Pro Racer's Take: 2020 BMW M2 Competition

[@boeingdriver29]

Great video. I have one of these and I love it. Came from a C-63 and have owned multiple M3’s but there is something special about this car. Subbed.

[@trtatv]

Loved the vid. Took my M3 Comp on the COTA track last week. Was amazing. So much fun. Also ran COTA at night. Superb experience. Wonderful cars.

[@tractorback76]

What kind of times did you manage at cota? Thinking of getting one and will track it out there

[@trtatv]

@@tractorback76 I am pretty ham-fisted driver! My personal times are crap, but I was keeping pace with some much more adept cars for the track. Fast times at COTA are difficult in any car. I am not a track-rat. But in the right hands, the M3 is a weapon. I did see a lot of M4 Comp-packs in a class higher than me and they were really driving in some of the fastest laps in that class.

[@hockeymann88]

4:49. One of the best looking back ends on the road today. Great car.

[@TRZ0612]

If you enjoy looking at the huge ass suitcase muffler, then yeah maybe, otherwise, not so much. The tires are too narrow as well. It should have 295's out back.

[@TRZ0612]

2012bigPerm HAHA, I’m ok with that.

[@FruitoftheLoops]

@@TRZ0612 I'm with you, think it has ugly proportions. Can't get over the E46 M3 looks

[@hockeymann88]

Opinions are like mufflers......

[@HTH88]

As an owner I can vouch for everything you say. Great review 👍

[@Hapkindian]

Awesome. Keep giving us detailed track handling qualitative and quantities data on these cars. Interested in steering feel at speed, turn in, transitional stability, past the limit behavior of tires and chassis, hard braking stability, as well as throttle response, whether the torque spread works for the track vs road vs autocross. This is going to be a great series as you keep refining. Thanks!

[@al151]

Damn a camaro ss 1le did this track in 2:15!

[@mister_ray]

Interesting the Z4, Supra and M2 comp all equal on lap times. All front engine inline 6 BMW motors.

[@nessuno5403]

But which one has 4 seats and a trunk?

[@strangefingers]

Currently owning a (now) E36 M3 momentum car, a '74 911 w/3.8L and an M2C, I will say the M2C is the a great track car with only proper brake fluid, track pads and front camber plates. Definitely reminds me of the E36 M3 on a PSS9 suspension right out of the box. Quibbles? A $60,000 car with memory driver's seat which does NOT remember lumbar support settings (ridiculous, my E39 base wagon even remembers those!) and a . Also, the revs on this car drop so leisurely (computer controlled/turbos/fuel consumption?), there is very little "lift" effect for tucking the nose. And the big one, NO steering "feel" to speak of... very shocking to my 911 and E36 background, but I adapted (with earned trust). Pleasant surprises? M Dynamic Mode nannies will allow serious drift angles before intervening, and even when it does step in, it merely holds the drift in a controlled fashion without strangling the power! Fun in snow and even on track as it allows throttle manipulation of your line. All in all, a great bang for the buck. I thrashed this car on the track 2020 season going through 3 sets or rear and two sets of front track slicks and, track pads shot at end of season but rotors are in great shape (result of huge brake rotor overkill for the car lol). I have over 17k miles on the car in a year (drove selectively on snows in winter as well) and it has performed flawlessly. We had 3 drivers driving the car for as many as 5 hours on track numerous times and she just kept coming back for more. No contest in that my 74 P car is my mistress and favorite, but this is a daily driver that rocks!

[@nessuno5403]

The tires you're driving and showing are Pilot Super Sport, not Pilot Sport 4S?

[@andypilgrim3896]

Hi Nes, it came with the PS4S not the Super Sport...

[@VVH1997]

@@andypilgrim3896 EU spec was super sports :) don't know about us

[@edculle]

I'm certain your neighbors will also enjoy that exhaust sound at 6:00am every day!

[@richie9172]

Valves close = happy neighbors!!!

[@richie9172]

I have, but w/o downpipes. Hopefully soon!!!

[@MatthewJay80]

Great video! Please give impressions of an RS3 soon!

[@nessuno5403]

He'd be in the bush, having understeered at the first corner 🤪

[@gamerscockpit]

Why does this car weigh so much?? Imagine this at 1200KG or less!

[@MarMPB]

Almost identical results for the M2 Competition and the Z4 M40i! I don’t know what Michelin tires are on the Z4, but I suspect it’s the PS4, not the PS4 S. If it is true, the Z4 could be faster than the M2 on the hot lap. Great review. I’m subscribing because of the Pro Racer’s Take!

[@gabrielflores1149]

Between this and the Giulia Quadrifoglio, which one would you choose, and why? Ignoring price and reliability concerns...

[@Hapkindian]

Yes please answer this one. Both these two are on my shortlist if I go auto/dual clutch.

[@nessuno5403]

Did you decide? The M2 is raw and rowdy.

[@gtrance3567]

Great video, great looking car, but the exhaust.., I don’t know.

[@nessuno5403]

Compared to your Yugo, it's orgasmic

[@gtrance3567]

I have a car that beat this one on this course by 4 sec, and it sounds incredible. How does your car perform and sound?

[@nessuno5403]

@@gtrance3567 a car that matches this time :) or faster with better tyres. Congrats for investing in your Yugo to modify it so much

[@totalsuper4169]

Great. Much better Sound than the EU M2C

[@miketheman4341]

This is why most people don’t need a 500hp car let alone the crazy HyperCars that one can buy! Anyone who tracks their cars knows that 99.9% of people will never exploit the full potential of this car let alone much more powerful cars. The saddest thing about being a sports car fan and owner is knowing that most owners have NEVER push their cars! Never! They want to be seen driving a sports car rather than actually investing in learning what a racing line looks like.

[@mugdays]

Are you getting your hands on a M2 CS any time soon?

[@uspnightfire115]

I like these videos a lot, but I don’t like how every car is suburb and excellent. Not every car does everything well, but listening to his comments throughout the lap and about the lap time, you would think every car he tests is one of the best ones he’s ever driven...

[@ALMX5DP]

I’ve voiced that in the past too. I was hoping Pro Racers Take was more a critique of what cars do well on track, and what cars may suffer in different aspects doing so. Great format and presentation, just a bit over the top with praise without any of the constructive criticism I had hoped.

[@uspnightfire115]

Alan Bowers exactly. I was hoping he would address the oversteer which isn't ideal with the M2C on track. It's known to be more of a hooligan car and likes to oversteer too much. Hence why a lesser powered 2020 Supra with better chassis set up can set the same times even in cold weather. Things that would be great to point out from a racetrack stand point.

[@ALMX5DP]

denhoffer totally. It can even be spun in a positive light too (pun intended). Not every car has to be a track weapon, there is a place for a more Hoonigan type driving dynamics, but at least mention it and talk about the characteristics that help define the vehicle and who it might appeal to.

[@lotsofcurveslover]

It’s like watching Motorweek. It’s basically a video brochure.

[@taforth]

Keep those corner sequences coming 👍 - you’re making Chris Harris look lame 😉!

[@JackyMo6]

These tires are PSS, not the PS4S

[@lawrence8859]

Please could you get an Alfa Romeo 4C to test

[@lenf3641]

I was ready to pull the trigger on 19'M2 Comp. But gave up on all M cars after driving M2, M3 and M4. The steering is way too numb and artificial. Until Bimer start making M cars like E93 was I stay away from the brand.

[@theraggededgeonboardfastes8461]

The club sport has sport cup 2's

[@nessuno5403]

Aren't the tyres shown the Pilot Super Sport?

[@andypilgrim3896]

@@nessuno5403 PS4S, the Cup 2's are a dealer install option with the CS in the US... We put Cup 2's on the M4 CS I tested...

[@nessuno5403]

@@andypilgrim3896 hi, great review and thanks for the reply, but... @5:16 (at the 3 o'clock position) the tyre shown is definitely the stock Pilot Super Sport. Which I guess means this M2 would have gone faster on track.

[@A.ChristopherJohnson]

How tall are you Racer ?

[@andypilgrim3896]

5ft 10ins mate, weight around 156lbs

[@justinaaron5858]

3600lb wtf

[@QuietStormX]

Why not the Free Manual... 👎🤔😷😎

[@nessuno5403]

Because on track DCT is faster 😉

[@QuietStormX]

@@nessuno5403 Everyone don't drive on a Track daily. So Speed don't matter. I take the Free Manual myself and do my own Service with my Tools.. 😷😎👍

[@nessuno5403]

@@QuietStormX I think it's best to say everyone is different, without promoting manual over DCT and vice versa. At least this car still offers a manual! Anyway, thanks for wearing a mask even here 😂

[@QuietStormX]

@@nessuno5403 I like control than just sitting there with your hands free and feet too. To fall asleep, drive drunk, not pay attention to driving..

[@QuietStormX]

@@nessuno5403 I know that...

[@prageethathapaththu8090]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ALMX5DP]

Interesting a car with "Competition" in the name doesnt come with super sticky tires.

[@hwyfools]

Alan Bowers PS4S is a great street tire, agreed not sport cup2 level. Don’t mind saving as I got 14,500 on my last set compared to 7,800 on the cup2s.

[@richie9172]

My 2020 M2C came with SS not the 4S. I switched back tires to the front and Toyo R888R 285/35 in the back.

[@nessuno5403]

Here, they are PSS and who cares, easy to replace when needed

[@VividFizzy]

Can’t afford tires? You don’t use summer tires during rainy season lol

[@cacolargo]

Lol, the 2020 supra is .3 faster And the Camaro SS 1le is a full 4 secs faster😆

[@ALMX5DP]

Lap times aren’t everything.

[@nessuno5403]

If you consider 0.3s such a huge difference, you're an idiot considering that can be won and lost easily and this car has 4 full seats. Still laughing?

[@cacolargo]

@@nessuno5403 lol why so butthurt? Facts are facts, the Camaro is way better value in every way. The Supra being almost a copy and with Less hp shouldn't be faster anyway. I have driven the 3 of them and I would take the Camaro hands down.

[@nessuno5403]

@@cacolargo not hurt at all, are you? :) That low quality, huge American plastic toy you refer to is not sold on this side anyway, and I was referring more on that joke that is the Austrian BMW Z4 coupé

[@jameswillard1]

Frank Laszlo be glad you didn’t drive the Supra because I did about a month after I bought my 20’ M2 Competition DCT and it was a better driving car IMO. Ride was much better, feels more agile, just as fast, sounds better, and transmission is way better around town. I’m not sorry that I didn’t buy the Supra because at the time the Toyota( ....er BMW Supra🤣 ) was going for $10k over MSRP minimum (approx $5k more then M2C) and now it’s worth atleast $5k less than my M

[@TRZ0612]

Yet another example from BMW of being over priced and lap times that are weak for its cost, with a rear-end that doesn't like to stay hooked up and planted. Weight is also way too high for a car that size. While the M2 does have their fanboy following, as a performance enthusiast, non-brand loyal car guy, its a FAIL!!!

[@ALMX5DP]

I think this is a car that is more than the sum of its parts. Many owners seem to really enjoy the driving experience. Who cares if it’s not quite as quick or weighs a bit too much.

[@timmietz]

I respectfully disagree. I did European delivery on my car and actually took it to the NURBURING while in Europe. She did very well for the most part. Yes, she is about 400 pounds heavier than I wish it was. But the brakes are a wonderful transmission shifts smoothly and the engine is more than adequate for the most part. As for the money, to me The only car that’s a better performance value at this point is GT 350. that’s why I did order a GT 350 R last month. I am totally with Andy when he says that this car reminds him of the E 36 M3. I own one of those as well, and I totally agree.

[@pressplay04]

This is because the car is riding on the success of the original M2 which was sold as the nimble, pocket rocket entry level M sports car. It was compared to the 1M and E46 M3. The Comp comes out as the the more track focused version. And while it certainly is the more track focused variant, it doesn’t deliver it well enough imo. And no longer are the comparisons to the 1M and E46. Instead of making the “Baby M” smaller and lighter, they managed to make it too damn heavy- weighing as much as the current M4.

[@stevezx900]

@@timmietz I went with the ZL1 1LE for that reason. It’s unbelievable with torque that the Gt 350 can’t match. Coming out of turns it’s the perfect match between grip and power. You should try to test drive one if you get the chance.

[@timmietz]

stevezx900 ZL1 1LE is I am sure a great car but I do already own a 7MT ZR1 with ZTK so ZL1 1LE doesn’t make much sense to me at this point.