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      08-15-2020, 11:52 PM   #1
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Chris Harris reviews the M2 CS vs his M2 Competition

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     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com
In this month's Top Gear Magazine.

Some extracts:

"It's a mighty thing to drive"
"You immediately have massive confidence"
"It does feel more special than my car"

"Even before we'd seen a picture of BMW's latest hardcore machine people were framing it not as a new M car, but a Porsche Cayman GT4 rival – and I'm sure that we will soon be able to watch and read many comparisons between the two. But does the M2 CS really have to prove itself against a Porsche that is so fundamentally different in its layout? I think, to use the F1 analogy, the CS's toughest rival lurks much closer to home – the humble and much cheaper M2 Competition. I thought it would be interesting to drive them together and decide if the extra £22,915 BMW requires to join the exclusive CS club is actually worth it."

"It is a mighty fun thing to drive though, and you notice the chassis changes immediately. A new set of adaptive dampers give a firmer ride on the road, even in the softest setting, but on track the front axle response of the CS really is a step beyond the base car. Steering inputs are met with instant direction changes and the whole axle assembly just feels much more resistant to any kind of roll or squat. This is some trick from a front-engine car and, coupled with those super sticky Michelins, means you immediately have massive confidence about how you can place the car."

"So what we have here is a question of how much people value the specialness of that CS badge and the suspicion that this little car might mark the end point for a particular type of driving machine. And here I think I can make a stronger case for it. It does feel more special than my car, and I suspect there are many people for whom driving around in an M2 Comp and then seeing the lucky sod who bought a CS out and about might make them wish they'd gone for the more expensive option."

"Me? I think I made the correct choice. I've added an Akrapovič exhaust and Litchfield Motors has developed a superb Bilstein suspension kit that transforms the chassis and removes some ride height. It really wouldn't take much work to replicate that CS front end response. Crucially, BMW will sell you a set of the gorgeous CS alloy wheels, which I bought, so at a glance my car does look 9/10th of a CS. And when I think about how much I love driving it every day, and the fact it represents everything I love about BMW and has a manual gearbox and a normal handbrake and a killer hi-fi, I think the M2 Competition is the best value fast road car out there at the moment. And, for all its subtle specialness, the CS really only serves to reinforce that point. Beware your cheaper teammate, as Sebastian Vettel will attest."

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      08-16-2020, 02:27 AM   #2
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Being an N55 owner myself, I'd love to take the CS over the comp. The Misano blue is my favorite color from the current selection and along with the little things like the hood/roof/seats, it seems like a nice step up. Either way, you can't go wrong
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      08-16-2020, 03:04 AM   #3
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"Beware your cheaper teammate, as Sebastian Vettel will attest."

:
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      08-16-2020, 03:32 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6speed_M2 View Post
Being an N55 owner myself, I'd love to take the CS over the comp. The Misano blue is my favorite color from the current selection and along with the little things like the hood/roof/seats, it seems like a nice step up. Either way, you can't go wrong
There's something about that blue that works so well with the carbon and curves of the car. Switched my order to it.
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      08-16-2020, 04:00 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davil View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by 6speed_M2 View Post
Being an N55 owner myself, I'd love to take the CS over the comp. The Misano blue is my favorite color from the current selection and along with the little things like the hood/roof/seats, it seems like a nice step up. Either way, you can't go wrong
There's something about that blue that works so well with the carbon and curves of the car. Switched my order to it.
Misano looks fantastic with the carbon details !
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      08-16-2020, 04:09 AM   #6
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“A new set of adaptive dampers give a firmer ride on the road, even in the softest setting...”

Pretty unexpected
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      08-16-2020, 05:49 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kart driver View Post
"A new set of adaptive dampers give a firmer ride on the road, even in the softest setting..."

Pretty unexpected
And the opposite of what both Autocar and Joe Achilles said in their respective reviews. Will have to wait and see.
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      08-16-2020, 06:18 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kart driver View Post
“A new set of adaptive dampers give a firmer ride on the road, even in the softest setting...”

Pretty unexpected
This is utterly bullish.t !!

The softest setting is not firmer, it is really softer (and not by a bit) than the OG M2

It is so soft it feels like a boat shaking
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      08-16-2020, 06:41 AM   #9
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I think its fair and honest to mention that upgrading from the OG M2 to the M2C, and from the M2C to the M2CS isn't worthwile IMO.

Steps are too smal on technical progress, to grant form a price point of view.

The only logical step to me is the upgrade from a OG to a CS version, both technically and financialy justified.
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      08-16-2020, 07:07 AM   #10
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Damn that blue is ugly, it'd put me off buying one altogether.

BMW should have given us a truly special color, and a car that was significantly lighter. As it is the Comp is stealing the CS's Fire. At least they put ugly wheels on the Comp to make at least some gap. 😆
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      08-16-2020, 07:29 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VisualEcho View Post
Damn that blue is ugly, it'd put me off buying one altogether.

BMW should have given us a truly special color, and a car that was significantly lighter. As it is the Comp is stealing the CS's Fire. At least they put ugly wheels on the Comp to make at least some gap. 😆
Drooling...
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      08-16-2020, 07:56 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davil View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by 6speed_M2 View Post
Being an N55 owner myself, I'd love to take the CS over the comp. The Misano blue is my favorite color from the current selection and along with the little things like the hood/roof/seats, it seems like a nice step up. Either way, you can't go wrong
There's something about that blue that works so well with the carbon and curves of the car. Switched my order to it.
I'm happy with the SO on my M2C but if I were to upgrade, I'd go with that blue too. Looks fantastic and evocative of classic bmw
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      08-16-2020, 08:18 AM   #13
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If you expect any M2C owner to disavow their decision, you've lost your mind! Even a guy like Chris Harris feels the need to justify themselves. I've been down this road with many BMW drivers playing down my 1M as just hype. I write most of these off as jealous they didn't buy one.

I had a OG M2 and loved it. Was it worth $15k more then my 1M, yes it was. Do I believe the CS will be worth the extra $25k, yes. You can't pull up to any stop light without seeing 3 other BMW's so for me, exclusivity is worth some amount of money even if it just car people who recognize it.

I had a beautiful E30 M3 that most people thought was just another old BMW, but to car people it was an event and that is kind of fun. NC DMV valued that car at $2,200. Last time I saw it sell it went for $60K. Worth it? I'm sure it was to the guy that bought it.

I'd say buying cars for most of us on this site requires two things, first you have to have a passion for that car and see something you love in it. Secondly, you must have the money and the timing must be right. I planned the purchase of my 135 perfectly timing wise to get a 1M. I did the same thing with the lease of my M4 and purchase of my M2 to get the M2 CS.

Tothe lucky few that get one, yes it will be worth it, to anybody else, no it won't be it's likely that simple.
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      08-16-2020, 11:01 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by JustChris View Post
Drooling...
I think SO should have been the CS color, looks so fantastic with gold and black 763M's. Too good to be a normal car color IMO.
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      08-16-2020, 11:09 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kart driver View Post
“A new set of adaptive dampers give a firmer ride on the road, even in the softest setting...”

Pretty unexpected
My thought as well. In comfort mode it is just the opposite. I wonder if he actually drove it?
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      08-16-2020, 11:41 AM   #16
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That is a great blue.
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      08-16-2020, 11:52 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhall1957 View Post
If you expect any M2C owner to disavow their decision, you've lost your mind! Even a guy like Chris Harris feels the need to justify themselves. I've been down this road with many BMW drivers playing down my 1M as just hype. I write most of these off as jealous they didn't buy one.

I had a OG M2 and loved it. Was it worth $15k more then my 1M, yes it was. Do I believe the CS will be worth the extra $25k, yes. You can't pull up to any stop light without seeing 3 other BMW's so for me, exclusivity is worth some amount of money even if it just car people who recognize it.

I had a beautiful E30 M3 that most people thought was just another old BMW, but to car people it was an event and that is kind of fun. NC DMV valued that car at $2,200. Last time I saw it sell it went for $60K. Worth it? I'm sure it was to the guy that bought it.

I'd say buying cars for most of us on this site requires two things, first you have to have a passion for that car and see something you love in it. Secondly, you must have the money and the timing must be right. I planned the purchase of my 135 perfectly timing wise to get a 1M. I did the same thing with the lease of my M4 and purchase of my M2 to get the M2 CS.

Tothe lucky few that get one, yes it will be worth it, to anybody else, no it won't be it's likely that simple.
JHall, have you heard when you can place an order?
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      08-16-2020, 12:57 PM   #18
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I think this is a reasonable perspective. I bought the M2C knowing the CS was likely going to be coming, but as I don't track the car and it is a DD, I was comfortable with the M2C being the right choice. I still feel that way, and am happy that I don't have to wade into the fray of trying to get a CS allocation, dealer markups, and that whole circus.

Having said all of that, I will definitely admire, give a massive thumbs-up, and acknowledge that the M2CS is the greatest F87 M2 produced when (if?) I ever see one on the road. Those who acquire one are clearly going to be very happy.

I hope Harris' comment about the suspension is not correct. That was one of my biggest gripes with my F80 M3 ZCP. Honestly, that car crashed over roads even in the "comfort" suspension setting. Perhaps the 20 inch 666 wheels are to blame. I find the M2C suspension to be about perfect.
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      08-16-2020, 01:15 PM   #19
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As a committed LCI owner, I have to say that the price makes the 4.0 Cayman seem a bargain? Obvs, the cost of "required extras" is likely to swallow the difference whole, but still...
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      08-16-2020, 01:22 PM   #20
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I would assume any additional stiffness felt while driving a CS is coming from the stiff sidewalls of the Cup2 tires. Maybe that's why some reviewers are reporting a stiff ride while others (could have PSS mounted) are saying it's more plush.

I quickly swapped out the Cup2's that came on my GT350R for PS4S and the ride got softer and better in almost all aspects (no more tramlining either).
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      08-16-2020, 02:58 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Romo View Post
This is utterly bullish.t !!

The softest setting is not firmer, it is really softer (and not by a bit) than the OG M2

It is so soft it feels like a boat shaking
Here is a review in support of the difference.

https://gtspirit.com/2020/08/16/2020-bmw-m2-cs-review/
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      08-16-2020, 02:59 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
As a committed LCI owner, I have to say that the price makes the 4.0 Cayman seem a bargain? Obvs, the cost of "required extras" is likely to swallow the difference whole, but still...
I’m wondering the same thing, but on the Boxster side.

Although, the back end of the 718 Spyder is something to behold.

To the right buyer, the CS will be totally worth it - love seeing the CF hood and bonnet, specific spoiler, etc.

And the M3/4 ZCP tune is a monster. The M2C felt neutered to me when test driving it - that 445 BHP version of the S55 will be a ton of fun in the F87 package.
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