Are 5spd Manual cars worth less?

[bfd]

According to Intellichoice, my 1990 535i, 5 speed manual trans, 98K, is worth anywhere from $370-500 LESS?!@#$

If only 5% or so of all E34 535i only came with 5 speed manual transmissions, why are they worth less?

[Paul in NZ]

they arent,but like any sale they are only worth what the buyer is willing to pay,and MOST people want an auto.If you have someone who is looking for a amnual you are likely to be able to get a bit more,esp if your car is in really good condition too

[Dan in NZ]

I would think that 5-speed's would be more expensive, in our old cars, due to the short supply and now that E34's are more of an enthusiasts car than a "sensible" car just to get from A-B. When new, sure a manual would be worth less, but the market is completely different when you compare new 5-series buyers to us 10-15 year old used car buyers. Those price estimate calculators don't take these things into account.

[winfred]

to the average joe a auto is worth more due the pussifacation of the drivers in the us, that said some people wouldn't wipe their ass with a automatic and will drive sticks till they die, theres just more new car buyers that want a slushbox

[Mitch90535im]

I wouldn't wipe my ass with an automatic and will drive a stick until I die. (or until the gout gets so bad I can't depress the clutch)

[tim s]

but that is only becuase i could not find an affordable 540i/6 manual.
our other car is a 325e 5 speed. my wife hates the auto, but i need the pull back in the seat feeling i get from the 540i/a. she chose the 325e as her daily driver due to the 540i having the auto.
tim s.

[winfred]

i am in the process of converting a 93 325i to a 5 speed (while i am replacing the melted engine, coolent?!, what coolent?)

[rph]

I did some research on this last year when I was having a fight with my insurance company afterI totaling my 535. I looked through all the classifieds of the BMW Car Club of America "Roundel", from December 2002 through November 2003 for E34s. There were 10 automatics and 19 5 speeds advertised during that time. The mean asking price for automatics was $8645; the mean asking price for manuals was $11,689. Remember these are asking prices. Also this population is not representative of the general hoi poloi. I will attach the spreadsheet as a pdf file (it has mileage data by month and info about a few outliers).


According to Intellichoice, my 1990 535i, 5 speed manual trans, 98K, is worth anywhere from $370-500 LESS?!@#$

If only 5% or so of all E34 535i only came with 5 speed manual transmissions, why are they worth less?

[DueyT]

but that is only becuase i could not find an affordable 540i/6 manual.
our other car is a 325e 5 speed. my wife hates the auto, but i need the pull back in the seat feeling i get from the 540i/a. she chose the 325e as her daily driver due to the 540i having the auto.
tim s.
Tim, "...pull back in the seat feeling..."? Que est? :p

Buddy, you should see 2nd gear in a 540 6-shooter..BMW and Getrag got it right with the M60B40 and S6S-420G. 1st gear is just insane...very deep, spins 255/40-17's like they were standing on teflon, but second gear is what'll give you 5.8-5.9s 0-60 (with Mark's E.A.T. chip). :D

Cheers,
Duey

[tim s]

the 760li does 0-60 in 5.4sec. & i still can not afford one of those either.
life goes on.
tim s.

[Paul in NZ]

duey does the 540 reach 60 in second? I think my 535 falls just short requiring a change to third.In pure performace terms i think first is too low,the 535 goes straight to redline,but any higher and youd wear out clutches in the traffic :(

[DueyT]

Tim, 5.4 for a 760iL is pretty spanking! On the other hand, if I weren't 6'2", I might of thought about an 850i/6 a.k.a. 850CSi... :D

Cheers,
Duey

[632 Regal]

and get a real set of rims?

Ps I know a girl that would take good care of em...Nika will.

Willing to trade to buy you time too!.

:D

[DueyT]

:D

Tell you what Jeff, you find me a set of the amazing, kick-a$$ M-Style #101's in 17" for an even trade, and Nika can wear my #5's!

http://zoouz.free.fr/Wheels/TMP_wheel/bmw_wheel_101.jpg

Cheers,
Duey

[Paul in NZ]

duey does the 540 reach 60 in second? I think my 535 falls just short requiring a change to third.In pure performace terms i think first is too low,the 535 goes straight to redline,but any higher and youd wear out clutches in the traffic
You havent answered me yet Duey.... :(

[DueyT]

You havent answered me yet Duey.... :(
Sorry Paul, I clearly didn't pay attention to the thread very well...

Yes, my 540 with Mark's EAT chip does 0-60 in 5.85-5.9 seconds (measured with my G-Tech.) The G-Tech also shows me at about ~265 rwhp so I think that it's not unreasonable to figure that Mark's chip is pulling ~305-310hp-ish out of the stock 282hp M60.

Your right about 1st...the V8 winds up so much in first that I'm only doing 35-38mph, then pull 2nd. The tranny has to be quite warm for the 1-2 shift to be relatively smooth. Ironically, I still can pull about a 6.0-6.1 sec 0-60 if I start out in 2nd!:p I don't get into 3rd until about 85mph...the 540 has a 2.83 (2.93?) rear-end.

Cheers,
Duey

[Paul in NZ]

Damn you Duey I had thought that I didnt really need this


http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/kiwi535/540is%20side.jpg

http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/kiwi535/540s%20engine.jpg

[DueyT]

Hmmmm...Paul, is that a NZ-spec '95 540i Sport or an Oz-spec 540iLE?

p.s. Good to see that someone know which direction to put the Turine covers on! ;)

Cheers,
Duey

[Paul in NZ]

i think it is actually an aussie spec car,the guy descibes it as a 540 is ltd

[DueyT]

Yup, thought so....the Aussie 540iLE (Limited Edition) were equivalents to the American 540i M-Sport and Canadian M540i's. Most were 6-speeds and I believe all were hand built and exported. I do not think the cars were "WBS" (true Motorsport) cars, but I don't know much about these "pseudo M5's" from down under.

Cheers,
Duey