I miss shifting

[FinSport]

Yassss! I'm totally in for a BMW/3rd gen thread!

That being said, I have a 2000 Limited that I also want to manual swap. I feel, though, that the auto is easier off road.

If I manual swap it, I kinda want to V8 swap it at the same time, and keep the multimode 4wd.

Yes, an auto is probably easier in all situations, just push the pedal and go.

My BMW and Yotas include...
-Me: E39 M5 Dinan S2 and a 3rd Gen 4R
-Wife: E92 335i, a 100 Series Cruiser and a 3rd Gen Taco (and a pre-BMW 1971 Mini coming over from England )

In for the BMW/3rd gen thread as well. Looks like there are a few of us.

I only compared because I had to drive both down I-405 in stop and go traffic. The short throw of the BMW shifter with the ZHP/M3 weighted knob is pleasurable and the light clutch didn’t irk me in traffic.

I wanted to keep the miles off the BMW and the 3rd gen manual T4R wasn’t as pleasant to drive in traffic, and I wanted full time AWD and better fuel economy so I bought a Subaru Outback 3.0R. Bad decision - I should have grabbed a ‘99-00 Limited instead. That Subaru’s real world city fuel economy is 15.5 mpg on premium fuel (Subaru claims 18) and its radiator is undersized for the 6 cylinder leading to cooling issues when driving over mountain passes in the summer.

And I didn’t realize how much I’d miss the toughness of a BOF truck.

Real world Subaru gas mileage stinks. I've never understood how Subarus have the green crowd endorsement. My 80s Civic hatch got over 40 mpg when empty and I could fit 4 people (no luggage, helmets only) and 4 MTBs on top (barely).

Although all of my current cars get bad gas mileage (my E150 motovan giving the 100-Series a challenge for worst, but also hauling 7-8 people), most of them are better than Subarus. I'd rather have a small diesel car than a Subaru - those truly get good MPG.

 

[aykalper]

My BMW and Yotas include...
-Me: E39 M5 Dinan S2 and a 3rd Gen 4R
-Wife: E92 335i, a 100 Series Cruiser and a 3rd Gen Taco (and a pre-BMW 1971 Mini coming over from England )

Welp, you definitely have me beat. I've got a '12 328i and an '00 4Runner.

I LOVE the E39, and the 335i. I'm trying to figure out a way to afford an F30 340i track pack.

 

[Scramble]

Yes, it takes more skill to wheel a manual.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

An auto is much nicer off-road, for sure.
That said, we've gotten 12"+ of snow in the last 24hrs, and the manual has been VERY nice for descending the slick hills without using the brakes.

 

[turbo8]

In for the BMW/3rd gen thread as well. Looks like there are a few of us.

I only compared because I had to drive both down I-405 in stop and go traffic. The short throw of the BMW shifter with the ZHP/M3 weighted knob is pleasurable and the light clutch didn’t irk me in traffic.

I wanted to keep the miles off the BMW and the 3rd gen manual T4R wasn’t as pleasant to drive in traffic, and I wanted full time AWD and better fuel economy so I bought a Subaru Outback 3.0R. Bad decision - I should have grabbed a ‘99-00 Limited instead. That Subaru’s real world city fuel economy is 15.5 mpg on premium fuel (Subaru claims 18) and its radiator is undersized for the 6 cylinder leading to cooling issues when driving over mountain passes in the summer.

And I didn’t realize how much I’d miss the toughness of a BOF truck.

I'm in for the bmw\3rd gen thread too.

02 E46 325i 5sd
04 e83 x3 3.0
Thinking about getting a 135i 6spd.

 

[JBurt]

I'm offended [MENTION=84643]JBurt[/MENTION] [emoji30]

Dammit you should be! Tyler that is awesome! My account isn't giving me notifications for all my subscribed theads, so every once in a while I have to go through and catch up on a lot. I've missed most of your 01, and I need to go and read through it. Thanks for giving me more homework.

And wake rider, if you need help with anything Tyler is a super cool and helpful dude.

 

[Mark_BC]

Auto is better for off roading. But for longer expeditions, or getting off the beaten path I much prefer the manual. Better gas mileage, less overheating concerns, way more reliable and if the manual tranny is gonna give up you usually have lots of warning and it would still likely be usable even if it has problems. The autos tend to go all at once and then you are FUBAR. Also you can push start a manual.

 

[sdwaltz]

OP, do you have room for a 2nd car? If you have the space, I would suggest you swing for a 2nd vehicle.

I almost pulled the trigger to get my 2001 Nissan Maxima converted over to 5MT, but eventually decided it was better to switch cars because I know I would not have time to chase down issues that crop up well after the conversion.

+1 for this suggestion, if it's doable.

See my signature as to why. Best of both worlds.

 

[GhostRing]

An auto is much nicer off-road, for sure.
That said, we've gotten 12"+ of snow in the last 24hrs, and the manual has been VERY nice for descending the slick hills without using the brakes.

I compression brake with my auto (my fist ever as well) all the time.
Just huck that f'er into 2nd (or 1st if speed allows)
not nearly as nice as a manual, but most people forget
you can in fact shift an auto.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

I compression brake with my auto (my fist ever as well) all the time.

Just huck that f'er into 2nd (or 1st if speed allows)

not nearly as nice as a manual, but most people forget

you can in fact shift an auto.

That's true, and I did that with my auto when I had it too. Just seems better in a manual [emoji23]
FWIW, I really do think the 3.4/A340 is a great combo.

 

[ThorInc]

Love my 5 speed period.

Drop in one of these with the MC shifter seats (make sure to watch the install vid at MC site):

https://www.urdusa.com/urd-short-throw-shifters/ minimal slop

Been using one^for 3 years without issue or go for the caddy and drop in the MC short shifter (almost zero slop).