BMW sends off the M3 with a six-speed manual, and it’s exactly what enthusiasts want

The BMW M3 turns 40 this year, and unlike me, it’s still fast in middle age!

But seriously, for four decades we’ve been the car that every talented engineer and ambitious product developer at every rival company quietly wishes they could build. Cadillac compared it during the development of the ATS-V. Alfa Romeo compared it during the development of the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The Ford Mustang even took on the M3 when the 5.0-liter debuted for the 2011 model year.

For 40 years, the M3 has been the champion that everyone wants to enter the ring with.

Now BMW is closing the book on the sixth generation of this car, and the way they’re doing it says a lot about what the M3 means to the people who build it, buy it, and drive it.

The 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter is a limited-edition rear-wheel-drive, six-speed manual performance sedan designed for North America. It’s the only M3 CS ever offered with a manual transmission, and depending on what happens next, it may be the last manual M3 ever made.

What does “Handschalter” mean and why it is important

One word tells the whole story

Handschalter is the German word for manual transmission, and BMW wasn’t necessarily required to use that term. They could have called this the M3 CS Special Edition, the M3 CS Track, the M3 CS Max, or any other name.

Choosing Handschalter was a deliberate signal, in the same way BMW used the name on the Z4 M40i Handschalter before it. The car’s most defining characteristic is in the name, and BMW wants you to know it when you hit the road.

Some whispers and rumors suggest the next-generation M3 will arrive in 2028 as an xDrive with automatic transmission only. BMW has already indicated where the 3 Series is heading with the all-new electric i3, and if the M3 follows the same trajectory, the CS Handschalter could be the last opportunity to buy an all-new factory-built manual M3.

The engine that won at Daytona

Now in your driveway

Under the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic hood sits BMW’s S58 inline-six with M TwinPower Turbo technology, producing 473 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. of torque. It’s the same engine architecture that powered the M4 GT3 Evo to a class victory at this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, with a 3D-printed cylinder head that allows for coolant delivery not possible through conventional casting.

With the standard M Driver’s Package, the result is zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 180.

The CS Handschalter is also the lightest M3 available. The targeted use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic for the roof, hood, front splitter, mirror caps, rear diffuser and rear spoiler, combined with a titanium muffler, reduces nearly 75 lbs. of the car compared to a standard M3 when the optional M Carbon Ceramic brakes are installed (these brakes save an additional 31.5 lbs compared to the standard M Compound units).

Ride height drops six millimeters compared to the standard M3, thanks to new springs and a new rear axle link. The shock absorbers are borrowed from the M4 CSL, which hardcore drivers will probably appreciate. Chassis tuning, steering calibration and electronic adjustments are all specific to the Handschalter’s unique weight distribution and rear-wheel drive platform.

What is included

Windshield support

Radar band detection

X, K, Ka

The Uniden R8 is a dual-antenna radar detector with directional arrows, known for its long-range detection and false alarm filtering capabilities. Comes preloaded with red light and speed camera locations and supports firmware updates for continued performance improvements.

Designed for the track, liveable on the road

M Drive Professional, ultra-track tires and heated seats

BMW has included M Drive Professional as standard, bundling the M Drift Analyzer, M Laptimer and M Traction Control systems. Standard forged alloy wheels are finished in gold bronze or black and can be optioned with a set of what BMW calls “ultra-track tires” for $600.

Off the track, the CS Handschalter doesn’t ask its drivers to sacrifice comfort and convenience, as dual-zone automatic climate control, Harman Kardon stereo, and forward collision warning are standard. The M Carbon bucket seats are heated and finished in Anthracite Full Merino leather with CS-exclusive Mugello Red accents.

An optional Daily Driver Package adds a power trunk and a head-up display for those who want a few extra extras beyond track credentials.

Price, colors and availability

The 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter will be available only for the North American market, with a starting MSRP of $108,450, including destination and handling charges of $1,350. Production begins in July and deliveries are expected in the fall.

Four exterior finishes are available: Isle of Man Green and Black Sapphire (both metallic) are offered free of charge. Two BMW Individual options, Imola Red and Techno Violet Metallic, are available for an additional $4,500.

The CS Handschalter will make its public debut on May 23 at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The reveal is scheduled for 10 a.m. Pacific.