Wish I had got 6mt

[C.junior]

It's been 6 months now that I've had my 2009 BMW 135i steptronic
It shifts fast but I miss driving stick
It's just not as fun
I don't no what to do I put a manual momo knob even so I can shift from the stick that lasted 2 weeks now I'm back to wishing I had gotten manual
What to do lol?

[tuco44]

Well, either suck it up or sell the car and get one with a stick. Not much choice really......

I have the DCT which is much better, IMO, than the Step. I have had lots of manual tranny BMWs, but for now, I am very pleased with my DCT.

It's tough to make a mistake.

[HeyMoe53]

Selling the car now would be a pretty big financial hit.

The step isn't bad, but BMW's manual transmissions are pretty nice. I've owned a stick for 30 years, and the stick on my 128 is the best I've driven.

We all make mistakes. I have, too, though I divorced the largest of them....your dilemma is smaller.

[Emerson]

I too regret getting steptronic. I really miss "being in control" of my car.

My main reason for going with an auto transmission was I thought I would get fed up with stop and go traffic. But after having driven 2 years of boring steptronic, I realize I would be a lot happier with a manual transmission, and that rush hour traffic wouldn't even be annoying at all.

However, on the bright side, you and I definitely know what we're going to get for our next car!

[Basheezy]

I think the step is great. when I first bought the car i used to go drag racing like 4-5 times a year. the step is great for launching, with a jb4 and 2nd gear launches you get a ~4.0 second 0-60 and some have done faster. I do drive in manual mode like 90% of the time though.

[RhoXS]

We ordered a new 128i last Sunday and got the Production Number yesterday. It is, of course, a real manual transmission that requires the driver to use the clutch and shift the gears.

I have been driving real manual cars (not the computer driven SMG type of manual) since 1974 (Datsun 260Z). In 1999 I made an exception, bought an automatic, and regretted it every single day until day until I replaced it with my wonderful Z3 3.0i.

We originally intended to replace our beloved Z3 with a low mileage CPO 135i or a Z4. We were unable to do this because we simply could not find a CPO with a manual transmission. Virtually every dealer we spoke to consistently said almost no one buys them anymore. I even found I had to be very careful how I described what I wanted because it was not uncommon for the salepeople to think of the SMG (I don't know what its now called) steering wheel paddles as a manual transmission and advertise these cars as "manual" cars. In any case we eneded up ordering exactly what we wanted cause we could not get it otherwise.

There is some wonderful undescribable thrill about very quickly downshifting to third from 4th or 5th, giving it full throttle, and feeling and hearing the acceleration while suddenly screaming past vehicles that were in front. Absolutely no automatic, no matter how smart the computer, can duplicate that sensation.

BTW, we made a last minute decision to keep the Z3. My wife and I are just too attached to the old girl to let her go. Its going to be interesting to see which car I default to; the 10 year old 142K mile Z3 or the brand new 128i.

[JTBMW1]

I originally wanted a manual as well although since my MazdaSpeed 3 is a manual I opted for an automatic this time- more for my wife than me. I have a 128i though and it is much slower to 60 with the Steptronic than manual. The manual shift mode really helps though to rev the engine. Otherwise the tranny tends to upshift too soon.

[DanG]

My significant other doesn't drive a stick. So for the first time I got an automatic. We tend to do some long trips and I wanted her to be able to relieve me.

With all the traffic in Seattle I really haven't missed the stick.

I am very happy with my little 128i.

[IDBMW]

When I bought a Z4 I was going to get the SMG gearbox but was worried I would miss the 6mt. Then the 135i had the DCT. That is a much better gearbox but I still had doubts so I went with the 6 mt. This is my 3 rd BMW with the 6 mt and I love that gearbox. I can shift with WOT at 6500 RPM and not hit redline.

[Mark16q]

thought I could do without a stick, and my last car was an A4 with 6 speed auto. After a year or so, couldn't take it and got back to 6mt. First day I had the 135i hit a horrible traffic jam, and didn't care one bit. The bmw 6mt is nice.

[orionredwing]

I've been driving my 335i step for almost 6 yrs now with no regrets, and even track with it. However, starting about a month ago, I started getting the itch to drive stick again, although I still love my 6AT 335i and have no plans of selling it.

The solution?

Today, I came home with an 08 135i 6MT

So I guess I'm part of the family now. My friends were laughing and wondering why I was getting 2 of the 'same' car I shopped around....honestly!! Somehow in the end, I chose the 135i over the others in the same price range.

[the1andonly]

I have a 128 manual...drove a 135 auto last week while getting my car serviced...Id take my 128 manual over the 135 auto any day of the week. that being said, enjoy your car, you have one of the best cars out there...next car get a manual

[C.junior]

One of the reason I did not get manual was also because my car was pre owned and I would never know if the previous owner missed a few gears here and there as with step you previous owner couldn't really miss any gears lol

[Stohlen]

Everyone misses a few gears once and a while, and they'd be lying if they said they didnt. A trans is made to handle that within reason.

[C.junior]

I financed this car for 4 years I got
It for 34000 plus tax here in Canada and will have a balloon payment at the end of 13000 so I guess I should wait then maybe upgrade to 1m

[Angerman]

I don't know how to drive an automatic, so I'm glad I have a 6MT

[dorkdog]

Originally Posted by Angerman

I don't know how to drive an automatic, so I'm glad I have a 6MT

What he said....

[bdoooh]

Originally Posted by dorkdog

What he said....

It's surprisingly disorientating.. When I get into my girlfriend's GTI I end up hitting the left side of the brake pedal all the time going for the clutch. And it takes me awhile to realize I don't really need to do anything to turn the car on.

[Derek8819]

I have a 1M and wish it were a DCT.... so my wife would not complain as much....

[andrés]

good thing about MT no one likes it at home so no one gets to drive my car

[Ash83]

Originally Posted by andrés

good thing about MT no one likes it at home so no one gets to drive my car

+100000

and thank God the 1M is only MT, a true car enthusiast veichle.