New Dahler DCL pitched as M2 CS botherer
Why bother with a ducktail when you can have 638hp and carbon gills for less, Swiss tuner ponders
The reveal of the latest M2 CS back in May was always going to provoke a response from aftermarket specialists - and following its rethink of the M5 Touring earlier this month, Dahler has found time to step up to the plate. Tellingly, before it dives into a description of what it calls its ‘Competition Line’ car, it takes the time to point out the kink in the CS armour: its asking price. Apparently, the 530hp flagship costs 115,000 euros in Germany. Which sounds wild. In the UK, it’s from £86,800. Although it’s the walk-up from the M2’s £68,705 asking price that affords BMW tuners so much wiggle room.
Into that space, Dahler has shoved ‘the latest evolutionary stage’ of its own M2 development process, promising more power than the CS while remaining ‘significantly cheaper’. Quite how much cheaper we are not told, though it backs up the first statement with confirmation that the new DCL variant will output 638hp and 575lb ft of torque. This, you’ll have noticed, is substantially more than BMW thinks it wise to install in an M2 - and the Swiss tuner doesn’t waste time explaining how it arrived at the number - but it does mention lopping off the Vmax limiter, which means that 190mph ought to be doable.
This kind of performance has been accessed without sacrificing the 3.0-litre unit’s Euro 6d emissions standard, even, Dahler says, when you combine the Stage 2 engine upgrade with its carbon air intake and stainless steel exhaust, which you’re probably going to want to do. We say this based on its polished appearance, although it’s the quality of the sound emerging from a choice of 100 or 108mm ceramic-coated, bi-flap-controlled tailpipes that you should be focused on, of course.
Around its chunkier exhaust, Dahler reminds us that you might want to consider a chunkier body. As you might expect, it already offers the carbon fibre body parts to do this, but has expanded the selection for any customer hoping to compete with the CS’s prominent ducktail. Interestingly, the firm has devoted its attention to the front end, where it has added the choice of a new bonnet and wings, the latter gaining integrated air outlet gills. These don’t do much for the M2’s Q-car status, and nor do the forged 21-inch wheels - but all the cosmetic stuff is obviously superfluous if you’d prefer to keep things on the down low.
Where Dahler does suggest you make a change is in the chassis department, where it is adamant it has improved on the M2’s handling via bespoke suspension that knocks 28mm and 20mm (front and back, respectively) off the standard model’s ride height. If that sounds risky from a compliance point of view, the tuner notes that four-way adjustable coilovers provide you with plenty of bandwidth. It’ll even add support bearings for camber adjustment if you’re inclined to spend a lot of time on track.
Is all this sufficient to compete with BMW’s own Circuit Smasher? Well, you’d have to get in touch with Dahler to plot a cost-effective route to exactly the sort of 638hp M2 you want - but the thought of retaining the six-speed manual is fairly intriguing (there’s a short shift kit available for that, obviously). Either way, the DCL proves once again that the sky is effectively the limit with BMW’s last exclusively combustion, rear-drive M car. Expect more specialists to jump on the bandwagon any day now.
”?After almost a year of her owning it and having had many a drive, even in standard form it is an incredible thing! A little trip to Wales last week showed how unbelievably capable it is.......so intoxicating!
The wheels on that Dahler one are too big and the tyres too rubber bandy for my liking.
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