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Caraganza Review 2025 BMW Z4 M40i: The Joy of Three Pedals in a World of None

If you’re looking for a car that’s fast, stylish, and makes you feel alive, boy, do I have a story for you. It starts with the 2025 BMW Z4 M40i, a drop-top two-seater that’s as rare in today’s market as someone who willingly eats kale without telling everyone about it. The twist here is that this one—the one I spent a week with—comes with a manual transmission. Yes, a real-deal, three-pedal, shift-it-yourself manual gearbox. Something that requires actual coordination and skill, rather than the mindless flick of a plastic paddle. This is a car that reminds you that driving is not just about getting somewhere—it’s about the journey, the engagement, and occasionally stalling in front of a line of impatient Teslas.

Now, before we go any further, let’s address the elephant in the room: manual transmissions are becoming extinct. They’re disappearing faster than Blockbuster stores in the early 2000s. For most younger drivers, the idea of shifting your own gears is as foreign as using a rotary phone or watching a game without checking fantasy scores every five minutes. They’re too busy looking for a crossover with enough room for their emotional support water bottles or something with 17 screens to display TikTok videos while the car drives itself.

That’s where this Z4 comes in. It’s not for the people who want their car to do everything for them. It’s for those of us who want to actually drive. I’m talking about the old-school thrill of being part of the machine, feeling the engine’s growl as you rev-match a downshift, and knowing that if something goes wrong, it’s on you. Not some algorithm or autopilot—you.

Now, I’ve driven plenty of Z4s before, including the 2019 redesign that put this roadster back on the map. That version was such a huge step forward from its predecessor it felt like BMW had finally remembered how to build a roadster that didn’t just look the part but could actually deliver on the promise. Then came the 2023 refresh with some sharper styling, upgraded tech, and suspension tuning that made the car feel even more planted. But this 2025 model with the manual? It’s the Z4’s final act in the play called Fun Cars That Require a Human Touch.

Sliding into the Z4, I had to do a little yoga to get my dad-bod into the seat. Let’s be honest—two-seaters aren’t designed for middle-aged guys who enjoy beer and barbecue more than they probably should. But once you’re in, it’s all worth it. The cabin feels snug in a good way, like it’s wrapping itself around you and saying, “Let’s go have some fun.”

And fun, my friends, is what this car is all about. Under the hood is BMW’s glorious turbocharged inline-six that cranks out 382 horsepower. That engine is a work of art, delivering smooth, linear power that feels like it could go on forever. Pair that with the six-speed manual, and you’ve got a car that transforms every drive into a symphony of speed, sound, and connection. Shifting gears isn’t just a task—it’s a dance, a partnership between you and the car.

The Z4 handles like a dream, too. The steering is precise, the chassis is perfectly balanced, and the whole car feels alive in a way that’s becoming increasingly rare. It’s the kind of car that begs you to find a winding road, drop the top, and just go. And with the top down, the wind rushing through the cabin, you’ll either feel 20 years younger or be reminded that you should’ve packed sunscreen for your bald spot. Either way, you’ll be grinning.

But here’s the bittersweet part: cars like this are an endangered species. Most people don’t want a two-seater convertible anymore. They want something that can carry a week’s worth of Costco runs or survive a zombie apocalypse. They don’t want to row through gears; they want the car to think for them. And as electric vehicles take over, cars like the Z4 are getting left behind, relics of a time when driving was about more than just transportation.

So, here’s my advice: if you’re reading this and you still know how to drive a stick—or even if you don’t—go test drive one of these before it’s too late. Better yet, buy one. Tuck it away in your garage and take it out on weekends to remind yourself what it means to actually drive. Because once they’re gone, we’ll all be stuck in beige crossovers wondering where the fun went.

For now, I’ll keep enjoying what little time we have left with cars like this Z4. I’ll keep squeezing into it, putting the top down, and letting the wind remind me that I’m still alive while it flows across what’s left of my hair. And when that manual transmission clunks into gear, and the engine roars to life, I’ll be smiling like an idiot. Because this—this my friends is what driving is supposed to be.

The 2025 BMW Z4 M40i
MSRP: $66,450
MSRP (as tested): $74,520
Engine: 3.0 liter 382 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm, 369 lb-ft torque @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: 6 speed manual
Fuel Mileage (EPA): 19 city, 26 highway, 22 combined
Fuel Mileage (as tested mixed conditions): 24 mpg
Curb Weight: 3,543 lbs.

Exterior Dimensions
Length: 170.7 in.
Overall width with mirrors: 79.7 in.
Overall width without mirrors: 3.4 in.
Height: 51.3 in.
Wheelbase: 97.2 in.

Interior Dimensions
Front headroom: 38.9 in.
Front leg room: 42.2 in.
Front shoulder room: 54.3 in.
Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 9.9 cu.ft.

Warranty
Basic: 4 yr./ 50,000 mi.
Drivetrain: 4 yr./ 50,000 mi.
Rust: 12 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside assistance: 4 yr./ unlimited mi.
Free maintenance: 3 yr./ 36,000 mi.

Greg Engle
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