Rumour has it that July deliveries are being pushed out to September because of a 'gearbox problem'. Anyone hear anything??

 

The casting tool for the gearbox housing is broken!!!!

Getrag AG has to build a new one. First try to replace it was a failure!

First expectations was one month delay in production.

 

I ordered an M5 today, and was told by the dealer that I was number 21 or 22 on the list, and that first deliveries were not expected in US til September.

I ordered a manual (not SMG), and of course, that hasn't been formally announced yet, so there is no idea when I would come up on the list, or when it would be likely that a car would be delivered. I am assuming that I will not hear much til mid 06, or possibly spring 07.

 

There's a post somewhere that says Canada will get SMG M5's in September '05, and manual M5's in September '06. This sounds about right to me.

 

You are looking at close to two years after the launch. Enjoy the wait.

 

LOL!!!


beewang

 

Yeah, a long time, but I have my 530i to keep me rolling until the V10 shows up.

 

I reckon there is very,very little chance of there ever being a manual M5, the car and gearbox has always been engineered around the SMG unit and I think it would be too expensive to change. Unlike the M3 this gearbox is apparently a specific SMG box so it's not like a regular gearbox with hydraulic actuators etc added on....much more complicated. There may also be problem finding a manual box to cope with the power, remember the 535d is Auto only because there is no suitable manual gearbox that can handle the torque.

 

I think you are right -- I was concerned that BMW may not have a manual that can handle the torque for the M5. But since it has been reported as coming in a number of places, and my dealer claims they have at least some feedback that suggests it is coming, I will go on the list, and hope for the best. Perhaps I'll switch to a 550 if the M5 manual does not materialize. And I save $$ too!