I know we are going to get the 335d in the US this fall, but i also know that its currently only available in Europe with an auto and heard rumors of more of the same when it gets here. does anyone have any info on a manual in the works or at least the twin clutch set up?! Come on BMW!!!!

Everything that I have read states that the 335d produces to much torque for a manual and will only be available with an automatic.

thats rediculous, this thing is powerful, but its not the most powerful thing out there at all, 400 is alot of torque, but come on bmw.

How can an M5 have a manual then? I know because it does not come at one lump sum like a diesel, whatever there is no reason to not have a manual.

I'm pretty sure it is mainly due to sales numbers: big diesels are bought mostly with auto. Also, I suspect that the M5 manual or any other suitable one doesn't fit straight into the 3-series so it would have been costly to offer a manual 335i just for such small numbers of people who necessarily want it as a manual.

Remember that nothing else in the BMW lineup has such hich torque at such low revs (the biggest challenge to gearboxes) and is a manual. Therefore it could be that they just didn't have anything suitable for the engine, in a way their gearbox torque ratings just didn't keep up with modern engines. The only exception is the US-only M5 manual, but that is such a special case in itself that I'm not surprised if it wouldn't fit the 3-series or that it would be too expensive to use in it.

I've driven the 535d and I have to say that is one HELL of a diesel! The main point is not the power, torque or anything other than the amazing CHARACTERISTICS! It breathes so easily, revs pretty high, and no lag: almost like an old low-revving gas-powered six! Even the sound is pretty sweet.

I know we are going to get the 335d in the US this fall, but i also know that its currently only available in Europe with an auto and heard rumors of more of the same when it gets here. does anyone have any info on a manual in the works or at least the twin clutch set up?! Come on BMW!!!!
I have a twin clutch set up in my DSG transmission v.w.diesel, pretty nice.
I drove the 335i with the auto,nicer, as fast or faster shifts, less drivability issues, less reliability issues,less cost to repair/replace then a twin clutch set up,
I will never buy another manual with these really neat tec trick automatics available today.

Have you seen the torque curve for the twin turbo diesel ? Take a look at e60.net . The torque is huge and comes on at low (1200 ?) rpm, but goes away at ~4000 rpm. So you gotta keep the revs in the power band to really get the most out of the car. A manual is the only way to go for an engine like this. An automatic will ruin this car.

Have you seen the torque curve for the twin turbo diesel ? Take a look at e60.net . The torque is huge and comes on at low (1200 ?) rpm, but goes away at ~4000 rpm. So you gotta keep the revs in the power band to really get the most out of the car. A manual is the only way to go for an engine like this. An automatic will ruin this car.
Doesn't a diesel usually top out around 4500 RPM anyway! :confused

Have you seen the torque curve for the twin turbo diesel ? Take a look at e60.net . The torque is huge and comes on at low (1200 ?) rpm, but goes away at ~4000 rpm. So you gotta keep the revs in the power band to really get the most out of the car. A manual is the only way to go for an engine like this. An automatic will ruin this car.
Totaly disagree.

I disagree too, even though I still would always want a manual for other reasons. The TT3.0 diesel doesn't choke at high revs as bad as other diesels because of the sequential charging. It revs to about 5000rpm, I don't remember if the red line was even further. That's high for a diesel and it actually felt like an old low-revving gasoline engine, that's how good it was.

Don' forget that at higher revs even though the torque goes down you're still getting good power, peak power is at 4400rpm.

Doesn't a diesel usually top out around 4500 RPM anyway! :confused

Usually yes, but the best thing about this engine is not the impressive power but the way it revs and breathes nicely up to pretty high revs.

Because it isn't a single turbo with pretty high pressure and focus on low revs like diesels usually do, the turbo doesn't restrict airflow at high rpms as normally happens. This is thanks to the bigger top-end turbocharger which provides enough oomph all the way to the 5000rpm area.