BMW did manual-gearbox fans in the U.S. a favor by adding the option on its latest 2013 M5 F10 saloon as a no-cost alternative to the standard 7-speed M-Double Clutch Transmission (M-DCT).
The announcement was made in January with the first examples now arriving in select BMW showrooms across the States.
A member of the M5Post forums named “Jason” searched and found a manual-transmission-equipped 2013 M5 at a local dealer who gave him some time behind the wheel.
Jason, who has driven the M-DCT M5, wrote in a posting that the turbo lag is more noticeable on the manual gearbox version “because you are not controlling the gear engagement”
He added: “The clutch was softer than my 911, but all BMWs are in general. It’s maybe a little too soft for an M, but great for downtown traffic. The shifter was very nice, short, fast, and smooth. Like others have mentioned, it does have that slight rubbery shifting feel but I kind of like it as more of the car is vibrating through your hand almost like holding motorcycle handle bars (I guess).”
Besides a set of photos, Jason also posted a very short video of the new M5’s (illuminated) shifter, which you can watch right past the break.
Photo & Video Credits: Jason/M5Post
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