[chrispraeger]

This is the very first time in my life I write a thread about my car in an international forum. It would be of course more easy just posting my photos - but I definitely want to tell you the story of me and my car too.

My name is Chris and I am from Germany. I live very close to the Nuerburgring and I am a moderator in two German BMW forums. I have pretty good access to BMW M and the German BMW scene.

The story of my M2 started already in 2016. During a M Drive Tour I had the opportunity to drive M2/3/4/6 on the same day to get a pretty good idea about the individual character of each car. At the end of the day, I liked the M2 most, although it was the "cheapest" and the "smallest" one. The handling was just the best I had since my E85 Z4 M and the character was very similar to the E46 M3. I associate the M2 with my ex 1 M Coupé because of the very muscular shape and from this moment on, I just wanted to own this M2!

The problem at this moment was, that I just bought new Audi RS3 a few months before. Because of problems with the brakes I was very unhappy with this car although the 5 cylinder engine was beautiful and the Sepang Blue color too! The following photo just as a proof:

Ohne Titel by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

A friend of mine then invited me and my RS3 to a photo shoot of a German car magazine, where I had again a direct comparison to the BMW M2, a Ford Focus RS and a Mercedes A45 AMG. Again, the M2 was my favorite car at the end of the day:

32. Conti Tuning Tag by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

After all that I was sure that the M2 is my actual dream car and my problem was, that selling my RS3 would cost me a lot of money. It took me several months after I realized, that you only live once and that my hearts beats for BMW... I sold my RS3 in November 2016 and in January 2017 I ordered my M2 in Long Beach Blue with DCT. And only after a short period of waiting and a trip to the Middle East, I picked up my beauty from the dealer in Lindau / Bodensee in late July 2017. Maybe, I was the happiest person alive on that day:

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

We had a small meeting at my dealer in Lindau of course...

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

And after that I drove home. I decided to take small roads - not the highway and the car was just beautiful. At home in the evening I was still so excited and deeply in love with my M2. Of course, it is not perfect at all. But for me, it is!

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

For the beginning, I just changed the kidney grills and the side blades to the M Performance parts. But of course, more is planned...

Greetings from Germany, Chris

[MerlinPurple]

Welcome to the forum Chris - great intro, read the whole thing.

The RS3 was on my list before the M2 was released.

Tell me, do you miss the engine from the RS3?... there's just something cool about them 5 cylinder engines!

Look forward to reading future updates

[CommitConfirm]

Welcome. Nice pic of the R56 GP

[Transcon]

Welcome Chris, great write up and pictures. Better yet you picked the best color

[chrispraeger]

Originally Posted by MerlinPurple

...

The RS3 was on my list before the M2 was released.

Tell me, do you miss the engine from the RS3?... there's just something cool about them 5 cylinder engines!

...

It's diffcult to say but I think the RS3 only has a certain character because of its engine and the engine is really great! The problem is that the rest of the car is just a normal S3 with a bigger break. That is indeed not bad - but in comparision to the M2, you don't get a proper sportscar with the RS3. You just get a S3 with a 5 cylinder engine.

The 5 cylinder itself is fantastic. Sound and performance leave the N55 behind. And to give you an answer: yes, I miss this 5 cylinder engine! But I don't miss the car.

[mike in o.c.]

I like how you said it: "It's not perfect at all, but for me it is."

[mike@x-ph.com]

Nice and thank you for sharing

[Jadar]

Nice choice and congrats. You made the right choice. My favorite M car as well in the lineup. Enjoy many safe miles...I mean kilometers

[chrispraeger]

Today, it is a very bad morning in the west of Germany. It is raining all over but the good thing is: I can write again on my M2 story in English

After my delivery, I started to modify my car. From my former M cars i knew, that I would need a better suspension first, a front lip, a few carbon parts and maybe some other cosmetic adds... Indeed, my concept was very clear. And because Marc Mueller is one of my best friends, I decided to choose him again as a partner for my M2 modification.

On a beautiful Sunday at the beginning of August, I brought my car to Mittenaar to Lightweight Performance. As before, it was a pleasure to meet Marc again and finally I had to say good bye to my M2 - but of course after taking a few pictures:

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

BMW M2 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

During my holidays in Sweden, the modification to do list for Lightweight was as follows:

Bilstein B16 Suspension
Lightweight HJS 300 Cell EU6 Downpipe
Lightweight AWRON Modul
Lightweight Front Lip Carbon
Lightweight Mirror Caps Carbon
Lightweight Pedal Set
H&R Spacers 10mm
M4 GTS Software (DKG/DSC/Diff)

After coming back, I was totally convinced, that every single modification had been the right! The suspension now was working perfect and the GTS Software made the M2 a whole new and better car. The new look was exactly, what I wanted and I was very happy, as I picked up the car:

DSC01303 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

DSC01308 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

Now, I just had to drive and find the right setup. But I will of course tell you more about that issue next time.

[chrispraeger]

At home, I started to install the

M Performance Rear Diffusor
&
M Performance Spoiler

with the help of my girlfriend in my own small garage.
We were very successful...

IMG_4263 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

[Dirtboy]

Originally Posted by chris.praeger

... And because Marc Mueller is one of my best friends, I decided to choose him again as a partner for my M2 modification.

On a beautiful Sunday at the beginning of August, I brought my car to Mittenaar to Lightweight Performance.


During my holidays in Sweden, the modification to do list for Lightweight was as follows:

Bilstein B16 Suspension
Lightweight HJS 300 Cell EU6 Downpipe
Lightweight AWRON Modul
Lightweight Front Lip Carbon
Lightweight Mirror Caps Carbon
Lightweight Pedal Set
H&R Spacers 10mm
M4 GTS Software (DKG/DSC/Diff)

After coming back, I was totally convinced, that every single modification had been the right! The suspension now was working perfect and the GTS Software made the M2 a whole new and better car. The new look was exactly, what I wanted and I was very happy, as I picked up the car:

DSC01303 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

Love the pics! I used to live in Germany and I miss the Ring so bad!

OK, I'll ask the question... How do I get the GTS software on my M2 in the USA?

Also, if I understand correctly, you're friends with someone who works at LightWeight correct? If yes, could you ask him what it would take to make a CF splitter that incorporates winglets on the sides like the M Performance winglets.

[chrispraeger]

Originally Posted by Dirtboy

OK, I'll ask the question... How do I get the GTS software on my M2 in the USA?

Also, if I understand correctly, you're friends with someone who works at LightWeight correct? If yes, could you ask him what it would take to make a CF splitter that incorporates winglets on the sides like the M Performance winglets.

I don't really know, how you can get the original GTS Software Package in the USA. In Germany, you need the the original BMW Test Hardware and the original Software certificates.

I know the owner of Lightweight very well. Marc Mueller has created this CSR front spoiler, which can be used with the M Performance winglets. But as far as I know, it is not available yet.

[Dirtboy]

Originally Posted by chris.praeger

I know the owner of Lightweight very well. Marc Mueller has created this CSR front spoiler, which can be used with the M Performance winglets. But as far as I know, it is not available yet.

Does he have any pics of it yet? I'm looking forward to seeing it.

[chrispraeger]

Originally Posted by Dirtboy

Does he have any pics of it yet? I'm looking forward to seeing it.

I have a picture:

[CommitConfirm]

Originally Posted by chris.praeger

I have a picture:

WANT!

[Dirtboy]

Originally Posted by chris.praeger

I have a picture:

That looks pretty good; but I was hoping for one like yours, just with winglet extensions on it.

I like the look of the space between the splitter and the lower part of the center air intake for the radiator. I have the LightWeight splitter on my M235i right now and I prefer how it extends all the way to the edges of the sides of the lower fascia. I know it's harder to do that with the M2 fascia because of the radius of the edges. I think the CF LightWeight M2 splitter like yours would look killer with winglets on the ends. Just my opinion...

[chrispraeger]

In my special case, I don’t get really comfortable with the winglets on the front. But that is, like many other things, a question of personal taste.

[Dirtboy]

Originally Posted by chris.praeger

In my special case, I don’t get really comfortable with the winglets on the front. But that is, like many other things, a question of personal taste.

I kind of feel the same about them when they are mounted by themselves. But I think they would look better with a splitter to connect them in the middle, like with the Sterckenn splitter.





Sorry to thread-jack so much. I was drooling over your M2 pics on Instagram. I'm counting down the days till my 2018 LBB M2 arrives.

[chrispraeger]

The Sterckenn Splitter looks really good! Just wow !!

[chrispraeger]

And the story goes on...

Back at home and after retrofitting all the new parts on the car, I wanted to test the whole setup on the Nordschleife. Because I only had 600 kilometers on the car, I drove very calm, shifting at a maximum of 4000 rpm and without hard breaking. At the end, my lap timer stoped at 8:31 BTG what seems pretty amazing, because I was driving real slow in my mind... This car has great potential indeed!

racetracker_3536699_50335 by Chris Präger, auf Flickr

[MerlinPurple]

^ thanks for my new desktop wallpaper

Stunning M2!

[chrispraeger]

Originally Posted by MerlinPurple

^ thanks for my new desktop wallpaper

Stunning M2!

You are welcome
So we both have the same wallpaper now...

Thank you !