[kyrix1st]

Overall (9/10):
First thing you notice is the clutch engagement point is akin to an E36 M3 euro with the Getrag 6-speed; quite immediate off the floor. I was pleasantly surprised, because I expected it to be more E92 M3-esque (long and vague)
Engine responds pretty quickly for a twin-turbocharged inline 6, you can feel it has had some sort of lightweight crankshaft measures when revving it in neutral.
This thing grips, and I feel it's not just the tires (PS4S). Again, feels like my old E36 M3 with Bilstein PSS10s on rebound setting 4. Heavier, but similar.

Steering (6/10):

Dead, dead, dead. It is precise and the steering rack ratio is short, but there is little to no feedback doing miniscule changes going 110+mph, and that vagueness is scary. It might be that the tires aren't fully broken-in yet, will update on this.

Suspension (9/10):

This might be the best OEM damping BMW has offered since E92 M3 CP. I was pushing 120mph sweepers easily without feeling much of the 1700kg heft. It reveals more understeer the faster you go, but I think this can easily be rectified going with a square setup. Mind you, all of this was done in comfort mode. Excited to find out how this car will feel once I get on the track after the break-in service.

Engine (8/10):
It does not feel naturally aspirated, more like a KKK turbocharged E36 M3. It's a good thing, but a little bland compared to S54 or S65 that screamed past 8000 rpm. Solid engine nonetheless.

Throttle House Thomas Just for the sake of it, I decided to try out the 4th gear pull in 2,500 rpm, and it propelled better than my E92 M3 DCT in 3rd gear; no issues overtaking on the highway. I'm sure it's better with the F87, but it's not that bad really.

Transmission (8/10):

I'm a long time BMW MT lover, I've driven and owned some of the best ones (E30, E37, E36) and not so great ones (E92, F82). G87 falls right in the middle of E37 Z3 and E36 M3. It doesn't have the short throws of the Z3 with a ZHP shift knob, but it is not as long as the E36 or the E92.

Also pleasantly surprised by the Gearshift Assistant, because it is hardly intrusive. It does not intervene when you throttle blip yourself for downshifts; it will only rev match for you if you engage the lower gear without blipping.
I did not feel the car intervening at all when upshifting, but it might just be I'm a flawless shifter up or down.

One thing I "hate" about the new gen is the rev-hang. IMO CDV delete is a must. It is slow to engage from a dead stop, and slow to upshift when pushing it hard; shifts always feel like I'm half clutching into the next gear. It may be good for grandfathers but I'm decades away from being one.

Exterior (7/10):

I like the bulkiness, but lines are a little off. Some of the reflections even make it look like it's been dinged/dented, but that is how it came from the factory. Quite puzzled.

Interior (7/10):

I liked the new layout a lot, but BMW, please give G87 a Nappa Leather or full Merino Leather interior option. This car's interior material feels worse than my E92 M3 (which was better than F82 IMO.) I would have paid $1,500+ to make it nicer.

Brake and throttle pedals are also placed too closely to heel-and-toe with my dress shoes. This was not an issue with the prior generations.

Practicality (6/10):

Rear seat comfort is worse than E92 M3 period. G87 is bigger outside, but smaller inside. Anyone care to explain why this is the case?
Trunk also feels marginally smaller than the E92.

[Squidget]

Great review!

One thing you skipped over was the braking. The brakes are GREAT and deserve an explicit callout. Seating position is also very good.

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Rear seat comfort is worse than E92 M3 period. G87 is bigger outside, but smaller inside. Anyone care to explain why this is the case?
Trunk also feels marginally smaller than the E92.

Crash safety, crumple zone, and extra sound deadening all lead to more volume being consumed by things-other-than-human-space.

M2 isn't the only car with this problem, the Civic is also "large on the outside but small on the inside."

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by Squidget

Great review!

One thing you skipped over was the braking. The brakes are GREAT and deserve an explicit callout. Seating position is also very good.



Crash safety, crumple zone, and extra sound deadening all lead to more volume being consumed by things-other-than-human-space.

M2 isn't the only car with this problem, the Civic is also "large on the outside but small on the inside."

Good point, I didn't want to comment on braking just yet because they seemed a little vague, probably because they are not fully broken in.
It stops well when needed, but it does need to heat up a bit to work at the moment.

[apez]

I often see posts that the steering is numb... however I rarely see post about modifications to improve it. Why is that? Do the existing solutions such as monoball kits just not help?

Disclaimer: Don't have my G87 yet, but also not indoctrinated into the steering feel club. My G42 is supposed to be worse then the G87 and I don't have any explicit problems with it. Certainly feels better then my F series X3, can't remember how my Acura felt but I doubt it was very good, and driving my dad's Porsches was so long ago to be nothing but fond memories.

[KevM2]

Great review and I found myself agreeing on every point…. However, I know I might be in the minority but i actually do think the steering feel is a little better than the F87 and believe it or not I can feel a little more feedback…

[fcman]

Originally Posted by Squidget

Seating position is also very good.

I cant for the life of me find a comfortable seating position. My legs seem to be getting sore after like 15min or so of driving.

[fcman]

Originally Posted by apez

I often see posts that the steering is numb... however I rarely see post about modifications to improve it. Why is that? Do the existing solutions such as monoball kits just not help?

Disclaimer: Don't have my G87 yet, but also not indoctrinated into the steering feel club. My G42 is supposed to be worse then the G87 and I don't have any explicit problems with it. Certainly feels better then my F series X3, can't remember how my Acura felt but I doubt it was very good, and driving my dad's Porsches was so long ago to be nothing but fond memories.

The G80/82 guys have said the monoballs are pretty transformative in terms of feel, I dont see why the G87 would be any different. I just dont think anyone has really tried yet, at least on the forums.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Engine (8/10):
It does not feel naturally aspirated, more like a KKK turbocharged E36 M3. It's a good thing, but a little bland compared to S54 or S65 that screamed past 8000 rpm. Solid engine nonetheless.

Throttle House Thomas Just for the sake of it, I decided to try out the 4th gear pull in 2,500 rpm, and it propelled better than my E92 M3 DCT in 3rd gear; no issues overtaking on the highway. I'm sure it's better with the F87, but it's not that bad really.

We appreciate your feedback. But I would disagree with you about the S58 assessment. It's essentially a purpose built B58 on steroids & built even more robustly from the inside out. Bland is the last word I'd ever use to describe it & for a machine that makes this much HP/liter, I'd say the 7,000 redline is just perfect.

Do you know of any other FI engines, making this level of power bone stock in factory trim, at this price point, that can do what the S58 does all day... ? It's the most naturally aspirated feeling TurboCharged inline-6 I've ever experienced.

And the mono-balls helped out the steering feel on my X3 M a great deal. So I'm only assuming they could do ever more wonders for the lighter G87 platform.

[DrewNewM2]

Great review. Gotta say the steering assessment has me concerned although I’ve test driven a G87 and Numerous G80s and they seemed ok. Coming from a bunch of Subaru STis with amazing hydraulic steering feedback, numb steering is going to disappoint me.

[Geighty7]

Did you get on it before the break in period?

[deneed4spd]

I don’t own a m2 but I did get to actually see one in person last week at local dealer while getting wife’s car serviced. I was also baffled how a short guy myself who is 5’6 had his head touch the rear head liner sitting up on back seat. Those seats are not usable for an adult. Unless they like slouching..

[Chris13002]

Originally Posted by deneed4spd

I don’t own a m2 but I did get to actually see one in person last week at local dealer while getting wife’s car serviced. I was also baffled how a short guy myself who is 5’6 had his head touch the rear head liner sitting up on back seat. Those seats are not usable for an adult. Unless they like slouching..

Funny it's my friends who are 5'8" or shorter who are the only ones who can fit in the back seat with no issues. I Myself who is 5'11" is the one who has issues with my head hitting the ceiling.

[deneed4spd]

Originally Posted by Chris13002

Funny it's my friends who are 5'8" or shorter who are the only ones who can fit in the back seat with no issues. I Myself who is 5'11" is the one who has issues with my head hitting the ceiling.

I had a f87 and I had no issues. Still baffles my brain it smaller back there.

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by Geighty7

Did you get on it before the break in period?

Barely. I kept it under 5,000 rpm, maybe used half throttle at most.

Originally Posted by deneed4spd

I don’t own a m2 but I did get to actually see one in person last week at local dealer while getting wife’s car serviced. I was also baffled how a short guy myself who is 5’6 had his head touch the rear head liner sitting up on back seat. Those seats are not usable for an adult. Unless they like slouching..

I knew this before buying the car. I actually prefer this way so I can use it as an excuse to not have more than one dude passenger.

[KCuv]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Rear seat comfort is worse than E92 M3 period. G87 is bigger outside, but smaller inside. Anyone care to explain why this is the case?
Trunk also feels marginally smaller than the E92.

its my understanding they made more room in the front seats, and space in the rear was the compromise.


im similar mileage in as you, and solid review.
However, practicality is all relative.

compared to ...my truck? its lower.
compared to ...any other sports car? its actually really high.
It's a good size trunk, has back seats, and its generally unassuming.

When we're comparing cars based on money and usage - I look at the C8 vette and a Gt4 as comparable options. other "comparable" sports cars, aren't comparable IMO.

A GT4 as an example, I have next to no storage, look like a prick at work, people notice on the road, and I can't take my daughter with me. THAT is not practical. The M2 is very much so, in comparison.

[ronin13013]

I would never drive my GT4 to work! Workplace is way too competitive.

Originally Posted by KCuv

its my understanding they made more room in the front seats, and space in the rear was the compromise.


im similar mileage in as you, and solid review.
However, practicality is all relative.

compared to ...my truck? its lower.
compared to ...any other sports car? its actually really high.
It's a good size trunk, has back seats, and its generally unassuming.

When we're comparing cars based on money and usage - I look at the C8 vette and a Gt4 as comparable options. other "comparable" sports cars, aren't comparable IMO.

A GT4 as an example, I have next to no storage, look like a prick at work, people notice on the road, and I can't take my daughter with me. THAT is not practical. The M2 is very much so, in comparison.