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BMW Confirms Next M3 Will Have Manual Transmission and All-Wheel Drive

Manual transmissions might be on the endangered species list, but they’re not dead yet and in some circles, they’re starting to make a comeback. You can still get a manual transmission in the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, as well as the M4 and M2 series, but in March industry experts apparently confirmed that the new M3 series wouldn’t have a manual gearbox.

That seems to have changed, as BMW recently confirmed that the newest M3 will have a manual transmission and all-wheel drive — but not in the same car.

A Manual M3

M3 30th Anniversary Interior

Until now, we’ve been operating under the assumption that the new M3 wouldn’t have a manual transmission, but BMW answered our prayers and is offering an option for the 3-Series that gives us back our stick shift. The M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe will probably premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.

The M3’s manual transmission will only be available on the “Pure” version of the car — a slimmed-down M3 that won’t have a lot of bells and whistles. It will come with rear-wheel drive and manual transmission as a standard equipment.

It may also have a detuned engine with slightly less power than other models in the family. The Pure M3 is designed to be an entry-level BMW and may be the most affordable sedan in its class when it debuts.

All-Wheel Drive

If you prefer an M3 sedan that offers all-wheel drive for optimum handling, you won’t be able to take advantage of the manual transmission that BMW is finally offering for this particular model. If you’re okay with an automatic transmission, the new M3 will have an all-wheel-drive system that is very similar to what’s currently available in the M5 series.

We don’t have specs yet for the M3’s AWD system, but it may have an RWD system by default with the option to turn on AWD if you need it. We wouldn’t recommend taking this sedan off-road but if you’re on an icy road or stuck in the snow, that AWD could come in handy.

More Power, More Ponies

M3 30th Anniversary Front

Whether you choose the Pure M3 with a manual transmission or the traditional sedan with an automatic, you’re in for a treat with some serious power under the hood.

The base M3 models will generate 473 horsepower. The Competition models will have 503 ponies. The latter comes from a 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six-cylinder engine. We’ll see the same engine in the X3 M and X4M crossover later on this year.

There’s plenty of power under the hood, even if you choose the Pure M3, so don’t let the comment about the engine being detuned deter you from choosing that manual transmission.

When Can We Get Our Hands On One?

When can we expect to see these new M3’s showing up at our local BMW dealerships? Not for a while, unfortunately. We’ll learn more about the new M3 when it gets its official debut at the International Motor Show Germany in Frankfurt which starts on September 12 and runs through the 22nd. If everything goes according to plan, the M3 is scheduled to be available for the 2020 model year.

That’s all we know at this point about the new M3. BMW is offering a manual transmission and all-wheel drive, but not in the same model. If you want an entry-level BMW, the Pure M3 with a stick shift won’t have all the bells and whistles but it will be more affordable than the stock and Competition M3s.

If you feel like you need all-wheel-drive in your M3, opt for the automatic transmission and you’ll have the same AWD system that is currently used in the M5.