Allen

I went ot my dealer yesterday, and they had NO 6-speeds at all....except the M5s....they had '08s and '09s, but not a single 6-speed. In fact, since I bought mine in 12/07, they haven't even gotten another 6-speed...and it's a pretty big dealership. Also, when I bought mine, the salesperson told me that mine was the only 6-speed they were getting for all '08 models. I haven't asked about the '09s...but I plan to.

Here's an odd thing that kinda got me on this track: On a Dec '07 Saturday night, my beloved '95 black/black 5-speed E34 250K miles, original owner) was rear-ended and totalled...a pristine car I had planned on keeping forever. Now I obviously had to get another car...quick. I am VERY particular, and I wanted ONLY a black/black manual transmission 5-series car...an I needed it NOW. Knowing I was VERY unlikely to find such a car, I was already starting to get pretty bummed out... The next day, Sunday, I start driving around, and on the BMW lot was a black/black 6-speed 535i... Needless to say, I bought it first thing the next morning...

So I guess there's no real point to this post, other than to ask the group a couple of things. 1 - Are 6-speeds "rare"...if you can't find one on any lot, I tend to think it is "rare"....any idea how many were made? 2 - Is it just me, or was I like MAJOR lucky to find the exact car I wanted at the exact moment I needed it?

ObD

Less than a few out of every 100.

Ghostteck

maybe you were just lucky! my car is a 6 speed as well. but its an 04 model

EBMCS03

so you now have 2 E60? I dont quite get your sentence "since you got yours in 12/07"

corgidog

Yes 6 speeds are rare. I looked all over for an 08 535Xi 6 speed and only 1 could be located but it was too far away and did not have the equipment I wanted so I ordered a new 09 6 speed and obviously paid a premium. I only drive sticks so ordering was my only option. Stick shift drivers are becoming a vanishing breed and that is a shame-kinda takes the sport out of luxury sport.

ADD

Probably a rare and lucky find.

Another idea might be that the manuals may sit on the lot longer if noone wants them.

Still pretty rare.

I got my 535i in August 08, and I had a similar situation. My criteria were 535i, stick, all three packages. Most everything else was negotiable on my end. In July when I started looking, there were only ~21 or so sticks either on dealer lots, on the boat over, or in production that hadn't been spoken for already. By the time I got around to looking, I was a few days late to be able to spec order, as production already moved to '09s.

Anyway, I only had 6 to choose from that were 535, stick and all three packages. Options varied from "everything", (including one with HUD, NV, vent seats etc), to only iPod. Mine happened to be on the boat. Absolutely love the car. Everything I wanted, and not much else that I didn't want, but love it all.

sy1616

05 545i with an m6 here!!!

DD_545i

I thought 100% of E60s (excluding M5) were 6 speeds. The M5s are 7speed I believe.

esmolol

I'm guessing that he meant 6-speed MANUAL

DD_545i

Hmmm. Maybe.

edit: Now I've read the whole thread (which I didn't when I first responded) I see it's all about manuals. I really don't see why anyone wants a manual now. They're slow, clunky, a pain to drive in traffic. It takes no effort at all to reach the published 0-60mph times in an Automatic or SMG, you basically just hit the gas pedal and watch it happen. To do the same thing in a manual, which often have lower 0-60 times these days than the autos anyway, you have to treat the car like a complete asshole (pardon my french). There's no way I'd treat my own car the way the 0-60 testers treat them (letting the clutch out at 4,000rpm and ramming the stick from 1st to 2nd sometimes without the clutch). My last manual car was a Porsche Boxster (and before that was an E34 M5) and on an open road they were a joy to drive, but in any other situation it was just pointless effort for no gain at all. I'm all for putting in the effort and hard work when it pays off, but when the easy option is actually a better option, well the choice is obvious. Anyone who's stuck in the rut of the manual box being their #1 requirement needs to spend a day in an SMG car. One of the double-clutch super modern ones (like VAG's DSG) must be impressed.