[Fraudiola]

I haven't yet got to drive both cars.

From what I've gathered from online reviewers, it seems that the M3/M4 Competition xDrive feel a little bit more torquey and faster. But these comparisons are almost always with the 2023 M2, not with the 2025 with the retune.

Has anyone of you got to compare the 2025 models? What's the difference in a straight-line?

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by Fraudiola

I haven't yet got to drive both cars.

From what I've gathered from online reviewers, it seems that the M3/M4 Competition xDrive feel a little bit more torquey and faster. But these comparisons are almost always with the 2023 M2, not with the 2025 with the retune.

Has anyone of you got to compare the 2025 models? What's the difference in a straight-line?

Why are you comparing the Competition xDrive to an M2 RWD?

50 extra horses and AWD...

[thanos786]

Agreed, although the M2CS that is supposed to come out this year with xdrive will be a lot of fun. How do you reckon that will stack up against the G80/82?

[Fraudiola]

Originally Posted by techwhiz1

Why are you comparing the Competition xDrive to an M2 RWD?

50 extra horses and AWD...

Well, some videos have them be pretty close to one another.

As you can see in this video, they are pretty much neck in neck for a 40-130mph pull, after which the M4 barely starts pulling ahead.

In terms of a launch, yes, the M4 AWD kills it completely.

I compare them because if I was to get the M4 over the M2, I would get the Competition M4, not the RWD.

Basically I'm cross shopping a M4C vs M2.

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by Fraudiola

Well, some videos have them be pretty close to one another.

https://youtu.be/Uz78mDZOqWg?t=127

As you can see in this video, they are pretty much neck in neck for a 40-130mph pull, after which the M4 barely starts pulling ahead.

In terms of a launch, yes, the M4 AWD kills it completely.

I compare them because if I was to get the M4 over the M2, I would get the Competition M4, not the RWD.

Basically I'm cross shopping a M4C vs M2.

That's a strange cross shop. I say that because the base price difference if more than $20k and AWD vs RWD.

The cars at that point couldn't me more differentiated. M4 allocations are easy to get. You have a huge number of individual options on paint and interior on the M4. You ask can get driver assistance features, and a host of other things you can't on the M2.

I'm getting the M2 with a MT, but if there happens to be a tarrif that kicks in, it will be and RWD M4 MT.

[Fraudiola]

Originally Posted by techwhiz1

That's a strange cross shop. I say that because the base price difference if more than $20k and AWD vs RWD.

The cars at that point couldn't me more differentiated. M4 allocations are easy to get. You have a huge number of individual options on paint and interior on the M4. You ask can get driver assistance features, and a host of other things you can't on the M2.

I'm getting the M2 with a MT, but if there happens to be a tarrif that kicks in, it will be and RWD M4 MT.

Those are pretty irrelevant to me. I have a luxury daily car. What I'm after, is a fun weekend car. The M2 is plenty fun, but I'd like to hear from anyone who has driven the M2 and the M4 CX.

I'm mainly interested in driving characteristics. I don't mind spending 10k-20k more or less if the M4 is somehow significantly faster, albeit from the video I linked, it doesn't appear to be, though butt dyno feel is also important, not just raw numbers.

I would get both cars in the auto version.

[techwhiz1]

Well they both have the S58 on different states of tune.

The M4 is going to launch better due to better traction. The M2 will have better turn in because the wheel base is shorter.

They both weigh about 4000lbs so neither is a light weight car.

It's really subjective and without you having a real motivating factor to buy one or ther other it's hard to give a recommendation.

If you aren't interested in the extra options available on the M4 and you are indifferent about looks, then the M2 is the clear winner just on value for dollar.

If you have ideas on color the M4 is offered in some 120+ individual colors and more than 10 interior options. If you want a truly unique car get the M4.

I'm buying an M2 as it stands right now because I don't care about the extra color options, etc and I'm buying a MT. So for "me" the M2 offers better value than the M4. My daily is a fully optioned i4 M50 so my M2 is a toy also.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Fraudiola

I haven't yet got to drive both cars.

From what I've gathered from online reviewers, it seems that the M3/M4 Competition xDrive feel a little bit more torquey and faster. But these comparisons are almost always with the 2023 M2, not with the 2025 with the retune.

Has anyone of you got to compare the 2025 models? What's the difference in a straight-line?

I tracked and owned my 2022 G82 M4 Competition X-Drive for 3 years, and I've owned my G87 for only a few weeks with only 200 miles on the odo. My next track day isn't until after break in period, so I'm hesitating to make any conclusions until then.

However, I will say that the 0-60 on the G82 is insane, not just because it has almost 50 more HP, but the AWD grip is just another level. With Cup2s and perfect conditions, I could easily launch to 60 in the low 3s. I know someone did it in 2.9s or something.

But that's not why I switched. I don't drag race, and the 0-60 means little to me on the track or in the canyons. I've only done one canyon run, and I was all smiles. This is a great car, with RWD G80 levels of grip and lots of fun. Although I could still do it in the rear biased G82 AWD, breaking the tail loose easily for some oversteer action is something I missed in a RWD M car.

[Saigonheat84]

AWD M4 is clearly the faster car. There is no way to sugar coat the less power M2. lol Even an M2 CS probably won't be match the M4 CS or CSL

But how fast are you looking to get? Should you pay another 30K-40K just to get 50 more HP and a slightly faster 0-60 time of BMW Xdrive system? the answer should ultimately up to you. 99% of time i drive on the street so i don't need the most powerful Mcar. The M2 to me fit the thrill of a fast daily and occasional track day/ twisty road fun so i went with the M2.

I also prefer the look of the M2 over the M4.

[Whytar]

I recently did an M Track Day with both the M2 and M3 back to back.
The M3 is noticeably quicker in a straight line but in the corners it was neck and neck. I was very surprised at the lateral grip levels in the M2 given its RWD.
For street driving the differences in the two cars would be negligiable.
The thing that sold me on an M2 was the size. It does feel smaller and more agile than the M3 even though on paper they appear close.
All other aspects are purely personal. I like the look of the M2 more, other may not.
I liked the value of the M2 also. 95% of the M3 for 70% of the price tag. All things being equal they are both wonderful cars for daily/street/track.
Chose the car that tugs the heart string the most (if the budget allows).

[04S]

I traded my G82 XC for the 2025 M2. I have just gone through the breakin in the M2 and have had the chance to open it out a bit.

The grip levels in the M4 are exceptional - I never experienced a situation where the M4 felt anything less than completely planted and stable (even with the nannies turned off) unless I very deliberately provoked it. It had more power than I could ever use on the street too. I just felt after a while it was a bit too big and I wanted a change.

So I turned to the M2. Now that I have had the chance to drive it a bit more aggressively I can say that:

1. It is super planted and laterally as good as the M4CX
2. Off the line the M4 is (very) clearly better
3. I enjoy the feeling of the back end getting a little (and very controllably) unruly under acceleration. On a private road recently it even managed to chirp in the rears under WOT between 3rd and 4th (in the auto).
4. The M2 is way more darty and pointy - it feels quite a bit more nimble.
5. I have not noticed the reduction in power vs the M4. It obviously has less power but on the street have not noticed it. I recently had the chance to track an M2 (2024) and M4 back to back - the M4 was faster in the straight line, noticeably so, but I felt the M2 was as good as the M4 in the corners.

Ultimately you will need to drive them back to back and form your own conclusions.

FWIW I am very happy with the M2 - it is super fast and nimble and fits the bill for what I am looking for at the moment. For some the M4CX will clearly be the better car. Horses for courses.

[Fraudiola]

Originally Posted by 04S

I traded my G82 XC for the 2025 M2. I have just gone through the breakin in the M2 and have had the chance to open it out a bit.

The grip levels in the M4 are exceptional - I never experienced a situation where the M4 felt anything less than completely planted and stable (even with the nannies turned off) unless I very deliberately provoked it. It had more power than I could ever use on the street too. I just felt after a while it was a bit too big and I wanted a change.

So I turned to the M2. Now that I have had the chance to drive it a bit more aggressively I can say that:

1. It is super planted and laterally as good as the M4CX
2. Off the line the M4 is (very) clearly better
3. I enjoy the feeling of the back end getting a little (and very controllably) unruly under acceleration. On a private road recently it even managed to chirp in the rears under WOT between 3rd and 4th (in the auto).
4. The M2 is way more darty and pointy - it feels quite a bit more nimble.
5. I have not noticed the reduction in power vs the M4. It obviously has less power but on the street have not noticed it. I recently had the chance to track an M2 (2024) and M4 back to back - the M4 was faster in the straight line, noticeably so, but I felt the M2 was as good as the M4 in the corners.

Ultimately you will need to drive them back to back and form your own conclusions.

FWIW I am very happy with the M2 - it is super fast and nimble and fits the bill for what I am looking for at the moment. For some the M4CX will clearly be the better car. Horses for courses.

Do you mean that you didn't notice the power difference between the 2025 M2 and 2024 M4? And that the 2024 M2 was noticeably slower in a straight-line?

[two_three_two]

Originally Posted by Fraudiola

Well, some videos have them be pretty close to one another.

As you can see in this video, they are pretty much neck in neck for a 40-130mph pull, after which the M4 barely starts pulling ahead.

In terms of a launch, yes, the M4 AWD kills it completely.

I compare them because if I was to get the M4 over the M2, I would get the Competition M4, not the RWD.

Basically I'm cross shopping a M4C vs M2.

its been widely speculated that this dude is bullshitting about his M2 being bone stock. doesnt really make a lot of sense on the face of it based on his results.

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by Fraudiola

Do you mean that you didn't notice the power difference between the 2025 M2 and 2024 M4? And that the 2024 M2 was noticeably slower in a straight-line?

I think unless you are in a drag race, you aren't going to notice a night and day difference. If both cars have traction it will always be close.

I don't think the seat dyno is really going to tell you anything unless you can get in the cars right after one another.

I really think it's splitting hairs because the difference is really in the RWD vs AWD. The cars weigh about the same and reaction time is going to be everything.

There is not going to be a definitive element that says one over the other. We aren't comparing an M240 vs M2 where the winner is clear.

We are essentially comparing the same car, albeit one with a slightly longer wheelbase to the other. They are both G8x platform, they weigh about the same. It's the same engine with a slightly different tune.

You are never going to be able to make this decision based purely on performance.

[04S]

Originally Posted by Fraudiola

Do you mean that you didn't notice the power difference between the 2025 M2 and 2024 M4? And that the 2024 M2 was noticeably slower in a straight-line?

I should have been clearer. On the race track back to back the M4 was noticeably faster than a 24 M2. With my 25 M2, which I have only driven on the road, I cannot tell any difference between the two

[WWM3]

Originally Posted by thanos786

Agreed, although the M2CS that is supposed to come out this year with xdrive will be a lot of fun. How do you reckon that will stack up against the G80/82?

The G87 CS will be RWD, not xDrive.

[Squidget]

Also worth mentioning that "less power" is correct but is an incomplete explanation.

The G87 has the same motor hardware as the G80. It's just detuned, most notably to make less boost at the top-end. The power curves of both cars are similar at the lower and middle end of the power band.

So yeah, hooning around town, the cars will feel similar. But up near the redline there's a difference. On a track the G80 will be significantly faster due to the AWD traction and high end power.

[fanofbmwe46]

If you want a fun agile weekend car. M2 RWD MT is the eay to go. That’s why I traded my 2023 G80 for a 2025 M2. Feels way more compact and has the same power :-)

[OldButSmooth]

Originally Posted by Fraudiola

I haven't yet got to drive both cars.

From what I've gathered from online reviewers, it seems that the M3/M4 Competition xDrive feel a little bit more torquey and faster. But these comparisons are almost always with the 2023 M2, not with the 2025 with the retune.

Has anyone of you got to compare the 2025 models? What's the difference in a straight-line?

Having driven a G87 M2 and a G81 M3 Wagon back to back at a recent M Drive Experience day, I can attest that the X Drive M3 platform is considerably quicker track day car. Having said this, the G87 was certainly no slouch on the track. Generally, the G80 was around 10 kph faster down the back straight of the circuit than the G87.

There are few affordable performance cars available in the Australian marketplace, the BMW G87 is one of the last remaining cars on offer.

[Fraudiola]

Originally Posted by OldButSmooth

Having driven a G87 M2 and a G81 M3 Wagon back to back at a recent M Drive Experience day, I can attest that the X Drive M3 platform is considerably quicker track day car. Having said this, the G87 was certainly no slouch on the track. Generally, the G80 was around 10 kph faster down the back straight of the circuit than the G87.

There are few affordable performance cars available in the Australian marketplace, the BMW G87 is one of the last remaining cars on offer.

I probably won't track the cars that often. What about the butt dyno. I really love a torque kick in the seat. Did the M3 feel significantly faster or were they about the same?

[Squidget]

Originally Posted by Fraudiola

I probably won't track the cars that often. What about the butt dyno. I really love a torque kick in the seat. Did the M3 feel significantly faster or were they about the same?

Depends, how sensitive is your butt? Can you tell much difference between (approx) 4.1 vs 3.8 seconds when doing 0-60? G87 is RWD only, so is traction limited in the lower two gears. The AWD G8x will beat it easily.

G87 is not the optimal car if you want to just do red-light digs. That would be a Tesla or other EV, of course.

[OldButSmooth]

Originally Posted by Fraudiola

I probably won't track the cars that often. What about the butt dyno. I really love a torque kick in the seat. Did the M3 feel significantly faster or were they about the same?

The M3 certainly felt stronger under acceleration on the track, not a lot of difference, with both cars rotating confidently through corners, however, the G80 felt quicker pretty much everywhere on the track and more sure footed as a result of the X Drive platform.

I take delivery of a new M3 next week, had no intention of selling the G87 untilI witnessing the difference at the M Day Drive Experience....had I not attended I would still be blissfully content with my G87. The G87 is an incredible car, but the G80 will no doubt be more convenient for grand parenting duties (that's my justification with the wife ).