[Spare°]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

After roaming the forum for so long, it would feel wrong not to provide you with some fist considerations, impressions and pictures of my new pearlescent beast.
I thought I’d start with a bit of personal context and history. Feel free to skip the first few paragraphs if you’re not interested in that kind of stuff.

Personal background
I’m currently 34 and have been driving BMW for the last 7 years.
I learned to drive in my moms old Toyota Corolla (manual, as was/is usually the case here in Belgium) and then moved on to a Peugeot 307.
Started working full time and received my first lease car from my first employer, a Golf VI, moved to a Mini and later on to my first BMW, a black 116D (after which I swore I’d never own a black car again ). The Golf and Mini were fun little cars, but I only learned to truly appreciate what rwd does to a car, upon "discovering” BMW as a brand. At home, my father had always been a contrarian car owner, piling up SAABs (900, several 9000s and a 95), whilst BMW and Mercedes were considered going “with the masses”.

After leaving my 2nd employer, I left corporate life, joined a startup as an independent (of which I’m now co-owner). I know it probably sounds ridiculous, but one of the reasons I jumped at the opportunity back then, was because of the general freedom it would allow me on how to spend my money.

Went on to drive a nicely specced mineral grey 118D and got my current car 3 years later, which is a gorgeous F30 Msport 330i: Tanzanite blue, black full individual merino leather, piano black inserts, with the ZF8speed. This was my first automatic car (and my first petrol car in quite a while).
It took me a long time to gel with the F30 and the automatic. The dimension of the car felt big on turns and it felt as if I wasn’t able to control the power output in the way I wanted it (initial lag on the throttle). I feel like I really had to learn to drive the automatic transmission the right way and the car has grown on me in the meantime.

However, in the back of my mind there have always been two brands I wanted to own someday: Porsche and //M. Dreamcar is and always will be a GT3, but had a lot of love for the m3 (sedan always). When BMW came out with the OG M2 I thought it was such a compelling value proposition (and it looks the absolute business in mineral grey imho).

My M2C
When I discovered the M2C on these forums back in November or something, I was immediately triggered and contacted my SA. I checked whether my budget could stretch me into a M3 competition in SanMarino Blue (because baby seat)… Turned out I really couldn’t 😉 and that production of F80 M3s had been terminated in Belgium anyway, due to EU emission regulation changes.

Fast forward to the official release in May (?), and I casually walked in to my dealership. Walked away with a financial offer. Wife gave me the green light (she’s always been supportive of this weird car addiction), even though we just had our first baby girl.
So here we are, and I’m the proud owner of my first //M car: a Hockenheim Silver, Blue stitching, DCT car with the 437M wheels. I can tell you I have been pretty anxious about the color choice (I’m not a fan of white cars, at all) and honestly, it’s been a choice through elimination. I find the blue too teal-like, the black and white were no-gos and didn’t like the orange on the other cars I had seen.

First impressions, based on 50kms driving this afternoon
- Engine: coming from a 300hp 330i, I expected to experience a bigger difference on first feel. However I haven't taken it over 5k yet, and you can feel immediately that this car still has plenty in the bag.

- Sound: whilst driving, I think it sounds good in sport +. Otherwise it seems rather quiet. Again, only lower band revs, so still a lot to explore. Cold start is brutal in comparison to what I'm used. I expect a lot of dirty looks from the neighbours

- Chassis - balance: too early to tell, but it feels incredibly planted, more compliant than my m-sport 3 series definitely not a harsh/rough ride. Seats are also absolutely better than the standard sport seats.

- DCT: great, no complaints here. Still need to get the hang of all preselections and different settings.

- Brakes (blue ones, not upgraded): they currently seem to have a lot of pedal-travel. I think/expect them to tighten up in a couple of kms, otherwise I might investigate if this can be looked at.

Looks
I'll take some better pictures over the weekend. Some quick iphone pics from my washing/detailing of this afternoon.

Car looks so badass . I'm not used to having so many creases and bulbous shapes. Love it. The hips on this car are something else.
Love how well the 437Ms look. It's all subjective, but having seen both in real life now, I'm extremely happy I sticked to the "old" rims.
I can confirm that HS it's not white. However in direct sunshine, it's really, really close. I wish it were a little greyer still, but it's an interesting color. Porsche Chalk is the most relatable color I know.









What’s next?
- Interior mods: I have the carbon set for the shifter and handbrake.
- Had requested a quote from a leather shop to upgrade to full leather, but after pickup, I'm pretty sure I'll spend the money elsewhere. Cabin feels right as is.
- Wrapping is currently on hold.
- Comparison to Cayman GTS (colleague's car) should happen pretty quickly (after break-in period?). Based on memory, I prefer the M2C

[dmboone25]

Looks great - love HS + 437Ms.

Congrats!

[hellrotm]

Very nice! Congrats!

[Saphirschwarz]

What a beauty !

[Voski]

Nice!Where you from? I live in East flanders!

[untzklee]

damn if i ever get a competition it will DEFINITELY be HS

[Spare°]

Originally Posted by Voski

Nice!Where you from? I live in East flanders!

Village close to Leuven.

[Spare°]

When I picked the car up, there was a black M2 on display. Must say, it looked a lot more menacing. Almost wondered whether I had made a mistake, but then I remembered the swirls and lovemarks and I ran as fast a I could


Anyone else shocked at how small the fuel tank is? I was already a regular with my 3-series (capacity of 55l -> 550-600km), but I feel like I'll be going to the petrol station every evening now...

[Bilal04]

congrats stunning ride!!!

im in the same situation as you with babyseat, how does it fit in the back?? how is the space and comfort for back passengers??

[Spare°]

I'll take some pictures for you. We have swivel seats, which I think is a must for a coupe.

[Shekels]

Looks great. Can you get any side shots?

[///M Houbi]

Congrats man, enjoy it!

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Spare°

When BMW came out with the OG M2 I thought it was such a compelling value proposition (and it looks the absolute business in mineral grey imho).

I cannot drive my car anymore since my June scooter accident. I'm out for the rest of 2018 (complex leg injuries). Maybe someday in 2019 we can compare IRL.

[devo]

^ Very sorry to hear of this. I hope you are well soon. Best...

[Junni]

Originally Posted by Spare°

Village close to Leuven.

I live in Leuven. Would love to meet up and get a glimpse of your beast!

[ryem3]

Originally Posted by Artemis

I cannot drive my car anymore since my June scooter accident. I'm out for the rest of 2018 (complex leg injuries). Maybe someday in 2019 we can compare IRL.

OMG, really sorry to hear that. Take care of yourself.

[Spare°]

Originally Posted by Artemis

I cannot drive my car anymore since my June scooter accident. I'm out for the rest of 2018 (complex leg injuries). Maybe someday in 2019 we can compare IRL.

Yes, read that somewhere. Hope you're healing up ok?
Would love to buy a Monster someday (commute is killing me), but honestly, these kind of stories have been holding me back for a while (aside from the dirty look I get from the wife whenever I even try to bring it up).

I'd like that... That color is up there with the absolute best in my book. So much depth/wet-look when cared for.
Would love to do a little get-together with Belgian forum members (or any "foreign" member willing to make the trip). Discovering whether there are any driving roads left in this country

Would you (or anyone else) have a driving school to recommend? Is //M school worth it or are other driving schools better quality? I'd like to get some proper advice on how to drive this beast in a controlled manner.

[Spare°]

Originally Posted by ///M Houbi

Congrats man, enjoy it!

Thanks! You got a final delivery date for your black beast? I'm hopeful you won't miss your e46 too much!

[Spare°]

Originally Posted by Shekels

Looks great. Can you get any side shots?

I'll make work of that today. Anything specific you'd like to see?

[Spare°]

Originally Posted by Junni

I live in Leuven. Would love to meet up and get a glimpse of your beast!

You can catch it on the E40 every morning, doing 25kms/h. Although this car is the perfect reason to get up early in the morning... Not sure if the neighbours will agree, but alas...

[Shekels]

Originally Posted by Spare°

I'll make work of that today. Anything specific you'd like to see?

Just how the wheels look with the HS from a bit of a distance, thanks.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Spare°

What’s next?
- Comparison to Cayman GTS (colleague's car) should happen pretty quickly (after break-in period?). Based on memory, I prefer the M2C

4-seater = the back seats benefit = more cargo space & smiles from the wife.