Manual 40i conversion?
- Thread starter Mr Whippy
- Start date
PaperSniper
Member
I too very much miss the days of shifting with a gears and a clutch. Did that for 50 years with motorcycles, and about 40 with cars. I had an MX5 a while ago with a MT and a Triumph Spitfire and Alfa Romeo Duetto back in the 1970s. Absolutely fun little cars to drive! But the MX5 was small, so small that I felt lost in traffic. I tried to get a Mustang convertible with MT, but was unable. So figured I'd look at the BMW Z cars as we've had BMW sedans for 20 years or so and my wife and I like them a lot. The Z's auto is very good once you get the hang of it, but yeah, a manual in my car would be terrific!
Doug
Doug
Zed Baron
Senior member
There was talk back in 2019 for the European market: https://www.autoblog.com/2019/05/22/bmw-z4-manual-transmission-supra/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFIBhfeGtcBMADxmUrIVNF8AEDNXqGsg1sTZNjLA0M16MtV0o5h3_XoAZKYpKmOfp-Zv4oWTVhXJ2G3kvwfGsvtIxs-84FzwN5NBhfgRwWEMNxWMaY3bz4LPVqcRNR6qlPWnMVgLMdZ8o9u-67YGYl3ZA7a3NnkTUR9otUHsr1my
PaperSniper
Member
Sadly, it's almost impossible to find a car with a manual transmission in the USA any more. 
Doug
Doug
PaperSniper
Member
My wife and I plan a trip to the UK next year. I have been looking at small car rentals, and most have a manual transmission, although I understand what you mean about anything "exciting". Heh, heh, none of those rentals would be exciting except when driving by an American driver trying to remember on what side of the road to drive, why is the gear selector on the left side, etc! I'm sure I will scare myself and many others until I "find the grove" 8)
Doug
Doug
I dunno, I just keep looking at these and keep thinking it might be enough for me for a fun car for many years to come, but it'd have to be a manual.
Fingers crossed something arrives for these.
Maybe when they're £15,000-£20,000 and you can spend £4,000 or so getting it made into a manual, and then £3,000 to get a respray in a colour that isn't just a choice of four, then I'd probably be willing to pay to have one.
Does anyone here ever use the stick shifter mode, and pretend they have a clutch, and use the ZF8 like a manual haha...?
I've done it in my 335Xd and it actually makes it a load more fun when you want to drive and have fun... even though it's pretending.
Maybe something about the intention of what you're doing, making choices ahead of time... it just all disappears with flappy paddles.
Auto great to just go fast, but utterly miserable for driving engagement.
Fingers crossed something arrives for these.
Maybe when they're £15,000-£20,000 and you can spend £4,000 or so getting it made into a manual, and then £3,000 to get a respray in a colour that isn't just a choice of four, then I'd probably be willing to pay to have one.
Does anyone here ever use the stick shifter mode, and pretend they have a clutch, and use the ZF8 like a manual haha...?
I've done it in my 335Xd and it actually makes it a load more fun when you want to drive and have fun... even though it's pretending.
Maybe something about the intention of what you're doing, making choices ahead of time... it just all disappears with flappy paddles.
Auto great to just go fast, but utterly miserable for driving engagement.
Argyll Andy
Lifer
[ref]Mr Whippy[/ref],
it just all disappears with flappy paddles. Auto great to just go fast, but utterly miserable for driving engagement.
I would’ve agreed with you and my choice would’ve been manual all the way, but........ the 35iS with the DCT and flappy paddles is a thing of joy when the car and box are in sports mode. The sports mode holds onto the gearing like a manual so your always on power. I’ve not found it change or hunting for a gear yet when in these modes. I will admit it took quite a bit of time to “learn” how to use it properly but now I have I don’t feel I’m missing out on anything at all.
I’ve not tried the 8 speed but seemingly it’s very good too and some say an improvement on the DCT.
it just all disappears with flappy paddles. Auto great to just go fast, but utterly miserable for driving engagement.
I would’ve agreed with you and my choice would’ve been manual all the way, but........ the 35iS with the DCT and flappy paddles is a thing of joy when the car and box are in sports mode. The sports mode holds onto the gearing like a manual so your always on power. I’ve not found it change or hunting for a gear yet when in these modes. I will admit it took quite a bit of time to “learn” how to use it properly but now I have I don’t feel I’m missing out on anything at all.
I’ve not tried the 8 speed but seemingly it’s very good too and some say an improvement on the DCT.
A
Anonymous
Guest
With boxes like the ZF8HP I'm at a loss to understand what this 'manual' issue is?
The only thing from a behaviourial view that distingusihes that box from a manual are:
1) No clutch pedal
2) No H pattern in manual mode (just up n down)
Can someone explain what the issue(s) are?
The only thing from a behaviourial view that distingusihes that box from a manual are:
1) No clutch pedal
2) No H pattern in manual mode (just up n down)
Can someone explain what the issue(s) are?
PaperSniper
Member
Pbondar said:
It's very difficult to put into words, but yes, there is a draw to a performance car with a manual transmission; at least for me, a near 75 year old antique. I love driving my BMW in Sport (selected both on the console and the shifter <moved to the left> so that I manually choose to change gears, but the car does not totally relinquish its control. A car like my old Spitfire or MX5 with its MT and clutch was just a blast to drive. I understand today's automatics are much faster than shifting through a MT could ever be, but there are just not as exhilarating as a MT. But then that is just my opinion. There are those that cannot wait to get an all electric car for its rapid acceleration; I am NOT in that group! 8)
Pbondar said:
It’s purely personal opinion but the auto even in manual mode doesn’t mechanically change the gears when you move the stick, you’re just operating a microswitch which can feel a bit lacking. The manual gearshift actually moves the cogs and you can feel it - It’s this difference in mechanical involvement that separates the two :?
Rob
A
Anonymous
Guest
Appreciate the views 
I guess I was an early digital man..cut my teeth on 64k ICL 1904 mainframes and early Prime Minis..ah the joys of assembler and Coral 66..drones on incessantly..
As David Cameron would say ' I get that'..each to their own!
I guess I was an early digital man..cut my teeth on 64k ICL 1904 mainframes and early Prime Minis..ah the joys of assembler and Coral 66..drones on incessantly..
As David Cameron would say ' I get that'..each to their own!
More than that, driving a manual car well is enormously rewarding. Pulling away rapidly from stationary without excessive wheel spin, clutch slip or bogging down; smooth, rapid upshifts under maximum acceleration, perfectly coordinating hand and foot whilst snicking across the gearbox; heel-and-toe downshifts using two feet on three pedals to enable rev-matching whilst braking hard into a corner, clipping the apex already in the correct gear and then accelerating smoothly back up through the gearbox. None of that is possible when pulling a paddle. Not to mention the fun of a hill start on a steep, slippery road.Smartbear said:
BMWZ4MC said:
Completely agree, Smartbear and bmwz4mc.....it's all about proper driving involvement.
Something that an auto or good automated manual,such as a VW) Audi or Porsche DSG Box just can't give you,as good as they are.
Some people just don't get it,but each to their own.
As said elsewhere,it's the same with Electric cars,great acceleration isn't everything,and they lack soul or a connection for me as well.
Unfortunately,it's the way it's going,but we can enjoy our Manual sports cars a while yet :driving:
PaperSniper
Member
BMWZ4MC said:
Indeed, that is a lost art! I used to ride with a motorcycle group in and around Memphis, TN. There was a particular hill near the river that I avoided when leading as most could not master foot down, gas on, clutch out without stalling! And stalling a heavy motorcycle is even more exciting than stalling a car on a steep hill!
A
Anonymous
Guest
BMWZ4MC said:
Thanks for the articulation of what the essences for you are
I think after my first 28 cars I must have got bored with all of that :rofl:
Looks like the world market has voted that way largely..
Ironically I had to drive a Vectra Estate (manual) last week and the clutch and box were really sweet, so easy to drive.
Each to their own, my first BSA had a manual advance / retard ignition lever, a valve lifter, a tickler on the carb..they don't make them like they used to!
I can imagine! I did the opposite on a very light motorbike on a Malaysian island when I was 18. Determined not to get bogged in soft sand on a slope, I gave it way too much gas and was last seen disappearing into the rainforest on one wheel. It didn’t end well :rofl:PaperSniper said:BMWZ4MC said:
Indeed, that is a lost art! I used to ride with a motorcycle group in and around Memphis, TN. There was a particular hill near the river that I avoided when leading as most could not master foot down, gas on, clutch out without stalling! And stalling a heavy motorcycle is even more exciting than stalling a car on a steep hill!