RE: Litchfield BMW M2 Competition: Driven
Discussion
1625kg
let that number sink in.. just 200kg less than an E39 M5 with its 4.9l.v8 and heavier than an E92 M3 which is already way too heavy (i have one, its not a pocket rocket or a sports car, its a big, fat Grand Tourer..)
i'd expect this to be in the 14 hundreds
i was interested when it was launched but i'll buy something else
let that number sink in.. just 200kg less than an E39 M5 with its 4.9l.v8 and heavier than an E92 M3 which is already way too heavy (i have one, its not a pocket rocket or a sports car, its a big, fat Grand Tourer..)
i'd expect this to be in the 14 hundreds
i was interested when it was launched but i'll buy something else
s2racer said:
1625kg
let that number sink in.. just 200kg less than an E39 M5 with its 4.9l.v8 and heavier than an E92 M3 which is already way too heavy (i have one, its not a pocket rocket or a sports car, its a big, fat Grand Tourer..)
i'd expect this to be in the 14 hundreds
i was interested when it was launched but i'll buy something else
It is seriously heavy for a baby BMW for sure I agree. But I guess with the performance that this modified version offers though you can turn a bit of a blind eye. let that number sink in.. just 200kg less than an E39 M5 with its 4.9l.v8 and heavier than an E92 M3 which is already way too heavy (i have one, its not a pocket rocket or a sports car, its a big, fat Grand Tourer..)
i'd expect this to be in the 14 hundreds
i was interested when it was launched but i'll buy something else
I've recently acquired a 370Z Roadster and I do love it to bits for sure, but it reminds me of how having a N/A engine with sod all torque and a heavy kerbweight makes for a very slow feeling car(much like my E92 M3).
This will feel like a completely different kettle of fish though and as much as I try to hold onto the old fashioned way of a N/A engine...you can't beat forced induction for offering strong performance/hiding the kerbweight for me.
andyeds1234 said:
Regarding the original M2...
"Twelve hours later the love affair was over.
Numb steering gave no impression at all of what the front axle was up to. Rock-hard rear tyres didn't stand a chance against a big wedge of turbocharged torque and a frigid road surface. Over the crests and undulations that pepper the moors like discarded burger wrappers outside a McDonald's, the M2 had so little body control I was convinced on more than one occasion we had been spat off"
Doesn't sound like any m2 I've driven
Nor the examples I drove prior to buying my manual M2 LCI. Maybe I'm not quite at the level of driving standard required to be qualified to comment."Twelve hours later the love affair was over.
Numb steering gave no impression at all of what the front axle was up to. Rock-hard rear tyres didn't stand a chance against a big wedge of turbocharged torque and a frigid road surface. Over the crests and undulations that pepper the moors like discarded burger wrappers outside a McDonald's, the M2 had so little body control I was convinced on more than one occasion we had been spat off"
Doesn't sound like any m2 I've driven
I'd happily have an M2C, mind, and this Litchfield offering does seem mega.
The writer appears to be suffering from ‘kings new clothes’ syndrome
Dynamically in terms of chassis control there is very little difference between the Original M2 and the Competition. The modifications to the new car Are a relatively small incremental improvement. The damping control in both is pretty much the same. That’s where I’d be spending my money if I owned a Comp. The Litchfield remap just turns a good drivers car into yet another BMW point and squirt missile - which is not what the M2 is all about
Dynamically in terms of chassis control there is very little difference between the Original M2 and the Competition. The modifications to the new car Are a relatively small incremental improvement. The damping control in both is pretty much the same. That’s where I’d be spending my money if I owned a Comp. The Litchfield remap just turns a good drivers car into yet another BMW point and squirt missile - which is not what the M2 is all about
s m said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I would love one of these with a manual gearbox for sure. 
LikewiseCan't see them being affordable for a long time though
Still, there is the M235i/M240i with some suspension mods for smaller budgets
xjay1337 said:
I can very much sympathise with your post and the problems we will have to face in the future.
I think the debate about the "future of modifying cars" is a valid one but for now I know thousands (not literally lol) of young people (and old people too!) who love cars and many people who also run their own businesses providing servicing and specifically modification of cars. So for the government to say that they are outright banning would put many thousands of families literally out on the streets as well as removing the money from the economy , VAT , people employed etc...
I don't think the odd person fitting a DPF delete or Sports / de cat will register any difference - I get your point, fitting one is a birdie up to the rules I'd like to know the actual percentage of cars which have a decat / dpf / gpf delete fitted, it's got to be <1% of total cars on the road ??
it's not like if the whole car modification community said "ok let's collectively agree to only ever fit a sports cat at most and not remove any nox filters" that government would just go away and leave us alone.
It would continue to be very much a "walls are closing in!" moment unfortunately.
For me before I had DPF , diesels etc, but for my current project I am specifically paying through the nose to get a sports cat rather than a decat so it will still meet the relevant emissions tests for my 2014MY car. Baby steps :-)
Totally agree, the notion that young people aren’t interested in cars is nonsense - all you have to do is go to any meet and see the huge numbers of kids modding their Fiestas / Corsas and so on haha.I think the debate about the "future of modifying cars" is a valid one but for now I know thousands (not literally lol) of young people (and old people too!) who love cars and many people who also run their own businesses providing servicing and specifically modification of cars. So for the government to say that they are outright banning would put many thousands of families literally out on the streets as well as removing the money from the economy , VAT , people employed etc...
I don't think the odd person fitting a DPF delete or Sports / de cat will register any difference - I get your point, fitting one is a birdie up to the rules I'd like to know the actual percentage of cars which have a decat / dpf / gpf delete fitted, it's got to be <1% of total cars on the road ??
it's not like if the whole car modification community said "ok let's collectively agree to only ever fit a sports cat at most and not remove any nox filters" that government would just go away and leave us alone.
It would continue to be very much a "walls are closing in!" moment unfortunately.
For me before I had DPF , diesels etc, but for my current project I am specifically paying through the nose to get a sports cat rather than a decat so it will still meet the relevant emissions tests for my 2014MY car. Baby steps :-)
Edited by xjay1337 on Thursday 18th April 22:36
The way some people think today you wouldn’t be able to do anything without government say so, it’s all for “the greater good”...really? Anyone who thinks politicians have any interest other than lining their own pockets in today’s world needs to stop and contemplate their sanity lol
s2racer said:
1625kg
let that number sink in.. just 200kg less than an E39 M5 with its 4.9l.v8 and heavier than an E92 M3 which is already way too heavy (i have one, its not a pocket rocket or a sports car, its a big, fat Grand Tourer..)
i'd expect this to be in the 14 hundreds
i was interested when it was launched but i'll buy something else
330bhp/tonne is not to be sniffed at. Particularly when the E30 Evo was c.175bhp/tonne (and as a Caterham owner I get lightweight cars)let that number sink in.. just 200kg less than an E39 M5 with its 4.9l.v8 and heavier than an E92 M3 which is already way too heavy (i have one, its not a pocket rocket or a sports car, its a big, fat Grand Tourer..)
i'd expect this to be in the 14 hundreds
i was interested when it was launched but i'll buy something else
I went away to find images of what this would look like on M666's and came back to find that the end is nigh...
520bhp for £720
In case you were interested in what it sounds like (caution Schmee content) https://youtu.be/Jen978ZzMLw?t=574
As an M2 Competition owner and now having done 7000 miles I can categorically say that here’s a great power balance as is, and I really wouldn’t want more power. It’s nice to be able to use (almost) all the power, and at the moment it feels there’s the right amount. It also doesn’t need lowering.
s2racer said:
1625kg
let that number sink in.. just 200kg less than an E39 M5 with its 4.9l.v8 and heavier than an E92 M3 which is already way too heavy (i have one, its not a pocket rocket or a sports car, its a big, fat Grand Tourer..)
i'd expect this to be in the 14 hundreds
i was interested when it was launched but i'll buy something else
My e92 DCT M3 was quoted at 1655kg EU my F80 DCT M3 was quoted at 1635kg, I think the 1625kg is also an EU figure rather than DIN so the M2C is lighter abet not by much. let that number sink in.. just 200kg less than an E39 M5 with its 4.9l.v8 and heavier than an E92 M3 which is already way too heavy (i have one, its not a pocket rocket or a sports car, its a big, fat Grand Tourer..)
i'd expect this to be in the 14 hundreds
i was interested when it was launched but i'll buy something else
andyeds1234 said:
Regarding the original M2...
"Twelve hours later the love affair was over.
Numb steering gave no impression at all of what the front axle was up to. Rock-hard rear tyres didn't stand a chance against a big wedge of turbocharged torque and a frigid road surface. Over the crests and undulations that pepper the moors like discarded burger wrappers outside a McDonald's, the M2 had so little body control I was convinced on more than one occasion we had been spat off"
Doesn't sound like any m2 I've driven
I wouldn’t have called the e steering just numb, it was really poor when they first came out. And the suspension was close to terrible - with that awful yo-yo, never settled effect over anything but smooth tarmac. Very few reviews highlighted this at the time, but more and more have since then. “Journalism is a business” at its best. "Twelve hours later the love affair was over.
Numb steering gave no impression at all of what the front axle was up to. Rock-hard rear tyres didn't stand a chance against a big wedge of turbocharged torque and a frigid road surface. Over the crests and undulations that pepper the moors like discarded burger wrappers outside a McDonald's, the M2 had so little body control I was convinced on more than one occasion we had been spat off"
Doesn't sound like any m2 I've driven
Steve Rance said:
The writer appears to be suffering from ‘kings new clothes’ syndrome
Dynamically in terms of chassis control there is very little difference between the Original M2 and the Competition. The modifications to the new car Are a relatively small incremental improvement. The damping control in both is pretty much the same. That’s where I’d be spending my money if I owned a Comp. The Litchfield remap just turns a good drivers car into yet another BMW point and squirt missile - which is not what the M2 is all about
Whilst I admire your hugely superior driving skills to mine, I’d argue it was the new clothes when it came out. Steering and damping were poor. No idea if things have improved. Dynamically in terms of chassis control there is very little difference between the Original M2 and the Competition. The modifications to the new car Are a relatively small incremental improvement. The damping control in both is pretty much the same. That’s where I’d be spending my money if I owned a Comp. The Litchfield remap just turns a good drivers car into yet another BMW point and squirt missile - which is not what the M2 is all about
Alpinestars said:
andyeds1234 said:
Regarding the original M2...
"Twelve hours later the love affair was over.
Numb steering gave no impression at all of what the front axle was up to. Rock-hard rear tyres didn't stand a chance against a big wedge of turbocharged torque and a frigid road surface. Over the crests and undulations that pepper the moors like discarded burger wrappers outside a McDonald's, the M2 had so little body control I was convinced on more than one occasion we had been spat off"
Doesn't sound like any m2 I've driven
I wouldn’t have called the e steering just numb, it was really poor when they first came out. And the suspension was close to terrible - with that awful yo-yo, never settled effect over anything but smooth tarmac. Very few reviews highlighted this at the time, but more and more have since then. “Journalism is a business” at its best. "Twelve hours later the love affair was over.
Numb steering gave no impression at all of what the front axle was up to. Rock-hard rear tyres didn't stand a chance against a big wedge of turbocharged torque and a frigid road surface. Over the crests and undulations that pepper the moors like discarded burger wrappers outside a McDonald's, the M2 had so little body control I was convinced on more than one occasion we had been spat off"
Doesn't sound like any m2 I've driven
As you said, journalism is a business, and finding a new story about a respected older car is possibly the name of the game.
Alpinestars said:
Whilst I admire your hugely superior driving skills to mine, I’d argue it was the new clothes when it came out. Steering and damping were poor. No idea if things have improved.
I know you’re not in the market, but if you were, save yourself a fortune, buy a non-Competition version (no petrol particulate filter to remove and a waaaay better sounding car even in stock form) fit it with some properly sprung and valved Ohlins TTX’s (I agree with the comments about AST, but Litchfield have long standing links with them) with the engine mapped to 420hp and with a good geo featuring less front and rear toe and a dash more camber front and rear, rolling on Cup 2’s or PS4S with some decent lightweight two piece front brake discs would make for a stunning road car, AND would address the issues you’ve highlighted with regards to both the steering and damping quality.Slippydiff said:
I know you’re not in the market, but if you were, save yourself a fortune, buy a non-Competition version (no petrol particulate filter to remove and a waaaay better sounding car even in stock form) fit it with some properly sprung and valved Ohlins TTX’s (I agree with the comments about AST, but Litchfield have long standing links with them) with the engine mapped to 420hp and with a good geo featuring less front and rear toe and a dash more camber front and rear, rolling on Cup 2’s or PS4S with some decent lightweight two piece front brake discs would make for a stunning road car, AND would address the issues you’ve highlighted with regards to both the steering and damping quality.
I’m sure the suspension could be sorted, but that steering would have to be a load load better. Maybe it’s software, or maybe the later system is better. But the first cars were really not good. Alpinestars said:
I’m sure the suspension could be sorted, but that steering would have to be a load load better. Maybe it’s software, or maybe the later system is better. But the first cars were really not good.
My 1M Coupe (ok, it had hydraulic PAS) handled and steered poorly, a quick geo and the fitment of some light 6 pot AP’s with 365mm front discs transformed it from something with heavy/stodgy steering, into a mentally chuckable go-kart that rode amazingly and had steering that was pointy and pin sharp 
Slippydiff said:
Alpinestars said:
I’m sure the suspension could be sorted, but that steering would have to be a load load better. Maybe it’s software, or maybe the later system is better. But the first cars were really not good.
My 1M Coupe (ok, it had hydraulic PAS) handled and steered poorly, a quick geo and the fitment of some light 6 pot AP’s with 365mm front discs transformed it from something with heavy/stodgy steering, into a mentally chuckable go-kart that rode amazingly and had steering that was pointy and pin sharp Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff