BMW M2 / Competition

Cyber370

I’ve been looking at the M2 for the last couple of years. Like you, this car has always peaked my interest. There is just one thing that I can’t get passed. It’s a BMW and there will be reliability issues, short term and long. I am not biased in any way and appreciate what’s gone into this car in both development and performance. But, based on my passed and present experience with BMWs in general, I can’t get passed the BMW phobia I have. I keep checking the classifieds just the same for some reason. Don’t know why.

In the end, I’ll probably stick with my Z. But, yeah the M2 is an extremely interesting beast.

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"That’s when you know you’ve found somebody special. When you can just shut the f*ck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence.”-Mia (Pulp Fiction)

babyzilla

Looks like we're in the same boat! I came across some older posts from MagicBus (I think) who has a M2 and Z and he really loves the M2. I wonder if he still has it. If he does, I'd be curious to know what the reliability has been for him.

Also, my brother once custom ordered a 335i with the M package from Germany about 6-7 years ago. It lasted a week and turned out to be a lemon. There was an issue they couldn't fix where the throttle would just cut off on the highway........
Needless to say, I think I'm scarred from it. Yet, I love the M2 lol

DLSTR

Magic and I have traded messages here. Get the M2 in either form you will be pleased. Reliability? Surf/peruse any message board/Brand or Marque site and it will be full of really unhappy people and about 20% thrilled overall.

Negative news is easy and most often provided. Honda and Toyota build 'lemon' defective vehicles. Nature of mass production with testing balanced vs development cost. They never make a perfection. Even Zonda lol

I have had both an M235i, first year production. Zero issues. Reliability is non issue. Driven firmly and always professionally maintained.

My M2 the same. Edgy and fun. More than enough power to get in trouble lol A fun and capable machine. Exceptional and reliable. I also have a 440i - Xdrive. Soon to be upgraded with factory power pak. Has been as fun and reliable.
Do not be scared to drive what you want in this life. Read less, drive more and enjoy what you drive.

The Competition model I had for a 2 day test from my dealer. Superb but it was a smoother experience than my 17 M2. Smoother in the sense that the exhaust sound was a bit less edgy, still very nice. Power was a smoother application per the M3/M4 given the motor vs the M2 of mine. The power punch comes on with a burst as boost builds in my M2. The Competition is less of a punch as it has a touch less lag. So its about what you want in the driving experience. I daily my M2 and the M235i. Some days one or the other as my wife has her days with them.

If one was to pick either I think the M2C is a smoother less edgy drive for a daily. I like the edgy 17 M2. I can see after the extended test how the M2C would be appealing. The difference in performance is not night and day but its the feel of how the power is applied. What do you like better. Again test both as you do your normal research. I love DCT. It puts the power down. My first not manual sportscar. I love and it has the feel of a manual but is faster.

The maintenance on the M2C is a bit more involved. You will have more spark plug replacements etc. I think for the US its 25k miles then replace. Same engine as the M3/M4 so that is the situation. The maintenance schedule should be evaluated in your normal research. My M235i has been like maintaining a Honda. Simple, easy. By the book nothing at all exotic.

My M2 has the same engine but upgraded. Again nothing exotic about maintenance at all. Change the oil as directed, filters etc. Keep up the alignments as you cannot rotate the wheels. Tires will degrade quickly if not properly aligned. I do 2 a year when the wheels are changed winter to summer on both. Winter time Autobahn driving is nice with fewer people
Love high performance Michelin Winter tires

Magic Bus

Sorry for the delay in responding, haven’t been checking the whole forum lately. To answer your question, over 3 years of ownership of my original M2, not M2C, I have 0 issues. I’m on the M2 forums a lot and it seems like it’s a very reliable car. The CSC or steering lock equivalent issue for the M2 is the charge pipe. Like the CSC or steering lock, it can be fixed for a very reasonable cost and not something you have to worry for at least 3 years. Other then that, most agree it’s very reliable.

I’d like to add, the Z is a very good sports car. It’s not the fastest, best handling or the most refined, but the sum of the whole makes it one of the best bang for the buck sports car out there.

The Z has better steering (hydraulic), shorter clutch travel, better shifter (manual only for me) and seating position is more sports car like and positions you better for the 3 pedals. The M2 seating position feels like you're driving a sedan. However don’t let what I just said fool you. The M2 is a hell of a sports car and I would not trade it back for my 13 sport Z.

Stock vs stock, the M2 is faster in every aspect. While sitting taller, it sways less, has quicker rebound over bumps making it feel more secure at speed and is more balanced weight wise. The Z always felt a little nose heavy to me. While I prefer the Z’s shifter, the synchros, rev match on the M2 is superior and the light clutch is a delight after getting used to to it. It’s not any slower than the stiffer Z clutch. However the clutch pedal travel on the M2 is longer, but can be shortened for $8 with a BMS clutch stop.

Stock exhaust, the M2 wins. However with an aftermarket exhaust, while close, in my opinion the Z wins. I loved the sound of m Z with just an axle back. I’ve put a high flow cat, mid pipe on the M2, as that’s the only slow down point, with 3 the inch stock exhaust pipes. No sense spending another $3k on an exhaust just for a louder sound. The high flow cat adds better sound plus power.

There have been other M2 owners on the forum, who took a test drive of an M2 and weren’t really impressed but they bought it anyway. After awhile, they loved it. It’s a car that needs to be pushed, as the more you push it, the more you truly begin to appreciate it.

I was also fortunate to take advantage of BMW’s European Delivery program and got to drive my M2 in Germany, France and Switzerland for 9 days. If any of you can, take advantage of that program for a 5% discount off of MSRP. But you gotta do it soon as the new M2C’s are gonna be assembled in Mexico. Then I’d be concerned about the M2C’s reliability.

DLSTR

Superb post!!