There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with the BMW Z4. When we last got behind the wheel, we liked the way it drove and found the interior significantly nicer than its platform-mate, the Toyota Supra. And unless you really want a convertible, now that the Supra can be ordered with a manual transmission, it’s been hard for BMW to get enthusiasts interested in the Z4. That all changes for 2024, though, as the Z4 will no longer only be offered in the U.S. with an automatic transmission.
It’s a little surprising that BMW has taken this long to give Z4 buyers in the U.S. the option of a manual transmission, when it’s had one in Europe for years, and you can get one in the Supra. Still, better late than never, we guess. It will be offered as part of a driver-focused package that Car and Driver reports will cost about $3,500.
Available only on the Z4 M40i, the manual transmission will also come with improved steering feel and a sportier suspension, as well as stiffer anti-roll bars and staggered tires. Even better, BMW reportedly plans to build as many of them as people want, so you won’t have to get on an exclusive list to get one. Oh, and while it’s the same transmission as the one you’ll find in the Supra, it gets BMW-tuned linkage and bushings.
Sadly, our invitation to drive the prototype appears to have been lost in the mail, but based on early reviews from those who did get to drive it, the manual Z4 is going to be very good. For example, MotorTrend said:
The shifter itself is a big step up from the same mechanical ZF unit found in the Toyota Supra. Indeed, BMW says the Z4 manual’s shift linkage is physically different than the Supra’s, and it sure feels that way. The shifts are crisper, more mechanical, less rubbery, more satisfying. You know what else? The Z4’s transmission feels better than the M2’s six-speed. Same for the row-your-own M3. Along with the other changes BMW implemented, the sporty factor has increased noticeably. As athletic as a Porsche Boxster? No, but name a competitor’s car that is. The 2024 BMW Z4 is in a much better place performance-wise than it was. That’s a good thing.
BMWBlog agreed, saying:
Let me start with this: The revised six-speed manual in the 2024 BMW Z4 M40i is fantastic! The shorter shifter is great, the shifting is quicker and more precise (think Porsche transmissions), and going from first to second is extremely smooth. The third gear is still quite long allowing you to take the Z4 to high speeds before having to shift. Couple this revised six-speed manual with the equally fantastic B58 six-cylinder and you have a winner on your hands. The rev matching works brilliantly as well, but of course, you can turn it off if you’d like.
So yeah, it sounds like you’re going to actually want to drive the manual Z4. We know we sure do. Who would have had that on their bingo card for 2024?