[R44 Performance]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Hi everyone, we’re finally coming back to you with an update on our BMW G87 M2 xDrive conversion project. *Spoiler alert: WE DID IT!*

Video Dropping Tonight -

Picking up where we left off

At the end of the last episode, we had the car fully pulled apart with the engine and gearbox dropped out. We gave the front suspension a complete refresh with brand-new OEM BMW parts. Parts that we needed for the xDrive swap include new front hubs, shocks, suspension arms, drive shafts, a front prop shaft, an xDrive steering rack + arms + track rod ends, steering column, backing plate, front differential, new arch liners with space for the new front driveshafts as well as various sensors and hardware.




In case you didn’t catch the last episode of the Docuseries, you can watch it here -

The prop shaft was still a big unknown - we’re pleased to say we now have a custom made rear shaft capable of withstanding of high levels of horsepower alongside an OEM front shaft.

Having ‘xDriven’ the front running gear, it was time to get the engine and transmission back in the car and see if we had all four wheels turning. Carefully and precisely, without any swearing at all, the engine and drivetrain were raised back into the car.




With a correct length front prop shaft installed, the hardware aspect of the conversion was now complete. All that stood in our way was coding the transfer case to the car’s OEM ECU which required specialist help. As we swapped over the G87’s original mechatronics unit to the new xDrive ZF HP76 xDrive 8-speed transmission, no coding was needed there as the mechatronic was pre-coded to the car, Huge thank you to our software team as they altered the coding to ensure the dashboard displays all of the X-drive features in addition to the transfer case..

Also, with the engine having been out of the car, we needed to replenish the fluids and prime everything ready first the first start-up. The M2’s S58 engine fired straight up with every warning light imaginable. Once we’d confirmed there were no leaks, the time had come to test whether the swap was successful.

Was the xDrive swap successful?

The G87 pulled away happily under its own power. On the lift, all four wheels were spinning as we shifted up through the gears which was truly amazing to see - the first BMW G87 M2 xDrive.

With the xDrive conversion complete, R44 Performance founder Rhys went to see the car for the first time since sending it away earlier this year. Make sure to check out the video to see his reaction.

xDrive is complete. What now?

We didn’t swap our G87 to xDrive for no reason. The goal now is to transform the M2 into a fully-stripped drag racer with upwards of 1400 wheel horsepower in time for Texas 2K25.

Stay tuned for the crazy build still to come.

[ronin13013]

Insane!

[LAGWAGN]

🤯

[NKGK20]

Gtp motorsports in Los Angeles did it first.
They’ve actually took it to the track also..

[Swiift]

The power numbers are gonna keep climbing with all the xdrive stuff I just hope they don’t force us into that electric bs.

[F85MTuNED]

Good sh*t congrats on getting it done I can’t wait to see it @ TX2K..💯

[DogBear]

Did you need a new oil pan?

[R0LL0T0MASI]

🤯🤯

[DocWeatherington]

Congrats, job well done

[rowdydaoudy]

Absolutely insane!! Love seeing this. Great job!

[spak888]

Heck yeah!

[Zav.f90]

GTP motorsports already did this

[NKGK20]

[rons e92]

Great work guys. Really exciting.

Any plans to sell a kit, or provide a parts list for those of us who want to copy?

[Aurora_328i]

Dawg this is crazyyyyyy. I love it!!

[Igor_M5]

Oops, the feeling of thinking you’re “worlds first”, when you’re only second.

People need to use that title a bit more responsibly.

Either way, good job!

Lets all hope that no one tries to gatekeep the rest of the community from joining in on the OEM++ fun, that shits really annoying.

[eanto]

🤯🤯🤯

[techwhiz1]

All I can say is.... With enough imagination, guts and money; almost anything is possible.

Beat BMW to it!!!

[Quadruple VANOS]

I always assume these projects are using parts from a stolen car.

[///M TOWN]

Congratulations… 🎉🎈🎊

That’s absolutely fucking awesome…

[G MONEY]

All that work and only going 1400 ? Come on boys Turn up the wick in that damn thing. That’s only 300 more than a stock ZR-1 😜🤣

[Mr. Jonathan]

Noooo, you’re ruining it!!!

Edit: grammar