Words: Andrew Sluys
Published 25 May 2026
BMW is planning to send off the current G80 M3 with an ultra-limited CS model that will not be available in our part of the world.
Dubbed the M3 CS Handschalter, this high-performance sedan will only be available to buyers in the United States of America.
While exact production numbers haven’t been revealed, BMW stated that it will be built in “very limited numbers” from July.
While the regular CS was only available in all-wheel drive guise with an automatic transmission, the Handschalter is rear-wheel drive, and manual only.
According to BMW, this CS Handschalter is around 34kg lighter than a standard rear-wheel drive M3, making it the lightest G80 variant ever.
Weight saving measures have come from standard M carbon seats, a titanium muffler, forged alloy wheels, and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic on various panels.
It also rides 6mm lower than the standard M3 thanks to springs taken from the M2 CS, paired with shocks taken from the M4 CSL.
BMW also created a bespoke tune for the traction control and power steering system in this Handschalter model.
Power still comes from the twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six engine that produces 353kW and 550Nm.
This is down on the 405kW/650Nm in the regular CS, due to the limitations of the manual transmission and rear-wheel drive system.
As mentioned, the M3 CS Handschalter will only be offered in the US, and will be priced from around NZ$185,000.
Interestingly, this is around NZ$15,000 cheaper than the standard M3 CS, which was produced in far greater numbers.
