[WOT Bimmer]

Ever since I set the new 2016 BMW M2 as my laptop background in 2015, I've wanted an M2. Lots has changed since then, including owning a total of four BMWs, including my very first which was a 2007 328xi purchased back in 2009.

The 328 was an amazing car that I bought CPO from a dealer in Maryland. What a great experience and car! Despite being a starter 3 series, the car was loaded with an element of charm that made me smile each time I drove it. Cars should beg you to drive them (drive = verb, requires action and learning), and should not require you to simply sit there and observe. It was just that.

The M2 took the place of the 328 this week. Despite being great car, there were too many mechanical issues to justify keeping it. The M2 was the next best fit - and quite the step up. I was sad to see the 328 go.

Why did I go with an OG LCI M2 instead of the new M2C? The biggest factor was wanting a combination of 1) performance, 2) exhaust (I prefer the OG exhaust), 3) cost - meaning a great car that wasn't so expensive that I felt guilty driving it in Ohio weather or spending money to mod.

Initial impressions from the first week:

- Stock exhaust could not be much better. Even in comfort, it's full of pops and burbles that make me grin each time. It gives me the stupidest smile!

- The difference between sport and sport+ on takeoff is significant. I thought comfort felt good... Sport+ just goes!

- The stock Continental tires suck

- The polar blue stitching is much better in person, but BMW should have added more CF to the interior package. After all, we have a whopping two thread colors to choose from. At least give us some more CF.

- BMW struck a perfect balance between performance, comfort, luxury, and safety. I owned an X3 M40i for a time, and I swear that thing had too many safety features. Let me drive the car!

- The DCT is unlike any automatic transmission I have driven. It feels like a manual - even down to the fact you have to use the e-brake to park in neutral (since there is no park). It shifts quickly and precisely and seems to know what gear to be in before I get there. Not sure if BMW claims the DCT is more efficient, but no one buys this car for efficiency.

I hope those thoughts might help someone else like me who is (was) on the fence. OG or not, the M2 is an awesome car!

[DanG]

Congratulations on the upgrade. Welcome to the OG M2 community.

[Al Bundy's Dodge]

Congrats on the purchase!

Bought my OG LCI M2 in February and still look forward to driving her each and every time. I hope you feel the same...it's such a fun car.

Enjoy in good health!

[M FUELED]

Welcome and brace yourself for the temptation of mods

[OG///M]

Welcome, and yes those stock contis do suck. I lost the tire lotto and got them as well. Go PS4S asap is what I say.

If you like it now, wait till you get some tires, coilovers and exhaust.

Looks wise, Autotecknic or AutoID mirror housings really make a big difference. IMO corrects the only thing that's not right about the exterior design.

Good luck with the mod bug

[WOT Bimmer]

Originally Posted by M FUELED

Welcome and brace yourself for the temptation of mods

Already gave in!

[NCe92fan]

Congrats! I had a similar thought process. I've had my 2016 M2 DCT for a year now, and I daily drive it even in the Minnesota winters. I went with the M2C winter wheel/tire package from bmw since I like the black 19" wheels (they also keep options open for later upgrades to M2C or M3). Pretty reasonable price, and I thought the tires were great last winter.

FYI, my charge pipe blew recently, and I'm 100% stock with only 24K miles. I'm in the process of installing my ER charge and turbo-to-intercooler pipes. Something to think about...

[AndrewC1989]

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

- Stock exhaust could not be much better

Get rid of ASD and put a sport cat on it

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

- The difference between sport and sport+ on takeoff is significant. I thought comfort felt good... Sport+ just goes!

There's other maps besides sport+? News to me.

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

- The stock Continental tires suck

Yes they do. Get some PS4S and they will totally change the car.

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

- The polar blue stitching is much better in person, but BMW should have added more CF to the interior package. After all, we have a whopping two thread colors to choose from. At least give us some more CF.

We (N55 M2) have a whopping one thread color to choose from. Orange is an M2C only option.

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

- BMW struck a perfect balance between performance, comfort, luxury, and safety. I owned an X3 M40i for a time, and I swear that thing had too many safety features. Let me drive the car!

I agree that you don't need much safety tech in a car this small, but as small as it is there are still blind spots. If you retrofit some M2C mirrors and get the euro wide-angle lenses it pretty much eliminates the need to look over your shoulder or lean into the mirrors. Retrofitting a larger rearview mirror would also help.

[kingikra]

Was I the only one who thinks that the conti 3 grips better than the ps4s?
Maybe when it is wet (which is very rare here) the ps4s are better and they also ware slower but as for grip in dry roads, I liked the conti better

[RocketBoots]

Welcome to the club! Another reason to get the OG: Only M2 offered in Mineral Gray. You'll be glad you got an LCI.

[MikeM2UK]

Only thing I don’t like is the steering

[WOT Bimmer]

Originally Posted by MikeM2UK

Only thing I don’t like is the steering

Agreed. A bit heavy. I believe I read somewhere that you can code it to be a little lighter.

[MikeM2UK]

Check my other post and it explains the problem I’m having

[Slowphiveo]

OP congrats on the new ride! If you like the exhaust in sport plus, you will love it in Traction mode, just be a careful. It turns the nannies down to about 75% off, but the exhaust noises are awesome!

[WOT Bimmer]

Originally Posted by Slowphiveo

OP congrats on the new ride! If you like the exhaust in sport plus, you will love it in Traction mode, just be a careful. It turns the nannies down to about 75% off, but the exhaust noises are awesome!

Cool! I thought Sport+ shutdown the stability system though?

[DanG]

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

Cool! I thought Sport+ shutdown the stability system though?

Get rid of ASD and the exhaust sound is great in all modes. It doesn’t really change with the mode selection. ASD does get much loader in sport and sport+.

[WOT Bimmer]

Originally Posted by DanG

Get rid of ASD and the exhaust sound is great in all modes. It doesn’t really change with the mode selection. ASD does get much loader in sport and sport+.

I noticed an increase in sound with the windows down, but to your point, I'm not a fan of ASD. However, it's much better than my X3 M40i was. That thing was all ASD...

[OG///M]

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

I noticed an increase in sound with the windows down, but to your point, I'm not a fan of ASD. However, it's much better than my X3 M40i was. That thing was all ASD...

Personally I find ASD in the M2 almost unnoticeable and never bothered with it. But I do have a Remus and almost never drive with windows up, so...

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

- The DCT is unlike any automatic transmission I have driven.

That's because it's not an automatic

[Germanauto]

Congrats. E90 was an amazing car, I was sad to part with mine recently as it was so fun to drive. Those cars were just mechanically not engineered to last. Great choice for its replacement.

[Jimjamz]

Originally Posted by WOT Bimmer

Ever since I set the new 2016 BMW M2 as my laptop background in 2015, I've wanted an M2. Lots has changed since then, including owning a total of four BMWs, including my very first which was a 2007 328xi purchased back in 2009.

The 328 was an amazing car that I bought CPO from a dealer in Maryland. What a great experience and car! Despite being a starter 3 series, the car was loaded with an element of charm that made me smile each time I drove it. Cars should beg you to drive them (drive = verb, requires action and learning), and should not require you to simply sit there and observe. It was just that.

The M2 took the place of the 328 this week. Despite being great car, there were too many mechanical issues to justify keeping it. The M2 was the next best fit - and quite the step up. I was sad to see the 328 go.

Why did I go with an OG LCI M2 instead of the new M2C? The biggest factor was wanting a combination of 1) performance, 2) exhaust (I prefer the OG exhaust), 3) cost - meaning a great car that wasn't so expensive that I felt guilty driving it in Ohio weather or spending money to mod.

Initial impressions from the first week:

- Stock exhaust could not be much better. Even in comfort, it's full of pops and burbles that make me grin each time. It gives me the stupidest smile!

- The difference between sport and sport+ on takeoff is significant. I thought comfort felt good... Sport+ just goes!

- The stock Continental tires suck

- The polar blue stitching is much better in person, but BMW should have added more CF to the interior package. After all, we have a whopping two thread colors to choose from. At least give us some more CF.

- BMW struck a perfect balance between performance, comfort, luxury, and safety. I owned an X3 M40i for a time, and I swear that thing had too many safety features. Let me drive the car!

- The DCT is unlike any automatic transmission I have driven. It feels like a manual - even down to the fact you have to use the e-brake to park in neutral (since there is no park). It shifts quickly and precisely and seems to know what gear to be in before I get there. Not sure if BMW claims the DCT is more efficient, but no one buys this car for efficiency.

I hope those thoughts might help someone else like me who is (was) on the fence. OG or not, the M2 is an awesome car!

The DCT is a clutch-less manual - DCT-M. Just saying.

[3t3p]

Congrats I'm still learning so much about what the car can do and what I can't do!

Sports cat makes stock exhaust sound semi exotic, highly recommended.

Oh and glad to see it raining in other climes than the UK