[NightWriter]

According to a recent informal poll here, about 40% of the owners here opted for the Base/6MT, which I'm sure is a higher take rate than is averaged across all G80/82 sales. Good job, enthusiasts! #savethemanuals

I will be placing an order at some point (sooner or later), and am struggling to make a decision on this option. I've owned a couple of manual BMW's in the past (E39 530i, F23 M240i), and have enjoyed them tremendously. I still struggled to get a consistently smooth 1-2 upshift on the 240, and occasionally I'd miss a gear, but in general they provided a wonderful level of driver involvement and control. So, I'm definitely leaning towards selecting the Base model for these reasons, as well as the fact that it may well be the last (new) manual car I can buy*.

That said... this will be my first M car, and I'm buying it because it's a high performance vehicle. I don't plan to track it (at least not on any regular basis), so I'm trying to gauge whether the Base output will be "sufficient," or whether I'll be left wanting more. "Sufficient" in this context meaning it still puts a stupid grin on my face when I hammer it. I owned an F30 340i xDrive with the ZF 8AT, and that engine (rated at 320hp/320tq) felt amazing at first, but inevitably lost some of the wow factor over time. (I realize this happens no matter what you buy, alas...)

So: I'm curious to hear from 6MT owners: Any regrets with your choice? Either with respect to shift/clutch quality, or with the lower hp/tq output?

Thanks in advance!

* Interestingly, even back in 2001, when I placed my order for the 530i 6MT, the dealer had no manual 5-series available to test-drive, and was so nervous about potentially being saddled with one should I bail out, that they asked for a double-sized non-refundable deposit. So I've been hearing the "no one buys manuals anymore" shtick for a while now...

[dimab0]

No

[modat]

You are either a 6mt die hard or not. If you are on the fence I would lean towards the automatic

[kjx]

I’ve driven a G82 6MT and a G82 ZF, and I prefer the ZF. The manual transmission is not as good as one you’d have gotten in a Civic, 10-15 years back. The gearing is okay, power is plenty. The shifter is okay. The clutch play is very weird and not linear, if that’s the word - it’s heavy at first and then collapses too quickly. The same thing happens in reverse - a bounce back near the end of release. Maybe a clutch stop would be useful. I appreciate the rev matching.

I’ve driven a manual for 7 years before moving to automatics. I don’t miss the manual one bit. Paddle shifters ftw.

[kjx]

Originally Posted by modat

You are either a 6mt due hard or not. If you are on the fence I would lean towards the automatic

Probably this. You have to be a die hard. Else you may end up going through ownership thinking ‘what-if’. And it’d be that much harder to resell. The only M4 that remained in stock at Seattle for a while was a manual (which I test drove for lack of anything else before my final decision; drove an auto with them before I knew I was going to get an M4).

[Nkr15]

You buy the manual because it's the only manual available in a sedan with a decent interior currently. I have 0% chance of buying something with two pedals unless it's the model s plaid but even then I didn't. You will get bored of any power level your body will keep asking for more because you will get used to it, so you might as well have fun while accelerating instead of being the 99% that just floor cars and become on-ramp warriors.

[LuckyBrand]

It's not the best manual but I don't regret it at all. I also don't miss the power nor do I care. I bought the car because the manual was available.

[bri1042]

Adding my "it's not the best manual I've ever had" vote, but with 4.5k miles on mine and almost 8 months of driving it almost every day, I have near zero actual complaints about the manual unit itself. It has a "break-in" period more than other manuals I've had, and everything else is about spending time with it and letting your experience merge with the unit.

At this point, there's nothing about THIS manual that reduces my enjoyment of it compared to previous 5 and 6MT's that I've had.

I left the MT behind for 8 years, after driving them exclusively for 2+ decades at that point, and have come back to it with this car. Coming back to the MT, and not panicking over the initial oddness of this unit, has restored my enjoyment of even mundane drives to a greater degree than I was expecting.

Is the power of the base model "sufficient"? Absolutely sufficient to enjoy the hell out of it. But, if you're still in that "must beat everyone to the next stoplight" phase of your life, it's hard to say that you shouldn't go with the fastest iteration of this car, the ZF8 AWD.

Depending on how many people answer this question, you're going to get a lot of different answers...and possibly a flame-war or two. Those of us who bought the base model run from the very satisfied to that one dude who couldn't figure out how to drive THIS manual well and spent two months hating in every thread he could find. Automatics (and DCT's) are something of an equalizer. Satisfaction and results with any particular MT unit is more of an individual thing.

[Gfit]

I think the reason these threads turn into a shit show is that most can't give their reasons for their selection without belittling the other side. For example, if you chose manual, you have a "slow" car and are stuck in the past. If you choose auto, you are "boring" and like to race from stoplights. For the majority, neither is true.

[NightWriter]

Thanks, folks, for the thoughtful (and mature) responses thus far. I definitely was not looking for a flame war, and that's why I framed it as a question about regrets, rather than "which one is better?"

[meechy6ix0]

Originally Posted by kjx

I’ve driven a G82 6MT and a G82 ZF, and I prefer the ZF. The manual transmission is not as good as one you’d have gotten in a Civic, 10-15 years back. The gearing is okay, power is plenty. The shifter is okay. The clutch play is very weird and not linear, if that’s the word - it’s heavy at first and then collapses too quickly. The same thing happens in reverse - a bounce back near the end of release. Maybe a clutch stop would be useful. I appreciate the rev matching.

I’ve driven a manual for 7 years before moving to automatics. I don’t miss the manual one bit. Paddle shifters ftw.

As mentioned, seems most criteria of the manual point towards okay, except the clutch which can be fixed with a free CDV delete mod(aside from time).

[Trojan4evr]

Originally Posted by bri1042

Adding my "it's not the best manual I've ever had" vote, but with 4.5k miles on mine and almost 8 months of driving it almost every day, I have near zero actual complaints about the manual unit itself. It has a "break-in" period more than other manuals I've had, and everything else is about spending time with it and letting your experience merge with the unit.

At this point, there's nothing about THIS manual that reduces my enjoyment of it compared to previous 5 and 6MT's that I've had.

I left the MT behind for 8 years, after driving them exclusively for 2+ decades at that point, and have come back to it with this car. Coming back to the MT, and not panicking over the initial oddness of this unit, has restored my enjoyment of even mundane drives to a greater degree than I was expecting.

Is the power of the base model "sufficient"? Absolutely sufficient to enjoy the hell out of it. But, if you're still in that "must beat everyone to the next stoplight" phase of your life, it's hard to say that you shouldn't go with the fastest iteration of this car, the ZF8 AWD.

Depending on how many people answer this question, you're going to get a lot of different answers...and possibly a flame-war or two. Those of us who bought the base model run from the very satisfied to that one dude who couldn't figure out how to drive THIS manual well and spent two months hating in every thread he could find. Automatics (and DCT's) are something of an equalizer. Satisfaction and results with any particular MT unit is more of an individual thing.

I wouldn't be surprised if the dude you're talking about shows up here too. I totally know who you're talking about.

[W///]

Don't have a G80, but I would be in the manual camp for sure. If you are already used to BMW manual gearboxes, then you more or less know what to expect from the unit in the M3/4. All these cars, even the "base" is more than fast enough to get you a ride straight to jail on top of that.

[Trojan4evr]

I have a base and got it for the MT. Just to be clear here, the "base" is way too capable for the public roads. I'm still in my break in period and in "Sport Plus" mode shifting at 4k RPM will easily net you 98 mph, which pretty much means jail. I can't imagine how fast the comp is and how much of its power I can really use. So, base it is for yo boi.

[mzcp]

No regret for me but really miss the handbrake. It feels weird driving MT without one.

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by mzcp

No regret for me but really miss the handbrake. It feels weird driving MT without one.

That took a bit - the "yank the handbrake" part of my shut-down instincts were pretty well ingrained. Poke the button isn't quite the same thing :-)

[mzcp]

Originally Posted by bri1042

That took a bit - the "yank the handbrake" part of my shut-down instincts were pretty well ingrained. Poke the button isn't quite the same thing :-)

Yes exactly. Every time I shutdown, I am looking for the handbrake lol

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by mzcp

Yes exactly. Every time I shutdown, I am looking for the handbrake lol

That's not nearly as embarrassing as jumping from a manual car to an automatic and instinctively (accidentally) stabbing the brake pedal with your left foot as you accelerate.

[frankiebones]

I couldn't be happier being back in a manual. As many of you know, I recently had an F80 CS for 2+ years, the only time in my 22 years of driving I was without a manual. It feels amazing. Every single day, even doing mundane tasks, I have so much joy in driving.

Is it the best manual? No. But it's pretty good and it's paired well with the engine.

[voyagergab]

I’d say if you like manuals enjoy while you can.
I have no regrets. The shifter in my g82 is actually a lot better compared to my previous f87 m2.

[omaralt]

no regrets at all. this is my daily. if i was tracking it i would get the xdrive comp. But i'm not and having a manual rear wheel drive car is about as much fun as you can have with your pants on

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by modat

You are either a 6mt die hard or not. If you are on the fence I would lean towards the automatic

Best answer. I was going to say the same.