There are a surprising amount of 2-seat convertible sports cars out on the market. From the little Mazda MX-5 to the Mercedes SL to this BMW Z4. For 2025, the Z4 gains something that us auto enthusiasts cherish above anything else. A 6-speed manual transmission.
Performance
Engine – Before we talk about the transmission, let’s talk about the amazing engine that’s under the hood of the 2025 BMW Z4 M40i. It is the B58 3.0L turbocharged inline-6. In this Z4 M40i, it produces 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque (285 kW & 500 Nm). The Z4 is not a lightweight convertible at 1,586 kg (3,498 lbs), but it’ll still complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.4 seconds according to BMW. This of course also depends on how quickly you can change gears.
This engine is a masterpiece of engineering. It has power at every point in the rpm band. You can be in 6th gear at roughly 1,000 rpms and gently rolling on the throttle will awaken the engine. On top of that, this engine produces some nice exhaust sounds and it is very smooth as almost all inline-6 engines are inherently balanced.
Fuel Economy – With the switch to a manual transmission, the 2025 BMW Z4 M40i is not as efficient as the automatic version. It is rated for 12.6 L/100km (18.6 MPG) in a city and 8.9 L/100km (26.4 MPG) on a highway. By comparison, the 8-speed auto version is rated for 10.4 L/100km (22.6 MPG) in a city and 8 L/100km (29.4 MPG) on a highway. With this demo car, I averaged 10.4 L/100km (22.6 MPG).
The engine does have auto start/stop which is enabled when the transmission is in neutral and the clutch pedal is not depressed. In Sport mode, this function is automatically disabled and there’s an on/off switch for this function on the center console for quick access.
Transmission – After the success of the Toyota Supra gaining a 6-speed manual, BMW offered the same transmission on this Z4. It comes from ZF and it feels about the same as the one in the Supra. Perhaps the shifter in this one does not have quite the same “tight” feeling but it is very close. There’s a bit of force required to initially get it into the next gear but half way through the push, it slots right in like a spring-loaded ball bearing. The shifter weight is perfect and in the week that I drove the car, I never once mis-shifted. The clutch actuation is just as good. The pedal has a bit of a long travel but the bite point is distinct with it being about ⅓ of the way up from the bottom. The pedal is not too heavy but not too light.
This transmission also has an active rev-match feature. When downshifting, the engine is automatically revved (blipped) to match the rpms of the lower selected gear. This feature is flawless with the computer knowing exactly how much to rev the engine by whether you’re downshifting by one gear or by two or three.
Braking – When it comes to slowing down, the BMW Z4 M40i has M-Sport 4-piston fixed calipers on the front axle that provide the majority of braking force. These brakes provide a tremendous amount of force yet the brake pedal does not feel overly sensitive. It’s easy to modulate it for smooth stops when driving on city streets. But it always feels firm when you’re driving on a twisting and winding road.
Handling – The BMW Z4 doesn’t have quite the same sprite in its step as the Toyota Supra, which shares the same chassis. The Z4 has a calmer driving demeanor. The steering isn’t quite as quick which makes the car feel a bit less nervous than the Supra. By no means is it a boring convertible to drive, just don’t expect the same level of athleticism from this Z4 as the Supra. Having said that, I think it’s fine because this car is not about outright performance around a race track. It’s more about enjoying the drive on a twisting mountain road and this Z4 M40i delivers that feeling.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The ride of the 2025 BMW Z4 is firm but not uncomfortable. BMW has managed to find a good sweet spot with their M-performance cars as the ride quality is acceptable on city streets but without compromising driving fun. That said, you’ll want to swerve around bigger potholes as the tires are low profile.
Interior Space – The Z4 has a spacious cabin for 2 adults. At 6’4”, I had plenty of space for my long legs. Headroom is great, with the roof down, but also with the roof up. I can even wear a crash helmet while on a racetrack and the top of the helmet would not hit the roof.
In between the seats, there is a small storage cubby akin to the one you’d find in the Mazda MX-5. But unlike the MX-5, the back side of the one in the Z4 can be opened and be used as a pass through into the trunk. Why? I’m not sure. Speaking of which, the trunk has 281 L (9.9 cu-ft) of cargo space and the roof does not take up any of it when it’s in the down position.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The 3.0L engine sounds great. In Sport mode, the active exhaust opens up and lets the engine howl when accelerating and burble when lifting your foot off the throttle pedal. It’s not too loud but just loud enough. With the top up, tire noise is very prevalent inside the cabin. Wind noise is not too bad and when driving over uneven surfaces, you can hear the roof creaking a bit as it twists. With the top down, wind buffeting is not too bad if you have the windows rolled up and the wind deflector between the seats put up. With the windows down and wind deflector removed, wind buffeting is worse.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2025 BMW Z4 M40i starts at $85,900 CAD ($67,150 USD) with this demo vehicle having an as-tested price of $99,200 CAD ($75,550 USD). In Canada, the manual transmission is a $0 option while in the United States, it’s a $3,500 USD option as part of the Handschalter Package.
Gadgets – The BMW Z4 doesn’t get quite all of the latest gadgets that other BMW vehicles are equipped with. For example, the infotainment system is iDrive 7. This infotainment system is two generations old now but it still functions perfectly well. It’s displayed on a 10.3” touchscreen and although it’s an older system, it supports wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto connectivity.
As for convenience gadgets, the 2025 Z4 has heated seats and a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate controls, a backup camera, parking sensors, a head-up display, and a wireless phone charging pad. In my opinion the only convenience feature that would be a nice add-on would be ventilated seats for those hot summer days.
As for the soft top, it can be raised or lowered in about 10 seconds and up to a speed of 40 km/h. It’s just one button to operate it and it does not require any fiddling on the top of the windshield to unlatch the top. It’s all done automatically.
Interior Design – The 2025 BMW Z4 M40i has a familiar interior. Almost all functions of the car, from the climate controls to the drive modes, are controlled via physical buttons or toggle switches. They are not integrated into the infotainment touchscreen like other current BMW models. This is a good thing because it makes using the different functions less distracting while driving. Additionally, it does not require digging through menus and sub-menus in the infotainment to change one function of the car. Buttons are simple and they work. Bring back buttons!
As for the rest of the interior, most of the materials are soft plastics and leather but sadly, gloss black plastic is all over the center console. This demo car had about 10,000 km on the odometer and the gloss black plastic looked awful with scratches, dust, fingerprints, and who knows what else on it. Thankfully, there are two other trims to choose from that will last the test of time much better than the gloss black plastic.
Finally, the cup holders are a typical convertible afterthought. They are situated in the center arm rest. The lid is split into two so that one must remain open when using the cup holders while the other (driver’s side) can remain closed for driver’s comfort. But regardless, the cup holders are still in the way of your elbow when shifting into 2nd, 4th, or 6th.
Exterior Styling – The 2025 BMW Z4 M40i is one of the prettiest convertibles on sale today. It has a curvaceous body with just the right amount of sharp lines. The kidney grille is wider than it is taller, not unlike the BMW iX. And the overall stance of the car makes it look low to the ground without actually being so low that the chin spoiler will hit every speed bump. This is a head turning design that really turned a lot of heads as I drove it on city streets.
Safety – In Canada, the 2025 BMW Z4 M40i comes equipped with every safety & driver aid that is available on this convertible. In the United States, certain features such as active blind spot detection and lane keeping assistant among others, are part of the Driving Assistant package for $700 USD.
Warranty – The warranty remains the same as other BMW vehicles. The Z4 is covered by an 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty in Canada. In the United States, it’s 4 years or 50,000 miles. For more information on Canadian BMW warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – While the addition of the 6-speed manual transmission doesn’t make the Z4 M40i faster, in fact slower than the automatic transmission, it makes the Z4 a more enjoyable car to drive. The feeling of being in complete control and having the wind in your hair on a summer day is something that few modern day sports cars can’t replicate. But this Z4 makes driving more engaging and enjoyable when you’re out on a drive with your significant other on a back country road.
Thank you to BMW Canada for providing the vehicle. www.BMW.ca
2025 BMW Z4 M40i Gallery
