Rare 2015 BMW M5 Competition with manual transmission up for auction

A manual gearbox combined with the competition package makes it exceptionally rare.

The BMW M5 was the last bastion of German high-performance executive sedans to offer a manual transmission, and this 2015 M5, available for auction on Bring a Trailer, is a relic from the twilight of the stick shift era. What sets it apart even further is its combination of a manual gearbox and the coveted Competition package, a distinction shared by just 118 units.

In the M5, the six-speed manual replaced the standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and introduced a rev-matching function. The Competition package, a $7500 option, elevated the output of the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 from 560 to 575 horsepower. Additionally, it featured a revised suspension with a 0.4-inch lower ride height, 20-inch wheels, an M Dynamic drive mode, and distinctive black-chrome exhaust outlets. Like all M5s, it offered a plethora of settings for the suspension, steering, throttle response, and more, with the convenience of saving and accessing two preferred combinations via the M1 and M2 buttons on the steering wheel.

Car and Driver testing of the non-Competition M5 found that the manual version was 0.3 seconds slower from 0 to 60 mph compared to the automatic variant, but with a 4.0-second sprint, it remains undeniably quick.

What adds to the allure of this particular M5 is its distinctive Sakhir Orange Merino leather interior, a likely rare specification that beautifully contrasts the Singapore Gray Metallic exterior. Furthermore, this M5 was equipped with the Executive Package, adding a head-up display, soft-close doors, four-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel, among other luxury amenities.

Having accumulated just 25,000 miles on the odometer, this vehicle represents one of the closest opportunities to owning a new BMW M5 with a manual transmission. With BMW discontinuing manual transmissions, such opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce.

The auction for this remarkable BMW M5 Competition with a manual gearbox concludes on October 27.