BMW is quietly closing the book on one of its most underrated cars. After nearly a quarter century of Z4 roadsters, Munich is giving the current G29 a final curtain call with the 2026 BMW Z4 M40i Final Edition, a limited edition that combines manual control hardware, bespoke design details and a bit of Z8-adjacent theatrics.
The Final Edition will only be offered from February to April 2026 and will be built in very small numbers in a single, fully featured specification. The only decision buyers have to make is the transmission: a 6-speed manual or the familiar 8-speed Steptronic. Regardless of what you choose, the price is $77,500 plus $1,175 for shipping and handling.
Frozen black, red brake calipers and lots of attitude
Visually, the Final Edition borrows heavily from the classic BMW Individual drama. Each vehicle is painted in Frozen Black Metallic, a matte effect that makes the Z4’s surface appear sharper and makes the long hood and narrow rear deck appear even more distinctive. This paint is combined with the standard Shadowline package, so the mirror caps, kidney grille, lower intake, breathers and exhaust tips are all finished in gloss black.
A Moonlight Black soft top and red brake calipers on the standard M Sport brakes complete the “last of the line” look. The wheels are staggered: 19-inch M Dual Spoke Bicolor 800M alloy wheels with 255/35 R19 rubber at the front and 20-inch tires at the rear with 285/30 R20 tires at the rear. It’s a very conscious, very modern interpretation of the classic BMW roadster formula.
Hand switch hardware burnt in
Choose the 6-speed and you don’t just get a third pedal. The manual Final Edition also adopts the special suspension set-up that was developed for the Edition manual switch package. This means unique additional springs on both axles, a reinforced front stabilizer clamp and a new mapping for the electronically controlled rear dampers and variable sports steering.
The traction control and M Sport differential also receive their own software tweaks, hinting at a more analog, rear-axle-controlled character than the standard Z4 M40i. In other words, this should be the most focused G29 you can buy from the factory.
In the truest sense of the word, a common thread within
Inside, BMW has tried to make the Final Edition feel like it’s a step above a typical M Sport package without completely falling into individual madness. The seats are made from a mix of Vernasca leather and Alcantara and feature striking red contrast stitching, which also extends across the instrument panel, console and door panels.
The floor mats pick up on this theme with red piping, while the door sills have “Z4 FINAL EDITION” lettering to make it clear where you are. The seat belts feature the familiar tri-color M stripe as a final nod to the vehicle’s positioning at the top of the Z4 range.
In terms of equipment, the car is essentially loaded. Driving Assistance Package, Premium Package and a Harman Kardon surround system are standard, so you don’t have any options beyond the transmission.
A quick history lesson: How we got here
The Z4 has always lived in a very special BMW space. It is the modern expression of a line that goes back to the 328 Roadster and runs through the 507 and the Z8. The formula is simple: two seats, long hood, engine in front of the driver but behind the front axle and focus on driving experience rather than usability.
The first Z4 came onto the market in 2002 as the E85, was built in Spartanburg and replaced the Z3. With its controversial Chris Bangle finish, long hood and short deck, it looked more aggressive than the car it replaced. Underneath, it delivered serious hardware for the time, with high torsional rigidity, 50/50 weight distribution and a chassis that finally felt worthy of an M badge.
This M badge was available with the Z4 M Roadster, which adopted the 330 hp inline-six engine from the E46 M3 and accelerated from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than five seconds. It was rough, loud and a little unhinged at times, but it has become one of BMW’s cult classics.
In 2008, BMW changed gears. The second-generation Z4, the E89, swapped the fabric roof for an electro-hydraulic folding hardtop that transformed the car from roadster to coupe in 20 seconds. It provided a dose of sophistication, more space in the interior and, for the first time, iDrive. It also pushed the Z4 further upmarket, more GT than scalpel.
The current G29, introduced at Pebble Beach in 2018, swung the pendulum back. The hardtop disappeared and was replaced by a simple fabric roof. The proportions have become more classic roadster again, the cabin is more driver-oriented and the M40i brings a three-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-six that feels like the heart of the car. Since 2024, this engine has also been available as a manual transmission edition with a manual transmission, which immediately makes it a collector’s item in the series.
What the Final Edition means
On the one hand, the Z4 Final Edition is what BMW does best at the end of a life cycle: rigorously compiled specifications, a strong inclination toward custom paintwork, and just enough fiddling with the chassis to give the car a special feel. On the other hand, it’s a reminder that the classic BMW roadster will soon be taking a break again as the brand prepares to go all-in on the New Class and electrification.
If you’ve been waiting for a modern BMW two-seater with a straight-six, rear-wheel drive and manual transmission, this is probably the last call for a while. In Final Edition, the Z4 M40i looks set to be the purest expression of the G29’s character and a legitimate addition to a lineage that began in Spartanburg in 2002 and whose DNA goes back to some of BMW’s most famous open-top cars.
As always, we will update this story as soon as we receive US allocation numbers and timing. For now, the headline is simple: If you want one, you have to act fast.
Z4 Final Edition Gallery
Functions and features of the Z4 Final Edition
BMW Individual Frozen Black Metallic paint
Vernasca/Alcantara leather interior with red contrast stitching
Black high gloss interior
M seat belts
19/20-inch M twin-spoke bicolor 800M wheels with offset performance tires
M sport brakes with red brake calipers
Shadowline Pack
- Mirror caps in black
- Adaptive full LED lights
- Advanced shadowline cropping
Driving assistance package
- Park Distance Control
- Active blind spot detection
- Speed limit information
- Lane keeping assistant
- Forward collision mitigation
Premium package
- Ambient lighting
- Parking assistant
- Head-up display
- Active Park Distance Control with side protection
Harman Kardon surround sound system
Moonlight Black soft top
Specifications
| 2026 BMW Z4 Final Edition | |||||
| Body | |||||
| Number of doors/seats | 2/2 | ||||
| Length / Width / Height (inches) | 170.7 / 73.4 / 51.4 | ||||
| Wheelbase (in) | 97.2 | ||||
| Track, front/rear (in) | 62.8 / 62.6 | ||||
| ground clearance (in) | 4.7 | ||||
| Turning circle diameter (ft) | 36.1 | ||||
| Fuel tank capacity (gallons) | 13.7 | ||||
| Curb weight (lbs) | 3,543 / 3,514 (6 million) | ||||
| Luggage capacity (cubic feet) | 9.9 | ||||
| Motor | |||||
| Config. / NO. Cylinders/valves | Inline / 6 / 24 | ||||
| Capacity (cc) | 2,998 | ||||
| Bore / Stroke (mm) | 82.0×94.6 | ||||
| Compression ratio (:1) | 10.2 | ||||
| Maximum Power (HP at RPM) | 382 at 5,800-6,500 | ||||
| Maximum Torque (lb-ft at rpm) | 369 @ 1,800-5,000 | ||||
| chassis | |||||
| steering | Electric power steering (EPS) with Servotronic function | ||||
| Total steering ratio (:1) | 15.1 | ||||
| Tires front/rear (STD) | 255/35 R19 / 285/30 R20 | ||||
| Rims, front / rear (inches) (standard) | 19×9.0 / 20×10.0 | ||||
| transmission | |||||
| type | 8-speed STEPTRONIC | 6-speed manual transmission | |||
| Gear ratios | I | :1 | 5.25 | 4.11 | |
| II | :1 | 3.36 | 2.32 | ||
| III | :1 | 2.17 | 1.54 | ||
| IV | :1 | 1.72 | 1.18 | ||
| v | :1 | 1.32 | 1.00 | ||
| VI | :1 | 1.00 | 0.85 | ||
| VII | :1 | 0.82 | — | ||
| VIII | :1 | 0.64 | — | ||
| R | :1 | 3.71 | 3.73 | ||
| final drive | :1 | 2.81 | 3.46 | ||
| Performance | |||||
| 0-60 mph (sec) | 3.9 | 4.2 | |||
| Maximum speed (mph) | 155 | 155 | |||
