Before ordering my 2015 228i M-sport I drove two BMW loaner cars, 320i 6MT and 328i 8-sp auto. I had 328i auto for a week while and 320i for 2 days.
There was no comparison for me, the 6MT was much more fun to drive even with the weaker engine.
My previous two cars had auto transmissions and really didn't know what to do with my left leg while driving