Automatic or Manual???

[wxyzsmitty]

Ok so I'm in the market for an e39. I want to get a manual but I'm having a hard time finding one. I was wondering how many guys are driving an automatic and love it. Right now I'm driving a manual e30 convertible and its a blast to drive. The wives car is an e39 wagon automatic/Tiptronic and its fun but just not as fun as the e30 manual. Should I just be patient and wait for a manual or should I get an auto with Tiptronic? Help please!!

[trev0079]

Manual. No brainer.

[FP5241]

I have a steptronic trans.
I love it.
It's a good alternative imo.
I can't be bothered with a manual.
I have a 528i sport.
My priorities are different then others.

[Simmadown115]

Manual Anything is always better. Just don't plan on racing it....

[wxyzsmitty]

Curious, Why not race it. Wasn't planning on it just want to know.

[WhatsBFc]

if your wife already has an auto e39, you should just wait for a manual e39

[legitsnowe39]

I have a auto 528i... id die for a manual ... but then again im a 16 year old kid who loves cars, its not like im old enough to understand the easiness of an automatic.... i just wanna show off to my friends!lol jk! I just want to get good at a manual, ive only driven my friends GTI in manual a few times, and i think they are wayyy more fun. And if you do plan on racing its a ton faster manual. so thats the main reason i would do it ... good luck finding one!

[Captain Morgan]

only reason to have an auto is for drag racing.

manual for everything else IMO

[wxyzsmitty]

Thanks for the reply guys. I know I should just wait and be patient for a manual but I want an E39 now.

[WhatsBFc]

resist yourself! get a manual

[Lucid3ntr0py]

If you would even consider an automatic, maybe it is for you. I personally would never buy one for my car. The wife's honda? Sure thing. But if you are even thinking maybe, then become more open to it. It is a deal breaker for me, but if you are just going from place to place, what's the big deal?

[Lucid3ntr0py]

If you would even consider an automatic, maybe it is for you. I personally would never buy one for my car. The wife's honda? Sure thing. But if you are even thinking maybe, then become more open to it. It is a deal breaker for me, but if you are just going from place to place, what's the big deal?

[Captain Morgan]

Thanks for the reply guys. I know I should just wait and be patient for a manual but I want an E39 now.

how long have you been looking?

[chiefwej]

Wait for the right car. If you settle for anything else, you will regret it. It took me several months, a nationwide search and a thousand mile journey, to get the exact car I wanted. It was well worth the wait and the effort

[wxyzsmitty]

I've been looking for about 3 months now.

[Captain Morgan]

I've been looking for about 3 months now.

give it time man, I waited well over a year to find the car that was right for me.

[gregsrt]

Wait for a manual. I just bought my first E39 last weekend(supposed to be the wife's car). 2003 540i 6 speed, flew out to Calgary and drove it back. It averaged 33.7mpg on the computer readout. It was worth the wait to find a 6spd with a maintenance history. What a great car, big improvement over the 98 328is we sold last fall.

[FP5241]

I waited 2 years for mine!!


Good luck man.
The perfect one is out there for you.

[amancuso]

If you really want the manual, wait for the manual. I have an automatic, but thats what I wanted.

[Philboski]

Life's too short. Why settle?

[larinah]

Wait for the right car. If you settle for anything else, you will regret it. It took me several months, a nationwide search and a thousand mile journey, to get the exact car I wanted. It was well worth the wait and the effort

So true. It took me almost a year and a half, a plane ticket and a 16 hour drive back home for my car. Patience my friend, your car is waiting for you out there somewhere.

[quattro PETE]

Wait for the right car. If you settle for anything else, you will regret it.

Exactly. I made the mistake of buying a slusbox once (not a BMW though), and was regretting it every time I drove the car. Sold it within a year because I just couldn't stand making payments on something I did not enjoy driving.

But it's a personal preference, and only you can answer the question whether you'd be happy with an auto. Since you already have an automatic e39 in the family, you should know pretty well how much fun it is/isn't.

With that said, the stock manual gearbox/clutch engagement on the e39 isn't exactly all that fun/slick - it's a little like driving a truck with the long throws and all. A short shift kit should help things out a bit though. Add to that a mandatory CDV removal and an upgrade to non-SAC clutch.

[wxyzsmitty]

Yeah I want a manual.

WOW!! two years, thats a long time. I dont have that long. Another month maybe.

Thanks for helping me open my eyes and see the light to get a manual. Now lets hope I find one SOOON!!!!

[quattro PETE]

Ok so I'm in the market for an e39. I want to get a manual but I'm having a hard time finding one.

Look for a 540i - I think quite a lot of them were delivered with manual trans. Much easier to find than a manual 530i.

[Jason5driver]

Look for a 540i - I think quite a lot of them were delivered with manual trans. Much easier to find than a manual 530i.

+1!
A 530i manual transmission is very hard to find.

There are tons of 540i 6-speeds around though...

A manual transmission is more reliable, lighter in weight, and increases the fun factor on a car.

Jason