Discussion
For those who are interested, a short review of my new M2. I bought the car as a DD as I wanted something engaging. Coming from a motorsport background (latterly Porsche GT3 and GT3 cup) my expectations were reasonably low as this was regarded as an ‘entry level’ M car.
In summary if you want an engaging and rewarding modern driving experience the car is a gem. The star is the diff. One of the very best that I’ve driven. It settles the car so well under braking and acceleration and gives the driver several options of rotating the car. That means you can drive it as a rear, mid or front engined configurationd car if you want to. Most reviews of the car labour the decent well balanced passive chassis. That’s half the story. The diff and how it works in conjunction with the chassis is what makes this car so special. I was lucky enough to work on tuning the chassis of the 996GT3RS back in the day. The only car that came close to it at the time was the M3CSL. I have huge respect for that car. With a decent set of dampers - I’d suggest KW clubsport - the M2 has the potential to be as good - if a tad lardy. It doesn’t need power or brakes (pads and racing fluid is all you need).
My only gripe is that the engine map softens off when all the traction systems are turned off. Come on BMW, if a driver feels confident enough to turn off the nannies, show him some respect..
In summary if you want an engaging and rewarding modern driving experience the car is a gem. The star is the diff. One of the very best that I’ve driven. It settles the car so well under braking and acceleration and gives the driver several options of rotating the car. That means you can drive it as a rear, mid or front engined configurationd car if you want to. Most reviews of the car labour the decent well balanced passive chassis. That’s half the story. The diff and how it works in conjunction with the chassis is what makes this car so special. I was lucky enough to work on tuning the chassis of the 996GT3RS back in the day. The only car that came close to it at the time was the M3CSL. I have huge respect for that car. With a decent set of dampers - I’d suggest KW clubsport - the M2 has the potential to be as good - if a tad lardy. It doesn’t need power or brakes (pads and racing fluid is all you need).
My only gripe is that the engine map softens off when all the traction systems are turned off. Come on BMW, if a driver feels confident enough to turn off the nannies, show him some respect..
Do you think they got the spring rate or the damping slightly wrong?
I remember trying a car with some revalved dampers some years ago and it was a revelation compared to stock. Not only did it just roll over cats eyes and potholes, there was no discernible wallowing over undulations.
I remember trying a car with some revalved dampers some years ago and it was a revelation compared to stock. Not only did it just roll over cats eyes and potholes, there was no discernible wallowing over undulations.
Steve Rance said:
My only gripe is that the engine map softens off when all the traction systems are turned off. Come on BMW, if a driver feels confident enough to turn off the nannies, show him some respect..
I dunno, the throttle map is almost binary in sport plus, would be very difficult to modulate with that kind of sensitivity. The more linear pedal helps control imo.ftypical said:
Do you think they got the spring rate or the damping slightly wrong?
I remember trying a car with some revalved dampers some years ago and it was a revelation compared to stock. Not only did it just roll over cats eyes and potholes, there was no discernible wallowing over undulations.
It’s subjective I suppose. As a manufacturer you need to strike a balance of what most drivers would want for most of the time. On that basis the damping/spring combo is fine. I would be looking for something adjustable with more control. I remember trying a car with some revalved dampers some years ago and it was a revelation compared to stock. Not only did it just roll over cats eyes and potholes, there was no discernible wallowing over undulations.
Brainpox said:
I dunno, the throttle map is almost binary in sport plus, would be very difficult to modulate with that kind of sensitivity. The more linear pedal helps control imo.
I think that you can never have too much throttle response on a turbo engine. I use sport plus as a default and turn all systems off if I’m looking to have a more spirited drive. The map on sport plus is fine. The map on all systems off is awful.Very interesting topic to me. I bought one of the first M2 LCI’s in Sweden to complement a Golf R and a few older cars after the sale of a 991 GT3 to fund a house purchase. I test drove it and enjoyed it, and promptly put down a deposit. Its stated purpose for me was to be the car that I drove for driving’s sake, and never a DD. Once it arrived, however, I only kept it for a couple of months and a total of 216 km. It simply didn’t provide what I needed it to, above and beyond the Golf. As a daily driver with a kid, the Golf is essentially without compromise, and as a car simply to be enjoyed, I felt the M2 to be lacking. So off it went the other day, replaced with a GT4 Clubsport, which will hopefully fill its remit better. The M2 is an okay car, but as someone who has loved BMWs my whole life (still dream about an E30 M3), the realisation that it was the best car the company currently makes was sobering.
You will find the GT4 a good car. It needs some resolution of the rear geometry to make it a great car. I tried the Golf R and found it a little lifeless. It basically drove itself. The thing about the M2 is it's potential with a relatively simple damping change. Few modern cars are briliant out of the box unfortunately. There are so many agenda's other than engagement to fulllfil. The 991Gen2 being the exception. That is a great car.
Thanks for your thoughts Steve - I have one of the earliest M2's in manual, that I have taken just recently round Rockingham in semi-dry conditions and it was a hoot, even in totally standard form it performed very well; very predictable at the back, a touch of understeer at the front (the Michelins are fairly old on the front which may explain that); compared to taking my M135i round the same track it is night and day chassis-wise.
I love the size of the M2, and it has a perfect amount of power; I'm sure that chassis could handle more, but it's a DD for me, so I'm leaving it as is.
I also have a mark 7 Golf GTI, which is incredible competent, a great car; but interesting to hear you say that you felt the R 'drove itself'; there's an element of this in the GTI too - it's almost too competent, whereas the M2 is just the right side of lairy.
The M2 interior is a bit standard, the gearbox a little notchy like many modern BMW manuals, but it's beautifully screwed together and looks just about perfect from most angles - particularly the muscular front view (rear aside, which in my opinion is a little bodged).
I very pleased that it's gets your seal of approval - I'm not sure what I'd replace it with for the money - I'd love a GT4, but it's just out of reach financially, so until my ship comes in, it's the baby M for me!
I love the size of the M2, and it has a perfect amount of power; I'm sure that chassis could handle more, but it's a DD for me, so I'm leaving it as is.
I also have a mark 7 Golf GTI, which is incredible competent, a great car; but interesting to hear you say that you felt the R 'drove itself'; there's an element of this in the GTI too - it's almost too competent, whereas the M2 is just the right side of lairy.
The M2 interior is a bit standard, the gearbox a little notchy like many modern BMW manuals, but it's beautifully screwed together and looks just about perfect from most angles - particularly the muscular front view (rear aside, which in my opinion is a little bodged).
I very pleased that it's gets your seal of approval - I'm not sure what I'd replace it with for the money - I'd love a GT4, but it's just out of reach financially, so until my ship comes in, it's the baby M for me!
I have a GTD which has a similar diff set up. Basically you turn in, mash the throttle and the diff and active systems do the rest, the driver has little input in the process. Funny, for the first corner and boring after that. It depends on what level of engagement a driver is seeking. The diff set up on the M2 is much better from a driving perspective as it allows the driver to play a much greater role in the cornering process but ultimately is so predictable that it’s very difficult to get into any trouble.
Fishy Dave said:
Morning, I have a Z4M Roadster and a Corvette C6, which is currently on its way across the Atlantic. I've been fitting in racing where I can in an E30 (sold last month to make room) and a colleagues R53 Mini. Are you still racing?
Not they much after Carrera Cup. I do some Corporate stuff. Might drive an RSR for a lovely chap in Historics. Quite fancy that. You need very understanding sponsors to do High level racing these days. Steve Rance said:
I was lucky enough to work on tuning the chassis of the 996GT3RS back in the day.
I remember you telling me you took it to Parr's the minute you got it. 2003 I guess. Bloody hell, 15 years ago !I am definitely getting a M2 soon although they need to be down to £35k for a manual, which is not too far off.
Good to hear it's trackable with hot pads and RBF600.
Cheers Steve.
nickfrog said:
I remember you telling me you took it to Parr's the minute you got it. 2003 I guess. Bloody hell, 15 years ago !
I am definitely getting a M2 soon although they need to be down to £35k for a manual, which is not too far off.
Good to hear it's trackable with hot pads and RBF600.
Cheers Steve.
I love M2s! I've done a fair few trackdays in one with RBF600 and standard pads the front calipers changed colour! I am definitely getting a M2 soon although they need to be down to £35k for a manual, which is not too far off.
Good to hear it's trackable with hot pads and RBF600.
Cheers Steve.
I was at the OEM brake pad supplier this week who said they have developed an OEM high performance pad for track use.
Thanks from me too. I was looking for a sports car for occasional use and longer trips. The 718’s don’t do it for me with their four cylinder engines, and they are not cheap. I can’t get my name down for a GT4 and I don’t fancy paying 100k plus for a usd one that might have had some hard use. F Type is too heavy and compromised. I was thinking about an M2 for its 3 litre straight six and though I haven’t driven it yet imagine it a bit like the old M3. At 46k it seems good value. What do you think?
Edited by cardigankid on Sunday 11th March 19:31
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