Despite the fact it was initially rumored to be discontinued in October of this year, the G29 BMW Z4 is going to live on for a while longer. This is wonderful news for people who appreciate good styling, lots of horsepower, a manual transmission and — most importantly — a convertible roof.
A new report from BMW Blog suggests that BMW will end most Z4 production in March of 2026, however, the U.S.-spec M40i (and its six-speed manual transmission) will live on for a bit longer. One of the outlet’s trusted sources on the Bimmer Post forum said the Z4 in its M Performance trim will soldier on in the U.S. for an additional two months — until May of 2026. That same source also claimed that this is when the final U.S.-spec Supra will be built.
Extending the Z4’s life isn’t a total surprise. As more enthusiasts look for analog options, deliveries in the first quarter of 2025 rose by 4.2% to 2,436 units when compared with the same time last year, according to BMW Blog. Sales of the Z4 jumped by 13.1% in 2024 after BMW made the manual available in the U.S., Motor1 reports People year for rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission. I get it. The Z4 M40i is one of the few BMWs you can still buy with a stick shift, joined only by the M2 and base versions of the M3 and M4.
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What Comes Next For The Z4
BMW Z4 – BMW
Despite this good news, it’s not looking like the Z4 will be around forever. Right now, there’s no plan for a successor to the little two-seater. It’s not exactly a surprise. Sure, it’s selling OK, but convertible sales continue to fall and the enthusiast market is shrinking. Toyota has said there will be a next-generation Supra, but BMW doesn’t intend to join up with the Japanese automaker for its own version of the car.
So, if you’re the type of smart person who wants a manual Z4, you better act now. Just make sure you’ve got some deep-ish pockets. A turbocharged 2.0-liter Z4 sDrive30i — which only comes with an automatic — starts at $56,175. If you want the manual, you’ve got to jump up to the M40 with its 382-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6. That’s going to set you back $71,825. If you have the means, I do suggest picking one up. However, if you don’t, I’d be willing to part with my manual 2007 Z4 3.0SI for just a fraction of that price.
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