Wednesday 30th August 2023

BMW M2 overhauls RS3 for Nordschleife record

The Nurburgring's 'compact' category is fairly broad - and hotly contested

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It says something about BMW M’s confidence that Four Cars, One Day is even a thing. But in its continuing mission to steamroller its way over the opposition, that’s the title given to a day ‘earlier this year’ when the firm booked the Nordschleife exclusively to see how many records it could break in one (presumably quite long) session. Those in attendance? All the BMW M bigwigs obviously. And a notary. And an M2, an M3 CS and an M4 CSL. Oh and a not-yet-revealed ‘M Prototype’. The heavy crew, in other words. 

Now, some of these times we already knew about (although it’s notable that the M4 CSL apparently improved upon its 7 min 20.207 second effort with a 7 min 18.137) but the one BMW is championing for now is the M2 time achieved in a Steptronic model on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 rubber. And that’s because its 7 min 38.706 time is sufficiently brisk for it to overhaul the current Audi RS3 in the Compact Cars category - a fact that is now recorded on the official Nurburgring site. 

This, you imagine, was the highlight of the day (although we’ll admit to being intrigued by the blurred-out time attributed to the prototype in the video below). BMW will have been delighted - in ideal conditions, obviously - to get one over its arch-rival, not least because the M2 is reputedly the final pure combustion model that we’ll ever see emerge from the factory gates. We won’t open the can of worms which is the Nurburgring’s decision not to sub-categorise by driven axles (pity the FL5 Civic Type R now languishing in the third place) and simply say well done to BMW and development peddler, Jörg Weidinger. Expect to hear about that final lap time in the not-too-distant future...

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• 2023 BMW M2 (G87) | UK Review
• 2023 BMW M3 CS | PH Review

[cerb4.5lee]

I'm looking forward to seeing one of these in the metal, because from from what I read on here the majority seem to really dislike the way it looks. However I do quite like how butch it looks though.

[GreatScott2016]

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm looking forward to seeing one of these in the metal, because from from what I read on here the majority seem to really dislike the way it looks. However I do quite like how butch it looks though.

Agreed Lee. There will always be the haters, but folk do seem to warm to it once seen in the metal. Clearly, a very capable machine too

[pSyCoSiS]

GreatScott2016 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm looking forward to seeing one of these in the metal, because from from what I read on here the majority seem to really dislike the way it looks. However I do quite like how butch it looks though.

Agreed Lee. There will always be the haters, but folk do seem to warm to it once seen in the metal. Clearly, a very capable machine too

They do look good in the flesh. They are really wide and have a muscular stance. Seen quite a few in work in all of the press release colours.

[Numeric]

For me the colours I didn't think I'd like, the light blue and light grey - actually worked I felt. The car is purposeful, though the back is a bit of a mess to my eyes in any colour. The lighter colours seem to allow what the stylists were intending to come through and like so many BMW of late it looks far better in the flesh.

Oddly black which is my default colour really does it no favours for me, just losing the detailing and becoming dull as a result.

The interior felt snug, if you have series 1 M2 experience you'll feel at home with a snug cockpit and primary controls where you expect them. It did seem wide though - I'm not sure of the numbers but it feels a wider car which for me is not a good thing living in an area of country lanes.

But when I first saw the OG M2 it was love at first sight, in sailing there is this thing where you look back at your boat as you row away and say crickey that is lovely and I often look back at the OG, just don't think I'd do that with the new one which reminds me more of my first company car - a Chieftain - for certain shock and awe but not oooo that's lovely! As for the instruments grrr.... but I'm old...

But I would say it's good value in list price terms, around 18% more than I paid mid 2017 (RPI is over 30% in the same period) - but when the first gen came out there were few stock units about - surprised to see a couple just in a showroom for sale, but I guess with PCP rates sky high the monthly is around £400 a month more than I paid, I wouldn't pay that.

Edited by Numeric on Wednesday 30th August 21:17

[nismo48]

It looks angry standing still !! It definitely looks the part and for me it is a beauty

[fantheman80]

pSyCoSiS said:

GreatScott2016 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm looking forward to seeing one of these in the metal, because from from what I read on here the majority seem to really dislike the way it looks. However I do quite like how butch it looks though.

Agreed Lee. There will always be the haters, but folk do seem to warm to it once seen in the metal. Clearly, a very capable machine too

They do look good in the flesh. They are really wide and have a muscular stance. Seen quite a few in work in all of the press release colours.

Very colour sensitive for me. The blue tack colour they borrowed from hyundai N division I followed part the way to PH25 and had a good look at in the hangar didn’t give me the fizz. The black one in the public parking however, oh yes please

[Brainpox]

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm looking forward to seeing one of these in the metal, because from from what I read on here the majority seem to really dislike the way it looks. However I do quite like how butch it looks though.

I saw one in the light blue in the flesh a couple of days ago. It is horrid imo. But, if people like it, then it might cause F82 M2s to drop in price. I had one before and wouldn't mind another one day.

[AmyRichardson]

Brainpox said:

I saw one in the light blue in the flesh a couple of days ago. It is horrid imo. But, if people like it, then it might cause F82 M2s to drop in price. I had one before and wouldn't mind another one day.

I've not seen images of a red on before and it certainly takes on a different attitude, and it's not entirely unattractive. Visually (stance, proportions and demeanour) more like, say, a shrunken Camaro than anything we'd traditionally think of as a BMW, which has an appeal.

(Do the current generation of berated BMW designs get better with time & in the flesh? The iX and beaver M3/4 are gifts that keep giving, I can't see one on the road without being reminded of one or other messy detail I'd quite forgotten...)

[CoolHands]

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm looking forward to seeing one of these in the metal, because from from what I read on here the majority seem to really dislike the way it looks. However I do quite like how butch it looks though.

I’ve seen them, one in the orangery red as above and it looks fantastic. They also had a pimped up model with different bumpers front and rear, added strakes etc all in carbon (m performance parts like pics below) and I’m afraid I didn’t like it at all. But the standard one looks ace.

Edited by CoolHands on Wednesday 30th August 21:50

[CG2020UK]

I thought it was hideous till I seen a black one in the flesh.

I’ve discussed figures on trading in my OG LCI M2 for one but it’s still a bit out of my league to be a comfortable purchase so I don’t think I’d enjoy it. Plus to be completely honest theM2 is fantastic and I don’t need faster.

Undoubtedly it’s seriously impressive in terms of performance.

The Comp version already being spied would make me hold off further.

[flukey5]

Saw one in the flesh, still thought it was hideous.

The ultimate fist-gripper car.

[MyV10BarksAndBites]

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm looking forward to seeing one of these in the metal, because from from what I read on here the majority seem to really dislike the way it looks. However I do quite like how butch it looks though.

I agree!!!

[Newbie2023]

fantheman80 said:

pSyCoSiS said:

GreatScott2016 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm looking forward to seeing one of these in the metal, because from from what I read on here the majority seem to really dislike the way it looks. However I do quite like how butch it looks though.

Agreed Lee. There will always be the haters, but folk do seem to warm to it once seen in the metal. Clearly, a very capable machine too

They do look good in the flesh. They are really wide and have a muscular stance. Seen quite a few in work in all of the press release colours.

Very colour sensitive for me. The blue tack colour they borrowed from hyundai N division I followed part the way to PH25 and had a good look at in the hangar didn’t give me the fizz. The black one in the public parking however, oh yes please

I personally think that it is merely the fact that the centre of the splitter is black that is making the front look a bit odd on the lighter coloured cars, this obviously wouldn't be a problem for the very dark examples. I'd be interested to see what the light blue one looked like with this portion in body colour as I think that it might do it the world of good.

[HighwayStar]

CoolHands said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm looking forward to seeing one of these in the metal, because from from what I read on here the majority seem to really dislike the way it looks. However I do quite like how butch it looks though.

I’ve seen them, one in the orangery red as above and it looks fantastic. They also had a pimped up model with different bumpers front and rear, added strakes etc all in carbon (m performance parts like pics below) and I’m afraid I didn’t like it at all. But the standard one looks ace.

Edited by CoolHands on Wednesday 30th August 21:50

BMW don’t do a ‘pimped out’ model as posted. That’s simply and M2 with all the M Performance parts you can throw at your own car. Todays BMW’s and M cars certainly are challenging in their design but I find the interesting. The M Performance stuff though… just doesn’t look good, especially for the M2. Some pieces are ok but most of it doesn’t look like they were produced by a corporate giant that is BMW.

[Oz83]

The 'ring lap is hardly surprising or fair as it's pretty much an M4 in a different suit. Not what I'd call a 'compact' car.

[HighwayStar]

Oz83 said:

The 'ring lap is hardly surprising or fair as it's pretty much an M4 in a different suit. Not what I'd call a 'compact' car.

It’s a cut down M3/4 platform, shorter wheelbase, similar size to the RS3 saloon.

[smilo996]

Perhaps it should read BMW overhauls M2 for Nordschleife record by taking several hundred kgs out. It weighs a barely believable 1800kgs.

Cannot understand why people want different manufacturers cars to look much the same. Nothing too divergent, different or distinctive. It looks great and when Bangle overhauled the jelly mould of the 90's BMW's sales went up. he Sierra was designed using focus groups and apart from the occasions they left them behind with the RS cars, it looks generic and dull.

Good for BMW.

No M SUV's.......wonder why......because they are a marketing joke.

[cerb4.5lee]

Oz83 said:

The 'ring lap is hardly surprising or fair as it's pretty much an M4 in a different suit. Not what I'd call a 'compact' car.

I saw a photo of the new M2 on cutters next to a F82 M4 and it was wider and taller than the F82. So they definitely aren't compact as you say. However from what I've read/seen they do drive really well though.

It always niggled me that the previous M2 was pretty much the same weight as the previous M4 as well, because in my head I expected BMWs compact/baby car to be lighter than the car from the class above in fairness. I guess that it was always going to be about the same weight with it having the same engine/diff/suspension etc though.

[HighwayStar]

cerb4.5lee said:

Oz83 said:

The 'ring lap is hardly surprising or fair as it's pretty much an M4 in a different suit. Not what I'd call a 'compact' car.

I saw a photo of the new M2 on cutters next to a F82 M4 and it was wider and taller than the F82. So they definitely aren't compact as you say. However from what I've read/seen they do drive really well though.

It always niggled me that the previous M2 was pretty much the same weight as the previous M4 as well, because in my head I expected BMWs compact/baby car to be lighter than the car from the class above in fairness. I guess that it was always going to be about the same weight with it having the same engine/diff/suspension etc though.

I believe the previous M2 & M4 came in around the same weight because the M4 used more lightweight materials not used in the M2.

[Court_S]

cerb4.5lee said:

I'm looking forward to seeing one of these in the metal, because from from what I read on here the majority seem to really dislike the way it looks. However I do quite like how butch it looks though.

It’s massively capable compared to the previous generations, but it is revolting to look at. The base car is pretty bad to be honest, but the M treatment turns it up to 11.