Manual Transmission F10 M5 Respotted Just Ahead of US Orders. What Will You Order?

[Merlosso]

I'm going to wait for some reviews of the manual, and then test drive both before deciding. I've always had manuals and prefer them, but at the same time I love the technology of the DCT. Ultimately it will come down to which I prefer in this car after I have personally experienced each.

[Necromancer]

http://wot.motortrend.com/we-hear-lewis-hamilton-orders-pagani-zonda-760-lh-edition-199187.html

Enough said.

[dkreidel]

I've had a BMW with the SMG and HATED IT and sold the 645 within a year. I've had 6MT E39 M5 (great car and great trans), E60 550 with 6 MT (also a great match) and an E60 M5 with 6 MT (bad match - should have got the dual clutch box). I currently have a 2012 650 with a 6MT which is also a good match.

I'll be doing September ED on the M5 and it will definitely have the 6MT

[bobbyd1961]

7 speed mdct like in my M3

[GTR-Dad]

Originally Posted by Necromancer

http://wot.motortrend.com/we-hear-lewis-hamilton-orders-pagani-zonda-760-lh-edition-199187.html

Enough said.

LOL, his company car has a paddle change gearbox!

My fun car has a stick, so I'll be OK with the DCT in the M5.

[MalFaction]

Originally Posted by Jblack4083

Going along with what the poster above me said:

It seems America has a complex associated with knowing how to drive a manual. I'll even go further and say its a manhood complex. Its really not that difficult!

My wife and i both drive manuals. Her older sister drives a manual. I dont think o it as being manly, i think of it as being in control of my car. I know i want to pass, and can see the gap i am going to enter, before my car knows it. I can downshift and have that power ready immediately. And driving in dc, you need that on the highways.

Not to mention keeping my e92 328i sport in a lower gear during winter driving so it slows down by gearing when i let off the gas.

[MalFaction]

Originally Posted by mdosu

although I love my 6MT on the M3, I think I'll convert over the DCT on my next M car. It's just so much easier to drive and I can drive and eat a hamburger at the same time.

You would eat in your M5?

i dont let anyone eat it my $42k 3, no way would anyone even bring WATER into mt $105k M5!!!!!

[kgroschi]

Originally Posted by Patsc23

I left BMW after my e46 SMG M3 - went with a Range and C63 so Im unfamiliar with DCT. What makes it boring in comparison to SMG?

SMG was definitley rough around the edges, but I loved that about it. Program 6 with DSC off really did whack u in the back on upshifts - Oh and the throttle blip!

Well the DCT is obviously faster because the wheels get continuous thrust from the engine even when shifting, but you do not FEEL any sort of shift anymore. You just hear and see the rpm dropping.... pretty damn boring. The SMG was rough like it should be. It makes you appreciate the hard work the gearbox has to handle...

[kgroschi]

Originally Posted by MalFaction

You would eat in your M5?

i dont let anyone eat it my $42k 3, no way would anyone even bring WATER into mt $105k M5!!!!!

LoL it's just a car.... I had Sushi with my girlfriend in my M5 with gray seats in the middle of the dessert. Best lunch I ever had

[jphughan]

I originally thought I'd go DCT because it's what the designers intended and I thought its smoothness would feel more appropriate/in-character for a 5 Series, but then I went and drove my wife's Mini Cooper S which has a slushbox with paddle shifters. Yes I know a slushbox isn't as quick as DCT, but that's not relevant for casual driving; I wanted to see whether just being able to control the gear changes was enough, and whether doing so via paddles was an adequate substitute mechanism.

In two words, hell no, on both counts. Pulling paddles was nowhere near as engaging or rewarding as driving my 6MT, and confirmed that it's not just about being able to control gear changes. In fact it was so boring and painful that I think I would end up just using D mode except during spirited driving, which IMHO would ruin the M5 experience altogether. I guess I probably already knew that the experiment was doomed considering every other time I've driven my wife's Mini or had a loaner BMW with paddles, I've never thought to bother with them. Yes, when driving 6MT while off my game, I occasionally get irritated when the car lurches because I didn't match the shift properly, and stop and go traffic can be frustrating, but the flip side is that when I nail perfectly smooth upshifts and downshifts, I get a nice sense of accomplishment. And somehow moving one finger to change gears just isn't nearly as rewarding as lifting off throttle, moving hand to shifter, clutching in, shifting (and blipping if necessary), clutching out, and adding throttle again. Wow, typing it all out like that, you really see how much more engaging 6MT is.

After that experiment, I think I would feel robbed of a lot of potential fun if I had an M5 with DCT, and I feel bad for every non-US country where for some reason BMW doesn't make the manual available. I test drove a DCT M3 before ordering my 6MT and it seemed fun enough, but I guess that was more the overall fun of the M3.

So unless the reviews of the 6MT are horrible, I know what I'd get -- loss of smoothness, shifting speed, and "out-of-placeness" be damned. I do go to the track where DCT might be useful, but I doubt I'd take an M5 there very often, and it wouldn't be worth losing the fun of the rest of my driving time. That's why I didn't get the M3 in DCT either even though I track it a fair amount. If I were a buyer who was the target market for the normal 5 Series but just wanted the top of the line model purely because it's top of the line, then yes DCT all the way. But for someone who buys an M car because he/she enjoys actual driving, 6MT or die.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by kgroschi

LoL it's just a car.... I had Sushi with my girlfriend in my M5 with gray seats in the middle of the dessert. Best lunch I ever had

DesSert is indeed the best part of lunch.

[kgroschi]

Originally Posted by jphughan

DesSert is indeed the best part of lunch.

uupps

[arpschnitger]

I'm wondering if those members who have taken delivery can describe the behavior of the DCT transmission, say compared to the previous automatic. For example, if you are sitting at a light in "drive" and release the brake does the car creep forward slightly (like automatic with torque converter) or does forward motion happen only when moving the accelerator pedal? Any other comments concerning the DCT behavior are appreciated.

[///M1]

With almost 200 respondents now, it seems we have a serious and credible sample size. 40% for 6-spd, 57% for DCT, I'd say a pretty healthy take on the 3-pedal cars, so BMW seems to be rewarded for offering it. Way to go BMW!

Not sure if Matt Russell's statements were pasted in this thread, but for the record he prefers the manual, and so do most of his friends that allegedly drove both cars.

[s4awd]

Originally Posted by jphughan

I originally thought I'd go DCT because it's what the designers intended and I thought its smoothness would feel more appropriate/in-character for a 5 Series, but then I went and drove my wife's Mini Cooper S which has a slushbox with paddle shifters. Yes I know a slushbox isn't as quick as DCT, but that's not relevant for casual driving; I wanted to see whether just being able to control the gear changes was enough, and whether doing so via paddles was an adequate substitute mechanism.

In two words, hell no,...6MT or die.

+1. Had a GTR, sold it for a GT3RS. Yes in terms of speed the GTR will blow the doors off the RS but damn.... clicking the levers just sucked. The thrust was fun but strangely that wears off. Hopping into a 5/6spd car, no matter what it is, is ALWAYS fun. For commuting, not so much so I understand why many will opt for DCT. But for driving just for the fun of it, it is the only choice for me.

[Alexbehr]

Originally Posted by ///M1

Not sure if Matt Russell's statements were pasted in this thread, but for the record he prefers the manual, and so do most of his friends that allegedly drove both cars.

I totally agree. It is much more enjoyable. Somebody in this forum commented with generalization that people who wanted a manual transmission had some sort of complex -- failing to realize how fun driving a stick shift is. I think the guy is only jealous that people find enjoyment in driving a stick compared to a boring DCT.

[nybimmerfan]

I am a 6MT fan too. I have placed an order for a Manual M5 in MCB.