Ulrich Bruhnke on manual for USA-only from Autoweek - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Gustav · 16th May 2005, 17:41

I wonder wich these "hard-core community" is

Shifting Gears: BMW now says new M5 will get manual gearbox in North America

JENS MEINERS | Automotive News Europe
Posted Date: 5/16/05
MUNICH, Germany -- BMW has changed its plans and will add a manual transmission to its new M5 high-performance sedan.

The six-speed transmission will be offered in North America because customers asked for an alternative to the seven-speed automatic transmission.

The M5 went on sale in Europe in April. It arrives in North American showrooms this fall with the automatic gearbox only. The manual will join the lineup in late 2006 or early 2007.

Last fall, BMW executives told journalists the company would offer just the automatic gearbox on the M5 because it was "sportier" than a manual transmission.

But Ulrich Bruhnke, the executive in charge of BMW's M-class models, said a "hard-core community" of buyers in North America prefer a manual transmission.

Bruhnke said no decision had been made on whether the M5 will get a manual transmission in Europe.

"The U.S. is our largest single market, where about 50 percent of our production goes," he said. "If we see the opportunity to generate additional sales, we will respond."

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102375

MRichmond · 16th May 2005, 18:34

I don't know anything about "Automotive News Europe," but how authoritative can this source be if it repeatedly calls the SMG an "automatic" transmission?

asturias · 16th May 2005, 18:56

The SMG is turning out to be so good, I wonder how many will go for the manual option in the end.

vndkshn · 16th May 2005, 19:22

I wish it was possible to drive one before hand.

Existing owners, etc. I know everyone is pleased with SMG3, but can you compare it to SMG2? Have they fixed the jerky shifting? Do you find yourself missing the manual at all?

Its funny, the whole topic came up again this weekend while looking at M3s. My wife says she doesn't want SMG, she wants a manual.

AJ · 16th May 2005, 20:17

yeah, count me as a part of the hard core- core

also, i would think that if most of the m5s will be aut... err smgs, then the manual m5s will be even more exclusive.

i am glad somebody is listening to us.

now, come to think of it- if the e39 m5 was au.. ****... smg i would've prolly gone with the e55... instead, the manual was the perfect company for the s62 engine...

alex
few cars

Maggo · 25th May 2005, 23:33

I have driven it and I prefer the 6 speed manual !!!!

Gustav · 19th June 2005, 20:01

Maggo, wow you have driven the 6-speed manual M5? Please tell us more!

Ashok Arora · 19th June 2005, 21:26

Hello all you "Hard Core" members out there

I've driven the E60 M5 SMG and actually prefer it over the 6 speed on the E39. It only took 5 minutes to get very happy with the SMG and this is from someone who had never driven a paddle box before.

The SMG is considered an automatic since it does not have a clutch pedal and can shift "automatically". Some carmakers have self-shifting automatics (e.g. Maserati) whilst others opt for self-shifting manuals (BMW) but in the eyes of most vehicle licensing authorities they are the same - i.e. no clutch pedal = automatic.

Just_me · 19th June 2005, 22:13

I never tried SMG so I say manual tranny for me but trust me , Im not like those old dogs. I might change my mind after I tried SMG. I'm not that difficult persuade.

If someone want me to drive their toy to convince me that SMG is the way to go, then I won't say no

Beamer_usa · 4th September 2005, 17:31

Didn't realize the SMG was an automatic trans.