BMW Didn't Receive "Save The Manuals" Christmas Card for MY2016, Retaliates [UPDATE]

Mark Stevenson
by Mark Stevenson

UPDATE: According to commenter krhodes1 and Facebook commenter Michael Smith, the 228i manual (order code 162A) is still available and there is a bug in the configurator. Which reminds me, you should like The Truth About Cars on Facebook.

Jalopnik is reporting that a number of BMW models — namely the 228i, 328i, and 428i — have lost their manual options for 2016. BMW’s online configurator for the 2016 model year shows the cars as automatic-only options, effectively making the manual transmission a premium option by forcing manual-loving customers into higher trims.

Does this mean the end of the manual transmission as we know it? Probably not. (Yet.)

The models relieved of their manual transmission options represent the base models in their respective ranges, with the exception of the 320i. The base model 3-Series will still be available with a manual gearbox. Aside from the 320i, the 235i, 340i, and 435i are the new entry models for the row-your-own set.

This should come as no surprise considering more and more BMW customers are opting for the automatic, even those who purchase M cars such as the M3 and M4.

What is surprising is that these models have already been engineered and tested with manual transmissions and BMW is opting not to offer them even though the costs have already been incurred. Automakers typically wait for a generational change before dropping stick shift options, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with BMW.

Mark Stevenson
Mark Stevenson

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  • See 7 up See 7 up on Aug 30, 2015

    And all this time, journos have been telling me the 328i MT is the enthusiast real gem. Now your saying only the "performance" variants are available in stick. I'll never understand this country's lack of MT preference. I here all the excuses, and I really think its because most people just can't do it well. But its blamed on traffic, spouses, kids, dogs...you name it.

  • Minidriver1 Minidriver1 on Aug 30, 2015

    I prefer manual transmissions for a lot of reasons, but I have one really important one. I keep my cars until they are a small pile of dust. Currently driving an 03 Mini Cooper S with 200k miles so far. Most of the time, I am driving out in the country where other people are few and far between. The couple of times I've had the battery pancake on the car, I can still push-start it to get to someplace that I can get a replacement. These days, the battery on a car works 100% until it suddenly doesn't. It's not like the old days where you get some warning with the lights being dimmer than usual, or the starter not running as fast as usual. Last time I had an automatic car with a dead battery where I was working, I had to wait 6 hours to get a ride back to get another battery (after waiting 6 hours for a tow truck that never arrived.)

  • Ryoku75 Ryoku75 on Aug 30, 2015

    I think we all need to remember this is Jalopnik, I wouldn't trust them for my car news.

  • Kyree Kyree on Aug 30, 2015

    I'm not all that upset. I'm pretty disinclined to buy any BMW that doesn't have a straight-six or V8...and even then, there are few that I'd get with a manual. I'm pretty indifferent about manuals. 335i manual? Sure. 328i manual? Nah...

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