BMW has done something remarkable with the 2025 M3 CS. For the first time in M3 CS history, the company offers a six-speed manual transmission alongside the standard eight-speed automatic. This move transforms the high-performance sedan into a collector's item before it even hits the road.
The M3 CS already sits at the top of BMW's inline-six hierarchy. It produces 543 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque from its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine. Adding a manual gearbox to this formula creates an instant rarity. BMW knows exactly what it's doing here. Manual transmissions represent less than 3 percent of U.S. luxury car sales, and that share shrinks yearly. A manual M3 CS will become a unicorn within five years.
Collectors recognize this pattern. Each time a premium automaker offers a final manual option on a high-performance model, that car becomes valuable. Look at the Porsche 911 GT3 manual, the BMW M440i xDrive manual, or the last manual Mercedes-AMG. These machines command premiums in the used market because they represent the end of an era. The M3 CS manual will follow suit.
The six-speed manual in the M3 CS differs from typical BMW manuals. Engineers tuned it specifically for the CS's aggressive power delivery and wider power band. It pairs with the same rear differential and suspension geometry as the automatic version, ensuring no performance compromise. Launch control works with the stick shift, giving drivers electronic assistance without eliminating the driver's involvement.
BMW's decision reflects broader market reality. Enthusiasts still exist, but they're outnumbered. The M3 CS manual won't sell in volume. Production numbers will be tight. That's the entire point from a value perspective.