Anyone else interested in the new baby M car? The specs suggest it is an M235/M4 hybrid but they've down-rated things just enough to keep it in check below it's bigger brothers. The rumour is it is quicker through a slalom test than the M4 though It's pricing seems a little high compared to the other hyper hatches out there (I know it isn't strictly a hatch), but if it works, then the fun factor will make the price seem worthwhile. The pricing wont be debatable and there wont be any secondhand ones available for a little while (which may be a blessing in disguise).

 

For those that don't know, the car is based on the M235 and has the following changes from the base car (probably accurate )

 

• Uncapped production numbers - yipee
• Subframe suspension components taken from M4
• Tyres are 10mm narrower than the M4 because standard M4 size wouldn't fit.
• No adaptive dampening as they designed the dampers specifically for the spring rate
• Brakes are from the M4.
• No carbon-ceramic brakes due to cost. You can ask dealer for track pads though.
• DCT and 6 speed straight from M4
• Sound deadening material removed to reduce the weight - don't know how much has been removed though
• Less restrictive air intake, M4 pistons, liners, big-end bearings, oil pump and sump
• Same intercooler as M235i, but larger radiator with better airflow through bumper
• Increased throttle response compared to M235i
• No drivelogic controller (hence the missing M buttons)
• comfort, sport, sport+ selections for steering, throttle, DCT settings. Fixed not adjustable
• The M2 should be more stable at the limit than the 1M.

 

Power should be around 370PS and it has lots of torks. About 465Nm with an extra 35Nm available as an overboost between 1450-4750rpm  

 

Price will be £44K for the manual and £46,575 for the & speed DCT (fab gearbox). 

 

And finally for those that care bout such things, the 0-62 is about 4.3 (obviously conditions dependant )

 

On request, if anyone wants to start posting links, especially to PCP prices (which seem steep at the time of writing) then please use custom links

Edited 18 December, 201510 yr by Lady Elanore

Interested? Yes.

 

Can I afford one? Heck no! :p

 

It looks like a cracker, but I personally don't see it being a major success. I think potential customers may either:

 

Stump up more for an M4, or get an 235i

There is a lot of chat about that on the Baby Beemer forum. Tweak up a 235 or spend extra for an M3/4. There are discounts on the M3/4 which helps narrow the gap. However, having driven the M3, I thought it was too accomplished, if you see what I mean. To get proper fun out of it on a dry road, you need to be travelling 'prison-time' fast of be quite brutal with it. It is an enormously fast car. 10-15 years ago it probably would have been as quick as most supercars. The M2 might just be the sweet spot for British roads, but BMW do seem to be pricing it a little bit on the steep side. I really want one, assuming it is as good as you hope it will be, but can't see how I can afford one either. perhaps towards the end of the agreement on my current PCP I'll check my finances . Mind you, there will be the next new thing by then :(

 

Stump up more for an M4, or get an 235i

 

An M235i pulled out on me in a NSL yesterday.  My initial reaction was that he was chancing his luck a bit as I was bearing down on him at the legal limit.  I was very impressed by how this thing picked up and I didn't have to ease off at all.  Very quick indeed!

Better than up coming Focus RS and others???

Time and punters will tell.

Better is subjective. For the right person (quite possibly me) then the answer is yes.

IMO the price is just a tad too much but they will always get buyers.

Bet the engine will be sweet to hear, I thoroughly loved the sound of the M135i just pitty it was only rear wheel drive, afraid I would have binned it :(

 I thoroughly loved the sound of the M135i just pity it was only rear wheel drive, afraid I would have binned it :(

 

 

That's always at the back of my mind in my M135 Although with the mild weather, I can still drive pretty enthusiastically. The car is quite different to the 235 under the skin as well as the exterior panels being different too, so I guess they can justify the costs. Someone on one of the BMW forums worked out that if you modded your 235 to the same spec as the M2 it would cost more and that didn't include the new panels.

About on a par with an AMG A45 I think price wise?

 

I'd like one, just not sure I could afford the fuel bills! (Same with the M135i - affordable on lease, until you add petrol!)

About on a par with an AMG A45 I think price wise?

 

I'd like one, just not sure I could afford the fuel bills! (Same with the M135i - affordable on lease, until you add petrol!)

The M135 isn't too bad on fuel. I drove 150 miles up to the North East last week and because of roadworks and slow traffic, averaged 36 mpg. On the way back I came cross country for 80 miles and gave it some 'welly' followed by 80 miles of high speed motorway and averaged just over 30mpg overall

 

I specced up an M2 DCT and easily got it to around £49K though and I can spec an A45 to a similar degree and with the discounts, it's nearly £10K cheaper. Assuming the M2 is the car I think it will be, I would still have it, by a country mile, over the A45, Golf R and the Focus RS, but it's hard to justify the extra £10k never mind find that money

 

Still perhaps by 2019....

The M135 isn't too bad on fuel. I drove 150 miles up to the North East last week and because of roadworks and slow traffic, averaged 36 mpg. On the way back I came cross country for 80 miles and gave it some 'welly' followed by 80 miles of high speed motorway and averaged just over 30mpg overall

I specced up an M2 DCT and easily got it to around £49K though and I can spec an A45 to a similar degree and with the discounts, it's nearly £10K cheaper. Assuming the M2 is the car I think it will be, I would still have it, by a country mile, over the A45, Golf R and the Focus RS, but it's hard to justify the extra £10k never mind find that money

Still perhaps by 2019.... [/quot

No mention of Audi RS3 then?

No mention of Audi RS3 then?

Your ocular powers remain undiminished

I would have it over a Golf R, Focus RS, Audi RS3 etc any day but at around £47k with the DCT box it's just too expensive. You can get the DCT M3 for £50k with discounts, so for an extra £3,000 i know what i would have.

 

In a few years time when discounts start happening then that's when i can see a lot of people who have M1/235i's chopping them in for one. It would have to under £40k for me to even think about buying one.

I would have it over a Golf R, Focus RS, Audi RS3 etc any day but at around £47k with the DCT box it's just too expensive. You can get the DCT M3 for £50k with discounts, so for an extra £3,000 i know what i would have.

 

In a few years time when discounts start happening then that's when i can see a lot of people who have M1/235i's chopping them in for one. It would have to under £40k for me to even think about buying one.

I know what you mean. The M2 might be more fun to drive though than the M3, but human nature means you would always wonder if you had been short changed somehow due to the M3's legendary status. You would also spend a lifetime explaining to people why you chose the M2 over the M3/4 and got a smaller car, with a lot less power and no 'M' button. Well you would to those that believe that the numbers are the important thing

 

It might be hard to stomach I guess, but sometimes less is more and it's just possible the M2 will be that, although I await the reviews and hopefully a chance to drive one someday Judd Trump's manager is getting one of the first M2s (he has an i8 at present), but I suspect he may not let me drive it as I don't know him

I wouldn't get one simply because I still view these 1 and 2 series cars as for people who can't afford a real bmw, I'm wrong I know but it's something I still can't seem to shake from the launch of the 1. It also drives 2 of my friends with 1 series nuts lol.

It's pretty divisive thing, the 1er. It is mostly a 3 series in a smaller package and I prefer the size to the 3 series, but it's not that much more to get a similarly specced 3 series equivalent and the discounts are even better on it. I suppose it's like not buying a Skoda because, well it's a Skoda and you know what they're built like :p 

A nice but expensive arse ? http://images.car.bauercdn.com/pagefiles/22976/bmw_01.jpg

Edited 20 December, 201510 yr by vrskeith

Fixed that for you as per my first post request

 

 

 picture of a M4 GTS and M2 together

^{Some images from tinterweb}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^{Similar to the M135/235 except for bits of carbon, DCT wand and nicer paddle shifts}

 

 

 

 

 

 

^{Seats look like standard ones with blue stitching - no M seats for the M2 :(}

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 20 December, 201510 yr by Lady Elanore

These are nice looking and I am sure will be great to drive but for the best part of £50k I can think of lots of other motors that you can pick up for that money such as the Nissan GTR, Audi RS4, Porsche 911, Porsche Cayman, Merc CL63 AMG - the list goes on.

 

Not sure that this can be compared to the new Focus RS, Golf R, Civic Type-R or anything within that price range as this is £20k more expensive once it is kitted out.

 

No doubt these will sell but BMW M cars to buy brand new are out of the reach of most normal people which is a shame.

I'm guessing the buyers wont be RS, Golf r, Civic owners in general, They will be so tough to source one for a start. I can see the Cayman being a competitor though. Another car which doesn't have the all weather capability and the safety of part time 4x4.

 

As for the secondhand cars, well that's a whole different kettle of fish. The finance deals on secondhand cars is usually tougher than on new, it's certainly hard to borrow £45K+ for a car unless you have the kind of income that could buy it outright in the first place. If the car turns out to be huge fun though, it will sell itself. Just because it's been put on a leash so as not to outclass the M3/4 in the 'numbers game' doesn't necessarily man that enthusiast will be put off. Still, it will be one of the biggest automotive disappointments in recent years if the car isn't a great drive.

 

Now with a £5k discount and some nice low interest PCPs, I might think about one if a few years time - if I still have a business that is solvent

http://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/2-series/16801/bmw-m2-watch-our-preview-video-and-hear-the-m2s-growl

Enjoy the evo M2 video etc.

Edited 6 January, 201610 yr by vrskeith

EVO M2 Unwrapped This is Evo magazines first offering in something they call 'Unwrapped'. It's a preview video of something they think might be a bit special. In this case it's the M2 but it's only a walk around and a brief start up sound. Still the car looks great (imho) and only makes me want one more. I'm almost hoping the car is a disappointment, then I don't have to fret at not being in a position to get one

I like it. An option for me possibly in a year or two. Too much new

Edited 7 January, 201610 yr by MartynVRS

Anyone else interested in the new baby M car? The specs suggest it is an M235/M4 hybrid but they've down-rated things just enough to keep it in check below it's bigger brothers. The rumour is it is quicker through a slalom test than the M4 though It's pricing seems a little high compared to the other hyper hatches out there (I know it isn't strictly a hatch), but if it works, then the fun factor will make the price seem worthwhile. The pricing wont be debatable and there wont be any secondhand ones available for a little while (which may be a blessing in disguise).

 

For those that don't know, the car is based on the M235 and has the following changes from the base car (probably accurate )

 

• Uncapped production numbers - yipee
• Subframe suspension components taken from M4
• Tyres are 10mm narrower than the M4 because standard M4 size wouldn't fit.
• No adaptive dampening as they designed the dampers specifically for the spring rate
• Brakes are from the M4.
• No carbon-ceramic brakes due to cost. You can ask dealer for track pads though.
• DCT and 6 speed straight from M4
• Sound deadening material removed to reduce the weight - don't know how much has been removed though
• Less restrictive air intake, M4 pistons, liners, big-end bearings, oil pump and sump
• Same intercooler as M235i, but larger radiator with better airflow through bumper
• Increased throttle response compared to M235i
• No drivelogic controller (hence the missing M buttons)
• comfort, sport, sport+ selections for steering, throttle, DCT settings. Fixed not adjustable
• The M2 should be more stable at the limit than the 1M.

 

Power should be around 370PS and it has lots of torks. About 465Nm with an extra 35Nm available as an overboost between 1450-4750rpm  

 

Price will be £44K for the manual and £46,575 for the & speed DCT (fab gearbox). 

 

And finally for those that care bout such things, the 0-62 is about 4.3 (obviously conditions dependant )

 

On request, if anyone wants to start posting links, especially to PCP prices (which seem steep at the time of writing) then please use custom links

 

Yummy... Hopefully they'll be a little more realistic when I come to change in 3 years