BMW M2 CS (F87) | Spotted

There'll be a new M2 CS in time; it has some act to follow

BMW M cars don’t always start off great; sometimes it takes a little while and some extra effort to bring out the best of them. The M2, though, has sort of always been very good indeed. Granted, the Competition improved the original, but there was an awful lot to like about the very first cars. It’s a model that’s continued to improve, which bodes very well for whatever the current M2 will become, be it a Competition or CS or GTS. The last purely petrol M car deserves something special, that’s for sure.

The first M2 generation bowed out in fine fashion, the CS launching at the end of 2019 and delivering exactly what was expected: not a drastically different M2, but absolutely a better one. The introduction of adaptive suspension (and the option to have ceramic brakes) took some edge off the ride but nothing from the M2’s tough and tenacious character; the engine was only a little stronger on paper, and that was fine because it didn’t need to be any faster; and the changes to the body (including a carbon bonnet) made a great looking M car even more striking. The CS overhaul wasn’t transformational, because it didn’t need to be - it was just the best an M2 could realistically be. And pretty damn brilliant as a result.

Shame it was so expensive, really. As very quickly became BMW CS tradition, the M2 with gold wheels (if you wanted them) came in at tens of thousands more than a Competition. Which was already very good. At £75k (or more than £80,000 with the ceramics added on), the CS was into very senior Cayman territory - and as a pure sports car, the BMW couldn’t compete with the mid-engined Porsche. What it could do, however, was deliver everything that was so loved about the M car experience in a compact, fast, good-looking two-door package. With a manual gearbox. And who wouldn’t want of those?

Because of that, and because of the reception received by subsequent M cars, the CS held on to its value ferociously well. For a long time prices over the RRP were being asked, which is some achievement for a 2 Series. This CS stands out from the previous batch thanks to the gold wheels and ceramic brakes. It gets the DCT rather than manual, but it’s hardly like there were any complaints about that transmission. It’s also notable as a CS that’s been used rather than cosseted with a view on future value, with 40,000 under its Michelin Pilot Super Sports (which are probably a better everyday compromise than the Cup 2).

Thanks to paint protection film and what we’ll assume (i.e. hope) was a considerate owner, both exterior and interior look just as good as they would have back in 2020. It looks old now but in the best way - classic if you will - with modest proportions, buttons and even a handbrake. The light-up M Performance wheel might be a bit much for some, though that could be changed if it’s a sticking point.

That a car with as many miles as the rest put together can still command £60k only adds weight to the argument of this being a modern M great. Yes, you’ll get a lot of the same experience in a Competition and, yes, the manuals will probably end up as the most collectible examples in the future, but a CS of any kind will be so gratifying that such prosaic concerns probably won’t register. Adding more miles under those gold wheels will be a privilege. Let’s hope for such an icon next time around.

SPECIFICATION | BMW M2 CS

Engine: 2,979cc, twin-turbo straight-six
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (7-speed M DCT dual-clutch optional)
Power (hp): 450@6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 406@2,350@5,500rpm
0-62mph: 4.2 seconds (4.0)
Top speed: 174mph
Weight: 1,525kg (1,550kg, then minus 22kg for ceramics)
MPG: 27.2 (30.1)
CO2: 238g/km (214)
Year registered: 2020
Recorded mileage: 40,598
Price new: £75,320 (before options)
Yours for: £60,990

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Master Bean

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