[Bluenose-2er]

Originally Posted by tke743

I'm with you that #1 isn't correct, it's an M car. On #2 I think it is correct, BMW themselves called the M2 Comp "the M2 the way it should have been since the beginning."

Where is your quote from? That is absolutely the worst slogan I have ever heard from a car manufacturer!

Funny how a car needs a S55 to be a true M car these days. Not long ago, it was not a true M car if it was turbocharged.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by Bluenose-2er

Where is your quote from? That is absolutely the worst slogan I have ever heard from a car manufacturer!

Funny how a car needs a S55 to be a true M car these days. Not long ago, it was not a true M car if it was turbocharged.

I think there are a lot of issues with the lineup of vehicles that BMW now produces, that are about two log functions more important than whether the M2 has an N55 or a detuned S55 engine under the hood.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by Bluenose-2er

Where is your quote from? That is absolutely the worst slogan I have ever heard from a car manufacturer!

Funny how a car needs a S55 to be a true M car these days. Not long ago, it was not a true M car if it was turbocharged.

Not sure where that quote is from but wait until the reviews come. I bet that quote is going to be in like 90% of the reviews.


Did you buy the M2 the way it was meant to be? or did you get suckered into paying markup on the fake M car? I think this is how non M2 owners will view it once the future becomes history.

[tke743]

Originally Posted by Bluenose-2er

Where is your quote from? That is absolutely the worst slogan I have ever heard from a car manufacturer!

Funny how a car needs a S55 to be a true M car these days. Not long ago, it was not a true M car if it was turbocharged.

The quote is from the Welt staff at ED for my wife's 330XiT 2 weeks ago when we asked (2 separate people). It has been stated in these threads as well. I agree that this will never be the actual slogan for the car, that would be marketing suicide. Just a quick search has it in this post too.

Here

Originally Posted by akkando

Not sure where that quote is from but wait until the reviews come. I bet that quote is going to be in like 90% of the reviews.

That's a safe bet.

[Bluenose-2er]

Originally Posted by tke743

The quote is from the Welt staff at ED for my wife's 330XiT 2 weeks ago when we asked (2 separate people). It has been stated in these threads as well. I agree that this will never be the actual slogan for the car, that would be marketing suicide. Just a quick search has it in this post too.

So the current has shifted from the M2 being a great car that all the car reviewers love to the M2 being a deeply flawed vehicle in desperate need of improvement? A lot can change in 1.5 years, I guess.

[Lotus99]

Originally Posted by akkando

Not sure where that quote is from but wait until the reviews come. I bet that quote is going to be in like 90% of the reviews.

Did you buy the M2 the way it was meant to be? or did you get suckered into paying markup on the fake M car? I think this is how non M2 owners will view it once the future becomes history.

The whole "not a real M car" thing goes back to the 1M, because it didn't have a special M engine.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=523105

Or as Jalopnik described it, it was a "Frankenstein parts bin special where BMW took the best ingredients from their M division shelves and stuffed them into the smallest, fixed-roof vehicle in the lineup".

No more such excuses for the M2!

[akkando]

Originally Posted by Lotus99

The whole "not a real M car" thing goes back to the 1M, because it didn't have a special M engine.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=523105

Or as Jalopnik described it, it was a "Frankenstein parts bin special where BMW took the best ingredients from their M division shelves and stuffed them into the smallest, fixed-roof vehicle in the lineup".

No more such excuses for the M2!

I was thinking the M2 isn't really special in any particular way. Don't get me wrong, there are not a lot of other new cars that are similar as far as features, but the M2 I don't think will go down in history as special.

What I mean is it's not ultra limited, it doesn't have a unique story, it's not the first of anything, and it doesn't appear to be the last of anything. It's not the last RWD coup, it's not the last MT coup, it's not the last NA coup, it's not the last hydraulic steering.

It's just a well balanced reasonably high HP RWD coup that isn't the size of a barge that you can get with a MT. But it won't be the last version of this kind of vehicle, so it probably won't be special.



Who knows though, perhaps when the new 2 series comes out the M2/M2Comp will the last BMW coup for something.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by akkando

I was thinking the M2 isn't really special in any particular way. Don't get me wrong, there are not a lot of other new cars that are similar as far as features, but the M2 I don't think will go down in history as special.

What I mean is it's not ultra limited, it doesn't have a unique story, it's not the first of anything, and it doesn't appear to be the last of anything. It's not the last RWD coup, it's not the last MT coup, it's not the last NA coup, it's not the last hydraulic steering.

It's just a well balanced reasonably high HP RWD coup that isn't the size of a barge that you can get with a MT. But it won't be the last version of this kind of vehicle, so it probably won't be special.



Who knows though, perhaps when the new 2 series comes out the M2/M2Comp will the last BMW coup for something.

Well stated. I am thinking that your last statement is prescient. the M2 Comp may be the very end of a long line of small RWD "driver's cars" produced by this brand.

[MrYLT]

There is not many small coupe on the market with that size, philosophy and power.

It's a real wink from BMW to its past and more particularly to the 2002 tii/turbo spirit or even the E30 M3. It comes back to what makes an E30 M3 desirable.
I really have this image in mind and it makes the M2 special to me.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Bluenose-2er

So the current has shifted from the M2 being a great car that all the car reviewers love to the M2 being a deeply flawed vehicle in desperate need of improvement? A lot can change in 1.5 years, I guess.

I don't personally think the current M2 is flawed, because that's not fair to call it that. The S55 just happens to be a better engine (minus engine sound). I don't think too many people can argue against that.

When I drove the M2 I thought, the N55T was OK, I wasn't blown away by it. It's plenty fast, but it just doesn't have the top end of the S55. To me, the highlight was its looks, size and handling.

But with the M2 Comp, you'll get all that, plus the crazy pull all the way to redline from the M3/4 which will make a great car even better.

My 2 cents

[Dante]

Originally Posted by W///

But with the M2 Comp, you'll get all that, plus the crazy pull all the way to redline from the M3/4 which will make a great car even better.

We don't even know that, a detuned S55 might have a totally different powerband.

[Bluenose-2er]

Originally Posted by W///

I don't personally think the current M2 is flawed, because that's not fair to call it that. The S55 just happens to be a better engine (minus engine sound). I don't think too many people can argue against that.

When I drove the M2 I thought, the N55T was OK, I wasn't blown away by it. It's plenty fast, but it just doesn't have the top end of the S55. To me, the highlight was its looks, size and handling.

But with the M2 Comp, you'll get all that, plus the crazy pull all the way to redline from the M3/4 which will make a great car even better.

My 2 cents

I was being sarcastic I do not think the M2 is flawed at all... but the sky seems to be falling on it in some discussion threads. It is an awesome car... sure you can spend more and get better; but to me it seems to be in a real sweet spot, including the looks, size and handling you mention - and very decent pull.

I agree the M2 Comp will likely be better... though at what price remains to be seen, and whether any of it will be apparent off the track is also a question.

[RPM33]

I have had my 2018 M2 since October and I agree that I am not blown away by the power of the engine. More impressed by the power of the M4, C63 during my brief test drives.

Love the handling of the M2 and the car is very fun to drive. Also, I love the size of the car as it is nimble unlike larger cars like M4 and C63. Most likely going to put myself on the waiting list for the M2 competition after January 1st.

[tke743]

Originally Posted by Lotus99

And for mostly daily driving, other than a handful of track days a year, what would you say are the big pluses and minuses of either car? Got a mini review for us?

I do, I posted it earlier. Here

[devo]

Originally Posted by Bluenose-2er

Where is your quote from? That is absolutely the worst slogan I have ever heard from a car manufacturer!

Funny how a car needs a S55 to be a true M car these days. Not long ago, it was not a true M car if it was turbocharged.

So true...

I recall countless people discounting the 1M as not being a true M car.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by Dante

We don't even know that, a detuned S55 might have a totally different powerband.

of course it will. The S55 is a track focused motor. I keep saying this but the internet is obsessed with numbers on paper. The S55 in my personal experience is much laggier in the low rpm but pulls hard at redline. You really can't have both low turbo lag and torque at redline. So it's a choice you have to make. Plus the S55 sounds like ass. It's not all sunny days with that motor.

If all you want is tunability then ok yes your N55 is gonna tap out pretty quick on you. Me? I just don't think the S55 is that special. My next switch will be the S58 M2 and I will pass on the comp.

[greasypeanut]

I was blown away by our n55s power, but then again I was coming from a Cooper S. That being said in typical Southern California traffic, other than on a track, I'm lucky to use 50% of this engines potential. Even during track days, it surely isn't the engine that's slowing me down. Fast lap times simply due to a fast engine is not as fun or as respectable.

I am bummed that we didn't get the s55 though, better to want something and have it then to not have it.

[cenz422]

What actually makes an "S" engine vs its counterparts? I feel the M2 N55 does offer similar if not exact qualities of an S engine with the caveat of hitting a power ceiling when it comes to modifications.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by cenz422

What actually makes an "S" engine vs its counterparts? I feel the M2 N55 does offer similar if not exact qualities of an S engine with the caveat of hitting a power ceiling when it comes to modifications.

For starters, an S engine is "closed deck".

[cenz422]

Originally Posted by Tag

For starters, an S engine is "closed deck".

I just learned something new.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Tag

For starters, an S engine is "closed deck".

Originally Posted by cenz422

I just learned something new.

In the past an epic-esque debate raged on this forum tackling the question whether the N55B30T0 engine powering the base M2 is 'open deck' or 'closed deck'.

I had my doubts about the accuracy of official initial BMW 'closed deck' information and explained on the forum why I believed the base M2 engine to be 'open deck'. To my eyes, there was a mismatch of information. By doing so I inevitably challenged the official initial BMW information stating 'closed deck' (threads: here, here, here and here). Some forum fellows kindly commented that I got it wrong ("rather weak conjecture" as someone coined it).

The discussion seemed to be sealed after 'closed deck' confirmation by e-mail by BMWNA (when inquired by some forum fellow in order to end the forum discussion for once and for all). This 'closed deck' confirmation didn't convince me and I persisted: 'open deck'.

And later the final answer came through: BMWNA confirmed in the end that - as I had supposed - the M2 engine is effectively 'open deck'. All 'closed deck' references have vanished from BMW M2 press releases and the BMWNA website.

Before (https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/m-models/m2.html):


After (https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/m-models/m2.html):

[Artemis]

Noticed that 8 additional USA-spec entries have popped up in a public BMW VIN decoder.

All still pre-series, scheduled (not built yet):

• 4 cars are 6MT and 4 cars are M-DCT;
• 2 cars are Canadian versions (option 838: "Canadian Version");
• 3 cars for PR campaign purposes (option 903: "Special Check Trade Fair/photo Vehicle");
• as all other known USA-spec "M2 Competition" test mules without exception: all S55 3.0 with 302kW output and still none in Mineral Grey body color.

Peculiarity: now two different codes are shown for the all-new Y-spoke forged 19" 788M wheels (maybe a different finish: black and silver ?):

• option code 2QT: 19"m Law.ý-sp.788 M For. Mt. (19"m Lmr Y-sp.788 M Ge. Mb)
• option code 29U: 19"m Law.ý-sp.788m For.mt.black (19"m Lmr Y-sp.788m Ge. Mb Schwarz)

List:

• WBS2U7C50KVB08892 = M-DCT (AW+orange) (scheduled)
  • 2QT 19"m Law.ý-sp.788 M For. Mt. (19"m Lmr Y-sp.788 M Ge. Mb)
  • 838 Canadian Version (Kanada-ausfuehrung)
• WBS2U7C52KVB08893 = M-DCT (HS) (scheduled)
  • 29U 19"m Law.ý-sp.788m For.mt.black (19"m Lmr Y-sp.788m Ge. Mb Schwarz)
• WBS2U7C54KVB08894 = 6MT (LBB) (scheduled)
  • 29U 19"m Law.ý-sp.788m For.mt.black (19"m Lmr Y-sp.788m Ge. Mb Schwarz)
• WBS2U7C56KVB08895 = 6MT (SO+orange) (scheduled)
  • 29U 19"m Law.ý-sp.788m For.mt.black (19"m Lmr Y-sp.788m Ge. Mb Schwarz)
• WBS2U7C58KVB08896 = 6MT (HS+orange) (scheduled)
  • 29U 19"m Law.ý-sp.788m For.mt.black (19"m Lmr Y-sp.788m Ge. Mb Schwarz)
• WBS2U7C5XKVB08897 = M-DCT (SO+orange) (scheduled)
  • 29U 19"m Law.ý-sp.788m For.mt.black (19"m Lmr Y-sp.788m Ge. Mb Schwarz)
  • 903 Special Check Trade Fair/photo Vehicle (Sonderkontrolle Stand-/fotowagen)
• WBS2U7C51KVB08898 = M-DCT (HS) (scheduled)
  • 29U 19"m Law.ý-sp.788m For.mt.black (19"m Lmr Y-sp.788m Ge. Mb Schwarz)
  • 903 Special Check Trade Fair/photo Vehicle (Sonderkontrolle Stand-/fotowagen)
• WBS2U7C53KVB08899 = 6MT (SO+orange) (scheduled)
  • 29U 19"m Law.ý-sp.788m For.mt.black (19"m Lmr Y-sp.788m Ge. Mb Schwarz)
  • 838 Canadian Version (Kanada-ausfuehrung)
  • 903 Special Check Trade Fair/photo Vehicle (Sonderkontrolle Stand-/fotowagen)