After watching a 2007 Ferrari 599GTB with a 6-speed manual gearbox hammer for almost $700,000 at this year’s Amelia Island RM Sotheby’s auction, I had mixed feelings. Surely that was a princely sum for a relatively new Ferrari, but with only 20 produced with the manual gearbox for the US market, one has to think cars like these with three pedals will continue to increase in value in an era when the shift it your own option seems to be fading away. This 2011 BMW 550i with a 6-speed manual is part of that dying breed for sure, as you can no longer buy a new 550i in the US market with a manual gearbox. Sure, you can opt for the 6-speed manual in some lesser engined variants, but the combination of the lusty turbocharged V8 and joy of rowing your own through what is undoubtedly one of the smoothest gearchanges around certainly has its perks.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2011 BMW 550i on eBay
Year: 2011
Model: 550i
Engine: 4.4 liter turbocharged V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage: 26,580 mi
Price: $34,591 Buy It Now
CERTIFIED 2011 BMW 550i V8 Sport Package Sedan with a six speed manual transmission, GPS Navigation, Comfort Access, Sport Package, Sirius radio, iPOD connector, BlueTooth phone, BlueTooth audio, xenon headlamps, 19 inch sport wheels, shadowline exterior trim, fog lamps, headlamp squirters, front and rear park distance control, power glass moonroof, aluminum interior trim, dual power multi-contour spine contouring seats with memory, sport steering wheel, power tilt/telescoping steering column, power folding exterior mirrors, digital climate control, homelink transmitter and more.
One owner and Clean Carfax.
BMW factory bumper to bumper warranty and nationwide free maintenance program until 06-08-2015 or 50,000 miles.
This is certainly one of those cars that isn’t for everyone, as most people don’t want to deal with a manual gearbox in an eight cylinder luxury car these days. The color combination is not offensive but it does have shades of the 1990s. If you can get past all this, it certainly can give one an edge in terms of negotiation, as this is one of those cars that might hang around the lot for some time until the right buyer comes along. Will the 6-speed version of this car prove to be collectable over time? Possibly. For now, I’ll just sit back and raise my glass to this car, as it appears there is one more nail in the coffin of the manual gearbox.
-Paul
This would make a lovely replacement for my e28, 1987 BMW 535is. Like my 535is, it’s not quite an M5, yet it has it’s own unique appeal. A vehicle that is still exciting, yet a bit less complicated (in the e28’s case anyway), yet with nearly all the fun of an M5, coupled with lower insurance premiums, it’s a win win.