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BMW 5-Series Tourer - MAnual or Auto?

K

karl.greenfield

I'm on the verge of purchasing a BMW 5-series to tow a Swift Charisma 540, which my current Passat Sport tows admirably. However I'm torn between manual and automatic gearbox.

Are there any advantages of either i.e. I'm more likely to burn out the clutch reversing uphill into my storage position!
 
I'd suggest an automatic would be my first choice, but there's a few other questions to ask:

New or pre-owned?

Will the car have the current six speed boxes? (next year sees new BMW 6 cylinder diesel engines and a Mercedes like 7 speed automatic gearbox)

Petrol or diesel?

Engine size - are you looking at the 520d or 535d - or somewhere in the middle?

An automatic 535d would make a really fine tow-car, but I'd have slightly different thoughts about a 523 petrol auto...

Robert
 
I have towed with both auto and manual and would be very reluctant to go back to a manual car. Modern auto boxes give a manual facility and with the ratios ( 5 speed and upwards) rarely seem to be phased. The big advantage that I find is not having to bother about clutch wear and the ease when in traffic or in stop go conditions during hold ups etc. The extra cost of the fuel is well worth it. I would go for the diesel auto rather than petrol given the better towing characteristics. A neighbour of mine has recently swopped a diesel C5 for a petrol C5 and the latter's auto box struggled with a 1400kg van ( not fully laden) such that he has just bought a lighter van, yet the car's rating was 1500kg tow weight..

Cheers

Other Clive
 
Definately Diesel Auto.

I've driven autos for 10+ years now and would not go back to a manual.

You might want to search through this forum , I think there's been a question about 5 series already asked. Someone mentioned about the 'M' varients and to avoid as they sit slightly lower.
 
Son has the 3 litre X3 that only comes with 6 speed Auto. It has Sport auto and manual option, if you slow down in manual and don't change down it selects the correct gear like most others, he's VERY pleased with its towing ability. It's mainly used as a road car and he admits that the twin turbo is overkill and not really needed for towing.

Would only ever go for diesel auto myself for towing, I have a Merc GL and BMW auto road car.
 
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