[Cadillac]

I had the OG M2 for more than 4 years and travelled over 97,000 KM and now after about 3 months and 4,000 KM of owning the M2 Comp I am not sure I like it more than the OG.
I am in Australia so you have to understand we have very archaic road rules and are not able to push the cars to the limit without losing one's licence.
Both cars are/were DCT but I just feel the OG was more "in tune" especially from 0-60 KMH….more "visceral or raw"?
I can't put my finger on it but they are very different and as for the sound the Comp is seriously embarrassing compared to the OG.
Anyone else had the same experience…just seems the OG to me might have been the sweet spot….I do not track the car.
Other things that are different or good/bad…instrument graphics big improvement, I like the new seats but miss the thigh extenders as I am tall.
Steering wheel feels a little thinner.
I do notice the higher RPM band and certainly in 7th one feels heaps more power.
I think I will get a G87 but it will need to be a manual I think.

[richard in NC]

I've not owned an OG M2 but a friend did (he owned both). Both have their merits. I agree the OG sounds the best, but the M2C isn't bad and an improvement over that gen M3/M4 with the same motor.

I do feel the M2C is more special and separated from the base 2 series than the OG M2. I think after a few spirited drives, you'll grow to appreciate the M2C powerband more. But it may not seem more special on just day to day running around.

[ASAP]

The OG has a little more tq at a lower RPM due to smaller turbos. It also sounds better...

The Comp is better in every other sense bar none... the top end difference is huge.

[Enabled]

Careful, nostalgia also has a huge decision making capacity. You may have just simply loved the OG M2 for a longer time.

[ChrisK]

I have owned both. Besides the S55 sound (which after some carbon build up, sounds better) the M2C is better in ever way. The S55 pulls like a black hole.

[MmmmmM2]

This reminds me of when I test drove my M2C. I was like, "This car isn't that much faster than my 340i".

However, after a week of ownership, I realized just how MUCH faster it was than my 340i. Yes, my 340i with MPPSK sounded WAY better, but I kind of like the sound of the M2C. It's very unique.

[baege]

Originally Posted by MmmmmM2

This reminds me of when I test drove my M2C. I was like, "This car isn't that much faster than my 340i".

However, after a week of ownership, I realized just how MUCH faster it was than my 340i. Yes, my 340i with MPPSK sounded WAY better, but I kind of like the sound of the M2C. It's very unique.

I resemble that comment.

In my case it was an m240i where I was like "this M2C isn't much quicker and sounds worse".

but about 2 weeks later after getting to know the car a bit I realized how much more the M2C fed my passion

the S55 feels much more motorsports with its character and the way it revs, and I think actually sounds better than the b58 inside the car, b58 exhaust sound is hands down better
and then of course all the other m touches, seats, steering wheel, wide body and visual cues, handling all add up to make the experience next level from the m240i

but it took me some time to appreciate that, the first drive home I was like "well you've made another colossal mistake"

[D22M2]

100 agree

[Foggins]

Both are great cars, can't go wrong either way...I wanted to buy new so I bought the M2C...but am pretty sure if I had bought the OG M2 a few years ago I would have really liked that car too. Fun times

[windnsea00]

I had both at the same time, the only thing I liked about the OG over the Comp was the sound, it really does sound good! However, from the inside with ASD off the S55 is much more mechanical and "Motorsport" sounding which is nice.

[baege]

Originally Posted by windnsea00

I had both at the same time, the only thing I liked about the OG over the Comp was the sound, it really does sound good!

so you are in a somewhat unique position so I gotta ask (even if it is a little bit provocative)

which delta is bigger?

M2 vs M2C

or M2C vs M2CS

in terms of driving enjoyment?

[Al Bundy's Dodge]

will preface by saying that both cars are great, and would happily own any F87 iteration...

That said, I had the opportunity to buy OG or M2C and opted OG. The sound put it over the edge. But my use case was more of a daily driver with plenty of mountain twisties, occasional hooning and no tracking. So the better low end torque in the OG made more sense for me while driving around the city. I also prefer the OG seats, helping to give the car the "wolf in sheep's clothing" look I always loved about prior generation M cars.

If I tracked, M2C all the way.

Either way, great freaking cars

[M3R1]

Originally Posted by windnsea00

I had both at the same time, the only thing I liked about the OG over the Comp was the sound, it really does sound good! However, from the inside with ASD off the S55 is much more mechanical and "Motorsport" sounding which is nice.

Originally Posted by baege

so you are in a somewhat unique position so I gotta ask (even if it is a little bit provocative)

which delta is bigger?

M2 vs M2C

or M2C vs M2CS

in terms of driving enjoyment?

[Fined]

I think the enjoyment of these kinds of cars depends on so much besides the vehicle capabilities or specs. I had a 128i that I enjoyed more than my current M2. I like my M2 a lot more than my old Cayman S, although plenty of people go that direction after having M cars.

I don't think what makes us enjoy the driving experience of one car vs another can be quantified easily - but even that is individual. Some folks feel extra good about having a car with greater performance measurements even though they never go to the track to use the performance, for example.

[windnsea00]

Originally Posted by baege

so you are in a somewhat unique position so I gotta ask (even if it is a little bit provocative)

which delta is bigger?

M2 vs M2C

or M2C vs M2CS

in terms of driving enjoyment?

That's a great question and not something I've reflected on before. Initially, it is hard for me to give a binary answer, "X to Z has a bigger delta."

When I think of M2 to M2C, I think of a more buttoned-down ride and more accurate steering (I'm guessing that's mostly from the M3/M4 bracing) and a real M engine that is fun to run hard. Then a few other bonuses are the better seats and thinner steering wheel, just a more cohesive package. Also, I had the Hockenheim color which was awesome.

When I think of M2C to CS, a few things that immediately come to mind is the sweet top-end rip of the CS from 5-7k rpms where the Comp is rather flat after 6k, the lower driver seating position (this makes a big difference), and also the compliance of the suspension when running fast, just far more stable and better able to handle undulations among other things on backroads.

The standard brakes also have a very aggressive bite compared to the Comp, which must be the pads. Additionally, there are the less obvious aspects that I may or may not truly notice such as a lower CG with the carbon roof and hood which also means greater rigidity. The softer Merino leather and Alcantara wheel make an impact too, as well as not having an armrest in the way so your arm is in line with the shifter rather than coming in at an angle. Often times to chase that last "10%" in a car's performance you pay dearly as it's expensive for a manufacturer to get there. One thing people do forget is resale value, the CS has already appreciated nicely and with 569 of them in the US I'm confident I will always come out ahead- having a non-depreciating car is rare and to me is a big value add.

After having typed that all out, I can now say the CS has a bigger delta as it's truly a sum of all its (upgraded) parts but I would say the Comp was a damn good deal considering the minimal price difference when new and what you received in it versus the OG.

[CKr]

Originally Posted by windnsea00

…the lower driver seating position (this makes a big difference)….

I didn’t realize the M2CS seats sat lower than the M2C seats; This might seem like a weird thing for me to pick out, but could you speak more about this?

[Cadillac]

Originally Posted by Enabled

Careful, nostalgia also has a huge decision making capacity. You may have just simply loved the OG M2 for a longer time.

You could well be right. I certainly notice the extra power and more linear experience. I have an almost 2,000Km road trip coming December 3-6 up to Bathurst for the great race so will hopefully get to stretch the car out a bit while avoiding the highway patrol if possible!

[Moflow]

I wouldn't kick any F87 outta bed. Hell, i'd happily drive an M240i or even a 230i if those were my only options.

I feel a little bit like i've got Stockholm syndrome when it comes to the exhaust sound. It sounded really bad to my ears at first, but now...now I kind of like it...

[Steelguin]

Originally Posted by windnsea00

The standard brakes also have a very aggressive bite compared to the Comp, which must be the pads..

I would not want any brakes to be more aggressive than the M2C brakes.

[windnsea00]

Originally Posted by CKr

I didn’t realize the M2CS seats sat lower than the M2C seats; This might seem like a weird thing for me to pick out, but could you speak more about this?

I went back to back two weeks ago with an M2C to my CS at BMW M School in Thermal and it was very obvious how much higher the driver seat sat in the M2C.

I had always thought my CS sat lower but it was quite clear when you can compare them side to side, it actually annoyed me how "high" I felt in the M2C as I kept trying to lower the seat on the track haha.

I know some people like Chris Harris had complained about this, but when I had my M2C I got used to it and then never much thought of it. Ideally, I want to be down in the car for the best driving experience possible so it's those little tweaks the CS gets that add up.

I actually quite never understood why the driver sat so high in the M2 while you were on the floor like a 911 in the F80/F82, the first time an M3 since the E30 didn't sit too high- pet peeve of mine in the E46 M3 for instance.

[KevinC]

The seat doesn't feel high to me at all in the M2c, and I'm 6'1. Why? I think it may have a lot to do with what else you drive and/or came from prior to the M2c. If you're coming out of a 911 or Cayman or Z4MC, you're gonna feel high. If your other car is a Golf R, you're not gonna feel so high.

As for the engine noise.. my best buddy has an F82 M4. When I first heard it I wanted to puke. It was my first exposure to the S55. Then I heard it in the M2c - sounds FAR better. If you code out the fake engine noise, it sounds even better still - especially in the F82, where his car now sounds MUCH better than with the fake noise. At least that's how my ears hear it (his too). Still agree that the N55 is a better-sounding plant, as is the B58/S58. But the S55 isn't necessarily awful, just a notch or so below.

[captain slowly]

I haven't owned a OG M2, but about a year ago while I still had my F80 M3, on OG M2 was traded into the store I worked at. I was so excited, I took it home for a few days to make sure I liked it as I was about to buy it. What I found was that the sensation of speed in the OG is completely different, you feel the speed much more if that makes sense in comparison to the M3, but was overall sloppier and slower. So I passed on it. Shortly after, a coworker bought a 2019 M2C, and let me drive it a bunch, and it felt completely different than the OG. Much more like my M3, which aside from the automatic, I loved. So I ordered a M2C and here we are. I will say, the OG M2 feels kind of like my RS3. You feel like you're going fast when you really aren't, which is both a good and a bad thing. For example today, I drove my M2C for the first time in a few weeks and I found myself checking if the emergency brake was still up a few times... it felt that much slower than the RS3... but then you look at the speedometer and realize its going quite quickly.