How is the manual transmission?

[JonnyM3]

Looking to go see about trading my E90 M tomorrow, and am wondering what everyone thinks of the manual. My car is DCT and while I do love it, I admittedly find myself missing rowing my own gears. I drove the E90 with a clutch before deciding on the DCT (owned an sti and s5 before the E90 in manual) and absolutely hated it. Is the tranny improved at all since, or am i gonna be underwhelmed. Thanks for any input.

[karussell]

manual on the F8X is much improved over the E90. clutch pedal engagement is linear and precise. shifter is notchy but not overly so.

[sunnyboy]

Originally Posted by karussell

manual on the F8X is much improved over the E90. clutch pedal engagement is linear and precise. shifter is notchy but not overly so.

+1 ... love my 6MT

[jc05e46m3]

Originally Posted by JonnyM3

Looking to go see about trading my E90 M tomorrow, and am wondering what everyone thinks of the manual. My car is DCT and while I do love it, I admittedly find myself missing rowing my own gears. I drove the E90 with a clutch before deciding on the DCT (owned an sti and s5 before the E90 in manual) and absolutely hated it. Is the tranny improved at all since, or am i gonna be underwhelmed. Thanks for any input.

It's awesome! You will not regret it one bit! The auto rev matching is a great feature too, if you're driving daily or in traffic.

[sunnyboy]

And I think there was another thread here that was talking about it but I couldn't find it just now...

[Damasconian]

Other than color, its the option I am most satisfied with.

Its based on the manual in the 1M and feels great. The rev matching is great, and when you don't want it can be turned off.

To me, a high revving Turbo engine is a blast to drive with a manual. If you lived in Texas I'd let you see for yourself. If you stay with the DCT you surely wont be disappointed though.

Will anyone let me drive theirs?

[JonnyM3]

Good to hear thanks guys. reallyyy considering the manual, I doubt I'll be able to test drive one before ordering. Are you able to row gears quickly and smoothly? With my STi and S5 it was very seamless, but with the E90 M the throws were very long and the clutch had an awkward grab point.

[solstice]

Originally Posted by JonnyM3

Good to hear thanks guys. reallyyy considering the manual, I doubt I'll be able to test drive one before ordering. Are you able to row gears quickly and smoothly? With my STi and S5 it was very seamless, but with the E90 M the throws were very long and the clutch had an awkward grab point.

Quick and smooth. You'll love it. It's so easy to drive that I start to wonder if it's shift by wire with a computer involved making mis shifts impossible. Not once have I grinded cogs. Doesn't matter how fast or recklessly you shift it's always slots in perfectly and smoothly.

[Lups]

Awesome!

[Doctor///M]

Get it! The feel and throw while shifting is excellent. Also save yourself $2900 in the process

[karussell]

Originally Posted by JonnyM3

Good to hear thanks guys. reallyyy considering the manual, I doubt I'll be able to test drive one before ordering. Are you able to row gears quickly and smoothly? With my STi and S5 it was very seamless, but with the E90 M the throws were very long and the clutch had an awkward grab point.

your comments on the past M3 was said by everyone that owned one. BMW heard and fixed every single issue with the last car including the crappy manual feel then turned the dial up to 11.

i even prefer the classic inline 6 buzz with turbo swooshes mixed in the engine note way over the v8 but i'm in the minority there. the exhaust sound stock hands down the new cars sound way better.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by JonnyM3

Good to hear thanks guys. reallyyy considering the manual, I doubt I'll be able to test drive one before ordering. Are you able to row gears quickly and smoothly? With my STi and S5 it was very seamless, but with the E90 M the throws were very long and the clutch had an awkward grab point.

throws r shorter this time around

[s4play]

All of my past m3's were manuals except the e90 m3 which was a DCT. I drove my friend's e90/e92 manuals and really disliked it for all the reasons you guys listed.

My F80 M3 will be a manual again and reading these comments makes me

The irony is for the F10 M5, I had a guy with a manual warn me to get the DCT since the M5 was meant for a DCT. I guess I can see that for such a large luxury car. Fitting a manual to an M5 must really be a very small target demographic whereas the M3 makes sense. He said the M5 with a manual drove like a totally different car (in a bad way) and he regret not getting the DCT.

[3er]

Man o man...y'all are making me very happy right now with my 6MT choice .

[sh55]

If you drove an STI (like me) the F8X manual is MUCH nicer. You will not regret getting the MT

[Mandi90TT]

Love the manual on my F82, but I have always been a manual guy. The shifter does seem kind of high, but I came from a car with a short shifter kit, and a shorter handle, so that is probably why I feel that way.

[JonnyM3]

Originally Posted by sh55

If you drove an STI (like me) the F8X manual is MUCH nicer. You will not regret getting the MT

Good to hear.

[Jim B]

My M4 is due in Port Hueneme tomorrow. While I did get to test drive an F80 M3 before I ordered, it had DCT. I want the 6MT on mine and I am wondering how the new transmission compares the the 6MT in my 2010 E92 335i. I have only owned one car with an automatic, a used 1963 Plymouth that I bought from my parents when I was in college in the late 1960's. I bought a new Mercury Cougar when I graduated in 1969 with a 4-speed and have had manual transmissions on every car I owned ever since including 3 BMW 3-Series coupes.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by Jim B

My M4 is due in Port Hueneme tomorrow. While I did get to test drive an F80 M3 before I ordered, it had DCT. I want the 6MT on mine and I am wondering how the new transmission compares the the 6MT in my 2010 E92 335i. I have only owned one car with an automatic, a used 1963 Plymouth that I bought from my parents when I was in college in the late 1960's. I bought a new Mercury Cougar when I graduated in 1969 with a 4-speed and have had manual transmissions on every car I owned ever since including 3 BMW 3-Series coupes.

Geeesh!! Someone as old as me I graduated from college in 1969 too!

The 6MT is fantastic - you will love it.

[mikeyr0x]

[///M///]

OP I would highly recommend you drive one first. Manual is definitely a good option but if you are ordering a 70k car it makes total sense to drive one first before you take the plunge based on others opinions. I am 60/40 on the DCT vs the manual. The manual has the big plus of being almost 3k cheaper which takes care of all the options I would want with money left over.

Go drive one even if you have to travel a 100 miles to do it. I know I would. Or reach out to a local memeber with a manual and see if they can help you out. Let us know your thoughts if you end up finding one.

[JonnyM3]

Originally Posted by dsm918

OP I would highly recommend you drive one first. Manual is definitely a good option but if you are ordering a 70k car it makes total sense to drive one first before you take the plunge based on others opinions. I am 60/40 on the DCT vs the manual. The manual has the big plus of being almost 3k cheaper which takes care of all the options I would want with money left over.

Go drive one even if you have to travel a 100 miles to do it. I know I would. Or reach out to a local memeber with a manual and see if they can help you out. Let us know your thoughts if you end up finding one.

Good suggestion, anyone in NY wanna let me drive around their car for a few minutes would be much appreciated. Gonna post in the local sub forum as well. Good idea, thank you.