For years, we’ve heard and read about the dismissal of the manual transmission in BMW cars. There was even a campaign initiated by Car and Driver in 2010 – Save The Manuals! – yet seven years later, BMW still offers the beloved gearbox in many of its products, including in most of the M cars.
But the marriage with manuals might be over soon. At the 2017 Geneva Motor, Ian Robertson, BMW Board member in charge of sales and marketing, said that hinted at a future with less manual transmissions.
“Across the world, virtually all of our 3-series [models] and above already have automatic transmissions,” Ian Robertson, BMW’s head of sales and marketing, told us when we sat down with him at the Geneva auto show. “China never had any manual transmissions; they went straight to auto. The U.S. is predominantly auto, and more and more of Europe is as well. We will certainly see fewer and fewer manual transmissions being offered.”
Robertson also added that for now smaller cars are safe, with no immediate plans to get rid of the clutch pedal in MINI or in the BMW 1 Series. But if sales of stick-shift 3 Series and 4 Series cars continue to slide, it seems likely the option will die out.
The M segment is the one important to BMW purists and as expected, BMW will make some changes there as well.
“In the M segment,” Robertson said, “purists still love the stick shift, and we will continue to cater for that. Whether we offer it in every model remains to be seen. In some instances, it is selling in really small numbers now.”
[Source: Car and Driver]
The sad reality we face. So sad…I don’t want self driving cars. I enjoy driving the damn car!
It’s most other drivers I want in autonomous.
Porsche still offers the manual transmission optional in the 911 GT3.
I hope the manual gb will die soon! I’ve been last week in the Netherlands, and rented there a 1 series, manual gb. It’s just a complete disaster to drive with manual gb in traffic jams, which happen to be most of the time there. Non stop pressing the damn clutch : put in to gear, remove from the gear, stop the car, press the clutch…and so goes on and on. I really see no fun in it…just my opinion.
Obviously you hate driving all together and if you drive a BMW your probably have it for a status symbol. Go back to your Toyota!
The reason I own a BMW is simply because I like it, and not at all for the status. Never had a Toyota, and I will never have one.
If you are a daily driver of a manual, it is not a chore. It’s effortless, and more than that, it keeps you alert and engaged in the traffic conditions you described above. Obviously, it’s not for you, because you can’t be very competent at it, to have complained the way you have. Okay: it’s not for you, but your statement isn’t a good argument against manuals. According to you, just because you suck at it, no one shall have them. Screw you!
Perhaps Madalin dives a Ferrari, they ditched their 3rd pedal in 2011, Bentley 1954. You’ll find stick in a Toyota before you will in most luxury cars.
I’d rather drive a Porsche – automatic ;)
Madalin has a point. It has nothing to do with incompetence or just wanting a ‘status symbol’. His (or her) arguments a recognizable. It’s not without reason that some Alpina’s were only available with automatics.
Anyway, I also drive a manual. But I don’t get the obsession with it. In the year 2017 manual vs. a ZF (or M DCT) ain’t even a contest.
Sorry mate, it´s not about how fast the gearchange is. It is about the feeling you have, when you conduct your machine with your hands and feet. You can´t get that satisfaction with automatic…However see the point, that driving the manual in the city traffic can sometimes be a pain.
Darex, actually I don’t suck at all at manuals (drove for at least 6 years only a manual) – maybe I do it even better than you ;)
I was just saying how uncomfortable it is in traffic jams, where sometimes you can’t drive more than 10-20 m (or 33-66ft) till you have to stop for a few seconds, and then do it again..
You jus described how it is where I live. Doesn’t deter me.
Manual gb is for you then :)
I dont really wish the end of the manuals, i love them, but i agree with you on that point: driving a manual in traffic jams is horrible. I would buy an automatic if i was living or working in a big city, thats for sure !
You have the best control of a car with just one speed — no shifting (auto or manual), no clutch, no engine disengagement from the wheels. Single-pedal speed control. That’s where technology is going; the archaic manual-automatic debate will become moot.
Yes, zombies are coming……..:D
No wonder, people ain´t buying manual BMW´s. Cause BMW manual transmisssions are louzy. BMW stopped developing manual transmissins a long time ago. One only needs to compare BMW transmission with thouse in Mazdas and Hondas. A daylight difference, may I say…
Bring back the damn manual in bmw