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The inevitable move -- the first time in its 35-year history here without a self-shifter -- comes as demand for new three pedal cars falls to zero, according to BMW Australia.
"There is absolutely no demand, we sell no manuals at all," spokesman Piers Scott says. "A manual could be had via special order but it won't appear on the price list."
The all-auto, all turbo-charged South African-built line-up reaches local showrooms in February with pricing likely to be slightly higher than the outgoing range, but with appreciably more standard kit.
The diesel 320d is the entry level car until the arrival of the 320i about six months later. This uses a detained version of the new N20 2.0-litre turbo petrol four, seen to full effect in the 328i, which makes obsolete the long-serving 2.5 inline six.
Three main packages - Modern, Luxury and Sport - are offered. Standard fixtures include the first eight-speed automatic in the class, stop start, Driving Experience Control with eco mode' which is claimed to reduce fuel consumption by some 20 per cent. The packaging resembles those of Mercedes-Benz's Prestige and Avatgarde.
"We're building in a lot more value, like the 1 Series," Scott says. "We're preparing for Sport to have the greatest demand, though the Modern is probably the newest departure. It has some new and interesting trim levels."
The entry 320i, which does not arrive until mid-2012 at the earliest, competes the four model lineup. Apart wagons, which arrive early in 2013, BMW is not seeking niche models such as the six cylinder diesel 330d.
A hybrid is out of the picture, with no plans to build in right hand drive. Even then, Scott says, it will hardly be an "enormous seller". The current M3, certain to be last non-turbo model, survives until 2014 when it's replacement is due. The widely reported assertion that the next generation of 3 Series derived coupes and convertibles will be labelled 4 Series is by no means confirmed, although Scott says "yes, there are some unused numbers in our line-up".
