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After six weeks and 1,500 miles, these are my thoughts on the manual M40i, the loves, likes and the not so good. And for them that like an executive summary, my car is frigging awesome
The Loves....
So the obvious place to start is that manual gearbox, it is as one would expect, very different to the automatic and it is difficult to convey the difference it makes to the car and yes a more involving driving experience is part of it. I think we tolerate automatics because over the past twenty years or so we have been gradually forced down this road and without doubt they make life easier, this is okay for the family run about, but it is not something we should ever want in a sports car. As I write this, I've not long returned from a little jaunt, the shortest trips are now an event rather than a drive from a to b. I want to have a little fun without having the need to go stupidly fast. I also think the automatic makes you drive, as BMW state "efficient dynamics", changes come quick and seamless so you just tootle. Then when it comes to an overtake, the kick down is quite violent, there is that moment of hesitation before action and if I used the paddles, any pause waiting for a gap inevitably results in it going back to drive. I've found the manual just better and again we've forgotten what it used to be like, now anything between 30 - 40 mph, knock it down to 2nd and you're off, hitting 60 mph in a few heartbeats. Changing up, with that almost impossible to resist urge, to hit the redline again in 3rd, it is completely addictive. The great thing is, you tend to naturally get that red-line in 3rd is beyond all legal speed limits, yes you get the same feeling in the auto, but you don't know what gear you're in because it's so easy and smooth, that's until you look at the speedo where you're into three digit speeds. Thus you have to restrict yourself and be careful when and where you decide to have a little fun, it's just so to easy to speed, in the manual it's just more fun, more of the time because it is easier to control.
I've been in a few traffic jams now on the M5 and M42, I've found the clutch very easy and surprisingly, I have not found my left leg hurting with the constant stop/start. I do have the occasional brain block and forget to change down as I'm coming to a stop, but the B58 is very forgiving and doesn't complain at all at low rpm's.

I will say the the manual and B58 is by far and away the best engine and gearbox combination I've experienced in my 40 years of driving, no question at all.
The changes in suspension to make it sportier, as has been stated before, now makes the car more comfortable and also less jittery on our country roads, this is actually a revelation and they should probably standardise it across the range. I've even found the passenger seat a better place to be than in my old car, this is also a surprise as my partner is now happy to drive the car, where previously he avoided the automatic because in combination with B58 he thought it a little scary.

The likes, I had issues with the steering on my last M40i, this is the reason I did not advertise it for sale on here. The steering was a little vague with some play at the centre that would occasionally be severe with a 10 degree dead zone. This new car, the steering is a joy, it has a lovely weight and precision to it, a vast improvement over the other one. I would be interested in driving another M40i automatic just to see if it's the same or something unique to the manual. I have never driven a Boxster or Cayman so cannot comment on how they compare, my only slight negative is feel, or the lack of, which I'm sure is not helped by the fitting off 255 fronts.

The not so good, I only have two real complaints, the first is road noise, those Michelin PSS 285/30 R20 are noisy, they're not uncomfortable, just noisy. I'm also not overly keen on those 20" alloys on the back, they're just to big. I'm wrestling with the idea of trying a stock M40i 18" set up (not available in the UK) this is 225/45 R18 x 255/40 R18, however with the gearing in sixth I'd rather not have a smaller diameter wheel than I have now on the rear. So looking at 225/40 R19 x 245/40 R19 for a winter tyre set up and this gives an almost identical rolling diameter.

The second is the gearing in fifth and in particularly sixth gear, which will easily do 30 mph to the limited 155 mph, I'm not sure what could be done now apart from altering the final drive ratio on the diff. I'm really picking at small little hairs here, they're are not major inconveniences just possibly small improvements in my opinion.

Is it the best car I've owned, possibly not, it is however, the most enjoyable and rewarding car I've ever driven, I highly recommended it.

And in your case, a handy rear seat with your driving position

As I expected, similar to my 911, big engines and manual gearboxes go so well together which adds so much to the driving experience that sadly so many people will miss out on.

pvr, Hey I'm 1.7 metres tall I'll have you know

Height does not matter if your legs are 50cm

Great right up Sars. Glad that you are enjoying your new Z4 so much.

Honestly Sars I was going to ask this week if you’d do a half time write up…

Glad you’re enjoying it, sounds epic…something I’d like at some point too.

john-e89 wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 4:47 pm Honestly Sars I was going to ask this week if you’d do a half time write up…

Glad you’re enjoying it, sounds epic…something I’d like at some point too.

Half time???
That implies she'll be selling it in another 6 weeks!
This isn't Pondrew you're talking too.

enuff_zed wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 5:03 pm

john-e89 wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 4:47 pm Honestly Sars I was going to ask this week if you’d do a half time write up…

Glad you’re enjoying it, sounds epic…something I’d like at some point too.

Half time???
That implies she'll be selling it in another 6 weeks!
This isn't Pondrew you're talking too.

Thanks guys, I won't be selling in six weeks, unless I'm forced at gunpoint too

On a side note, I'm not so sure that I like these new fangled "likes" thingamajigs, I know sometimes change is good, but we might see less posting and just lots of reactions.

Great write up.

So glad you are enjoying it. I wish I could have gotten one. London traffic ruins the fun of driving.

I’ve noticed the steering on the LSI is also much improved. Just feels more planted and responsive.


Keep the updates coming.

sars wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 8:03 am The not so good, I only have two real complaints, the first is road noise, those Michelin PSS 285/30 R20 are noisy, they're not uncomfortable, just noisy. I'm also not overly keen on those 20" alloys on the back, they're just to big. I'm wrestling with the idea of trying a stock M40i 18" set up (not available in the UK) this is 225/45 R18 x 255/40 R18, however with the gearing in sixth I'd rather not have a smaller diameter wheel than I have now on the rear. So looking at 225/40 R19 x 245/40 R19 for a winter tyre set up and this gives an almost identical rolling diameter.

The second is the gearing in fifth and in particularly sixth gear, which will easily do 30 mph to the limited 155 mph, I'm not sure what could be done now apart from altering the final drive ratio on the diff. I'm really picking at small little hairs here, they're are not major inconveniences just possibly small improvements in my opinion.

I'm so glad you like it even better than your Auto!

That 2nd then 3rd up to the red-line - woops that's ban territory - is what I love about my MC.

I suppose the tyre noise might be improved by fitting a different brand of tyre, but you're a long way from needing them yet I hope!

From what I can make out you'd prefer higher gearing. Could the winter set up 19" rears accommodate something like a 265/35 tyre? The downside of that might be even higher speed at the red-line in 3rd though.

I've just had a pair of 265/40 rear tyres fitted to my car instead of standard 255/40s, mainly for some sidewall protection as they are 9J rims.

I read an interesting thread on PH started by someone who had effectively the same car with a roof - manual Supra with a remap - and it has got me wondering.

I think I’m definitely going to need to have one of these in 15 years time!

Glad you’re enjoying it.

ori wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:04 pm Great write up.

So glad you are enjoying it. I wish I could have gotten one. London traffic ruins the fun of driving.

I’ve noticed the steering on the LSI is also much improved. Just feels more planted and responsive.


Keep the updates coming.

Thanks Ori, if I lived and had to drive in London I wouldn't want a manual either, fortunately for me I live in East Yorkshire near the start of the dales so underpopulated with both people and cars and lots of winding empty roads

admittedly they're full of pot holes and patches, bot we can't have everything.....

Mr Tidy wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:30 pm
I'm so glad you like it even better than your Auto!

That 2nd then 3rd up to the red-line - woops that's ban territory - is what I love about my MC.

I suppose the tyre noise might be improved by fitting a different brand of tyre, but you're a long way from needing them yet I hope!

From what I can make out you'd prefer higher gearing. Could the winter set up 19" rears accommodate something like a 265/35 tyre? The downside of that might be even higher speed at the red-line in 3rd though.

I've just had a pair of 265/40 rear tyres fitted to my car instead of standard 255/40s, mainly for some sidewall protection as they are 9J rims.

I read an interesting thread on PH started by someone who had effectively the same car with a roof - manual Supra with a remap - and it has got me wondering.

I fitted Goodyear Eagles F1-A6's to the last zed, and they're were an improvement, including road noise. I wouldn't mind going 255/40 R19 but that gives a much larger diameter wheel 685 mm vs 676 mm for the 285/30 R20, however the arch gap is pretty small as it is and so that option isn't ideal. The downside of dropping width is a reduction in traction, though being manual, this is probably less important than with an automatic and more rewarding.

Glad you are enjoying it. I couldn't be bothered with all the extra effort of driving a manual. Agree with the GY Eagles, as you know only had them for a short while but did prefer them. Now have the MPSS and as they are brand new will stick with them for a while yet. They may actually outlast me.