It took BMW approx Five years To bring the Z4 Manual to the US after its European launch. American buyers were finally able to get their hands on the six-speed starting early last year. But for BMW, the rejection may have been worth it; The manual Z4 outsold the automatic in the US in 2024 by a very large margin.
According to BMW, the manual Z4 accounted for 65 percent of all convertible sales in the U.S. last year. Granted, the brand only sold 2,129 total Z4 examples in 2024, but American buyers clearly prefer the six-speed. Nearly 1,400 Z4s have the “Handschater” option.
Although the Z4 is still selling in limited quantities, sales of the sports car actually improved in 2024 compared to the previous year. The Z4 is up 13.1 percent over 2023, with BMW selling just 1,883 examples by comparison.
BMW says the introduction of the manual transmission “certainly” contributed to increased Z4 sales. “The response has been wonderfully enthusiastic,” a company spokesman said. Engine1.
Interestingly, the Z4’s manual tow ratio was almost identical to its cousin, the Toyota Supra. Toyota said 65 percent of all Supras sold in the U.S. in 2024 were manual models — up from 43 percent the year before — with about 1,700 vehicles equipped with the six-speed paddle shifter.
Unfortunately — or fortunately, depending on who you ask — the only way to get a six-speed BMW Z4 in the U.S. is to opt for the M40i model. This version has a more powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine with 382 horsepower. The Z4’s base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces just 255 horsepower.
The Z4 M40i starts at $68,175 for the 2025 model year before Add the Edition Handschalter package, which includes the manual and some features for an additional $3,500. So, if you really want a manual Z4 for 2025, you’ll have to pay at least $71,675. We say it’s worth it.
BMW has had success with the manual elsewhere in its lineup, with nearly 50 percent of all M2 customers opting for the six-speed since 2022. The M3 and M4 haven’t had the same success in 2024, with just 20 percent of shoppers opting for it. The manual is on the M3, and only 15 percent of shoppers choose the six-speed over the M4.
Chris Perkins contributed to this report.