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It’s certainly great to see some auto manufacturers making a concerted effort to bring back – or at least hold onto – the manual transmission. Companies like BMW built their entire sporting image on cars fitted with engaging manual gearboxes, but advancing technology and the need for segment-beating acceleration figures have pushed the stick shift to the sidelines.

Buyers of new sports cars usually want the latest tech and convenience features. A modern automatic transmission tends to deliver quicker acceleration than a manual, and it’s more convenient to use in traffic. The second and third owners prefer to focus more on the driving experience, and may have other cars to deal with daily driving duties.

This is what makes second-hand manual sports cars so much more desirable than their automatic counterparts, but with the apparent demise of the internal combustion engine on the horizon, even new buyers are starting to look for manual transmission cars, and BMW has just the car for them: the Z4 M40i Handschalter.

The BMW Z4 M40i Handschalter Package

While the mere fact that the BMW Z4 M40i Handschalter exists is great news, it is also a sign of the times that it has to have its own special name to separate it from the rest of the Z4 range. Opting for this trim costs an additional $3,500, which is somewhat strange as historically, automatic transmissions were the ones that came at a premium, although in this case the changes amount to more than just a transmission swap.

The manual shifter’s linkages have been specifically tailored to suit the Z4, and the diff, steering, and suspension have also been tweaked to better suit the Handschalter version. As part of the $3,500 outlay, you also get staggered 19″ and 20″ wheels, extended shadowline trim, and San Remo Green metallic paint.

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However, BMW has justified the existence of this unique model; it is a breath of fresh air in a world populated by oversized SUVs and over-teched sports cars that prioritize spec levels and 0-60 mph times over all else. That’s not to say the manual-shifting Z4 M40i isn’t quick; its performance figures compare very well with the latest crop of full-fat M cars, and it’s just 0.3 seconds slower than the eight-speed automatic Z4 M40i.

While the ZF automatic transmission is great around town and offers seamless shifts even when pressing on, the six-speed manual allows you to engage with that sonorous B58 inline-six on your terms, hanging onto gears in the corners, or short shifting along a long stretch of road without an electronic override deciding things for you. For another layer of involvement, you can practice your heel-and-toe skills along a twisty road and rev-match your downshifts.

Are There Any Other Manual BMWs Left?

While BMW has made a big deal about the Handschalter package, there are a few other new BMWs that still offer a stick shifter as standard. Both the current M3 and M4 Coupe can be had with a six-speed manual in base trim. This means they get a slightly detuned version of the S58B30T0 power unit, making 30–50 less horsepower than the Competition and Competition xDrive versions respectively. The 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds is also well off the pace of the automatic variants, but these cars are still extremely rapid.

If the lack of a convertible top is not a deal breaker, then the BMW M2 manual is arguably the pick of the current crop of M cars. It undercuts the Z4 M40i Handschalter by $2,450 yet has a full M-spec engine (with 20 hp more for 2025) as well as an M-diff and a far more capable chassis. It is only slightly quicker off the mark than the Z4 M40i, but its additional power and torque give it better acceleration out of corners and at higher speeds.

BMW Z4 M40i Alternatives

If you are after that manual shifting experience, but can’t quite stretch to the Z4 M40i’s lofty asking price, there are a handful of driver-focused cars that can be had for far less.

Mazda MX-5

The Mazda MX-5 has been dominating the affordable roadster market for decades, and even though the current ND generation is now in its 10th year, if you want a well-priced manual shifting sports car with a convertible top, the MX-5 has all the answers. With just 181 hp on tap you will need to make the most of the slick shifter to extract every last bit of power, but the MX-5 weighs less than the mobile phone you are reading this on, and it always feels eager and nippy. Just make sure you pick the Club trim, which includes a limited-slip diff.

Toyota GR86

The Toyota GR86 is another superbly focused driver’s car that even has a pair of tiny rear seats for a modicum of extra practicality. At $30,000 for the base trim (which includes an LSD), this is the most affordable way to get a pure manual driving experience. The 2.4-liter boxer motor is now torquey enough at low speeds, while offering a bit more top end than the outgoing model. It is quick enough to make the most of its fine chassis, and while it won’t touch a Z4 M40i for outright speed, it is less than half the price.

Toyota Supra GR

The Supra GR may have a Toyota badge, but it was developed off the Z4’s platform. That’s no bad thing, as the GR86 was a joint Toyota/Subaru venture, and it’s a great car regardless of where its underpinnings were sourced from. In the case of the Supra, Toyota fettled with the suspension settings and styling, but in essence, it is a hardtop Z4. The B58 engine produces the same power and torque as in the Z4, and you can have a manual shifter as standard. All for a handy saving over the Beemer. It’s not quite as luxurious inside, but if you want BMW six-cylinder power and a stick shift, this is the most cost-effective way to go about it. Toyota’s quoted 0-60mph time is quite likely for the automatic version, but independent tests have shown the manual to be just as quick.

Porsche 718 Boxster

The 718 Boxster is another car that has been around for close on a decade, yet it still sets the standard for driving precision and handling in its class. You do pay the Porsche premium for the Boxster, and instead of a six-cylinder, you get a flat-four, which is not particularly quick and sounds like a kitchen appliance when pushed. However, there is nothing else here that drives as well. But for the $74,900 base price, it is a hard sell.

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Pricey, But Worth It

The BMW Z4 M40i Handschalter is a sign that BMW is trying its best to cater to a niche group of enthusiasts in its very broad target audience. The lengths it has gone to for a simple manual transmission (which the Supra already had) are very Germanic, and by extension, pricey. Viewed in isolation, the Z4 M40i manual is a superb driver’s car, but alternatives like the BMW M2 and Toyota Supra GR Manual both make more financial sense if you aren’t insistent on a convertible.

The Z4 M40i is still a great drive and is quite likely to become a highly sought-after model. In many ways, it reminds us of the first-generation Z4 M Roadster, a car which offered an even more raw driving experience, and which is now considered a modern classic. The Z4 M40i Handschalter may well follow in its footsteps in the years to come.

Sources: BMW, Mazda, Porsche, Toyota