Manual 335i sedans, why must they be so rare?

[Seph540i]

Well, it's been a while since I've been on this site. A lot has happened from my days of owning a 540i6. I was messing around with fox body mustangs and 350z's but feel it's time to get back into another BMW now that my fox body's crank decided to take a stroll through the front of the block and my 350z just isn't practical in any sense. I'm located in Arizona and finding it extremely hard to find any type of 335i sedan at all. Anyone have any leads? I'd be willing to take a trip to California if necessary.

Also when I do go to look at one of these vehicles, what should I look for? My price limit is 16k so I'm sure some high mileage issues will be what I'm looking at. I'm only interested in the 2007-2010 models. Help.

[shiftmygears]

people often choose a sedan over a coupe for a family DD, and lots of older mommys/daddies don't like shifting. DD is meant more for convenience.

[Seph540i]

I figured that. I enjoy shifting, children or not. lol Just so happens I now have kids because my older sister is an immature twat but that's a story for another day.

[trohde78]

Even the coupes are pretty rare these days. Those darn automatics are just getting to be too good. So. Cal. is probably your best bet.

[Seph540i]

I drove an auto one and just didn't like it at all. D: At this rate I'll probably end up settling for a G37 sedan. :/

[alkdc2]

I drove an auto one and just didn't like it at all. D: At this rate I'll probably end up settling for a G37 sedan. :/

i wouldn't give up. Just keep searching. It took me a year and some change to find what I was looking for...335i 6MT/RWD and I found it. It has to be quite possibly the most fun car I've ever owned. Then again, I've only owned it for like 2 weeks now. Point is, if you really want a manual, i say keep searching for it. They are out there. Main thing I came across when searching for one was that the people who do own the manual transmission ones, rarely get rid of them.

[Seph540i]

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/648585229/overview/#4

Well I found one nearby but the miles worry me a good bit. He does seem to have a good bit of documentation though and the car is clean from the pictures. It's exactly what I want, black on black 6mt.

- - - Updated - - -

Geez, it's looking like I'm going to have to go to the east coast to find a 6MT sedan for a reasonable price. Found a nice 83k mile red on black for less than the car I posted above. What would be a good haggle price for the one above. No way I'm paying almost 13k for a 120k mile 335 so should I offer 10.5k and see how it goes?

[Pilgrim]

You can always offer, that's how it works.

If it's in the Northeast, I'd darn sure have an independent shop check it for rust issues.

[shiftmygears]

Couldn't you try to look for a 535i? Long shot in manual but it's a sedan and roomier... more family friendly. Don't like the facelift before 2010 though; reminds me of a ladybug so could see why some don't bother.

[Seph540i]

I'd like my vehicle manual. I have a condition where I get super drowsy if my hands are busy hence why all my vehicles are manual and if I do drive an automatic, I usually am always munching or drinking something. Plus I don't like the look of the 5-series after the e39.

[alkdc2]

You can always offer, that's how it works.

If it's in the Northeast, I'd darn sure have an independent shop check it for rust issues.

Here in the Northeast, the manual transmission ones are hard to find. According to a few dealers I talked to, they told me that because of the weather up here, you mainly find AWD cars and automatics, simply because of the demographics I guess. But if you look hard enough and be patient, you can find them. Try private sellers. Mainly people who have relocated from down south n so on and find that they dont like their RWD, manual transmission cars so much up here. They would be willing to part with them.

Found a guy couple months back that was selling his 335i sedan with a manual transmission cuz he simply had no use for it up here in MA. Had a little over 94k on it, but was well take care of. Guy only wanted like 11.5k for it. I skipped because I was specifically looking for a coupe.

[3dirty5ix]

I feel like I came across several manual 335i's when I was looking for mine.

[Seph540i]

I've found a few but they're very high miles (120k+) and they want 12k or more. Absurd price.

[floydr]

I've found a few but they're very high miles (120k+) and they want 12k or more. Absurd price.

The question is: is someone willing to pay that "absurd price". Obviously you aren't (yet), but the market rules. Either it's the right price and someone will pay, or it will come down. If MT sedans are so rare (actually manual coupes are rare, too), the high price may be justified.

[shiftmygears]

I've found a few but they're very high miles (120k+) and they want 12k or more. Absurd price.

lol, obviously haven't been to west coast of Canada yet. They still want about 20K for a 2008+ sedan. You might see the odd one with higher miles or some other issue for 15 sometimes. Now if you find a 2007 they're usually unusually cheaper.

[Seph540i]

Obviously not because the same cars have been up there for the month I've been searching. Still haven't gotten any responses for my offers which was 10.5k for a 100k mile one that seems fake and 10.5k for a 117k mile black on black that I posted above. Guess I shall see.

[TwistedTuning]

i noticed this myself when i was looking for 6MT 335XI. I got lucky and actually found one from a private seller local to me. Actually picking the car up tomorrow. I've read somewhere that the 6MT sedans are like 1-2% of the total production. not sure how true that is though.