[Kleinacus]

Find a used 18 m2 and ask for a test drive. I had a chance at the first wave of allocations back in q3 2018 so that's what I did. There weren't any m2 comps available to me. You'll likely have more freedom on your test drive this way. After test driving the 18 m2, I loved it but felt it just needed a touch more power. I wanted something that felt faster stock than my stage 1 s4. With the power difference in the m2c, I had zero hesitations taking that allocation and putting in my order. No regrets since.

[Puppetz]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

This is a tough one. Most on here will tell you that the test drive will not do anything. They are usually short (M cars), on local dealer roads, with sales rep, and the test driver is unfamiliar with the car and not ready to play and have fun. Most likely you may be underwhelmed by the drive and question the glowing reviews on Youtube. In reality this car is simply perfect and brilliant (no bias here. Go drive the beast, but dont expect it to completely blow you away unless none of the test drive conditions listed above apply to you. If you do end up ordering or buying, I assure you that you will not regret the decision.

With regard to your question about "what is reasonable to ask for", what are you referring to? Price? Questions on options?

The reasonable part is basically how long of a test drive - time and/or miles. I can understand trying to keep the cars new, but it's my first time shopping at the higher price / smaller production end of the spectrum. Thanks

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by Puppetz

The reasonable part is basically how long of a test drive - time and/or miles. I can understand trying to keep the cars new, but it's my first time shopping at the higher price / smaller production end of the spectrum. Thanks

Got it. I would ask them how much they'd let you drive it. perhaps ask before you even go there, so it gives them a reason to incent you to come in. Just let them know that you are serious buyer but cannot buy unless you have a reasonably meaningful test drive. Ideally, you'd like to get the car warm (5-6 miles), and then put it into S and S+ etc to start getting a feel for it.

My local dealer will not allow test drives on M cars unless you are literally signing the paperwork. But it all depends on the dealer

[GregInNewMexico]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

I never even drove one, placed a deposit as soon as it rolled off the truck. Then decided to drive it just to make sure nothing obvious is off before signing the paperwork. Test drive was just meh for me.

[GregInNewMexico]

Originally Posted by Kleinacus

Find a used 18 m2 and ask for a test drive. I had a chance at the first wave of allocations back in q3 2018 so that's what I did. There weren't any m2 comps available to me. You'll likely have more freedom on your test drive this way. After test driving the 18 m2, I loved it but felt it just needed a touch more power. I wanted something that felt faster stock than my stage 1 s4. With the power difference in the m2c, I had zero hesitations taking that allocation and putting in my order. No regrets since.

+1 on driving used first. My buddy let me drive his 2018 M2 in the twisties here in NNM, so that gave me a lot of confidence in moving forward with the M2C (sans any meaningful time with the car) before the final docs were signed.

I have wanted a proper M for a very long time. I wasn't really worried about the test drive.

[j23]

I bought my 2021 M2C without ever test-driving it. Best decision ever lol. No, really, it turned out to be the best decision I ever made with cars. Had I test-driven it, I may have walked away thinking that this car is spectacular because that's how I felt when I first drove it. Now that I have owned it for some time, I think it's more spectacular.

There is simply no way a test drive can show this car's true colors. You need to spend time with it and get to know it because the fun factor only increases with time IMO. Most other cars are the opposite; impressive at first and then somewhat meh as time passes.

[RJD851]

Originally Posted by Puppetz

The reasonable part is basically how long of a test drive - time and/or miles. I can understand trying to keep the cars new, but it's my first time shopping at the higher price / smaller production end of the spectrum. Thanks

The dealer closest to my home wouldn't allow me to go on a test drive. They only had 1 on the lot and gave the same reason of wanting to keep the miles low and "it's an exclusive car"

I went to another dealer who had a few 2020s sitting on the lot and I was allowed to go on an unaccompanied 30 minute drive, where I was encouraged to do some "spirited" driving. He gave me directions to a remote area nearby so I was able to get open it up and get a pretty good feel for the car.

[///AVM]

I enjoy the M2C more every time I drive it. Kind of like a leather baseball glove that gets broken-in (abused) and more comfortable (enjoyable) over time.

The term of the day for me is ‘tossable’ . . . the beast is just so damn tossable. Feels like a go-cart built for the roadways. Along the lines of what others have tried to convey in saying the M2C ‘does not take itself too seriously’ and ‘makes you feel like a hooligan’ and ‘you have a stick of dynamite strapped to your ass’ . . . I think I might have made that last one up??

I feel more ‘one’ with the M2C every time I drive it. Honestly, this is true of most cars, however, the M2C just never gets old or boring. I am tempted to keep this beast until the stitching starts to fall out . . . but the G80 M3C has been calling to me.

So, Puppetz, there you go. . . I doubt you will ever experience the best of the M2C in any 30-minute test drive. However, trust me and others when we say there is something very special about this beast that just gets better and better over time. . . no doubt the ‘special ingedient’ is the S55 engine.

///AVM

[richard in NC]

I wasn't able to do a test drive at a dealer but I was fortunate to drive an OG M2 briefly at the BMW Performance Center back to back with an M3 & M4. That convinced me it was more toss-able and fun. I never did drive an M2 Comp until driving mine home and that was in the pouring rain. I then went out of town for a week. So my first real drive was the following week up in the NC mountains.

[boss2k]

Lame question can you manually fold the side mirrors, i know they are power folded. Was just trying gently and they wouldnt move

[///AVM]

Originally Posted by boss2k

Lame question can you manually fold the side mirrors . . .

Boss

I am absolutely positive you can fold the mirrors manually . . . just not sure you will be able to get them unfolded?

///AVM

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by ///AVM

Boss

I am absolutely positive you can fold the mirrors manually . . . just not sure you will be able to get them unfolded?

///AVM

Yea, you can fold them manually, forward and backward. I do it when I wash the car...fold them toward the front.

[boss2k]

Originally Posted by F82PRETEND

Yea, you can fold them manually, forward and backward. I do it when I wash the car...fold them toward the front.

What does forward and backward mean, are you saying you can only fold them manually but not unfold them like AVM mentioned above

[Mavallone]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

This is a tough one. Most on here will tell you that the test drive will not do anything. They are usually short (M cars), on local dealer roads, with sales rep, and the test driver is unfamiliar with the car and not ready to play and have fun. Most likely you may be underwhelmed by the drive and question the glowing reviews on Youtube. In reality this car is simply perfect and brilliant (no bias here. Go drive the beast, but dont expect it to completely blow you away unless none of the test drive conditions listed above apply to you. If you do end up ordering or buying, I assure you that you will not regret the decision.

With regard to your question about "what is reasonable to ask for", what are you referring to? Price? Questions on options?

Agreed, the test drive was of no value to me. I bought the car based on looks, specs and the near religious accolades given to it by almost anyone who owned one! I have not been disappointed!!!

[bri1042]

My car was one of the first one or two in the PDX area in 2018, there was no way to test drive it before I bought it. I was very nervous about buying it without driving it. I had driven an M3 DCT and a visiting friend's M4 6MT, and that was my only experience with M cars, really. Even reviews were nearly non-existent at the time. The only reviews available were all from one event at Ascari. It was a serious leap of expensive faith.

25+ months later, the only thing I really regret sometimes is the transmission. I've since test driven the X3M Competition twice and didn't walk away from that big fella feeling very impressed, it just doesn't have the synergy and balance that the M2C does with either transmission. Also, it's so frickin' big...love my little car.

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by boss2k

What does forward and backward mean, are you saying you can only fold them manually but not unfold them like AVM mentioned above

Go out to your car. You can push them back by hand as the car does with the button. You can push them forward by hand as the car does not do. I always just put them backing neutral before using the power fold feature again.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by F82PRETEND

Go out to your car. You can push them back by hand as the car does with the button. You can push them forward by hand as the car does not do. I always just put them backing neutral before using the power fold feature again.

Correct, it's like a tight spring holding the mirror against a slot in the base. It can be manually rotated but best to return it to normal before using the power fold feature again.

[RJD851]

Originally Posted by keylime503

As of this morning mine flipped from "awaiting for carrier assignment" to "dispatched from factory" so I'm guessing it's on the train to the exit port.

The Volans Leader just left Bremerhaven - let's hope our vehicles are on it

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by RJD851

The Volans Leader just left Bremerhaven - let's hope our vehicles are on it

Yea, saw that and hoping mine is on it. Still says at the port, but apparently there's usually a delay.

[keylime503]

Originally Posted by RJD851

The Volans Leader just left Bremerhaven - let's hope our vehicles are on it

Is that an NYK ship? I am not sure how to figure out if your car is on an NYK ship.

W&W ships are easy since you can do a VIN lookup on their website. The next W&W ship from Bremerhaven to California leaves on the 20th, I was assuming my car would be on that one.

[bri1042]

W&W didn't let you do the VIN look up when my car was on it's way in '18 like they used to.

[RJD851]

Originally Posted by keylime503

Is that an NYK ship? I am not sure how to figure out if your car is on an NYK ship.

W&W ships are easy since you can do a VIN lookup on their website. The next W&W ship from Bremerhaven to California leaves on the 20th, I was assuming my car would be on that one.

Yes it's an NYK ship. Looks like they arrive within days of each other so either way it looks like mid-Nov. to CA.