M2 on the track Zolder - Spa
Discussion
Just back from the excellent Spa - Zolder F1 trackdays with RMA.
I took the wife's M2 just to see what it was like and I am truly amazed.
I did a bit of prep work but not much. I bunged on a set of Cup2's std size, upgraded the brake fluid, fitted a harness and took the mats out
My expectation was quite low, I usually find that an out and out road car is out of its depth on track and not much fun to push hard. Could not have been more wrong.
The bad bits first: The brakes are woeful on track. They are OK for 2 or 3 laps then after 5 or 6 laps and they just vanish, copious pad dust everywhere, we used a set of front pads at Spa and best part of another set at Zolder. (standard pads admittedly). Necessitated an emergency trip to the BMW garage in Liege to get some more. Same trip with a GT4 on ceramics and had absolutely no issues, spanked the brakes all day never had the slightest issue and drove home afterwards without a murmur so it can be done. M2 now feels like someone has put the pads in backwards and rumbles like an old tractor.
The tyre pressure monitor is pants as well. To keep the Cup'2 nicely in the operating window means that you have to start the pressures quite low, at which point the monitor kicks in ("low tyre pressures") and wont let you have full beans. Do a lap while the tyres warm up and you do a reset which can only be started with the car stationary. So 1 lap back into pits reset pressure monitor out of pits and go. By the end of a flat out 10 - 15 min stint the tyre pressures are up to 2.6Bar, bit high but all good. Leave car to cool down tyre pressure monitor detects the big drop in pressure and needs another reset. Bloody annoying. The Porsche systems I have used are more user friendly and less intrusive.
The good bits: The chassis is very good, amazing turn in even when fully loaded, beautiful balance, absolutely no vices at all. Great damping, rides the kerbs well, really good at carrying big speed through the corners. More agile than its bigger brothers. Manages the weight very well. Stable but responsive a good trick to pull.
The engine is a peach feels a lot stronger than the claimed figures very broad spread of torque and power, lots of options to hang onto gears and rev it right out or to short shift and use the torque. Compared to a GT4 never felt in any way lacking, if anything faster in the mid range.
The DCT box is fantastic on track, the only niggle is the paddles need a bit more resistance a La 991 GT3, very easy to accidentally grab an unwanted shift. But otherwise its ace.
Overall the M2 is much more competitive than you would expect and a nicer car than its bigger brothers IMHO.
Overall a big tick in the box from me. Bring on the CSL, lighter, a little more grunt and much much better brakes please. Got my money down but not sure if I will get one.
All four wheels off? surely not.
I took the wife's M2 just to see what it was like and I am truly amazed.
I did a bit of prep work but not much. I bunged on a set of Cup2's std size, upgraded the brake fluid, fitted a harness and took the mats out
My expectation was quite low, I usually find that an out and out road car is out of its depth on track and not much fun to push hard. Could not have been more wrong.
The bad bits first: The brakes are woeful on track. They are OK for 2 or 3 laps then after 5 or 6 laps and they just vanish, copious pad dust everywhere, we used a set of front pads at Spa and best part of another set at Zolder. (standard pads admittedly). Necessitated an emergency trip to the BMW garage in Liege to get some more. Same trip with a GT4 on ceramics and had absolutely no issues, spanked the brakes all day never had the slightest issue and drove home afterwards without a murmur so it can be done. M2 now feels like someone has put the pads in backwards and rumbles like an old tractor.
The tyre pressure monitor is pants as well. To keep the Cup'2 nicely in the operating window means that you have to start the pressures quite low, at which point the monitor kicks in ("low tyre pressures") and wont let you have full beans. Do a lap while the tyres warm up and you do a reset which can only be started with the car stationary. So 1 lap back into pits reset pressure monitor out of pits and go. By the end of a flat out 10 - 15 min stint the tyre pressures are up to 2.6Bar, bit high but all good. Leave car to cool down tyre pressure monitor detects the big drop in pressure and needs another reset. Bloody annoying. The Porsche systems I have used are more user friendly and less intrusive.
The good bits: The chassis is very good, amazing turn in even when fully loaded, beautiful balance, absolutely no vices at all. Great damping, rides the kerbs well, really good at carrying big speed through the corners. More agile than its bigger brothers. Manages the weight very well. Stable but responsive a good trick to pull.
The engine is a peach feels a lot stronger than the claimed figures very broad spread of torque and power, lots of options to hang onto gears and rev it right out or to short shift and use the torque. Compared to a GT4 never felt in any way lacking, if anything faster in the mid range.
The DCT box is fantastic on track, the only niggle is the paddles need a bit more resistance a La 991 GT3, very easy to accidentally grab an unwanted shift. But otherwise its ace.
Overall the M2 is much more competitive than you would expect and a nicer car than its bigger brothers IMHO.
Overall a big tick in the box from me. Bring on the CSL, lighter, a little more grunt and much much better brakes please. Got my money down but not sure if I will get one.
All four wheels off? surely not.
Good write up,,
ive also got my name down for a m2 cs,
As has been mentioned, a better set of pads ( carbotech or endless ) and fluid with a set of pirelli trofeo r's would see you right on your issues.
I was also at Spa with RMA ( these guys run the best trackdays imho ). I was part of the group with 4 e46 m3's , signal green f80 m3, turbo s, r8 and Aventador and saw you in the M2, i did notice you were out for alot of laps in a go, makes sense now - if you are used to tracking Porsches.. We never do more than 4 hard laps of Spa due to heat soak etc.
are you doing any more RMA track days this year?
ive also got my name down for a m2 cs,
As has been mentioned, a better set of pads ( carbotech or endless ) and fluid with a set of pirelli trofeo r's would see you right on your issues.
I was also at Spa with RMA ( these guys run the best trackdays imho ). I was part of the group with 4 e46 m3's , signal green f80 m3, turbo s, r8 and Aventador and saw you in the M2, i did notice you were out for alot of laps in a go, makes sense now - if you are used to tracking Porsches.. We never do more than 4 hard laps of Spa due to heat soak etc.
are you doing any more RMA track days this year?
octainejunkee said:
Good write up,,
ive also got my name down for a m2 cs,
As has been mentioned, a better set of pads ( carbotech or endless ) and fluid with a set of pirelli trofeo r's would see you right on your issues.
I was also at Spa with RMA ( these guys run the best trackdays imho ). I was part of the group with 4 e46 m3's , signal green f80 m3, turbo s, r8 and Aventador and saw you in the M2, i did notice you were out for alot of laps in a go, makes sense now - if you are used to tracking Porsches.. We never do more than 4 hard laps of Spa due to heat soak etc.
are you doing any more RMA track days this year?
Probably not in the M2, it is the wife's daily and I would loose a massive pile of house points if I broke it/wore it out. Took me all day on Sunday to clean it and polish the rubber marks off ive also got my name down for a m2 cs,
As has been mentioned, a better set of pads ( carbotech or endless ) and fluid with a set of pirelli trofeo r's would see you right on your issues.
I was also at Spa with RMA ( these guys run the best trackdays imho ). I was part of the group with 4 e46 m3's , signal green f80 m3, turbo s, r8 and Aventador and saw you in the M2, i did notice you were out for alot of laps in a go, makes sense now - if you are used to tracking Porsches.. We never do more than 4 hard laps of Spa due to heat soak etc.
are you doing any more RMA track days this year?
. There was two of us driving it which does tend to rack up the laps. I admit I do like a few laps at a time I like to get the into a rhythm and try to learn the subtleties of the chassis. Would love to try some Trofeos on something I hear mixed reviews, Cup 2's were good on the M2.
Really enjoyed the two days so we will defiantly be back out to play soon, hopefully catch up then
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