[Hooptie157]

• Collection Date: 12/19/18
• Location: BMW Performance Center
• Spec: HS, Manual, Orange, Exec, Black Wheels, No sunroof
• Prior/Current Cars: 2008 E90 M3, 2003.5 E46 M3, Dinan supercharged e36 m3, EVO, ITR, Mazdaspeed3, S2000
• Age: 38

Review - Let's start with the CONS:

• The Exhaust Udder: God do I hate how it looks. It's killing me. I can't wait to paint it but the weather today fell outside of the recommended range so I didn't do it. But man what a damn eyesore. It's terrible and the thing I hate most about the exterior of the car.
  
• Ride Quality: This is a stiff car. I'd say stiffer then my E90 which was damn stiff. Maybe I'm getting old but man I wouldn't want to daily this all the time. It's also pretty loud on the interstate, again louder than my 10 year old E90.
  
• iDrive Spotify Integration: I can't get this to connect all the time and when it does it's a bitch for me to operate. Could be user error but man it's frustrating.
  
• Clutch: It's got a really weird engagement. I got a BMS clutch stop but I haven't installed it yet. The shifter not super direct but miles better than my E90. Note: it does not like like to be rushed.
  
• Driver's Seat Thigh Bolster: Ok this might be the reason I sell the car. I made a separate thread about this in order to get help (see here). Extended trips kill my leg to the point where I need to stop. If it doesn't break in or there is no solution I might have to sell it. It's THAT bad.

PROS:

• Performance: In my other threads I was worried about the speed of the car. Honestly this is a quick car. Feels torquey and quick. The engine is really not that responsive and there is definitely lag but it pulls hard. I have only been going to 5.5K and like 40-50% throttle but it's satisfying. It's fast enough for public streets and with a tune it would be a monster.
  
• Low Speed Burbles: I really like the low speed burbles. Cruising in a parking lot everyone is like wtf when they see what it's coming from. Fun times.
  
• Handling: Honestly I haven't pushed this car hard on public streets but it feels pretty good. Flat, controllable and the brakes are beastly.
  
• Appearance: The color is awesome and the size is good. But I've seen guys in M2's passing by and they look massive in the car. It's a really weird effect because its not too small inside. It just looks kinda strange from the side with someone in it imo. The front end is the best part. So aggressive and the headlights are amazing.
  
• Radio: The sound system is great to me but the interface is frustrating. Again - could be user error.

SUMMARY: This is a good car. It does the job it was designed for and well. I can't however feel that it might have been a better choice to buy an OG M2 with a tune and aftermarket warranty and saved 20K. I know an M2C is a better car but I'm just not sure if it's a 20K better car.

Also if I can't get this freaking seat fixed I'm going to have to sell it. It's that bad for me.

That's my dad in the pic.

[Hooptie157]

oh I already have exhaust paint and M performance spoiler to be installed.

[aerokubectl]

Just painted my muffler and it looks decent. I think it will look perfect with a rear diffuser.

Good luck with the leg pain, but def see a specialist.

[richard in NC]

On long trips, I take my wallet out of my back pocket. It helps with thigh/leg soreness

[F80Dreamer]

Nice, balanced review. Looking forward to more thoughts post break in.

[cptobvious]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

On long trips, I take my wallet out of my back pocket. It helps with thigh/leg soreness

I have to now post the obligatory George Constanta reference!

[No1Cares]

today is the 27th, is the thigh bolstering still going to make you sell this car? lol. I can't say I've heard of any bolstering issues causing so much pain...in any car.

I too don't know if 20k between new m2c and lightly used m2 is worth it...were you able to try both vehicles before purchase? any bolstering issues noted then?

[dubzz24]

I came to a similar conclusion with regards to relative value of the OG M2 vs. M2C. The OG won for me, but I don't think you can go wrong either way.

I hope you can figure out the seating issue. That sounds horrible

[Hooptie157]

Originally Posted by Casotakar

today is the 27th, is the thigh bolstering still going to make you sell this car? lol. I can't say I've heard of any bolstering issues causing so much pain...in any car.

I too don't know if 20k between new m2c and lightly used m2 is worth it...were you able to try both vehicles before purchase? any bolstering issues noted then?

I’ve driven both and there was no bolster issue in the og m2. The seat are more plain but work better for my hips

[PackPride85]

Originally Posted by Hooptie157

I’ve driven both and there was no bolster issue in the og m2. The seat are more plain but work better for my hips

I spent 10 days reading tripping in an m4 (same seats at m2c) around Germany and I found them much less comfortable on long trips compared to my m2 seats. They were more supportive for aggressive driving but I would not be happy taking more road trips sitting in them.

[Mr Pete]

OP, did you install your clutch stop yet? I just picked up my car today. The clutch isn’t nearly as bad as my previous M4. Now that car has the most vague clutch feel ever. And the M4 clutch was so light with a super long travel, the BMS clutch stop made such a significant difference.

I’m debating where to install the clutch stop on the M2.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Thank you for sharing

[ddnmkun]

Originally Posted by Hooptie157

man whoever took this picture........

[qnet]

Congrats, the performance center is a fun experience. It's strange, but I had issues with leg/knee discomfort when driving my M235i on long trips. I've had no such issue in my OG M2, which have similar seats.

My seat is adjusted closer, for more correct braking like the instructor showed me at the performance center. At only 5' 9" my knee now rest on the little pad on the right side, whereas before it didn't. I've wondered if this adjustment helped.

I'm not sure about your situation since you have different seats. Hopefully you will find a solution so you can fully enjoy the car.

[808elise]

DP/tune and follow up post.

Then u see where your 21k went. There is a much higher ceiling for mods on the M2C. If u are trying to justify on stock car it's definitely still there but a decisive improvement if modded. Got to keep in mind the brakes are there to support the mods. Whole reason I got the car was for the engine and brakes. The first two things needed to support additional power. Later realized additional cooling. My buddies M2 had issues with that. Nice to know I can go pure with out spending big bucks on additional cooling. The electronics are also a big improvement. I love the dry cf interior accents. Saw member on here switch them for gloss. Lol. Paying for it three times, once for the competition car, once for gloss, and once for resale. The introduction of a new color is nice. Lighting upgrades can be expensive. I dropped a massive amount of money for my lightwerkz setup on my e46m. The m2c lights are awesome! I think u hit most the major points but have not taken the much higher ceiling on the engine into account and a lot of the smaller items that add up. I have the mod bug and know what this stuff costs. The m2c leaves me with little to do to get it to a reliable ultimate daily so I can beat on my turbo e46 m3 on the weekends. The suspension is perfect! Not too stiff. I didn't buy an m3/4/5/6 or...... m suv? It's an M2! It should be stiff!!

Things bmw missed were related to "competition". CF roof. WTF. Standard M3/4 has it, why not my "competition". "Competition" seats. This lack of competition stuff equates to more weight, another issue. Under no circumstances do I want extra weight on a competition model, figure it out bmw. Though your seat comfort issue seems personal to u. I have had 0 comfort issues. Exercise may help. Seat belt assist. Reaching behind myself is annoying. They did it right in the e92m. The m2 line up has many resemblances of the e46m. Should have brought back the ventilating rear quarter windows to tie some of that into its look and functionality. Why does it seem we are moving back on some of this old functionality? Why is orange stitch even an option with m seatbelts and steering wheel stitch standard. The contrast is a kindergartener's coloring book. Red stitch, sure. Orange, no. I took that hit and accepted it considering the person who ordered backed out and I was able to immediately obtain the car at msrp. The entire seat setup was thrown in there without a whole lot of thought. The side view mirror visibility sucks. Those were also thrown on. Are the triangles on them even functional? Wouldn't know bc I have an M2 owners manual. Though that may be the dealerships fault? Surround cams on the exec pack would also be nice. Front bumper will bump parking blocks. Can't even imagine how low front lip will make car with slight drop. The tires look stretched. Should be wider stock on that rim.

Additionally, the sound thing is getting annoying. It's one of the only subjective nuances the og fan boys have left to stake their claim to owning a more valuable car. They are both amazing cars performing at different levels that for og owner will be unattainable with or without similar modifications. Go aftermarket if the sound is so bad. I personally find it hilarious how much people are spending on these exhausts especially midpipe for a name. A two to one mid like aa can be done by a local shop for far less and mixed with vrsf DPs giving u harmonized volume. I'm considering ti and will still be cheaper with deeper more pronounced sound.

🥳. Happy new year!

[dmboone25]

Hooptie157 , just so you know, I also get quite a bit of pain, specifically in my right hip, in these seats on longer trips (I have an F80 ZCP, so I don't have lumbar either).

My dad has the OG M2 LCI and I find that those seats are much more comfortable for longer trips. I really miss the thigh extensions with the M3 seats, and have wondered if that omission has anything to do with my right hip pain.

The only thing that seems to help me is putting the car on cruise control, and then bending my right knee "up" and taking pressure off that side's hip/butt area. That does help, but stopping and getting out to stretch more often is really the best solution (which sucks when you're trying to get somewhere as fast as possible).

When does your pain start to kick in? Mine is around the 90 minute to 2 hour mark, if I haven't moved much or bent my leg up with the cruise control engaged. No easy fix I don't think...I have many many trips from Chicago to Indy, Dallas to Chicago/Indy, and those are all between 4-12 hour trips. Just not super comfortable for that long of a drive.

[Poochie]

Is it possible the M2C seats have less padding?

I use to feel some back and leg pain on long road trips, in my 2nd gen Mini Cooper..

When I traded it for a 135i, I unconsciously notice one day, that on the same exact trip distance, I no longer had any discomfort.. :

I was confused for a little until I realized that the Mini seats had way less cushion padding than the 135i. #MysterySolved

Small nuances such as seat padding can sometimes make all the differance, that we might overlook..

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Poochie

Is it possible the M2C seats have less padding?

I use to feel some back and leg pain on long road trips, in my 2nd gen Mini Cooper..

When I traded it for a 135i, I unconsciously notice one day, that on the same exact trip distance, I no longer had any discomfort.. :

I was confused for a little until I realized that the Mini seats had way less cushion padding than the 135i. #MysterySolved

Small nuances such as seat padding can sometimes make all the differance, that we might overlook..

I am not sure whether there is less or more padding, but the type of padding definitely seems to be different. The M2C/3/4 seats are "tighter" or "harder" in my opinion, where the OG M2 seats are more "cushion-y" or "softer".

Again, I think the lack of a thigh extension factors into the discomfort, at least for me personally.

[DC2RtoCT9Atof87]

Nice write up!

As an aside, I recognize your handle from the old Honda-Tech days. Followed similar car paths.. have also owned an ITR and EVO.

[Hooptie157]

Originally Posted by DC2RtoCT9Atof87

Nice write up!

As an aside, I recognize your handle from the old Honda-Tech days. Followed similar car paths.. have also owned an ITR and EVO.

OMG Honda-tech. I LOVED those days. 2001 ITR in 2001 during the Honda hey day. Life was so good. Plus I was super young. It totally ruled. Sigh.

[berk]

Originally Posted by Hooptie157

oh I already have exhaust paint and M performance spoiler to be installed.

Could you share the picture