. would take the manual over the smg as well. don't care if the manual is a bit slower, i rather have more control of my car
Old 11-13-06 | 07:17 AM
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Great to see that BMW stepped up the plate with a manual M5. But what actually interests me more, is them bringing the diesel to the US. I'd love to see carmakers (and the US public) start to push harder for diesels here.
Old 11-13-06 | 07:21 AM
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M5/M6 needs DSG as said earlier, I found some BMW trannies to be notchy



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