First Look: BMW M2 Competition Offers You More

By Marc Rutten

With worldwide sales of more than 12,000 units, the BMW M2 Coupé was the most successful model from BMW M GmbH in 2017. An unexpected success for a model that was initially developed as a “parts bin” project using the M235i as a basis and taking as many parts as feasibly possible from its bigger brother the M4. Choices were made to keep total cost at a decent level allowing for a competitive price level testing the market’s reception to this baby M.

Now that the M2’s success and praise has finally woken up everyone, the Bavarians from Garching near Munich have come up with an improved version of their entry level M model. The new M2 Competition is all that fans, owners and the market had hoped for. It offers ‘more’ on many fronts, as stated by Frank van Meel in an interview I had with the BMW M CEO at an early viewing of the vehicle. (Click the link to read the full interview)

The Dutchman, who has a background of studying automotive engineering in Germany and working for a performance brand from Ingolstadt, took over as Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW M GmbH from 1 January 2015 and has since been on an ongoing odyssey of making sure that we all keep that BMW M smile on our faces. The release of the M2 and the intention of developing a lineup of Competition, CS, and CSL models showcases the highly required transparency within the M lineup.

​Now let’s go back to the M2 Competition, a model based on the BMW M2 LCI Coupé which will be end of life this summer. The M2C replaces the M2 on the production line in Leipzig, because of highly needed changes to meet new European emissions standards. It required BMW M to make a business decision to move to the M4’s S55 engine and ditch the N55 engine currently in the base M2 Coupé. The engine is the biggest change in the M2 Competition. It is a six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology including two mono-scroll turbos, a three-litre cubic capacity and a performance of 302 kW/410 HP and a peak torque of 550 Nm.

The new BMW M2 Competition has a limited top speed of 250 km/h. In certain markets, you can opt for the M Driver’s Package to raise the top speed to 280 km/h – 10 km/h more than with the BMW M2 Coupé. The baby M completes a standard sprint, from a standstill to 100 km/h, in 4.2 seconds (with M DCT, 4.4 seconds with six-speed manual gearbox). In both cases this is 0,1 faster than the outgoing BMW M2 Coupé. The six-speed manual gearbox blips the throttle on downshifts and lowers the engine’s revs on upshifts. You can disengage it like in the M2 Coupé by switching DSC off. The other gearbox option is a seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission which offers the option to adjust the timing of the gearshift, its intensity, and the automatic throttle blipping function on downshifts.

On the technology front, BMW M used the oil supply system and the cooling system both from the BMW M4 Competition Package. They are both added to the M2C with some adjustments. The cooling system features one central radiator, two side radiators and an additional engine oil cooler. At the back of the car, you will find a brand new exhaust system, specifically designed for the M2 Competition and with two electrically-controlled flaps. In certain markets it includes the same particulate filter as on the M4 to meet emission standards. It is also a touch heavier (+55 kg) than the base M2 model.

​Moving from the engine bay to the exterior looks, I found myself admiring a brand new M colour on the press car that was placed in front of me. It is called; Hockenheim Silver. The new colour is an intriguing light grey with a surprising effect. There is a gloss in the colour, but from a distance it looks matte. In direct sunlight it also seems to have the tendency of turning more into the direction of white. The colour complements a lineup of five colours; Sunset Orange (also new to the M2 Competition), Long Beach Blue, Alpine White and Sapphire Black. Mineral Gray is gone from the palette.

The BMW M2 Competition is not part of the Individual program, so you cannot opt for an individual colour. You could however beg your dealer for a special paint job, but that requires you as an owner paying at least 60K EUR on top of the sales price for a brand new produced vehicle that is completely dismantled, repainted and rebuilt in Garching, Germany. I am not sure anyone would easily opt for this option!

Other exterior highlights are the new front, which includes a new front skirt and larger, redesigned BMW kidney grills in high-gloss black. The new grills resembles BMW’s new design philosophy and are complemented by black side gills on the front wings (base M Performance parts), and a redesigned quartet of black tailpipes connected to the new exhaust system. The dark M Competition Badge is brand new and graces the rear end of the car. The M mirrors finish off the package and were - according to the M CEO - added after customer request.

On the subject of wheels, there is now a choice of three options! The optional 19-inch forged alloy wheels (front axle: 9J x 19, rear axle: 10J x 19) with the new Y-spoke design was fitted on the press vehicle. The wheel is available in two colour options: light high-sheen or black front surface. The tyres are the same size as the M2 Coupé. The standard wheel option is the one currently available on the M2 LCI Coupé.

​From a customer point of view the M-mirrors weren’t the only discussion point. The braking and handling of the base M2 Coupé were often criticized. The M2 Competition takes care off these points with a number of upgrades and an optional M brake kit. The M sport brakes provide the highly needed increased brake performance thanks to larger brake discs (front axle: 400 mm diameter, rear axle: 380 mm diameter) and brake calipers painted grey (front axle: 6-piston fixed caliper, rear axle: 4-piston fixed caliper). This is two pistons per wheel more front and rear. The standard brakes have blue painted calipers and size 380 mm in diameter at the front axle and 370 mm in diameter at the rear axle.

The handling was improved by a number of upgrades like the CFRP high-precision strut and bulkhead strut from the BMW M3/M4 offering increased front section rigidity. The characteristic curves for the electromechanical power steering, the Active M Differential and the Dynamic Steering Control (DSC) system have also been adjusted. DSC has even been completely recalibrated to offer improved grip in different conditions. The suspension has been adjusted for increased front-end rigidity, greater steering precision and less body roll, while also focusing on keeping the right kind of comfort levels.

The BMW M2 Competition is based on the M2 LCI or facelift. This means new front and rear lights, new speedo cluster, new carbon trim on the dashboard and the updated iDrive with touchscreen. The standard range of equipment now also includes the red start/stop button, adaptive LED headlights and front/rear Park Distance Control (PDC). The interior is a familiar sight for M2 owners and doesn’t offer a wide variety of new features. It is mostly a run down memory lane if you currently have a M2 parked in your garage. The M2C offers you a M2 Competition logo on the sill plates, M1 and M2 buttons on the steering wheel, M selector switches on the center tunnel, new optional stitching and seat options and M-style seat belts.

The optional M Sport seat (familiar to the M3/M4 range) features an illuminated M2 logo at shoulder height. The black leather upholstery boasts design perforations in the seat and backrest, available in both blue or orange. Alcantara leather is used on the sides of the seats. The standard sports seats are also available with black leather upholstery and feature contrast stitching in either blue or orange. The standard seats are the same as currently used in the base M2 Coupé. The biggest difference between both is the absence of thigh extenders when you opt for the sport seats. People with longer legs will miss this.

The new engine of the BMW M2 Competition

The new engine of the BMW M2 Competition

Like the M3/M4, you now have the selector switches next to the gear selector. The switches can be used to directly access various settings for stability control, for example the three engine characteristics, or the steering modes. The missing button (black button without an icon) is for the adaptive suspension. The M2 does not come with an adaptive suspension and therefore this button is absent. If required, you can set you preferred M1 and M2 settings in the iDrive.

After running through all the upgrades, changes and explaining what has been added to the M2 Competition, it leaves me with a verdict of my first look at the new model. My initial feeling states that this is the M2 which should have been there from the bringing. Maybe not because of the engine, but definitely when it comes to having the option of opting better brakes, M-seats and different wheels. Add this to the fact that the vehicle now has M-mirrors, M-buttons on the steering wheel and an improved suspension, and the package is pretty much how I want it to be.

In the end, it often are the little things in the life of a M fan or petrolhead that make you keep that ongoing smile. Of course, we could argue that ceramic brakes, a carbon roof and adjustable suspension should have been available as an option, but the M boss stated that those would have made the M2 Competition too expensive in comparison to the base M4 and I can see his point. It also leaves him room to release a M2 CS in 1.5 years that does have all these features at a price level that complements the limited nature of the model saying goodbye to the F87 M2 range. Time will tell if we will see this farewell model, until then we have the unlimited M2 Competition; a M2 that offers you a lot more.

Don't forget to check out my interview with the BMW M CEO Frank van Meel right here on DriveTribe.