BIMMERPOST BMW M2 In Depth Review from Laguna Seca

W/// · 02-17-2016, 07:45 AM

To me, the M2 sounds absolutely nothing like the E46 M3 CSL. I've heard a million videos of that car (drove it around a parking lot too actually, that was a great moment in my life haha).

The M2 IMHO is one of the best sounding cars BMW makes at the moment having heard the X4 MPA, but it just does not have any rasp that the S54 is known for. If anything, it sounds like they tried to bring the rasp back on purpose on the S55 in the M3/4. Whether that's a good thing or not, that's up to you.

I absolutely can't wait to read about the comparisons. I really think M2 hit it out of the park with this one. And the fact that our predictions that it'll start in the low $50k's is just a huge huge bonus.

W/// · 02-17-2016, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDSM

This was a great review! Sam knew his audience and gave us what we all want from a car review. To know how it drives.
Full laps without unnecessary edits or music, and comparisons to other cars, that we all wonder about but will never have the chance of comparing on our own. thanks for the review.

This just makes the decision of m3 vs m2 that much harder. I can live without 4 doors, though they do come in handy. But how much driving fun would I be trading by going for the m3?

If I were in your shoes, I'd go M2. And this is coming from someone that's more or less decided on an M3....

Xtabi · 02-17-2016, 08:06 AM

Looks like a fun ride!

If they make a four door in the future it would be on my short list for certain.

Thanks for the review.

Verbiage · 02-17-2016, 08:34 AM

Hey Sam, question for you regarding the throttle blip downshifting:

In my Clubman S (don't laugh...Mini BMW here

) I sometimes will skip gears while throttle blipping appropriately to match the gear I am going to (say, 6th to 4th for a moderately empty exit ramp, and then down to 3rd if the ramp travels uphill). I've gotten pretty good at this, and much so prefer to do it since it saves time moving through the gears.

Will this synchronization rev match do the same if I wish to move through the gearbox that way, or is it required to change down each gear chronologically? Was there any jumping/slight jerk coming off the clutch after a blip, or is enough throttle provided during the downshift that no further input is needed to smoothen the transition?

I hope my questions made sense, and thank you! My car is obviously ordered as a 6MT.

slalomfever · 02-17-2016, 08:34 AM

Great review! Thank you!

I'm not sure if this was asked...Can you confirm the actual amount of cars that will be available for sale in the US?

TunedM2C · 02-17-2016, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Brown

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisK

I haven't seen the HUD projection hardware on the dash anywhere online. I am going to the Chicago auto show tomorrow I will have to look for that.

Did you see an M2 on display at the Chicago Auto Show? If so, did you get some pics? I looked on line searching for vehicles on display at the show and an M2 is not listed.

Yes it's there, I've seen it myself.

F1zbo · 02-17-2016, 08:59 AM

Great review Sam! Thank's a lot!

M3 Adjuster · 02-17-2016, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spd974

I just picked up an F80 M3 6MT for the convenience of 4 doors.

I was on a waiting list for the M2 (#12). Your great review is making me second guess myself!

Another would be - M2 gran coupe buyer ...-

M3 Adjuster · 02-17-2016, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idk alex

Sam, how does this compare to the 1M?

I would bet he hasn't driven one. Test drives of the 1M were not actually easy to come by, and it also sound as if he wasn't doing reviews 5 years ago either.

Plus, it only seems natural to compare the M2 with three vehicles. 1M, M235i, and M4, and he left it out.

jc9elfer · 02-17-2016, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam@Bimmerpost

They put track pads on the cars at the track driving portion. The normal stock pads do not squeal, but don't hold up as well to extended track duty.

Sounds like Padget break pads.

OrangeCrush · 02-17-2016, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

I would bet he hasn't driven one. Test drives of the 1M were not actually easy to come by, and it also sound as if he wasn't doing reviews 5 years ago either.

Plus, it only seems natural to compare the M2 with three vehicles. 1M, M235i, and M4, and he left it out.

I don't like his response to Artemis when he called the M2 suspension "supple".

Sam, can you give us more detail on that? Was is softer than the M4?

SamS · 02-17-2016, 09:28 AM

Hey Sam, that was a great video review. Love the production as well as the commentary. Looks like you had a great time, and your efforts are much appreciated.

chmura · 02-17-2016, 09:39 AM

Awesome video! All the excitement in the video made me contact my dealer if he received any allocations yet. I'm number #4 on their list since last July 2015. I am hoping to do European Delivery in June.

I have to agree with you and I am glad you mentioned this. Every enthusiast that loves to drive should buy a 6MT M2. This will show manufactures that there is still a profitable market for a manual transmission for the future development of vehicles.

I sure as heck getting a 6MT!

JRV · 02-17-2016, 09:58 AM

The sound that M2 makes is delic

supershaft · 02-17-2016, 09:59 AM

Quote:

And while the M3 and M4 are excellent vehicles, they are tuned for performance and sophistication. They are exceedingly well polished and mature products and have in fact, become too good for their own good

I don't know how anyone can take this "review" seriously. This wouldn't even pass for a highschool paper

Verbiage · 02-17-2016, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supershaft

I don't know how anyone can take this "review" seriously. This wouldn't even pass for a high {space inserted, noun correction} school paper. (missing punctuation)

FTFY.

supershaft · 02-17-2016, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verbiage

FTFY.

Thanks. Maybe you can write a better review that doesn't make me want to stab my brain? How does a car become too good for its own good? Does this make sense to anyone else?

Verbiage · 02-17-2016, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supershaft

Thanks. Maybe you can write a better review that doesn't make me want to stab my brain? How does a car become too good for its own good? Does this make sense to anyone else?

I mean I understood it for what it was meant to be. He was overjoyed with the car, and did his best in a short frame of time to pull together not only the cinematographic aspects of this review, but the written portion, as well.

I'm not really sure how grammatical errors or minor nuances regarding tenses and adjective modification take away from the main principle of the review. Of course all reviews are subjective, so I'm sure that's a large part of it. But this is a BMW forum, consisting of BMW enthusiasts.

But that's just me. My $0.02 cents.

focal · 02-17-2016, 10:19 AM

@Sam How does this compare to your other love Porsche? I thought I read you ordered a GT4, so curious how they compare.

Big Tuna · 02-17-2016, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supershaft

Thanks. Maybe you can write a better review that doesn't make me want to stab my brain? How does a car become too good for its own good? Does this make sense to anyone else?

He is referring to the fact that M3 and 4, like many cars these days, have been polished to the point of being boring and unremarkable.

supershaft · 02-17-2016, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verbiage

I mean I understood it for what it was meant to be. He was overjoyed with the car, and did his best in a short frame of time to pull together not only the cinematographic aspects of this review, but the written portion, as well.

I'm not really sure how grammatical errors or minor nuances regarding tenses and adjective modification take away from the main principle of the review. Of course all reviews are subjective, so I'm sure that's a large part of it. But this is a BMW forum, consisting of BMW enthusiasts.

But that's just me. My $0.02 cents.

I understood the gist of his review but I don't quite get it when he compares it to the M3/M4 by saying those cars are too good for their own good. BMW is not going to outclass the M3/M4 with the M2 but reading between the lines it appears that the M2 is right on the knife's edge of performance difference between the two Ms.

Verbiage · 02-17-2016, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supershaft

I understood the gist of his review but I don't quite get it when he compares it to the M3/M4 by saying those cars are too good for their own good. BMW is not going to outclass the M3/M4 with the M2 but reading between the lines it appears that the M2 is right on the knife's edge of performance difference between the two Ms.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Tuna

He is referring to the fact that M3 and 4, like many cars these days, have been polished to the point of being boring and unremarkable.

I thought this summed it up generally well.

02-17-2016, 07:45 AM	#177
W/// Lieutenant General 7494 Rep 12,310 Posts Drives: F82GTS, E36/E92M3, Z4M Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: SC iTrader: (13)	To me, the M2 sounds absolutely nothing like the E46 M3 CSL. I've heard a million videos of that car (drove it around a parking lot too actually, that was a great moment in my life haha). The M2 IMHO is one of the best sounding cars BMW makes at the moment having heard the X4 MPA, but it just does not have any rasp that the S54 is known for. If anything, it sounds like they tried to bring the rasp back on purpose on the S55 in the M3/4. Whether that's a good thing or not, that's up to you. I absolutely can't wait to read about the comparisons. I really think M2 hit it out of the park with this one. And the fact that our predictions that it'll start in the low $50k's is just a huge huge bonus. __________________ Current: 16 F82 M4 GTS, Black Sapphire/Black, DCT 08 E92 M3, Sparkling Graphite/Bamboo Beige, 6MT 07 E85 Z4M Roadster, Alpine White/Red, 6MT 99 E36 M3, Techno Violet/Dove Grey, 6MT
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02-17-2016, 08:06 AM	#179
Xtabi Colonel 1702 Rep 2,127 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Looks like a fun ride! If they make a four door in the future it would be on my short list for certain. Thanks for the review. __________________ 2016 F80 \| MG/SO \| DCT \| Adaptive M Suspension \| 19" Black 437M Wheels \| CF Roof \| CF Trim
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02-17-2016, 08:34 AM	#180
Verbiage Dismembered Member 3583 Rep 9,213 Posts Drives: F80 ZCP 6MT, R55 Clubman S 6MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: DMV iTrader: (6)	Hey Sam, question for you regarding the throttle blip downshifting: In my Clubman S (don't laugh...Mini BMW here ) I sometimes will skip gears while throttle blipping appropriately to match the gear I am going to (say, 6th to 4th for a moderately empty exit ramp, and then down to 3rd if the ramp travels uphill). I've gotten pretty good at this, and much so prefer to do it since it saves time moving through the gears. Will this synchronization rev match do the same if I wish to move through the gearbox that way, or is it required to change down each gear chronologically? Was there any jumping/slight jerk coming off the clutch after a blip, or is enough throttle provided during the downshift that no further input is needed to smoothen the transition? I hope my questions made sense, and thank you! My car is obviously ordered as a 6MT. __________________ My delivery experience and beach photoshoot here.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-17-2016, 08:34 AM	#181
slalomfever 1097 Rep 2,151 Posts Drives: Nardo Grey F80 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (5)	Great review! Thank you! I'm not sure if this was asked...Can you confirm the actual amount of cars that will be available for sale in the US?
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02-17-2016, 08:59 AM	#183
F1zbo Second Lieutenant 199 Rep 209 Posts Drives: M3 G80 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Stockholm iTrader: (0)	Great review Sam! Thank's a lot!
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02-17-2016, 09:28 AM	#188
SamS Banned 867 Rep 6,248 Posts Drives: Tesla M3 Perf + '18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Hey Sam, that was a great video review. Love the production as well as the commentary. Looks like you had a great time, and your efforts are much appreciated.
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02-17-2016, 09:39 AM	#189
chmura Colonel 1558 Rep 2,505 Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Orange County, California iTrader: (1)	Awesome video! All the excitement in the video made me contact my dealer if he received any allocations yet. I'm number #4 on their list since last July 2015. I am hoping to do European Delivery in June. I have to agree with you and I am glad you mentioned this. Every enthusiast that loves to drive should buy a 6MT M2. This will show manufactures that there is still a profitable market for a manual transmission for the future development of vehicles. I sure as heck getting a 6MT! __________________ 2019 M2 Competition- October 2, 2018 ED 2011 BMW M3 Sedan Alpine White Picked up via ED 9/27/2011 & Redelivered 11/23/2011 SOLD
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02-17-2016, 09:58 AM	#190
JRV Captain 119 Rep 922 Posts Drives: 2011.75 AWE90M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	The sound that M2 makes is delic __________________ '11 Black/Black GLK350 (Wife) '19 Black RAM 1500 Big Horn Night Package '11 Loaded AW Fox Red/Black/Black Carbon Leather ZCP E90 M3 (Halloween Delivery)
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02-17-2016, 10:19 AM	#195
focal Captain 67 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 328i 6MT w/ MPS & MPE Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	@Sam How does this compare to your other love Porsche? I thought I read you ordered a GT4, so curious how they compare.
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