[DanG]

Originally Posted by eldogo

So I went with a 2017 loaded with M performance accessories including the Bluetooth exhaust.

Thanks everyone for your advice!

Great decision. I am sure you will love it.

[eldogo]

Originally Posted by DanG

Great decision. I am sure you will love it.

Yeah! The biggest reason I went for the 2017 was the financial aspect. I got it for a steal. I believe it's the cheapest one in the US. It passed ppi yesterday too. Has been serviced by Bmw, never tracked, no aftermarket mods, the owner didn't even do any coding on it.

I'll buy the OSRAM XENARC 66140 COOL BLUE BOOST bulbs. These are the best hid bulbs you can get that have the closest output to leds.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/d1...CBB?quantity=1

[Al Bundy's Dodge]

Beautiful car eldogo! Glad you found what you were looking for. You are going to absolutely love it.

[TMR013]

Congrats, and welcome to the club!

[Zeese]

Originally Posted by eldogo

...

I'll buy the OSRAM XENARC 66140 COOL BLUE BOOST bulbs. These are the best hid bulbs you can get that have the closest output to leds.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/d1...CBB?quantity=1

New to me! Thanks for sharing.

Thought to look. Saw these. Less cool (color, hip; pun(s) intended).
D1S: Osram Xenarc 66144 Night Breaker Laser?
"They are for the dude whose serious about driving in all-weather conditions, doesn't give a shit about looking "cool", and only buys the best parts for their car."

Curious to know what others are doing to get better performance?!

[Matt Devo]

Originally Posted by Zeese

New to me! Thanks for sharing.

Thought to look. Saw these. Less cool (color, hip; pun(s) intended).
D1S: Osram Xenarc 66144 Night Breaker Laser?
"They are for the dude whose serious about driving in all-weather conditions, doesn't give a shit about looking "cool", and only buys the best parts for their car."

Curious to know what others are doing to get better performance?!

CBB are ~5500K and a pretty significant improvement over OEM in terms of total light output. Plenty of youtube comparisons between all the different bulb types, some even with proper measurement equipment (like TRS').

[Zeese]

Originally Posted by Matt Devo

CBB are ~5500K and a pretty significant improvement over OEM in terms of total light output. Plenty of youtube comparisons between all the different bulb types, some even with proper measurement equipment (like TRS').

Quite right.

Thinking the Night Breaker might be a good choice for me. Depending on local conditions and where the M2 winters and summers, I can manage with a less white light and do better with wet pavement, snow and otherwise inclement conditions. Less white for sure. 4300K is OK.

FWIW, the sky is blue due to light scattering. Otherwise, space is black? Giving up the blue light with the Night Breaker and expecting better overall illumination (at speed, in most conditions) might serve me well.

The counterpoint? If the marginal differences b/w the CBB and a less "white" light are small, overall, then maybe the better looking light wins. Guess I have some more reading to do.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by eldogo

Hi everyone,

Im in the the market for an M2 but cannot decide if the price difference between the 2016 and 2018 is worth the jump.

Are the LCI updates worth it? If its just the headlights, taillights and the drive then I think it's something I can live without and retrofit them later.

I would love to hear your thoughts. im leaning towards a 2016 since they are cheaper.

Are you in the market for a manual or automatic? If you are in the market for a manual I would lean toward the earlier one at a better price. It will give you all the joy or driving a front engine rear drive smaller BMW coupe for less money. The headlights and tail lights are nice but fluff. I rarely drive my M car at night and if you did there is nothing wrong with the headlights. You can get more value into the core of what makes the M2 great with the older one and use the difference to get a daily driver. Any small difference is probably not worth it in my opinion. Best of luck.

[BMWF87Melb]

Originally Posted by nachob

Are you in the market for a manual or automatic? If you are in the market for a manual I would lean toward the earlier one at a better price. It will give you all the joy or driving a front engine rear drive smaller BMW coupe for less money. The headlights and tail lights are nice but fluff. I rarely drive my M car at night and if you did there is nothing wrong with the headlights. You can get more value into the core of what makes the M2 great with the older one and use the difference to get a daily driver. Any small difference is probably not worth it in my opinion. Best of luck.

I second this. Agreed too that the LCI is nice but nothing really special over the pre-LCI.

[MASHCT]

Originally Posted by Macphisto

Personally, I prefer the look of the dash on the passenger side from 2016-17. The way the trim piece ends on the 2018+ is peculiar.

Can't you just retrofit the pre-LCI dash trim? I mean, I'm just gonna retrofit everything else, why not this? From IND too!

[iiNNeX]

LED Icon headlights, sunroof and manual were a must-have for me when I was in your position OP, so the only choice was the LCI M2. That said, I actually prefer the analogue dials of the pre-lci.

[Kef9]

Originally Posted by iiNNeX

LED Icon headlights, sunroof and manual were a must-have for me when I was in your position OP, so the only choice was the LCI M2. That said, I actually prefer the analogue dials of the pre-lci.

I prefer to look of the xenons to be honest. More classic but the icons do look cool. There is really nothing on the LCI I prefer. I would like the comp mirrors and the cs bonnet but those can be done if needed. When my seats look shite in a few years I’ll get some minty carbon ones or something so I’m not hung up about the seats.

To get the most out of an M2 it needs:

M Performance Exhaust - sounds crazy! The sound is a big factor in this car (sorry m2c and cs owners)
Sunroof - To enable you to hear the exhaust in all weathers without getting your head blown off / soaked.
Manual Gearbox - For the interaction and feel

This is a pretty rare combo and I feel very lucky

[PackPride85]

Originally Posted by iiNNeX

LED Icon headlights, sunroof and manual were a must-have for me when I was in your position OP, so the only choice was the LCI M2. That said, I actually prefer the analogue dials of the pre-lci.

LCI dials are still analogue, just different lighting design with black background.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by BMWF87Melb

I second this. Not many cars at the OG price point that come in manual. Agreed too that the LCI is nice but nothing really special over the OG.

OGM2's we sold from 16-18

So all 18 M2's are actually LCI cars

M2 Comp started production July of 18

[BMWF87Melb]

My bad, thanks for clarifying - I meant pre-LCI!

[iiNNeX]

Originally Posted by PackPride85

LCI dials are still analogue, just different lighting design with black background.

Well yes, but you know what I mean. The Pre-LCI just felt more E46 inspired and being orange backlit, felt a bit more old-school you could say.

[gsrbri]

Chalk-up another win for the OG M2!

[OG///M]

Originally Posted by iiNNeX

Well yes, but you know what I mean. The Pre-LCI just felt more E46 inspired and being orange backlit, felt a bit more old-school you could say.

Yessir. The ///M only logo and the gray dial background pays homage to the 1M and E46 M3.

I will always prefer analog dials, if not, at least an analog tach, if not, at least a digital round tach.

I will never get a car with the reverse, hexagon tach display a la all new BMWs today, when I have choices not to.
They might as well just remove the tach all together. It's not a drivers car when you can't easily identify the rev by a quick glance of the needle.

[GoneIn4Secs]

'18 model feels like a car in granturismo

Vroom vroom

[m1dastouch]

I've got an appointment to check out the '18 LCI with 30,000km on it. The headlights seem to be a big difference in photos. Kind of frustrated because the dealer won't let me test drive any M vehicles. Gotta wonder if I can talk my way into one though.

[BMWF87Melb]

Originally Posted by GoneIn4Secs

'18 model feels like a car in granturismo

Vroom vroom

Are you referring to M2C? Haha

[BMWF87Melb]

Originally Posted by m1dastouch

I've got an appointment to check out the '18 LCI with 30,000km on it. The headlights seem to be a big difference in photos. Kind of frustrated because the dealer won't let me test drive any M vehicles. Gotta wonder if I can talk my way into one though.

That's crazy. Then how do they expect someone to make a decision to buy the car? Very unreasonable to expect someone to buy a car off - review or worst still the reputation that a car might have!