[Bosozoku]

Originally Posted by quikM2

... Why would anyone buy a M240i over an M2? Is there any reason whatsoever to pay more for less? A lot less. ...

I'm guessing that the average M240i buyer will not max-out the car with options.
So an average M240i with just a few options might end up $4k - $8K less than an M2.

Also, the waiting list for M2s can be pretty long at certain dealers.
If you want a very sporty small BMW but don't want the M2 wait, the M240i might be just the ticket.

[zenmaster]

Originally Posted by quikM2

Why would anyone buy a M240i over an M2?

Price difference between the two cars in many countries in vastly different than in the USA for some reason.

[R0ME0]

I found the pricing quite interesting as well. Seems to me the f87 is honestly a better bargain. Even if you can negotiate the m240i the cost to do the widened body work I would value at 3-4K easy. The m2 is an easy win in my book given that you can get an allocation on one.

Btw is it just me but isn't the mbrakes available on the m240i as well as an option from factory making it even higher in cost?

[c63er]

Awesome awesome post and comparison. I love it because for me It highlights the stupidity of bmws current lineup strategy in the sense that it makes more sales in the short term but kills the bmw m perception in the long term.

They are trying to copy the audi s vs rs lineup distinction but doing it in a way that's self defeating. Mercedes right now is unfortunately showing how to do this type of distinction the right way and they will just keep winning.

Maybee scott can come on here and ridicule m fans some more or make some more racist posts to try to deflect from an obvious problem in the way bmw has arranged these m performance and "real" m cars.

[PARTS@STBMW]

This is great, thank you for sharing!

[M3 Number 86]

M2 no doubt.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

If we're going to get into the cost of ownership... I'd assume the M2 would cost significantly more to insure.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

The "M Performance/M Sport models are just marketing" position strikes me as odd. BMW's entire racing program is a marketing effort! Their damn purpose-built race cars are literally marketing tools! I'd argue every car sold is "marketing." It's actually a little funny that some think their M car is above this menial drivel called reality.

Definition of Marketing: the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.

[doccyber]

Except also in "real" life I haven't seen an M2 at the dealer that doesn't have at least a 15 Grand plus mark up. And that's just the starting point.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by Verdi

If the car is worth more than the residual value after three years, what happens? Who will get the "profit"? Is the residual fixed or is the car valued after 3 years and you then get money back or pay more depending on actual value vs residual value? Because in my mind there is little doubt that after 3 years the M2 will be worth quite a lot more than the M240i.

On a lease, the financing company gets the profit (and of course the loss if there is one).

You can of course buy your car out at the low residual, but you will pay sales tax on that purchase, negating a chunk of your "profit".

And for the record, CarPlay sucks . Hoping V2 is an improvement but as it is, it does not work well. And at least per my dealer "most people turn it off within 5 days of picking up the car". I made it two

[guarnibl]

Originally Posted by gregzimm

I have seen a few posts about comparing the M240i and the M2. Here is my comparison of similarly configured M240i and M2. I tried to make this as apples to apples comparison as possible. If you add the options to the M240i that are standard on the M2, the M240i build list price is higher. But, you can negotiate a discount on the M240i and you can't on the M2. You can also lower the cost of the M240i by removing options which you can't on the M2.

M2

• $52,500 Base Price
• $700 Long Beach Blue
• $995 Destination
• $1,400 Executive Package
• $300 Apple CarPlay
• $55,895 Total

M240i

• $44,450 M240i Base
• $700 Estoril Blue
• $995 Destination
• $1,450 Black Dakota Leather
• $700 Cold Weather
• $950 Driving Assistance Package
• $700 Driving Assistance Plus
• $1,950 Navigation Package
• $500 Wireless Charging WiFi Hotspot
• $300 Apple CarPlay
• $875 Harman Kardon Sound System
• $2,500 Limited Slip Differential
• $56,070 Total

Here is what you get on the M2 that you don't with the M240i for the same money.

• 30 more horsepower
• M-tuned exhaust quad tailpipes (One of the best sounding standard "M" exhausts)
• Track-ready cooling system
• More aggressive body styling with flared fenders
• M-developed electric power steering with Servotronic
• Lightweight front and rear subframe
• Aluminum suspension control arms and wheel carriers
• Twin-tube gas-pressure shock absorbers
• Brakes from the M4
• Electronic LSD versus the mechanical LSD on the M240i
• 19" wheels with Michelon Pilot Super Sports versus 18" run-flats or $0 cost all-season tires
• 14-way power front seats with 4-way lumber versus 4-way power and 2-way side bolsters in the M240i
• Alcantara and blue stitching interior treatments
• M gauges

Let me know if I have missed any differences between the cars.

You've missed the anti-depreciation feature

Give me a fully loaded m240xi convertible ! Wait no please no no no

[Blubaron79]

Does the M2 get any DAP packages?

[amw896]

Originally Posted by zenmaster

Price difference between the two cars in many countries in vastly different than in the USA for some reason.

very true in Canada. Used M2s are going up into the low 80s. Equivalent low mileage 235s with lsd I've seen at high 40s.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by doccyber

Except also in "real" life I haven't seen an M2 at the dealer that doesn't have at least a 15 Grand plus mark up. And that's just the starting point.

Many dealers will sell them at MSRP if you order.

[Aronis]

Originally Posted by guarnibl

Give me a fully loaded m240xi convertible !

now that sounds nice!

[six-n-twins53]

Originally Posted by patrickoccasionallydrives

the M stands for marketing in both cases

Actually you're wrong. It stands for Money. As in unless you spend tons of it, it can't be a real M car. It's funny when the M badge has to applied to a 12 ton car that costs 120k to be considered an M car. As previously stated, a light, nimble, quick car is the spirit of the M. If you think an illuminated shifter and a big price tag are what make it an M car, you may be mistaken.

I traded my M5 and passed on getting another M5 in favor of the M2. I spent half as much and so far, seem to be twice as fun.

[Vyruz Reaper]

Originally Posted by c63er

Awesome awesome post and comparison. I love it because for me It highlights the stupidity of bmws current lineup strategy in the sense that it makes more sales in the short term but kills the bmw m perception in the long term.

They are trying to copy the audi s vs rs lineup distinction but doing it in a way that's self defeating. Mercedes right now is unfortunately showing how to do this type of distinction the right way and they will just keep winning.

Maybee scott can come on here and ridicule m fans some more or make some more racist posts to try to deflect from an obvious problem in the way bmw has arranged these m performance and "real" m cars.

Bmw is trying to figure out marketing. I agree with people who posted as much.

People want an Audi RS but don't wanna pay for it. Audi gives them the "s"

People want an AMG but don't want to pay for the AMG tax. Mercedes tried what BMW was doing with the c450 AMG ala m240i. But people felt "shafted" that they didn't get a real AMG.

Mercedes said fuck it in 2017 and introduced the C43 AMG. It's all the AMG but you don't get the hand built engine. But you get the AMG looks, feel, performance (kinda), exhaust, interior( fully badged AMG), etc. But from marketing perspective and people's perception- it's an AMG because it's badged and marketed as such.

BMW's version is the m240i but that isn't marketed or badged like a ///M car.

Thing is, you can't call something a ///M2 and then ///M2 "lite".

It will be interesting which mindset and strategy works better or wins. Time will tell if either BMW will follow Mercede's lead or watch the AMG lines get diluted and stay put with their current lineup roadmap.

My hypothesis is being able to get more AMG or M cars on the road to people who don't care about the special tuning or hand built engines but want the full M or AMG badging will prevail.

[DarkstarZero]

According to KBB, a used M2 is worth $57,000. If you want to talk about value, not many cars appreciate when you drive them off the lot.

[Vyruz Reaper]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

According to KBB, a used M2 is worth $57,000. If you want to talk about value, not many cars appreciate when you drive them off the lot.

Those values are bs haha

[IB M]

Originally Posted by Bluenose-2er

But let's be clear, the diff in the M2 is an M differential - whereas the add on available for the M240i is not. I LOVE my eLSD! If the electronics are contributing to how it behaves, more power to them.

Back to Differentials:

Does the $2500 option on the M240 get u the same diff as the M2?

Standard M240 is just an open diff with DSC type of torque vectoring controls in place correct?

What about 340M sport, is that also open diff?

[mc3456]

Originally Posted by quikM2

back on topic and away from diffs (although my S4 had torque vectoring and it's pretty awesome although because audi isn't as balanced and setup as well as a BMW it needs it.)

Why would anyone buy a M240i over an M2? Is there any reason whatsoever to pay more for less? A lot less. I don't understand that at all. The only thing I could think of is you can get the m240 in awd. that is super appealing to me in Canada and through our winter. Other than that I don't see any logic or reason in that pricing structure. you pay more for an inferior car with less equipment, lower quality equipment and it doesn't look even close to as nice.

AWD can put the power to the ground better in all seasons, you can get a convertible if one is so inclined, and frankly, some tests have shown the M240iX to be nearly as fast if not faster in a straight line as the automatic gearing is excellent. The M2 is more awesome, but not as fast as one would expect, but it sure is pretty, and the experience is more intense.

[DarkstarZero]

Originally Posted by Vyruz Reaper

Those values are bs haha

Not BS, insurance companies use KBB. If you were to total your car, they could give you more than you paid.

Not true with the M240i.