The BMW M3 turns 40 this year and, unlike me, it’s still fast in middle age!
But seriously, that’s four decades of being the car that every talented engineer and every ambitious product developer at every rival company silently wishes they were allowed to build. Cadillac took it as a reference point when developing the ATS-V. Alfa Romeo took it as a reference point when developing the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The Ford Mustang even chased the M3 when the 5.0-liter engine debuted for the 2011 model year.
For 40 years, the M3 has been the champion that everyone wants to get in the ring with.
Now BMW is closing the book on the sixth generation of that car, and the way they’re doing it says everything 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 and six-speed. manual performance sedan Built for North America. It’s the only M3 CS ever offered with a manual transmission, and depending on what comes next, it may be the last manual M3 ever made.
What “Handschalter” means and why it is important
One word tells the whole story.
Handschalter is the German word for manual transmission, and BMW didn’t necessarily have to use that term. They could have called it M3 CS Special Edition, M3 CS Track, M3 CS Max or any other name.
Choosing Handschalter was a deliberate sign, in the same way BMW used the name on the Z4 M40i Handschalter before. The car’s most defining feature is right there in the name, and BMW wants you to know it as you fly down the road.
Some rumors suggest that the next generation of the M3 will arrive in 2028 as an automatic transmission-only xDrive. BMW has already signaled where the 3 Series is headed with the new electric i3and if the M3 follows the same trajectory, the CS Handschalter may be your last chance to buy a new, factory-built manual M3.
The engine that won at Daytona
Now in your driveway
Under the carbon fiber reinforced plastic hood is the BMW S58 straight-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 the Rolex 24 at Daytona this year, with a 3D-printed cylinder head that allows the coolant to travel This is impossible to achieve by 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. Specific use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic for the roof, hood, front splitter, mirror caps, rear diffuser and rear spoiler, combined with a titanium muffler, shaves nearly 75 pounds off. of the car compared to a standard M3 when the optional M Carbon Ceramic brakes are installed (those brakes save an additional 31.5 pounds compared to the standard M Compound units).
Ride height drops six millimeters compared to the standard M3, courtesy of new springs and a new rear axle link. The dampers are borrowed from the M4 CSL, something hardcore drivers will likely appreciate. Chassis tuning, steering calibration and electronic settings are specific to the Handschalter’s unique weight distribution, rear-wheel drive platform.
- What’s included
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Windshield Mount
- Radar band detection
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X, K, Ka
The Uniden R8 is a dual antenna radar detector with directional arrows, known for its long range detection and false alert filtering capabilities. It comes preloaded with speed and red light camera locations and supports firmware updates for continuous performance improvements.
Built for the track, liveable on the road.
M Drive Professional, ultra-track tires and heated seats
BMW has included M Drive Professional as standard, combining the M Drift Analyzer, M Laptimer and M Traction Control systems. Standard forged alloy wheels come with a Golden Bronze or black finish and can be fitted with an optional 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, a Harman Kardon stereo, and forward collision warning come 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 head-up display for those who want a few more extras in addition to track credentials.
Prices, 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 $1,350 destination and handling charge. Production begins in July with deliveries 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 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
