Are you taking the Z4 over the Supra? I know there are some peaky spots in the audio. Apologies for the issues. It is something I'm working on. Hopefully it doesn't detect too much from the video.
I'm a big fan of manuals, so props to BMW for bringing it back. That said, I have an X3 M40i which is, of course, automatic and I gotta say, the B58 + ZF combo is pretty sweet.
I have a '24 Z4 M40i. Love it by the way. It was on the boat when BMW confirmed a manual was coming last year. I am trading it in for my '25 i4 M50 and ordering the 2026 Z4 w/ manual. Manual changes everything and I'll keep it forever.
Appreciate the review and as a new owner of this exact spec, I think your observations are pretty spot on. The cup holders aren’t that bad IMO as they sit on the passenger side of the console. As a die hard #savethemanuals guy, had to put my money where my mouth is. Glad BMW decided to build one for the enthusiasts
Nice! Congrats on the car! Glad to hear I got it right for the most part. I always appreciate an owner's perspective. Definitely good to hear the cupholders aren't as bad as I thought as well. Enjoy the car!
Great review and I might one day consider this particular Z4 model. I currently have a E89 3.0 normally aspirated manual Z4 and just love it. I'm sure the latest Z4 out drives my one but I still have a straight six engine and the convertible hardtop gives you the best of both worlds. IMO the E89 is still a beautiful looking car.
Thanks! We need more hard top convertible options nowadays. I've gotta find my way into some of the older generation Z3s and Z4s at some point. Enjoy the E89!
I'm not sure if that's serious or sarcastic ha, but I wish I could've put it on a mountaintop with blue skies behind it. Gotta work with what I've got though.
I added xPel around the gloss black console of our x3 M40...it still shows smudges but minimizes the scratches. xPel dealers should be getting the z4 M40i Handschalter pattern for the MT console soon.
That's good to know! Glad there's at least a bit of help with the scratches. I always just get so frustrated seeing these gloss-blacks on high-end cars.
Gorgeous car and an excellent review. I want it! Pro tip: Don't shuffle your hands when turning. Your hands should be on the wheel 90+% of the time for absolute control.
Thanks! Me too ha! Ha, when I first watched it back, I was thinking "somebody's gonna comment on how my hands are on the wheel, and someone's gonna comment on my hand on the shifter." When I'm driving harder, I always keep my hands and 9 and 3 and avoid shuffling, but when I'm driving more casually or trying to talk to the camera, I admittedly don't always keep it as buttoned up. I need to work on that being more second-nature probably.
Thank you for the comment! I appreciate that insight. I came at this car thinking of it as being essentially a Supra underneath, and I have done a couple of Supra videos in the past, so it felt the most natural to compare it with. I'll try to think of better ways to get a full picture, compared to more cars and also just general "in a vacuum" thoughts in the future. Thanks again!
Good review, however,I have this car as a manual… did you actually try driving with cups in the cupholder? The driver’s side console cover closes with the cups in the cupholder, giving you somewhere to put your elbow. It doesn’t really get in the way. Now, the cupholder placement is weird for usability, but not because of shifting and it’s same issue in the automatic.
Hey, thanks for the comment! I did drive around with 32 oz cups in the cupholders a couple of times, but I honestly didn't think to try to close the driver's side cover. I didn't think it would close. That's good to know that it's not quite as much of a pain as I thought it was. Appreciate the clarification! Enjoy the car!
If anyone here has a line into BMW, please tell them to offer the manual with the Aluminum tetragon or aluminum mesh interior trim as well as (or instead of) the gloss black. In your video, you can see how crappy the interior looks with all that dirt and dust visible. I want to order one of these ($74k seems reasonable for what you're getting), but the interior trim is probably a deal breaker ( that and that the BMW Individual - "paint to order" option isn't available on this car) OK...and maybe offer the M3/4 wheels too. ;-)
I know, I can't stand the gloss black everywhere! I think you can get some aftermarket trim pieces to replace some of it, but still super annoying that they don't just offer the other ones on this car with the manual!
Thanks! Ha, I know! I've gotta figure out how to record exhaust sound better. It often gets blown out a bit. But I've got a couple of Supra and M340i videos with exhaust clips in them if you want to get your B58 fix!
😆 well San Remo Green and Frozen Green Metallic are the special colors for the new Handschalter pack with the manual, so they probably ordered them all in those 2 colors.
It seems like Europe and other parts of the world get more base models with manuals. The US market seems to be moving away from base models, and only keeping manuals in the higher specs/bigger engines. I would be very surprised if they brought the base with the manual to the US.
re the cup holder... the drivers side can be lowered and still leaves you able to put cups in... so does not effect the driver... sucky for the passenger but that's their issue lol...
Yeah, a couple of owners have mentioned that. I honestly didn't even think to close it when I had cups in there. That's an odd way to do it. It's good to hear it's not as bad as I thought though.
The M2 is pretty heavy as well but then you look at e’s or hybrids at over 5000 lbs and mid 3000’s starts to sound reasonable, unfortunately. Gotta go BRZ/GR86 to go sub 3000, and some Porsches are in the lower 3000’s.
Hmm. Well it’s thorough oral review but half the fun of watching a review is a full acceleration run, going through the gears and listening to the exhaust. Otherwise you’re telling us about how the car drives and not showing us. 🫤
Thanks for the comment. I agree, those things would be great to add. I try to get as many different camera shots as I can, but I have issues with getting spirited driving videos. There's just nowhere around me where I can go to film hard runs. I go out when there's no traffic to get my assessment of pushing the car, but it's typically too dark to film at those times. I do have exhaust clips, but they were a bit blown out. I'll see if there's anything I can do with them to make them sound halfway decent and maybe throw them in shorts, but I definitely need to figure out a better way to get a clean exhaust recording.
Are you taking the Z4 over the Supra?
I know there are some peaky spots in the audio. Apologies for the issues. It is something I'm working on. Hopefully it doesn't detect too much from the video.
I'm a big fan of manuals, so props to BMW for bringing it back. That said, I have an X3 M40i which is, of course, automatic and I gotta say, the B58 + ZF combo is pretty sweet.
Can't argue with you there. The ZF8 is a great transmission, and it pairs wonderfully with the B58.
It is, however this to me might just be the last Z4 they make in manual which means its a keeper for years.
I have a '24 Z4 M40i. Love it by the way. It was on the boat when BMW confirmed a manual was coming last year. I am trading it in for my '25 i4 M50 and ordering the 2026 Z4 w/ manual. Manual changes everything and I'll keep it forever.
Appreciate the review and as a new owner of this exact spec, I think your observations are pretty spot on. The cup holders aren’t that bad IMO as they sit on the passenger side of the console. As a die hard #savethemanuals guy, had to put my money where my mouth is. Glad BMW decided to build one for the enthusiasts
Nice! Congrats on the car! Glad to hear I got it right for the most part. I always appreciate an owner's perspective. Definitely good to hear the cupholders aren't as bad as I thought as well. Enjoy the car!
Great review and I might one day consider this particular Z4 model. I currently have a E89 3.0 normally aspirated manual Z4 and just love it. I'm sure the latest Z4 out drives my one but I still have a straight six engine and the convertible hardtop gives you the best of both worlds. IMO the E89 is still a beautiful looking car.
Thanks! We need more hard top convertible options nowadays. I've gotta find my way into some of the older generation Z3s and Z4s at some point. Enjoy the E89!
Love the green natural background you used for the green fitted Z4.
I'm not sure if that's serious or sarcastic ha, but I wish I could've put it on a mountaintop with blue skies behind it. Gotta work with what I've got though.
I added xPel around the gloss black console of our x3 M40...it still shows smudges but minimizes the scratches. xPel dealers should be getting the z4 M40i Handschalter pattern for the MT console soon.
That's good to know! Glad there's at least a bit of help with the scratches. I always just get so frustrated seeing these gloss-blacks on high-end cars.
They have the pattern for years, I'd assume. A manual 20i has been available in Europe since the G29 was introduced.
Gorgeous car and an excellent review. I want it!
Pro tip: Don't shuffle your hands when turning. Your hands should be on the wheel 90+% of the time for absolute control.
Thanks! Me too ha!
Ha, when I first watched it back, I was thinking "somebody's gonna comment on how my hands are on the wheel, and someone's gonna comment on my hand on the shifter." When I'm driving harder, I always keep my hands and 9 and 3 and avoid shuffling, but when I'm driving more casually or trying to talk to the camera, I admittedly don't always keep it as buttoned up. I need to work on that being more second-nature probably.
Big fan of this grille design compared to the rest of the lineup
Same. Really glad they didn't give it the beaver teef treatment
Like the comments differentiating it between older and other bmw models. Supra is kinda not my knowledge base, so I was lost. 👍👍👍
Thank you for the comment! I appreciate that insight. I came at this car thinking of it as being essentially a Supra underneath, and I have done a couple of Supra videos in the past, so it felt the most natural to compare it with. I'll try to think of better ways to get a full picture, compared to more cars and also just general "in a vacuum" thoughts in the future. Thanks again!
Good review, however,I have this car as a manual… did you actually try driving with cups in the cupholder? The driver’s side console cover closes with the cups in the cupholder, giving you somewhere to put your elbow. It doesn’t really get in the way.
Now, the cupholder placement is weird for usability, but not because of shifting and it’s same issue in the automatic.
Hey, thanks for the comment! I did drive around with 32 oz cups in the cupholders a couple of times, but I honestly didn't think to try to close the driver's side cover. I didn't think it would close. That's good to know that it's not quite as much of a pain as I thought it was. Appreciate the clarification! Enjoy the car!
If anyone here has a line into BMW, please tell them to offer the manual with the Aluminum tetragon or aluminum mesh interior trim as well as (or instead of) the gloss black. In your video, you can see how crappy the interior looks with all that dirt and dust visible. I want to order one of these ($74k seems reasonable for what you're getting), but the interior trim is probably a deal breaker ( that and that the BMW Individual - "paint to order" option isn't available on this car) OK...and maybe offer the M3/4 wheels too. ;-)
I know, I can't stand the gloss black everywhere! I think you can get some aftermarket trim pieces to replace some of it, but still super annoying that they don't just offer the other ones on this car with the manual!
Is 2026 the last year? I will get one before they discontinue it.
Yeah, 2026 looks like it's likely to be the last year.
@@GearboxCarReviews Do you think we will see a coupe version Z4 on 2025?
I would be pretty shocked if they released a Z4 coupe at this point, unfortunately
Nice review, but we didn't hear from the B58! LOL!
Thanks! Ha, I know! I've gotta figure out how to record exhaust sound better. It often gets blown out a bit. But I've got a couple of Supra and M340i videos with exhaust clips in them if you want to get your B58 fix!
"green over tan" has a black top, they weren't listening.
😅
This car would be ideal if not for all the gloss black on the interior
Such a frustrating choice. The gloss black epidemic is terrible, but the fact that you don't even get a choice is crazy.
Does BMW North America only have one press car? ☺I saw the Frozen Deep Green Metallic in so many videos already.
😆 well San Remo Green and Frozen Green Metallic are the special colors for the new Handschalter pack with the manual, so they probably ordered them all in those 2 colors.
Such a nice car, Wish it had an S58 like the M2.
Would be cool to have a higher-performance version, but honestly, I think the B58 suits this car pretty well as a roadster.
I hope for 2026, manual can be an option for the base model.
It would be nice, but unfortunately I don't expect it to happen. They just dropped the manual option in the Supra with the base engine.
In Europe it is already available with a manual
It seems like Europe and other parts of the world get more base models with manuals. The US market seems to be moving away from base models, and only keeping manuals in the higher specs/bigger engines. I would be very surprised if they brought the base with the manual to the US.
in europe the 20i rwd is available in manual i think from the very beginning.
re the cup holder... the drivers side can be lowered and still leaves you able to put cups in... so does not effect the driver... sucky for the passenger but that's their issue lol...
Yeah, a couple of owners have mentioned that. I honestly didn't even think to close it when I had cups in there. That's an odd way to do it. It's good to hear it's not as bad as I thought though.
4:40 lol
is it me or does it look a bit like a fiat 124 ?
It didn't occur to me before, but I can definitely see it!
I assume it's rather porky, at around 3800 pounds?
They actually kept the weight down. It's only about 3500, which isn't bad for a luxury roadster nowadays.
The M2 is pretty heavy as well but then you look at e’s or hybrids at over 5000 lbs and mid 3000’s starts to sound reasonable, unfortunately. Gotta go BRZ/GR86 to go sub 3000, and some Porsches are in the lower 3000’s.
Or a Miata at ~2400 lbs. But yeah, when even Lotus's ICE car is just over 3000 lbs, low to mid 3000s looks pretty good.
Hmm. Well it’s thorough oral review but half the fun of watching a review is a full acceleration run, going through the gears and listening to the exhaust. Otherwise you’re telling us about how the car drives and not showing us. 🫤
Thanks for the comment. I agree, those things would be great to add. I try to get as many different camera shots as I can, but I have issues with getting spirited driving videos. There's just nowhere around me where I can go to film hard runs. I go out when there's no traffic to get my assessment of pushing the car, but it's typically too dark to film at those times. I do have exhaust clips, but they were a bit blown out. I'll see if there's anything I can do with them to make them sound halfway decent and maybe throw them in shorts, but I definitely need to figure out a better way to get a clean exhaust recording.