New X5 and Manual Transmission
 

Does anyone know what the latest word is re availablility of a stick shift for the new X5? (perhaps in time for the '08 model year this fall?)

I strongly suspect it's not going to happen. Like the new 7-series (though not as much so) the interior seems to be designed around an automatic gear selector. Further, there is no plan to offer the E70 with manual in Germany. Finally the E53 manual was quite unpopular, dealers had trouble moving them, and they had relatively weak residuals.

They could do it if buyers worldwide demand it, but that's not going to happen. Too bad...

Thanks. I was thinking that b/c they put the electronic automatic shifter back on the floor console (instead of the steering wheel stalk on the 7) that it was specifically so that they could put in a stick shift.

That is indeed disappointing.

They won't do it. The E70 has drive by wire technology. Unless BMW plans to develop a drive by wire manual transmission then it won't be happening...

BMW Fan,
I agree with posters above...it isn't gonna happen
in the X5.

Me, and maybe a couple hundred others, on the planet,
have a 5 Spd/6 Spd manual X5.

The only other option is X3 which still offers the 6 Spd
manual, though I suspect that will be "gone" on the
next re-do. Biff & Buffy don't want/need/know how to
drive a manual and while we all love our Xs, the new
target mkt is Biff & especially Buffy, imo.

GL,mD

See, one thing that made BMW special was that it offered a manual transmission on models that competitors did not. Now it's gone on the new X5, an unfortunate victim of BMW trying to cater to the mass market. I dont see space for a manual and I agree with the above posters, that it likely will not become available.

If you want a manual SAV, buy an X3 and order it with stickshift. Otherwise, deal with the joystick automatic.

a couple of hundred others, me be one ;)

If a manual was offered in the 4.4, that's what I'd have too...

A long time ago, I had a 1978 Dodge Ramcharger with a 318, 4 on the floor, headers, and a complete dual exhaust system. It was slow as hell and couldn't corner to save its life, but it was a real blast to drive! I wish I still had that vehicle. Now that I think about it, I put a soft top on it which made it just about the coolest vehicle in my neck of the woods at the time - it was a full size (think Chevy Blazer) convertible truck! Wish I had pics, but I don't...

I'm as irritated as anyone, as I simply won't buy a vehicle with an automatic. That said, I don't think this is a case of "catering to the mass market", unless by that you mean "not making cars that people won't buy." There's a reason there's only two premium SUVs left with manual boxes (Cayenne and X3) and I think the stick-shift Porsche's days are numbered.

I'm not a BMW die-hard, but I thought it was great that you could get the E32 735i with a stick. Fact is, though, nobody bought them (try to find one), and that if you ran a company that was in the business of making money you'd stop making them, too.

Sure, there are a select few (brilliant) people who want them, and a lot more people are glad they're available, but the market's not big enough and poor residuals hurt the brand and the bottom line. Be glad you got one when you did.

Does anyone have reliable data on how many manual E53s there were in the US?