By: Krish Persaud
November 1, 2025
The first few kilometres in the Z4 M40i reminded me why I still love driving. Roof down, warm air rushing past, and that straight-six soundtrack bouncing off every guardrail—it’s the kind of feeling that modern cars rarely deliver anymore. The addition of a six-speed manual doesn’t just change how you drive this car, it changes how you connect with it.
This Z4 isn’t about chasing lap times or breaking records. It’s about balance, sound, and that satisfying weight of a proper shift. The 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo inline-six, known as the B58, produces 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque sent to the rear wheels. On paper, it’s plenty. In reality, it’s exactly the right amount. The power comes on smooth and strong, and every gear feels like it’s been spaced for the kind of roads you actually drive, not just a test track.
What stood out most was how cohesive everything feels. The clutch engagement is clean, the shifter moves with precision, and the throttle responds instantly. It’s a car that rewards you for being smooth, yet it’s never demanding. Every drive felt deliberate, like each shift and throttle input was part of a rhythm. The engine pulls confidently from any gear, and when you lift off the throttle, it delivers those addictive pops and burbles that make every shift feel even more rewarding.
Roof down, the Z4 M40i is at its best. The exhaust has real presence without being overdone, the turbo whistles faintly under load, and the steering feels alive in your hands. It’s quick to react but never nervous, staying true to BMW’s rear-drive feel. The adaptive M suspension does an excellent job of balancing control and comfort. It soaks up uneven pavement without dulling the connection to the road.
Every drive in this car felt like an occasion, even if it was just heading out to grab coffee. On a winding road, it communicates so clearly that you start trusting it completely. There’s a rhythm to how the car flows from one corner to the next, how it leans on its tires, and how it settles when you feed in power on exit. It’s confidence-inspiring, playful, and surprisingly refined.
Inside, everything feels tight and well put together. The seating position is low but comfortable, and the seats themselves strike a great balance between support and softness. The cabin feels driver-focused without feeling cramped, and materials are what you expect from a modern BMW: solid, minimal, and nicely detailed. The curved display combines a 12.3-inch digital cluster with a 14.9-inch touchscreen running iDrive 8.5, which remains one of the most intuitive systems on the market. Some of the smaller on-screen buttons can be tricky to hit while driving, and a few climate controls buried in menus would be easier as physical buttons. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect instantly, and the Harman/Kardon sound system fills the cabin beautifully when you’re not listening to the car itself.
Roof up, the Z4 feels almost like a small coupe, quiet, well-insulated, and comfortable for longer drives. Roof down, it becomes something else entirely. The sound, the feel, even the way it catches light in motion—it all works together to make every drive feel special.
After a week behind the wheel, this car stuck with me. The Z4 M40i 6-speed manual feels like a return to what BMW has always done best: building cars that make you want to drive for no reason at all. It has just the right amount of power, steering that feels natural, and a chassis that makes everything work together beautifully. It’s honest, engaging, and completely satisfying.
It may not be the most practical BMW on sale, but it’s one of the most memorable. Every time I dropped the roof and heard that exhaust come to life, I knew exactly why I love this car.
