[omaralt]

Originally Posted by jas165

I got my manual G80 less than two weeks ago, in Brooklyn Grey just like OP, but unlike OP I have to say the shifter is quite rubbery, the throws do feel long and somewhat stiff, and shifting into second gear is a bit of a struggle (and this is coming from someone who has been driving manuals his whole life). The biggest issue however is putting the car in reverse: it feels like you're moving a heavy dumbbell.

With that said, the feeling has improved and the stiffness should go away over time.

Overall, definitely not a deal breaker.

definitely see if you can drive a different car, because i have none of those issues and i'm coming from a 991.2 manual transmission.


love the manual transmission. wouldn't have bought the car if it wasn't offered. unless you're tracking the car (definitely get the AWD auto) then this is the way to get an M3. RWD and a manual

[jas165]

Originally Posted by omaralt

definitely see if you can drive a different car, because i have none of those issues and i'm coming from a 991.2 manual transmission.


love the manual transmission. wouldn't have bought the car if it wasn't offered. unless you're tracking the car (definitely get the AWD auto) then this is the way to get an M3. RWD and a manual

When I test drove the base G82 last summer, it felt the same way. But my previous car was a Mazda 3, an economy car with a super smooth shifter. That, combined with the fact that I'd never driven a sports car before, is probably why the G80 shifter feels so different and rough to me.

But I still love driving the car!

[GixY2K]

Nice color. Glad to hear you finally got your hands on your M3 and that you feel so passionate about manuals.

This post is making me want to sit on a manual '22 and go through the gears, just to see what you're talking about. Not the same as driving it, but I don't think they'll let me drive a new one right now

I like manuals myself; last one was a 2012 STI Stage2, loved that gear box and the ability to lock the center diff. (during icy conditions) and have a controlled slide as opposed to a tail-whip. But once I experience the loss of traction biting effect of a FBO GTR while having both hands on the wheel, I haven't looked back. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I don't see myself owning another stick. And if I have to scratch that itch, I can tell my kid to let me drive his Focus ST; best entry level fun car for the $$$, IMO.

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by Flying05

So I ordered my G80 6MT without seeing in person or driving it and just got it Saturday evening. All this crap about how the manual in this car sucks, too rubbery, hard to hit second, and so on. It's all complete crap! Or maybe the others were built late on a Friday.

This manual is buttery smooth, rather short in throws in my view, and helluva fun to drive. Now I know why I got bored with my 991s PDK, 971 Panamera 4s, and my DCT E92 M3. All autos!!! Sure, they are faster 0-60 vs a manual, but you get used to and always wanting more. Then what? I guess you can chip it, but then what after that. You're faster great, but still get used to it. I missed having the manual as I had in most all of my sports cars back in the days that gave me that drivers engagement that I missed in my E46 M3, C5 Z06, S2000, and Z28 to name a few.

It's been 10 too long years since my last manual (E46 M3) and now know what I missed. Not to mention the beauty of this car. So long story short, do your research and/or try to find one to drive before you buy to make the right decision. I know everyone's situation is different and this car is more of a weekend warrior for me and not my primary car, but could easily see myself driving this car daily if I had too and in traffic. Glad I made the right choice.

Oh and those with the paddles. Not knocking your choice of transmission and think those are wonderful as well, but just not for me this time around.

I so wish they would have had a 6MT M4 CSL

Originally Posted by nathanm4

I think 6MT is the right choice unless you buy the CS/CSL model. I had a great fun with 6MT G82.

I'd love to know your reason for not favouring 6MT for the CS/CSL variants. Although I love cards and spirited drives, I'm not mechanically inclined, and as such, my question is intended for my further learning.

FWIW, I have a 6MT M2 CS and I think it's absolutely ace.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Flying05

All this crap about how the manual in this car sucks, too rubbery, hard to hit second, and so on. It's all complete crap! Or maybe the others were built late on a Friday.

I've had a manual in the last 3 generations of M3/4 and agree that the tactile nature of it makes driving more enjoyable. I have found in mine the feel and shifting quality improves up to about 10k miles.

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

I've had a manual in the last 3 generations of M3/4 and agree that the tactile nature of it makes driving more enjoyable. I have found in mine the feel and shifting quality improves up to about 10k miles.

Agreed - with 5k+ miles on mine, I'm very happy with it. At least some of that is probably me as it took me a while to adjust my reflexes vs. a couple of decades worth of Honda manuals and an 8 year break from manuals entirely.

[0Camus0]

The transmission feels great, coming from the Z4M Roadster and its picky clutch, definitely feels way way better.

Do you think the manuals will appreciate with time? given that there aren't that many around? All the M3/M4 in the local dealers are competition models.

[gohawks23]

Originally Posted by 0Camus0

The transmission feels great, coming from the Z4M Roadster and its picky clutch, definitely feels way way better.

Do you think the manuals will appreciate with time? given that there aren't that many around? All the M3/M4 in the local dealers are competition models.

Any manual BMW I have tried to sell sold almost immediately at very good prices compared to market.

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by Flying05

So I ordered my G80 6MT without seeing in person or driving it and just got it Saturday evening. All this crap about how the manual in this car sucks, too rubbery, hard to hit second, and so on. It's all complete crap! Or maybe the others were built late on a Friday.

I've had two BMW M cars (F80 & now F87C), the manual in them is excellent. They feel precise and don't have a ton of vibration in them. Maybe that's what all of the nonsense about them feeling rubbery is like, they isolate transmission vibration very well. I almost feel like the BS about it being bad is from drivers who bought autos and need some justification.

Originally Posted by 0Camus0

Do you think the manuals will appreciate with time? given that there aren't that many around? All the M3/M4 in the local dealers are competition models.

I don't think a manual car will automatically appreciate in value but what I do know is that it will keep its value much more than an auto will. Prior to the Covid supply chain issue, used manual M cars were always more expensive than the auto counterparts, usually by a big margin.

[Scorp!on]

If you want driving engagement there is nothing that beats the manual.
it's pretty good set up in the car.

But you do feel and know that the engine was built around the ZF...

100NM less torque is a lot, and the way this engine is tuned you need shorter shifts as it has terrible low end torque.

I do understand that the take rate of MT overall is very low and the R&D doesn't exactly put a lot on money on it. So keeping this in mind, they have done a pretty good job.

I love the MT and it's the only thing that gives this car somehow of a character, I for myself like how the DCT worked on the F8x.
This gave the car a lot of character, considering it is an AT.

[DesertRJ]

Love the white and green on the M3. Been looking around and if I can ever get an allocation I'll be purchasing as well. Only competition is the 4 Blackwing and it seems even harder to get than the M3's!

[G80indy]

The only reason I sold my ZCP 6 speed E92 was to "replace" it with the G80 6 speed.
Will be a long wait but worth it.
Thanks for your perspective on this OP and others!

Save the Manuals !

[M318]

I appreciate the opinion on the 6MT. I am also ordering one without a test drive. I have had a test drive in a F80 M3 6MT, enjoyed it there, and heard the G80 6MT was even better. It's all about perspective I suppose. Considering my last manual cars were a Jeep Wrangler and a Honda Accord I think the G80 will be great.

At the end of the day, the list for a sports car sedan with a manual transmission is rather short, basically a M3 and a Blackwing to my knowledge. I'm sure it won't be as good as a 911, but will probably be pretty awesome.

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by M318

I appreciate the opinion on the 6MT. I am also ordering one without a test drive. I have had a test drive in a F80 M3 6MT, enjoyed it there, and heard the G80 6MT was even better. It's all about perspective I suppose. Considering my last manual cars were a Jeep Wrangler and a Honda Accord I think the G80 will be great.

At the end of the day, the list for a sports car sedan with a manual transmission is rather short, basically a M3 and a Blackwing to my knowledge. I'm sure it won't be as good as a 911, but will probably be pretty awesome.

The interior geometry of a 911 promotes a better 6 speed manual engagement. The 6MT in my F80 is excellent. Looking forward to a G80 6MT

[MTM3]

Originally Posted by 2011ninja

The interior geometry of a 911 promotes a better 6 speed manual engagement. The 6MT in my F80 is excellent. Looking forward to a G80 6MT

Coming from F80 6MT to G80 6MT, there’s noticeable improvement in the shortness of throws and less rubbery (I still don’t think it’s a bad thing unless you like S2000 type shifters) more notchy shifting. I just got mine last night so still waiting on clutch stop to arrive and then possibly CDV delete. Although I think this could be the first Bimmer since e46 that I don’t see the immediate need to CDV removal

[ROBERT1183]

No issues here with my 6speed. Feels the same to me as my F80 6 speed. The car is not a daily and only driven when I get to enjoy it.

[gohawks23]

Originally Posted by M318

I appreciate the opinion on the 6MT. I am also ordering one without a test drive. I have had a test drive in a F80 M3 6MT, enjoyed it there, and heard the G80 6MT was even better. It's all about perspective I suppose. Considering my last manual cars were a Jeep Wrangler and a Honda Accord I think the G80 will be great.

At the end of the day, the list for a sports car sedan with a manual transmission is rather short, basically a M3 and a Blackwing to my knowledge. I'm sure it won't be as good as a 911, but will probably be pretty awesome.

My F80 shifter/clutch was just as 'good' as my 21 C2S. 7 spd on 911 actually required some throw adjustment and clutch was lighter. Overall preferred M3 manual but both fun.

[Jim B]

Go for it. Save the manuals. My F82 is a 6MT and I have a G82 on order, also 6MT.

[projectme]

Owned many manual cars. As of late, Had a manual 435 m sport tuned and fob, then had a manual f82 M4 tuned/bolt ons. Yes they were fun but daily in traffic became a pain. Not to mention how slow they were off the line losing traction. I decided auto this time around for that reason. Plus, the fact that a lot of bmws are known to start having 2nd gear synchro issues not too long down the road. I can't tell you how many people I know that experienced this and I also experienced it on my M4.

[chris3g]

Originally Posted by BBM9515

Add the m performance shift knob also, you’ll thank me later. I’m very happy with the manual on this Gen. I also have e36 manual and e46 ZHP manual and this G80 is butter smooth.

Just got mine

[Flying05]

Originally Posted by chris3g

Just got mine

Now that one is sharp! Part number? I think I've seen this one, but was not listed as compatible. I assume simple install?

[chris3g]

Originally Posted by Flying05

Now that one is sharp! Part number? I think I've seen this one, but was not listed as compatible. I assume simple install?

Im sure it's the one you saw, it is made for the F series so it doesn't show as compatible and technically it isn't as you need to swap out the boots. Still relatively simple to do though.

P/n 25-11-2-222-534