Any word on a manual transmission in the US?

Any word on getting a manual X1 in the US? Thinking I'd like to upgrade my 2006 X3, but I don't drive automatic. Any word?

Thanks!
James
San Francisco, CA
2006 X3 3.0i (manual, m-sport, premium, xenons, pdc)

Not going to happen. BMW just simply refuses to sell a SUV with 3 pedals in the US.

Oh well. I'll hold out for a limited edition M version or something, but it's a low probability. Looks like my next car will be a VW GTI. Love my manual German hatchbacks! The ground clearance is optional.

-James

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Not going to happen. BMW just simply refuses to sell a SUV with 3 pedals in the US.

It isn't that they refuse to sell them. The take rate is so low on manual transmission that it doesn't make sense to produce them. They will make anything that sells, sadly manuals do not sell in quantity to justify the cost of making them.

Tim

Originally Posted by tim330i

It isn't that they refuse to sell them. The take rate is so low on manual transmission that it doesn't make sense to produce them. They will make anything that sells, sadly manuals do not sell in quantity to justify the cost of making them.

Tim

I am pretty sure it will be more than 5 Series GT sold.

HA! No argument there.

Tim

Originally Posted by tim330i

HA! No argument there.

Tim

But it does not stop BMW from planning to bring 3 Series GT to US.

I see no logic.

I'm not sure I think the 3 GT will come to the states based on how badly the 5 GT did.

Tim

I hear you. I understand the economics. Just not sure I understand the marketing. Other than the Mini Countryman, is there any manual SUV in The States? Seems like this would absorb all of the demand for that niche into one vehicle and therefore make it profitable. Or maybe the take rate really is *that* low.

People in BMW have told us (Bimmerfest) to show them the interest level and they will build them. I think the problem is that we're an enthusiast community so it seems like *everyone* wants a manual SUV but when you start counting up the numbers of people really in the market, who wouldn't have to compromise with a significant other, commuting, etc. the number drops quickly. We have a few ideas in the works to try and show BMW that there is interest but I wonder where the true number will shake out.

Tim

I'd buy a manual x1 m ... it would likely be my first new bmw :-D

Please forgive any grammatical errors, sent from mobile

I wanted to buy X1 as well, but it was not available with MT.
So I've got Countryman instead.

Originally Posted by tim330i

People in BMW have told us (Bimmerfest) to show them the interest level and they will build them. I think the problem is that we're an enthusiast community so it seems like *everyone* wants a manual SUV but when you start counting up the numbers of people really in the market, who wouldn't have to compromise with a significant other, commuting, etc. the number drops quickly. We have a few ideas in the works to try and show BMW that there is interest but I wonder where the true number will shake out.

Tim

Funny, i was pretty much giving away my X3 at the price I posted for mine and got two wishy washy e mails and that was it. Of course I got them on the day that I was going to pick up my new ride and was not going to change things.

Really wanted mine to go to someone that appreciated a MT X3. You figure it was in near mint condition. Had lots of nice add ons, was outfitted well, under 75k miles and was asking $17,5k. Keep looking for it to pop up on the road somewhere and ask what they paid for it.

Darn, I was looking for MT X3...did not know you were selling yours.

The base Porsche Cayenne can be ordered with a MT.