My (single) issue with the BMW M2: An open letter from a ///M fan

"GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo" (jackolson) 02/06/2015 at 23:28 • Filed to: BMW, M2, Rumors, Rants

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As an avid E46 M3 owner that loves drinking the BMW kool-aid, I am eagerly awaiting the M2 like most BMW fans that are yearning for a product reminiscent of the brands highest peak. Sure BMW sells more cars now than they did in the 90's and early 2000's but few will say that the BMW's being sold today are more Ultimate DRIVING Machines than the likes of the E46, E39, E34, E38, and the hallowed E30.

Granted times have changed significantly since those oh-so-awesome heydays, but every once in a while BMW throws the enthusiast (that helped build their brand into a juggernaut) a bone, the E86 M-coupe, the 1M, and now the M2. Our chances of ever getting another high strung naturally aspirated motor in an M-car are now slim to none. In my opinion the 1M was the perfect candidate to give a send-off to a ///M touched NA six-cylinder but was stuffed with a slightly breathed on motor from a 335i, for lack of better words an utter disappointment (it still is a great car though).

With that we are now at my point of contention with the M2 and the rumors swirling about its power plant. It seems that the enthusiast M-car will be powered by a detuned M3/4 mill. The S53 is a great motor for the M3/4 but do I think it's a great motor for the M2? No...I don't. The goal of the M2 is to bring a true M-car to the mid price range while the M3/4 have moved into the upper-mid. I understand that this means a lot of parts developed for the M3/4 are probably going to be re-used on the M2 to drive costs down, this makes a lot of sense. But I hate to think that the heart and soul of the M2 is a neutered version of the motor powering its bigger siblings, it needs its own identity.

What I think needs to be sending glorious horsepower and torques to the rear wheels of the M2, is a turbocharged inline 4. BMW already makes a very potent turbocharged four banger, why not let the ///M division have a little fun with it? With the rule changes in DTM and Super GT BMW will have to produce a racing engine that is a turbocharged 4. While the motors wouldn't necessarily have too much in common it would be great for BMW to tout in the marketing and advertising of the M2. And it would give the M2 its own identity, something I think the rest of the lineup is struggling with.

End Rant.

Image credit to: BMWBLOG (love you guys!), MotorAuthority, Bimmerfile

bob and john > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/06/2015 at 23:33

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I dont really like the 2...but this color...and the S54 + manual... IDK, i'm starting to get swayed a little

Vicente Esteve > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/06/2015 at 23:36

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I really hope they don't just use a de-tuned M4 engine. But in the end, that will be almost impossible. I think I may even prefer the 235i's engine than that.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > bob and john 02/06/2015 at 23:53

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Pretty sure its a color used on the z4 called Atacama Yellow and the M2 won't have an S54...unfortunately.

bob and john > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/06/2015 at 23:55

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oops, the Itouh the code for the TT I6 was S54. my bad.

and the color on that Z3 looks more yellow...too bright. the M2 looks a little more toned down/orange

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/07/2015 at 00:00

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That render is so hot.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/07/2015 at 00:06

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Anything but a turbo-4, please. I'd rather have a detuned turbo-6. I know that sound is subjective, but I'm not about to subject myself to more turbo-4 noise. No more of that please. If it would sound anything like a 228 with an exhaust, just no.

Variance > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/07/2015 at 00:39

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Your information is incorrect. Based on testing documentation submitted by BMW, the M2 will be powered by the N55B30T0, an updated version of the N55 currently used in the M235i, 335i, etc. It will not utilize a detuned variant of the S55.

Per a respected insider source, BMW was at one time considering an "S48", derived from the upcoming family of B48 turbo 4-bangers that will replace the N20, but that plan was shelved for reasons unknown. Many potential buyers on 2Addicts have stated that they would not purchase an M2 if it had a 4-cylinder, but many of us were excited for the possibility. The M235i is already rather heavy for its size, so the weight loss of the 4-cylinder would be quite welcome on the M2.

Arben72 > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/07/2015 at 01:26

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I don't know what motor it'll have, but both the 2.0 and 3.0 power mills are amazing. I recently drove the new m4 with a manual optioned exactly like I want one (cloth seats, 6speed, adaptive susp, white) and I barely managed to convince myself to walk away. I had a 320i loaner for the weekend before I drove that car and even in detuned form it was pretty damn fun. But instead of not giving the m2 an ass kicking i6, how about make a 220si with the 4 banger in it. 300hp, lightweight, gut out everything. Best part would be no ///M tax.

samssun > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/07/2015 at 02:52

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I'd much rather have a lower-tuned engine with significantly more potential, than an undersized and higher-strung one. Add in the fact that every car is getting bigger and heavier while receiving smaller engines, and I'd rather have BMW left offering a small-ish car with FI 6 cylinder instead of joining everyone else in forcing us to choose between 4-bangers or land yachts.

Jonathan Harper > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/07/2015 at 08:53

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I agree, an M version of the N20 4 cyl would make a lot of sense for this car. Having driven a 228i M sport and a M235i, I can definitely say that the 2 series feels like it was designed specifically to work best with the N20 motor. The 228i feels so much lighter than the M235i, it's crazy.

I have to disagree with you on the 1M being a disappointment though. Have you driven one? It's got a very different character from any 335i, and is in my opinion one of the best, if not the best contemporary M car.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/07/2015 at 10:23

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Would much rather a 4-banger that's been properly tuned. Make it a drivers car, not a rocket ship. Also, it would be a throwback to the e30. The lineup had I6s but the M3 was a 4 pot.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/07/2015 at 12:21

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If they use a turbo 4, they should call it a Megatron.

dr861 > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 02/07/2015 at 14:18

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This hits the issue right on the nose. Great article. I had a chance to drive a 2014 328 a couple weeks ago and was VERY impressed, and not expecting to be, especially after reading articles comparing the e90 with the F30. The torque is just instant. Love that power plant; however, I think that any real M car should have some drama to it, and the 4 cylinder doesn't have the sound track that the old e46 m3 had. Just take the awesome 6 cylinder from that car and drop it in the new M2. Done and done.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Jonathan Harper 02/07/2015 at 18:41

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No I haven't been fortunate enough to drive one. Its just my opinion that the 1M is slightly less great because it does not have its own unique motor.

I haven't driven a 2 series yet either but hopefully soon as my Dad has to do some new car shopping in the next year or so.

Bill "The Stig" Murray > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo 04/04/2015 at 21:40

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I created an account just to reply to this post. One Million Percent Yes! I couldn't agree more! Who wouldn't want to see what ///M would do with a turbo 4? Plus BMW mentioned a special E30 edition M2, so there's that...