Yahoo Autos This Ten-Year-Old BMW M5 Proves Why You Should Always Pick the Manual
Modern automatic gearboxes will always costs more to maintain in the long run than a simple six-speed stick. Think automated clutches and oil pumps failing here and there. This is especially true when it comes to SMGs, Getrag's robotized manuals famous for not shifting once their pump gave out in BMW's M cars.
Luckily, BMW North America's loyal customer base demanded that the 500 horsepower E60 M5 be available with a manual as well in 2007, while people in Europe and Asia had to make due with the faster, but less involving automatic. Despite all those manual demanders, BMW didn't sell very many E60 M5s with a stick-shift, as most Americans (and Canadians) went for the latest and greatest automatic BMW could offer. But that doesn't mean you can't find one of these V10 monsters with three pedals for a reasonable price ten years later.
Many will tell you that a bit of oil consumption will be the least of your worries-these high-revving S85 engines are known to frequently eat their rod bearings "in less than 60,000 miles," but then how about this 123,000 mile example that will still scream your face off at 8200 rpm? Not many new four-doors can offer the visceral thrill of this decade-old BMW, especially above 4000 rpm.
