[nachob]

Great write up .

[W///]

Thanks for the writeup. Don't think I saw it anywhere, but the engine cooling adequate?

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by ilikebmxbikes

best m2 review yet.

Humbled I am. Seriously.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Thanks for the GREAT writeup. I look forward to meeting you again, when you pick up your M2 CSL on ED(whenever BMW builds them!).

For a long time I was totally expecting to come get an M2...!! Glad I am not waiting in line however !

And yes, I *absolutely * am looking forward to picking up an M2 CSL via ED. #waiting

[goodboy1451]

Really enjoyed ypur write up. Thank you for doing justice for the 1M.

[Brainofjjj]

Thanks for posting. I'm in DFW as well but couldn't make this weekends event. My Spec E46 does 1:25 there in that direction. I'm no Ken O however but I'm working on it.
I'm hoping to get to drive an M2 at an M school or something before year end before I place an order for one over the winter.
I'll be at the NOV cota event.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by W///

Thanks for the writeup. Don't think I saw it anywhere, but the engine cooling adequate?

it's a modern BMW... there were no klaxons going off or lights blinking anywhere, so I assume everything in the engine compartment was ok..


The Texas Trifecta is next month at COTA Father's day weekend in June.. . Three Texas chapters and the Lone Star Eurofest will be converging on the site. Probably gonna be warm...

We are hoping to do a similar test... plus I know that Franklin Joseph and a few others will have their cars at the event... We'll get all the vehicle torture tests going!

[koastal]

Interesting write up.
Was the M2 a manual or DCT ?

[Nahlem]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

i recently had a chance to explore the M2

Great write up love it ! :-)

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by koastal

Interesting write up.
Was the M2 a manual or DCT ?

manual

[PARTS@STBMW]

Awesome! Thank you for sharing.

[M3 Number 86]

you got DESTROYED! lol

[FogCityM3]

Really nice writeup!

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Great review.

I had the chance to drive these 2 + and M4 back to back last Saturday on track as well. I agree overall with your impressions. Holding on to the 1M - no to take anything away from the M2. I drove a DCT which I didn't love.

[SamS]

Hey 1M Tex saw you in the 1M this past Saturday in the shopping center at Preston & Beltline...I was in the AW F80.

Both of your cars are looking real good!

[mPlasticDesign]

Maybe I missed it, but what tires on the 1M? If not Super Sports would it have made the difference in the lap time? I've always said the 1M tires were it's achilles....TIA

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Powaup

What a great write up

If there is one thing you could/would change on the M2 (besides EPS) what would it be?

And yea EPS and hydraulic steering make a night and day difference. I remember getting into my E39 after driving my M4 for sometime and enjoying that steering sensation a lot more even though it was a basic 528

Wow, what a great question !

I actually have thought about this all day!

I can't say EPS? If the M2 had mechanical steering, I would have to have it.

I would say manual seats. No need for power controls for me , I would make them optional.

Other minor complaints

The stock pads DID fade, not an issue I have seen with 1M stock pads and I'm concerned about COTA for the M2.

Again, it seems like all the M2 test cars have been fitted with " M performance " pads if they are going to see track duty. This appears to be a change from the past as usually in the past, BMW OE pads normally are good for novice and intermediate level students.

For any HPDE driver beyond novice, the OE M2 pads should be upgraded. I certainly would go aftermarket pads of course.

[doccyber]

Great write up. As far as the styling, the 1M has the real M specific mirrors though. M2 does away with the standard mirrors. Minor point but I wonder if all the M cars are losing the M mirrors.

[OzJustin]

Great write-up and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Was a really interesting read.

I think articles like this show why some manufacturers are acknowledging that it's not all about lap times. Engaging and raw driver-involved cars have their own special niche that is gaining momentum.

[MilehighM3]

First off, thanks for the review. It's both interesting and surprising that the M2 put down a better lap time than the 1M despite the lack of seat time in the car.

There's a bigger issue to address in the heat than just tires. The cooling system on the 1M is inadequate and the end result is always limp mode for any car fitted with an N54, without cooling upgrades. The newer cars definitely seem to have addressed this issue.

The steering on the 1M has servotronic which is still provides an over boosted hydraulic feel, IMO. Having spent plenty of time behind the wheel of 135, which shares the same engine, I can tell you I would trade less mid range torque for a better top end any day. The 1M is hard to put full power down on, or even near, corner exit. Another issue is the suspension on the 1M. With the lack of available negative camber from the factory aside, under hard braking the car nose dives heavily and this causes the back end to lift and become unstable. On corner entry after heavy braking the car can be quite the handful. This is also made worse by the short wheel base, or so it seems. I'm looking forward to tracking the M2 in a couple weeks, so perhaps I'll see a dark side of the M2 I've yet to see.

All said, they are both cool cars in their own ways. The 1M will be much more of a collector car in the future and the M2 being more of the "modern drivers car" in my book. Is the M2 raw and the way a track car should be? Not even close out of the box, but there's plenty left on the table for the aftermarket. Personally the choice would be very difficult to make, but I would likely take the M2.

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Thanks for the GREAT writeup. I look forward to meeting you again, when you pick up your M2 CSL on ED(whenever BMW builds them!).

Like this one?

Awesome review by the way!

[BMW M Power Mexico]

Originally Posted by W///

Thanks for the writeup. Don't think I saw it anywhere, but the engine cooling adequate?

I think it is. We had a very hot day here last Saturday and being at altitude like we are is a huge stress test for the cooling systems. The M2 handled it perfectly.

To give you an idea an M5 or M6 overheat within 3-4 hard laps here.