Three pedals, one last time: BMW closes the book on the manual M3

BMW sends off the G80 M3 with the manual-only CS Handschalter for North America: 473 hp S58, RWD, six-speed stick, from $108,450.

The BMW M3 of the G80 generation is heading into its final stretch. Scott Stirling, BMW M’s product manager for North America, has confirmed that the current model year will be the last for this M3, while BMWBLOG sources point to production wrapping up in February 2027.

The biggest loss — the manual gearbox. The final three-pedal M3 will be the M3 CS Handschalter, built exclusively for North America. It has rear-wheel drive, a 6-speed manual, and an S58 inline-six rated at 473 hp and 550 Nm. Pricing in the US starts at $108,450.

It’s a rare configuration even by BMW M standards. The previous M3 CS came only with an automatic, whereas here the CS package — carbon-fiber trim, weight savings, and a more track-focused character — is paired with a manual. Spec the carbon-ceramic brakes and this M3 is nearly 34 kg lighter than the base car. Orders open in July, with deliveries starting in the fall.

The gap after the G80 will be noticeable. The next gasoline M3, codenamed G84, isn’t due until the summer of 2028. The electric M3 of the ZA0 generation will probably arrive sooner, in 2027, but for fans of the classic M manual it’s no direct replacement: it gets paddle shifters and simulated gears, not a real lever and clutch.

The break is also tied to production. The G80 is currently built in Munich, but by the end of 2027 the plant will switch entirely to electric cars. The new 3 Series and the future M3 will move to another site, reportedly Dingolfing.

The M3 CS Handschalter looks less like a special edition and more like the final full stop in a long story. From here on the M3 will get faster, smarter, and more electric — but a new manual, rear-wheel-drive M3 isn’t coming back.