[Topcarbon]

I am considering a 2018 M2.
There are some mild modifications like downpipes and cold air intake. No tunes or crazy Frankenstein build.
It has a considerable amount of miles(70,000).
Anything to look for or be concerned about?

thanks in advance for your responses

[Topcarbon]

I know I will need to marry this car for life and go into the purchase as if the money is a sunk cost

opinions welcome

[Topcarbon]

and remus exhaust

[///MPhatic]

It's not the mileage that would concern me, as the N55 will last 200K without issue if you keep up on the maintenance.

The thing that would concern me is all the mods. Hope he has all the stock parts...

[Topcarbon]

So even mild mods like downpipes and exhaust are a no no

[DanG]

Down pipe and exhaust should have zero effect on the life of the engine.

[David1]

The only real engine problems across the entire BMW engine family is rod bearings. The standard N55 motors are eating them up but no reports of this with the N55 in the M2.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Topcarbon

So even mild mods like downpipes and exhaust are a no no

Most every M2 owned by an enthusiast will have either a catted or catless downpipe, and these pose no danger to the engine. An exhaust is stupid expensive for the M2, especially something like Remus, and causes no harm either. My comments were just about how much stuff has been changed on the car.

[TheHaze]

The N55 engine has been around for a long time and seems to be reasonably reliable, as long as you're keeping up with all maintenance items and watching out for fluid leaks (OFHG, oil pan, etc.). Do you have any info on the car's service history?

A modified car wouldn't necessarily scare me away, but it would be nice to have a comprehensive list of what all has been done to it. The Remus is a big plus in my eyes as I think it's a fantastic sounding exhaust. I've had their system on my car for years and it never gets old to me.

[Topcarbon]

thank you for all the responses
serviced annually at the dealership, and oil changed every 7000 km.
what about clutch fluid, and tranny fluid?
this has a dual clutch, no? don't those last forever?

[F87source]

Originally Posted by Topcarbon

thank you for all the responses
serviced annually at the dealership, and oil changed every 7000 km.
what about clutch fluid, and tranny fluid?
this has a dual clutch, no? don't those last forever?

flush clutch fluid with the brake fluid - because they share the same master cylinder. This is for the manual only.

Transmission fluid should be done probably every 4 years 50k km at most. With the DCT it is alot more complex, you have to flush the fluid, change 2 filters, the jet pump and the sump (if you keep the plastic one, unless you're able to buy a seal elsewhere - i think there were resellers online).

DCT's do not last forever, eventually those clutch packs will wear out and that's going to be insanely expensive unfortunately.

[dtmurf]

I would not be overly concerned with the mods but I'd really want to know if it had any track time.

70K isn't excessive, that's about 12k a year, if it was a daily however, if it was tracked, what percentage of the 70K is track mileage as that's where the engine will have been worked the hardest so tracked once or twice, no big deal, tracked ever other weekend...nope!

[Topcarbon]

The miles reported from the seller are
Mostly highway miles. No track usage

[Brokenbones]

As for buying a track car, you’re really buying the owner. Did they keep up with maintenance, was the car properly warmed up and cooled? Running a car hard isn’t necessarily bad, as long as it was tucked away nicely afterwards. I’d almost be more wary of super low mileage cars, not the m2 age but more in the 10+ year old range… what kind of dried out rubber ticking time bombs are there waiting for me?

[bmwstephen]

Steve Dinan has always said that M engines throughout his experience is 125k miles, it is ready for a rebuild as piston skirts, seals, and bearings are typically worn down by from spec. So if you are dealing with increasing oil consumption and lower compression, its one of those components warned down (if not all). It is the "M" tax for having more exotic metallurgy for low friction, revy motors.

Having said that, the last time I checked with him at Carbahn, the two motors he touts as being the most "reliable" M built engines that would go beyond 250k on stock power without having to open it up, are a) the US version's e36 s50/s52 and b) f87 n55 because they have more traditional components iron cylinder walls, cast pistons, and skirts which significantly better wear and thermal cycles; therefore extending life.

[Topcarbon]

Originally Posted by Brokenbones

As for buying a track car, you’re really buying the owner. Did they keep up with maintenance, was the car properly warmed up and cooled? Running a car hard isn’t necessarily bad, as long as it was tucked away nicely afterwards. I’d almost be more wary of super low mileage cars, not the m2 age but more in the 10+ year old range… what kind of dried out rubber ticking time bombs are there waiting for me?

the owner of the car is also the owner of a modification business. he uses this car as a show car. most miles are highway miles.
the upkeep and maintenance is regular and frequent.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by bmwstephen

It is the "M" tax for having more exotic metallurgy for low friction, revy motors.

I don't buy that. Honda has no problem building an engine that's just as powerful and technological as BMW, they're just consistently more reliable. I think this 100% comes down to tolerance. The Japanese companies are known for sacrificing ultimate power for reliability through tolerance, and BMW just won't do it. To them, the engine, like the first owner, is a transient thing. BMW's general philosophy is one of impermanence.

[bmwstephen]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

I don't buy that. Honda has no problem building an engine that's just as powerful and technological as BMW, they're just consistently more reliable. I think this 100% comes down to tolerance. The Japanese companies are known for sacrificing ultimate power for reliability through tolerance, and BMW just won't do it. To them, the engine, like the first owner, is a transient thing. BMW's general philosophy is one of impermanence.

Well thats the thing. The s50/s52 and f87 n55 does have higher tolerance.

I have an e36 m3 approaching 140k still on original bearings, headgasket, doesn’t burn oil, and compression within spec because they use less exotic components and conservative power levels.

My previous s65 was already burning a quart of oil when daily driving under 60k miles because of lower tolerance (obviously with the more exotic materials) and high strung. Sold it before needing a rod bearing job.

The f87 n55 is the opposite and is built better and in some respects more so than the s55. It can probably take on another 100hp/ft tq but you sacrifice reliability and decrease tolerance. Only thing is the heat soak that was subsequently solved in the s55 cooling system.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by bmwstephen

The f87 n55 is the opposite and is built better and in some respects more so than the s55.

Nope.