[JustAWhisper]

Originally Posted by rcouchh

Arguing that the OG M2 is a better track/autocross car than the M2C

These posts are literally just owners justifying their own personal choices. The M2C is undeniably the better car, the question is whether the $8-10k is extra is worth it to you.

OP needs to just drive both.

I did not say the OG M2 is a better track car. I just wanted to point out a few things to be aware of. No need to be a prick.

[doug_999]

Well I might be the guy who said the M2C has a more compliant ride. But that's from numerous other articles.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...-drive-review/

BMW says the suspension calibration is unchanged from the previous non-Competition M2, and it still delivers a firm ride. But after experiencing the M2 Competition on pockmarked Michigan roads, we wonder if there might be some slight retuning at play. The new car doesn't have the same impact harshness we remember from our long-term example, and it bounces around less on bumpy corners. We enjoyed the M2 Competition so much on our particularly challenging 10Best loop that it earned back its spot on our 10Best Cars roster for 2019 after dropping off the list the previous year.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.car...nce-ownership/


WHAT WE DON'T LIKE: Changing our minds. As the M2 nears the end of its stay, most staffers have made up theirs on the little BMW. Words like "stiff" and "ouch" also litter the logbook, with some people having concluded that the M2's brittle ride is a deal-breaker.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...n-quick-drive/

One thing I'm glad about is the retuned suspension. At times the regular M2 seemed overwhelmed by rough, uneven roads, but the Competition's setup is better-equipped to handle those sorts of situations. It's not perfect, of course—this isn't 7-Series levels of ride quality—but it's a step in the right direction. There's only so much suspension tuning you can do for a car with such a short wheelbase

[ried]

The M Performance Suspension is the exact same part on the original M2 and the M2 Competition. I'm not sure there's much difference in the stock suspension, either.

Note that the bigger brakes on the M2 Competition also add about 4 lbs. to each corner, or 16 lbs. total of unsprung weight.

[OG///M]

Originally Posted by StevenX94

Is that so?....interesting....that changes a whole lot of ideas now.....
I thought S55 would be faster in every single situation as it it has twin turbos...guess i was wrong

Let's be clear here. Don't buy the M2 or M2C if drag racing is what you aspire to. It's like dipping dry aged ribeye in bbq sauce.

These threads always derail into pointless pissing contests so here's an non-biased guide.

If you want
lightness
exhaust note
classic kidney grille
light track work
balanced weight/chassis/power
Get the M2

If you want
tuning potential
heavy track work
connected grille
more power/less balanced chassis
Get the M2C

Everything else there's not much difference between the two.

It all comes down to preferences, there's no objectively better car here since they both have their strong points and depending on what you value more, one will be subjectively better for you.

[3t3p]

Look at 4 mins the drag race the ancient E46 NA trounces the M2C to what looks around 45-50mph.

The low end torque of N55 is real, everyone is in your rear view just in normal driving, they probably think you're flooring it but you're not lol.

[Jermaine]

I was in a similar place a few weeks ago. Luckily I have a F80 M3 so I knew a bit about the S55 power plant, that gave me comfort in the aspect that I don't mind that the exhaust note. Yes it doesn't sound as good as the N55 but the simple fact that it starts with more power and the additional power that can be gained with a reflash only far exceeds the exhaust note.


S55 Dyno Quick Resource:
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1542700

All Stage 1 Reflashing offered by Bootmod Dyno Plots


N55 Stage 2 Quick Resource
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1331464

Stage 2 Dyno


The common thing that has been said, is that the money you save buying the OG you can spend in modifications making it better than the M2C. The dyno plots above show that isn't exactly a true statement at all.

I chose the M2C!

Jermaine

[GoneIn4Secs]

Plus to have peace of mind if your tuning the s55 you need to do the crank hub fix especially if you are end of warranty, which can be 2500$

[3t3p]

Dyno plots are meaningless when it comes to on road driveability and sensation.

Sound is a big component for me, my car sounds pseudo exotic and turns head. Not gonna happen with S55.

Yeh S55 is more powerful not denying that, maybe that's more fun for some but it's been shown even on track there's not much difference, so if you want to split hairs talk to me about track performance differences not the road.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by Moflow

I don't know if I believe that. Both cars are traction limited below about 40 mph anyway, so both cars are really only putting down exactly as much power as the tires can handle in a "stoplight drag" situation. The S55 has more torque above about 3k RPM. If you're trying to actually go fast, how often are you below 3k rpm? Which is not to say that extra torque down low from the N55 doesn't matter! It will be there for you in everyday driving, I just don't buy that it would actually make any kind of a difference in a race unless both drivers agreed to shift at 2500rpm...

OP, you're specifically in the non-comp section of the forum. People here are mostly non-comp owners. Everyone (including me) is biased towards their own vehicle as we'd all like to justify our decisions.

Here are my justifications for the Comp:

1. I like the higher redline, 7600 rpm from a modern turbo motor is pretty exceptional.
2. I like the seats more
3. Those brakes (edit: these are not standard in Sweden. I like the comp brakes but I'm not sure id pay extra for them when aftermarket stuff works as well and allows for 18 inch wheels)
4. The extra power
5. Under hood prettiness.
6. Programmable M1/M2 buttons

That said, those talking about the N55 sound are absolutely correct. Stock, modded, it doesn't matter. The S55 is just not a very good sounding engine. Plus the comp exhaust is ugly.

Also money concerns are legit, that's really up to the individual but for some people, financially the OG makes a lot more sense and that's fine.

Again though, like everyone here, I am biased.

Much easier to get the power down 💨

Just like my OGM2 has no problem beating my M4 to 60 over and over

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by GoneIn4Secs

Plus to have peace of mind if your tuning the s55 you need to do the crank hub fix especially if you are end of warranty, which can be 2500$

The trick with the M2C when tuning is to not get carried away. The M2CS tune is amazingly smooth with power and torque from start to finish. The stock chassis handles that level of power quite well. They released the M2CS without fixing the crank hub so I think you'd be alright.

[GoneIn4Secs]

Originally Posted by AlpsRider

The trick with the M2C when tuning is to not get carried away. The M2CS tune is amazingly smooth with power and torque from start to finish. The stock chassis handles that level of power quite well. They released the M2CS without fixing the crank hub so I think you'd be alright.

Well then that negates the whole 'endless tuning potential of the s55' bullet point, now doesnt it?

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by doug_999

But the ride, nobody is taking about the ride. The M2C is reported to have a much more compliant ride.

I didn't experience this on my test drive, but I've heard it from others. I think the general consensus is it's the extra weight making the car react differently, but that again, is just what I've read.

One more note on ride. I drove a new (44 miles) OG M2 that felt TERRIBLE. I was ready to forget the entire purchase, it was that bad. Then I test drove the car I bought, a used '18 with 9400 miles on the clock, and it was vastly better. And of course, once I got the MPS it made all the difference in the world, so I'm quite a happy camper now, but I totally agree with you that if OEM ride is a factor, then the buyer should drive an OG and M2C back to back. But my recommendation for either is the MPS for sure.

[AndrewC1989]

Originally Posted by VisualEchos

I drove a new (44 miles) OG M2 that felt TERRIBLE.

Probably still on the shipping blocks, lol

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by AndrewC1989

Probably still on the shipping blocks, lol

That's possible, now that I think about it!

[StevenX94]

Maybe a bit off-topic, but might just as well ask as the thread is rolling.
If you (unbiased) were to choose between an M2 and a M340i (new G20), what would you go for?
I was scrolling in some threads and some are saying M340i is crazy quick almost like a supercar. Could the two cars be compared or are they on whole different levels? (I'm only talking performance wise, not caring about size/comfort/tech etc...)

[rcouchh]

Originally Posted by StevenX94

Maybe a bit off-topic, but might just as well ask as the thread is rolling.
If you (unbiased) were to choose between an M2 and a M340i (new G20), what would you go for?
I was scrolling in some threads and some are saying M340i is crazy quick almost like a supercar. Could the two cars be compared or are they on whole different levels? (I'm only talking performance wise, not caring about size/comfort/tech etc...)

I like the G20, the m340i is a really nice car. Hands down that over the OG M2. But for $60k+ I would get an M2C or a spend a little more for a Porsche lol

[Dasnub]

Originally Posted by StevenX94

Maybe a bit off-topic, but might just as well ask as the thread is rolling.
If you (unbiased) were to choose between an M2 and a M340i (new G20), what would you go for?
I was scrolling in some threads and some are saying M340i is crazy quick almost like a supercar. Could the two cars be compared or are they on whole different levels? (I'm only talking performance wise, not caring about size/comfort/tech etc...)

No manual? Forget it.

[Driver87]

Pretty simple if you boil it down...

If you have the EXTRA money to burn, get the M2C, it is in fact a BETTER version of the OG.

If you want to save some money and still have fun get the OG.

The price alone let's you know which is better. Everything else is just subjective..

[3t3p]

Retrofit the carbon/aluminium engine brace and you have M2C chassis.

[AmooManiak]

New M2C owner. 20 years ago I would have said M2. These days I understand what resale value means. After doing research, I could not justify spending only 10-15k less to not have a true M engine. The regular M2 with the 3 series engine was not even considered.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Driver87

If you have the EXTRA money to burn, get the M2C, it is in fact a BETTER version of the OG.

"Better" is a subjective term, not an objective term. For me, personally, if I were offered either, new, for the same price, I'd pick the OG for sure. It's "better" for me. But I can see how the upgrades to the S55, seats, and 2NH would make it "better" for some others.

[bri1042]

You will never get an answer to this question on this forum. Everyone here is giving their best effort, but we've all posted endless posts that are filled with confirmation bias on this subject.

You need to test drive both if you want to make a decision. Test driving an M car of any variety means getting above 3k RPM's and getting out of traffic if possible. Even then you won't really get it until you've had the car for a while. Every M I've driven is more than the sum of its paper stats like 0-60 and almost every pro/con is subjective.

BUT! EVERY version of the M2 is stellar. Whichever one you choose, you're getting one of the best cars on the market.

Best wishes on your hunt!