BMW has made a significant change with the 2025 Z4 M40i by introducing a manual gearbox option. The six-speed manual transmission will become available globally in March 2024, including for North American customers. The manual option, part of the “Handschalter” package, comes with special features such as different suspension settings, wheels, paint colors, and interior trims. This move comes five years after the launch of the G29 Z4 and two years after its Toyota Supra cousin. The manual gearbox is slower to accelerate than the 8-speed automatic, but enthusiasts are expected to appreciate the experience. While the manual option adds $3,500 to the price tag, it will only be available on the six-cylinder M40i model. The entry-level Z4 sDrive30i will remain exclusive to North America.
As part of the “Handschalter” package, the manual transmission will be a $3,500 option, but it also adds special chassis controls, steering wheels, and automatic models.
