Why the M2 Competition Already Feels Like a Modern Classic

BMW spent the F87 generation making a car it arguably could not justify: small, heavy on character, light on rational argument. That is exactly why it will be remembered.

The recipe

Take the S55 from the M4, detune it slightly, install it in a body that is over four inches shorter in wheelbase, and offer a six-speed manual. The result is a car that changes direction with an immediacy the F82 never had.

What ownership is like

Cheap to run by M standards. Cooling is generous, the engine is understressed and the six-speed is durable. Watch for charge pipe failures and check the crank hub discussion if the car has been tuned.

Values

Manual cars are consistently pulling ten to fifteen percent over automatics, a gap that widens every year. The CS variant is already in a different market.