It's an automatic and the same color as the one you had. I paid a little more because of its overall condition and low miles but its well worth it because the car was taken care of. I'm getting too old to have 3 manual cars in the stable. My wife drives a stick very well but sometimes parking is a bear in the city and it's easier to just take the auto. The S handles well and is just a smoother ride than an M3. I still have the M5 and enjoy driving it. Bigger than a 3 series and it has 4 doors as well. Funny thing...I may have the opportunity to pick up a '01 E46 M3 cheap. It's got 51k miles, one owner, interior and exterior is a 9.5/10. Its mine if its available but I won't know for another month. Just a kid at heart I guess.
Happy New Year!