The BMW M3 turns 40 this year, and unlike me, it’s still quick in middle age!
But in all seriousness, that’s four decades of being the car that every talented engineer and every ambitious product developer at every rival company quietly wishes they were allowed to build. Cadillac benchmarked it when developing the ATS-V. Alfa Romeo benchmarked it when developing the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The Ford Mustang even went after the M3 when the 5.0-liter debuted for the 2011 model year.
For 40 years, the M3 has been the champion everyone wants to step into 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, six-speed manual performance sedan built for North America. It is 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 matters
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 this the M3 CS Special Edition, the M3 CS Track, the M3 CS Max, or any number of other names.
Choosing Handschalter was a deliberate signal, the same way BMW used the name on the Z4 M40i Handschalter before it. The car’s most defining characteristic is right there in the name, and BMW wants you to know it as you fly down the road.
Some whispers and rumors suggest the next-generation M3 will arrive in 2028 as an xDrive with automatic transmission only. BMW has already signaled where the 3 Series is heading with the all-new electric i3, and if the M3 follows that same trajectory, the CS Handschalter may be the last opportunity to buy a brand-new, factory-built manual M3.
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The engine that won at Daytona
Now in your driveway
Under the carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic hood sits BMW’s S58 inline-six-cylinder 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 coolant routing that is impossible to achieve through 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. Targeted use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic for the roof, hood, front splitter, mirror caps, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler, combined with a titanium muffler, cuts nearly 75 lbs. from the car compared to a standard M3 when the optional M Carbon Ceramic brakes are fitted (those brakes save an additional 31.5 lbs. over 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 shock absorbers are borrowed from the M4 CSL, something diehard drivers will likely appreciate. Chassis tuning, steering calibration, and electronic settings are all specific to the Handschalter’s unique weight distribution and 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. Comes preloaded with red light and speed camera locations and supports firmware updates for ongoing performance enhancements.
Built for the track, livable on the road
M Drive Professional, ultra-track tires, and heated seats
BMW has included M Drive Professional as standard, bundling the M Drift Analyzer, M Laptimer, and M Traction Control systems. Standard forged alloy wheels come finished in Gold Bronze or black and can be fitted with an optional set of what BMW calls “ultra-track tires” for $600.
Away from 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 front collision warning come standard. The M Carbon bucket seats are heated, finished in Anthracite Full Merino leather with CS-exclusive Mugello Red accents.
An optional Daily Driver Package adds a power trunk and a heads-up display for those who want a few more extras alongside the track credentials.
Pricing, 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 the $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 at no 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 23rd at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The reveal is scheduled for 10:00 AM Pacific.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
