SPIED: A Manual BMW M5 Is Confirmed With Photos AND By Word

I spy something with six gears and is full of fun. Can you guess what I see?

An F10 BMW M5 with a proper gearbox!

Considering the trend has been to axe anything that you must row yourself, this is a refreshing sight. Although there's been a lot of speculation and video of a test car, which was thought to be a manual, this makes it pretty clear it's on its way. In addition, in an interview with another publication, Albert Biermann -- Head of Product Development at BMW M -- admitted that the new M5 will offer a clutch pedal.

Though he didn't seem too happy about it.

To think a brand that develops product for enthusiasts is reluctant to give the consumer what they want...


This new photo of the interior of a manual M5 unveils some subtle differences in the center console. The shifter itself seems to be fairly short and resembles the stick of the BMW 1 series M Coupe. The buttons placed next to the shifter for DSC, damper control, and other changeable settings are bigger and more rounded compared to the DCT version. It also seems that the two cup holders in the center console (usually placed between shifter and climate control) had to go, as any cups probably would interfere with the stick shift operation.

Read Article

FromThePassengerSeat - 10/19/2011 12:01:19 AM

-2 Boost

Translation: there is now an M version of the new 5-series!

It's not an M car if it has an autobox.

B7FAN - 10/19/2011 7:56:30 AM

+4 Boost

your right to an extent but dont knock the DCT until youve tried it. I did on a M6 and the performance was unreal

supermoto - 10/19/2011 2:40:45 AM

-1 Boost

Well, it's no M5 if it has to fake engine sound by playing it through the speakers: "To provide the passenger cabin with a suitable motor purr, the M5's internal computer monitors the state of the engine and pumps a mimicked sound through the car's audio system. If you pound on the gas, the soundtrack changes to match what the beefy V8 is doing under the hood."

What a joke!

bmwcs - 10/19/2011 8:19:51 AM

+3 Boost

The new M5 is such an awesome machine. Every review has praised the DCT in this car which is so perfectly synced to the engine, similar to the GT-R. It plays a the roll of a wolf in sheep’s clothing so well, one second you have the most luxurious 5 you could imagine, the next at the touch of a button a car that sets new performance standards in the class. While the manual is a nice option I think this car is about cutting edge tech. I prefer the manual on cars like the 1M.

aboodesta - 10/19/2011 8:45:40 AM

+3 Boost

Completely agree. It is a 4 door heavy sedan at the end of the day.

iamdabest1 - 10/19/2011 10:24:42 AM

+1 Boost

i hate pure automatic transmissions but ill take a DCT over a manual.. if you happen to like 6 speed over dct you are lucky that you will be able to save on a $3k option..

stone - 10/19/2011 11:47:59 PM

+1 Boost

I never thought I'd say this but if I bought an M5, I'd go with the DCT as well, even though it's capable I just don't think I'd be tossing the M5 around very much. Once it grew larger than the E39, I just don't see the point.

On the other hand, I would not own an M3 or any M Coupe without a 6MT....