[NoMoreVW]

Hey there!

These seems to be a fair amount of us M2 owners in MN, so I thought I would start our our little thread.

Thanks to Itsmyfallt for the suggestion!

Should we try to do a get together at one of the shows this summer?

[NoMoreVW]

To introduce myself: I’m Lawrence. I’ve been mostly a VW/Audi guy for all my ‘adult car life’ and recently decided to switch it up and try BMW for a while.

Past cars include (in order of appearance - some owned at the same time as others):

1986 Nissan Sentra (wagon - 50hp of fury!)
1990 Volkswagen Jetta GL Wolfsburg
1998 Volkswagen Jetta GT
2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6
1990 Honda CRX
1987 Volkswagen Golf GL (first winter beater)
2002 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo S
2004 Volkswagen R32 (owned from 2005-2023)
2000 Chevy Blazer (winter beater)
1985 GMC Jimmy (winter beater)
1992 Volkswagen GTI 16v
1998 Honda Accord (winter beater)
2011 Volkswagen GTI
2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
2016 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
2019 Volkswagen GTI
2023 Audi TTS (counting that one as mine even though it’s the wife’s car, haha)
2023 BMW M2

Here’s a few images of the fleet; past and present:

[ITSMYFALLT]

I'm Anders, was a Subaru guy for most of my life, owned somewhere in the range of 6ish of them? Some crappy beaters before then that were quite uninteresting.

Jumped into the deep end with Euro cars when I bought a clapped out 135i that needed a ton of work, and is continually broken. Then I bought my RS3, Tuned it to FBO "stage 2" on e85. After a couple years, got bored, didn't want to spend the 50+k for an engine build on the RS3 and wanted a 3rd pedal back. After several failed attempts to order different manual cars, ended up with my M2.

Some photos of what I've previously had and a few of the M2;

[lithe]

Care to share/elaborate on how your Stage 2 RS3 compares to the M2?

I too recently came from a Stage 2 E85 RS3, had a GRolla, now am debating between M2, Giulia QV, and CT4-V BW.

Would be my first RWD car since a '12 Mustang GT. I'd be mostly driving my truck during the WI winters, but would still plan on a winter wheel/tire set since we have so many cold but dry winter days.

Thanks!

[ITSMYFALLT]

Originally Posted by lithe

Care to share/elaborate on how your Stage 2 RS3 compares to the M2?

I too recently came from a Stage 2 E85 RS3, had a GRolla, now am debating between M2, Giulia QV, and CT4-V BW.

Would be my first RWD car since a '12 Mustang GT. I'd be mostly driving my truck during the WI winters, but would still plan on a winter wheel/tire set since we have so many cold but dry winter days.

Thanks!

The RS3 was way faster no way around that(and a catless 5cyl is one of the best sounding cars out there). It made 524/540, and along with the AWD and the Syvecs controller I had for it, it could do a sub 2.4 second 0-60 on the street. When you pushed it, it would understeer like crazy every time, that's why everyone drags them.
The sort of point and shoot simplicity of the RS3 got pretty boring after a while, I was used to manual cars, and ended up really wanting a 3rd pedal again.
So I tried to get a manual Supra, which was a horrible experience, then was on the list at 4 different dealers for a Dark Horse, that was worse of a process than Toyota.
I got my winter tires installed at 1,194 miles, so I haven't really been able to push the M2 a ton, but even with that the handling is way more responsive than the RS3. Its so much more nimble its a night and day difference. The RS3 was faster, the M2 is way better to drive. On the winter tires it doesn't do too bad. When its icy you can feel all of the cars weight, but in the snow its decent.

I didn't compare to either the QV since it was too expensive, or the CT4, since that's bigger than i was looking for.

[NoMoreVW]

Originally Posted by ITSMYFALLT

The RS3 was way faster no way around that(and a catless 5cyl is one of the best sounding cars out there). It made 524/540, and along with the AWD and the Syvecs controller I had for it, it could do a sub 2.4 second 0-60 on the street. When you pushed it, it would understeer like crazy every time, that's why everyone drags them.
The sort of point and shoot simplicity of the RS3 got pretty boring after a while, I was used to manual cars, and ended up really wanting a 3rd pedal again.
So I tried to get a manual Supra, which was a horrible experience, then was on the list at 4 different dealers for a Dark Horse, that was worse of a process than Toyota.
I got my winter tires installed at 1,194 miles, so I haven't really been able to push the M2 a ton, but even with that the handling is way more responsive than the RS3. Its so much more nimble its a night and day difference. The RS3 was faster, the M2 is way better to drive. On the winter tires it doesn't do too bad. When its icy you can feel all of the cars weight, but in the snow its decent.

I didn't compare to either the QV since it was too expensive, or the CT4, since that's bigger than i was looking for.

Interesting that you had a similar experience that I did with the manual Supra. I was also on the list for a new RS3 (they actually called me about a month ago to tell me my allocation was ready), but based on your experience with the prior gen I think I made the right choice with the M2.

[spolbus]

I’m Jonas. I’ve had more than a few euro cars. Mostly Audi’s (A5, A6, S3’s, SQ5) then onto a Porsche and a GTI. At this point it’s almost all BMW’s. Currently have a 2004 Z4, 2013 X5 35d deleted and a 2024 M2 that should be here within the month. There’s also a Golf R in our garage that my partner owns that replaced our ZHP.

[lithe]

Originally Posted by ITSMYFALLT

I got my winter tires installed at 1,194 miles, so I haven't really been able to push the M2 a ton, but even with that the handling is way more responsive than the RS3. Its so much more nimble its a night and day difference. The RS3 was faster, the M2 is way better to drive. On the winter tires it doesn't do too bad. When its icy you can feel all of the cars weight, but in the snow its decent.

I didn't compare to either the QV since it was too expensive, or the CT4, since that's bigger than i was looking for.

^^^Thanks for your thoughts, very helpful!

Yes, on E85/~600hp my RS3 was a rocket. Though I think the S58 can be made just as fast or faster just as easy with bolt on/fuel mods as well.

I agree, Audi hasn't been known for their handling, this is what I look forward to the most in an M2 (or QV or CT4-V BW).

I'm most concerned about missing the fun of an AWD car in the winter in Wisconsin as some of the most fun I've had in my old Evos was in the winter months. We shall see... Thanks again for sharing your experience!

[JMcLellan]

I didn't realize this thread was on here but glad I stumbled across it. My name is Joe and I live in the west metro area. I am somewhat new to BMW ownership having bought my first one- 2019 M240i rear wheel drive automatic- in February 2021. I really wanted to get an F87 back then but I wanted to keep the budget under $40K. I had so much fun with the M240 and learned most of what I know about about beemers via that car. I fitted that car with a M Perf LSD, wider stickier tires, MHD and XHP flash tunes, higher capacity TU fuel pump, ran some ethanol, and the car was pushing 450HP, 470TQ. It was an angry little car for sure. You will notice that I followed the same color scheme with my M2. I have a type for sure.

Once BMW released the specs on the new M2 back in Oct 2022 I knew I wanted to have one. Long ass story of how I got the allocation (and unexpectedly wasn't able to submit my own build code due to the car going into production a month early) but here we are and I have a 2024 M2. I picked it up in late January and sitting at about 1800 miles. Pics are below but the car is a 6 speed manual, has the MP height adjustable suspension kit, full front and rockers PPF, and window tint. Coming soon will be wheel spacers. I will probably get a piggyback tune next year after a few other M2 owners experiment with them and report back here on the forums on how things are going.

Hope to see some other M2's out on the roads and at car shows this summer.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by ITSMYFALLT

I'm Anders, was a Subaru guy for most of my life, owned somewhere in the range of 6ish of them? Some crappy beaters before then that were quite uninteresting.

Jumped into the deep end with Euro cars when I bought a clapped out 135i that needed a ton of work, and is continually broken. Then I bought my RS3, Tuned it to FBO "stage 2" on e85. After a couple years, got bored, didn't want to spend the 50+k for an engine build on the RS3 and wanted a 3rd pedal back. After several failed attempts to order different manual cars, ended up with my M2.

Some photos of what I've previously had and a few of the M2;

Nice to see another local BSM, and bonus points for the blue calipers!

[ScottyRyan2019]

I've had in my lifetime about 25 vehicles ( I know I've probably missed a couple when I was trying to recall them all), eight of them were Mustangs, and this is my eighth BMW and first M2.

The car I came from before I got this was a 2022 Mustang GT with 10R80 tuned on E85. The coyote V8 with the exhaust in the Track mode really sounds amazing, much more so than the M2. However, overall the M2 is a superior car and one day I'll get into an in-depth comparison of the two.

I'm always open to considering car meets as long as they are not the late night ones organized by sub-70 IQ individuals taking place at some intersection or parking lot around the cities.

[lithe]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

I didn't realize this thread was on here but glad I stumbled across it. My name is Joe and I live in the west metro area. I am somewhat new to BMW ownership having bought my first one- 2019 M240i rear wheel drive automatic- in February 2021. I really wanted to get an F87 back then but I wanted to keep the budget under $40K. I had so much fun with the M240 and learned most of what I know about about beemers via that car. I fitted that car with a M Perf LSD, wider stickier tires, MHD and XHP flash tunes, higher capacity TU fuel pump, ran some ethanol, and the car was pushing 450HP, 470TQ. It was an angry little car for sure. You will notice that I followed the same color scheme with my M2. I have a type for sure.

Once BMW released the specs on the new M2 back in Oct 2022 I knew I wanted to have one. Long ass story of how I got the allocation (and unexpectedly wasn't able to submit my own build code due to the car going into production a month early) but here we are and I have a 2024 M2. I picked it up in late January and sitting at about 1800 miles. Pics are below but the car is a 6 speed manual, has the MP height adjustable suspension kit, full front and rockers PPF, and window tint. Coming soon will be wheel spacers. I will probably get a piggyback tune next year after a few other M2 owners experiment with them and report back here on the forums on how things are going.

Hope to see some other M2's out on the roads and at car shows this summer.

What height settings do you have your MP HAS kit set at?

I read that it lowers 10mm, other places .8", which would seem more like 20mm.

Thinking of doing the same with my M2 (planning on ordering for next year), also considering H&R VTF kit.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by lithe

What height settings do you have your MP HAS kit set at?

I read that it lowers 10mm, other places .8", which would seem more like 20mm.

Thinking of doing the same with my M2 (planning on ordering for next year), also considering H&R VTF kit.

It's set to whatever they lower it to at the port which should be 10mm. I have seen pics of other HAS kit cars that were lower than mine from the port. I'm adding some wheel spacers soon and may toy around with lowering a little more to get a nice flush look.

[JMcLellan]

Anyone else heading to the car show at the Medina autoplex this Saturday? I'm going to try to get there before 9am and get a spot on the inside. Would be sweet to see some other M2's. I still have not seen another M2 in the wild.

[NoMoreVW]

I am planning on it! Also trying to get my wife to bring her TTS out as well.

What do you mean by “the inside”? Like around the pond area vs the outer garage areas?

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by NoMoreVW

I am planning on it! Also trying to get my wife to bring her TTS out as well.

What do you mean by “the inside”? Like around the pond area vs the outer garage areas?

I meant just getting a spot inside the show vs having to park and walk to it. But now that you mention the pond area is one of my favorite spots to park. Tentative plan is get there around 8:30am.

[NoMoreVW]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

I meant just getting a spot inside the show vs having to park and walk to it. But now that you mention the pond area is one of my favorite spots to park. Tentative plan is get there around 8:30am.

Right on. I will aim for the same time and hopefully we can park close to each others cars.

[NoMoreVW]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

I meant just getting a spot inside the show vs having to park and walk to it. But now that you mention the pond area is one of my favorite spots to park. Tentative plan is get there around 8:30am.

ITSMYFAULT and potentially some of his other buddies and I are going to meet at West End at 0830 tomorrow morning if we you (or anyone else) is interested and then head to the show.

Parking lot south of Punch Bowl Social.

[NoMoreVW]

Originally Posted by ScottyRyan2019

I've had in my lifetime about 25 vehicles ( I know I've probably missed a couple when I was trying to recall them all), eight of them were Mustangs, and this is my eighth BMW and first M2.

The car I came from before I got this was a 2022 Mustang GT with 10R80 tuned on E85. The coyote V8 with the exhaust in the Track mode really sounds amazing, much more so than the M2. However, overall the M2 is a superior car and one day I'll get into an in-depth comparison of the two.

I'm always open to considering car meets as long as they are not the late night ones organized by sub-70 IQ individuals taking place at some intersection or parking lot around the cities.

I think ITSNOTMYFAULT and I saw your car at Medina today. Looks great.

[NoMoreVW]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

I meant just getting a spot inside the show vs having to park and walk to it. But now that you mention the pond area is one of my favorite spots to park. Tentative plan is get there around 8:30am.

Did you make it today? I saw a black
m2 leaving but it wasn’t you. I missed his name as he was rolling past and I didn’t quite hear him.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by NoMoreVW

Did you make it today? I saw a black
m2 leaving but it wasn’t you. I missed his name as he was rolling past and I didn’t quite hear him.

Yeah i was there for a couple hours. Lots of sweet cars.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by NoMoreVW

Did you make it today? I saw a black
m2 leaving but it wasn’t you. I missed his name as he was rolling past and I didn’t quite hear him.

Also, I only saw ScottyRyans M2 aside from a white f87. Must have not seen where you guys were parked. Perhaps next time I can check out your car.