Are 5spd Manual cars worth less?

[bfd]

According to Intellichoice, my 1990 535i, 5 speed manual trans, 98K, is worth anywhere from $370-500 LESS?!@#$

If only 5% or so of all E34 535i only came with 5 speed manual transmissions, why are they worth less?

[Paul in NZ]

they arent,but like any sale they are only worth what the buyer is willing to pay,and MOST people want an auto.If you have someone who is looking for a amnual you are likely to be able to get a bit more,esp if your car is in really good condition too

[Dan in NZ]

I would think that 5-speed's would be more expensive, in our old cars, due to the short supply and now that E34's are more of an enthusiasts car than a "sensible" car just to get from A-B. When new, sure a manual would be worth less, but the market is completely different when you compare new 5-series buyers to us 10-15 year old used car buyers. Those price estimate calculators don't take these things into account.

[winfred]

to the average joe a auto is worth more due the pussifacation of the drivers in the us, that said some people wouldn't wipe their ass with a automatic and will drive sticks till they die, theres just more new car buyers that want a slushbox

[Mitch90535im]

I wouldn't wipe my ass with an automatic and will drive a stick until I die. (or until the gout gets so bad I can't depress the clutch)

[tim s]

but that is only becuase i could not find an affordable 540i/6 manual.
our other car is a 325e 5 speed. my wife hates the auto, but i need the pull back in the seat feeling i get from the 540i/a. she chose the 325e as her daily driver due to the 540i having the auto.
tim s.

[winfred]

i am in the process of converting a 93 325i to a 5 speed (while i am replacing the melted engine, coolent?!, what coolent?)

[rph]

I did some research on this last year when I was having a fight with my insurance company afterI totaling my 535. I looked through all the classifieds of the BMW Car Club of America "Roundel", from December 2002 through November 2003 for E34s. There were 10 automatics and 19 5 speeds advertised during that time. The mean asking price for automatics was $8645; the mean asking price for manuals was $11,689. Remember these are asking prices. Also this population is not representative of the general hoi poloi. I will attach the spreadsheet as a pdf file (it has mileage data by month and info about a few outliers).

According to Intellichoice, my 1990 535i, 5 speed manual trans, 98K, is worth anywhere from $370-500 LESS?!@#$

If only 5% or so of all E34 535i only came with 5 speed manual transmissions, why are they worth less?

[DueyT]

but that is only becuase i could not find an affordable 540i/6 manual.
our other car is a 325e 5 speed. my wife hates the auto, but i need the pull back in the seat feeling i get from the 540i/a. she chose the 325e as her daily driver due to the 540i having the auto.
tim s.

Tim, "...pull back in the seat feeling..."? Que est?

Buddy, you should see 2nd gear in a 540 6-shooter..BMW and Getrag got it right with the M60B40 and S6S-420G. 1st gear is just insane...very deep, spins 255/40-17's like they were standing on teflon, but second gear is what'll give you 5.8-5.9s 0-60 (with Mark's E.A.T. chip).

Cheers,
Duey

[tim s]

the 760li does 0-60 in 5.4sec. & i still can not afford one of those either.
life goes on.
tim s.