In answer to your question... Yes.

Being a BMW purist, iv owned, E46 M3's, E92's, F80 M3 and now the F87M2 competition. I can honestly say this review couldn't be more further from the truth. Jay i think you've tried to go about this review to maybe have something different to say about the M2 than everyone else on KZfaq for views perhaps, but the M2 is truly a great car, especially on the limit, that is where M cars come alive. It doesn't look like you've even tickled the limit of this car in this review to give these kind of opinions. Im not saying this with a bias either because i own one, I sell performance vehicles and I am fortunate enough to experience many performance vehicles and can really say the M2C is an exceptional car.

Usually agree with you but I have to say when I had an m2 for a weekend while my car was being fixed I was blown away, what a car (I have an m4)

Joe Achilles would like to know your location?

Yes, you’re a contrarian.

I think the M2/COMP has great presence in the flesh, in blue.

Looks can be somewhat subjective but having driven a couple of these you really cannot deny the fun factor and it seems he’s not into much of that.

Wow that shirt is a beauty james, can we have a comparison video on all your shirts please?

I’ve got one of these and think it’s a great car. My steering feels really sharp and the car turns heads in long beach blue. The car has a lot of personality, in the dry it feels like German muscle. In the wet it’ feels like a street legal drift car that you can place anywhere with ease. I think it will go down as one of the greatest BMWs of all time, I haven’t driven them all being 29 but can’t imagine how it gets much better

I drive a 2018 OG M2 w/DCT and I love it. Since I don't know anything else, I don't miss anything else.

seems like you came into the review with prejudice. maybe you didn't but thats what it seemed like when watching the video

Hi Jay, Just sharing some of my personal experience with you here, I was so hyped when the M2C came out and then soon get really disappointed after driving one in 2019, mainly because it lack of on-centre steering response and snappy and rubbery feel on grip limit, the car had original Mechlin PSS tyres. then last month I drove the same car again, but this time with Michelin Cup2 Connect from M2CS, and the whole car just transformed into something darty, racy and eager to be thrown into corners, I ended up selling my 1M and bought a M2C at the end.

Try a manual variant on a track and i think you will finally make sense of this little beasty. No way can you bring a kia stinger or 540i into the mix as a comparison. Totally different market place. Keep up the interesting reviews 👍 i always love to hear different peoples view points.

Buy the silver, wrap in neon pink and boom, suddenly you’re quite special 🤔🤣

This car never had a chance of a non biased review, seemed you had already made your mind up before even getting in the thing. The Focus RS springs to mind when you did the same. Not your finest this James.

Ahh.....this is one of those edgy car reviewers

I own a m140i and I drove an M2 a few times. One of the thing that impressed me more in comparison with mine was the precision of the steering and the agility of the front end... probably is not as good as an old hidraulic steering but I still found it great. I agree with the color considerations, I just prefer in blue or orange or black (with orange interior like the old 1m).

When one of your favourite reviewers drives the car you own and doesn’t like it - I feel the burn James 😂.

Here in America people buy anything BMW to be seen in. The M, Completion, all upgrades etc etc. Bottom line 99% of them use it as a commuter and drive it like a wheel chair. They would not understand anything you talk about.

After talking to some car enthusiasts, I came to a realization, that there are quite a few car enthusiasts that have absolutely no sense of steering feel. They don't feel any problem on numb/artificial steering, and certainly don't appreciate the extra feedback when they experience a good rack. To my surprise, quite a lot of car reviewers don't even value steering feel that much.

Another thing, most people asssume it's a small lightweight car from its size but it's not... it weighs 1600+ kg MORE than the M3/M4

I’ve read that the factory wheel alignment has toe-in on the front wheels. Makes it nice and stable in a straight line but a bit lethargic to turn in. Giving it some toe-out at the front and slightly less toe-in at the rear makes the car much more alert apparently.

Still got my 500+bhp M135i and still happy 👍 M2 with manual gearbox is nice

It’s great these are selling so well so BMW continue to make cars like this. Needs a manual.

Best car I’ve ever driven or owned. I sold my 2015 Elise S and M140i as both were irrelevant once I drove the M2 Competition. I’d say the best M Car ever made. There’s far more M140i’s than M2 Comp’s It’s the complete M Car

Yes - you and Matt Farrah are THE ONLY ONES

I have a dct version on £450 plus vat 1+37 profile. Hell of a car for the money and I think it handles beautifully. It’s a great drivers car but a handful in the wet so the full performance in the uk can only be used 40% of the time. I only have 12 months left with it, when it goes for the money it will be hard to replace. Anyone thinking of getting one, in my opinion you will not be disappointed. I think Jays videos are sometimes over opinionated rather than objective. Jeremy Clarkson has retired, be yourself step out of the shadow.

All that's left in the BMW coupe category is for Jay to come across a 1M to drive.

Quite like it personally!

I had a 2018 M2 and loved it because it was simple and not so many electronic nannies like M4 and now the M2 Competition. M2 were selling well over retail in US but I got mine just as the M2 Comp was released so it now had less value for lower HP and features. Performance very similar and mine was many thousands less. Kept is for 18 months and traded for a new 991.2 Carrera. Love the Porsche.

A proper suspension setup and a tune puts the M2C where it should be :)

That’s the best shirt you’ve had yet

You compared a Kia to a BMW M car? 😂 Carry on...

There was an ECU update for this car some time in 2019 which added a bit of play to the steering wheel. My M2C with 2018 I-STEP is absolutely precise point and shoot. These cars are also running insane times at the nurburgring. Have a look at Team Schirmer. People wouldn’t be selling their Porches to buy a M2C as a ring car if they didn’t have perfect balance, steering and a tunable engine.

I find the original n55 m2 better than the comp . I used to own one . The reason is the weight difference of the engine , which is in the front obviously, and that is what you feel . The original m2 was a lot sharper in the steering department because of that , and sounded better i think. Because there was a lot of comment on the fact that the m2 did not have the s55 ..... now they have ruined it ...

At £50k, this is still £10k cheaper than the E39 was 20 years ago.

About the steering - front tyre pressure a little low during your test drive?

I love the M2 Competition with the manual. It feels a bit big and tall for a “compact” sports car, but I think that kinda adds some practicality. I only drove it a short distance on the streets and highway, but it’s the best BMW money can buy right now (2021). The BMW electric steering is not as bad as some say it is, but the old hydraulic rack is never coming back.

I love this channel because of the honesty and the unbiased opinions. I've been sub'd since your Lotus days and i still want a Lotus!

I say well done for saying what you think, and I'm an M2 owner! (a manual N55, not a Comp'). I do have one criticism though, and that's accusing it of not being special because there are too many around. I see your point, but the fact that BMW make a smile inducing, rear drive 6 cylinder car in this day and age, is the reason so many have bought them. I'm on board with your other points, especially the lackluster interior with its cheaper leather, and lack of paint choices as they apply to the original M2. I'm an owner so I'm biased but I can forgive the shortcomings after a Sunday morning blast.

The M2 is just a cute car honestly it’s so small and compact

As much as i like the looks, especially in this colour, i still like the sound of the old m2

You absolutely nailed it on the noise front, I've never heard one that sounds good. It's a shame when BMW clearly know how to make a great sounding straight six.

What you’re describing about the steering could be the tyres. I fitted mpss tyres to my Megane RS after having cups 2’s and the steering became exactly how you’re describing. Lost the feel and became spongy. Everyone raves about those tyres but on an agile car like my Megane it really affected the steering in a negative way. I do love the look of the M2 convo but they’re a lot of money for what they are!

I actually really like it. Strip it, cage it and put some aggressive coilovers on it and you have a decent arrive and drive track weapon.

Well, it's the only new BMW left worth buying. A manual is a MUST though!

I had one for three months and sold it. Very much a go kart with nice sat nav. I've since bought an Audi TT TFSI Quattro S-Line Auto. Its bloody wicked and redlines so much longer before Auto kickdown than the M Car. Its a proper solid, planted little thing.

I had an M240i and thought about an M2 but was concerned about a harder ride for real world driving (no adaptive suspension like the M240i). So opted for a Z4 which is slower but will offer a fun driving experience (collecting on Thursday...).

I am astonished by your comments about the steering. My M2 Comp (manual) now has 13,000 miles on it and has been driven by many of my driving enthusiast and sports car owning friends. Not one has commented adversely on the steering. The turn in is sharp and the steering is very accurate. I have to wonder whether there was an issue with tyre pressures or geometry on the car you drove. I bought it to enjoy and share with my friends for progressive B road recreational driving, not to look special or cool - I am rather shocked you think that would be a reason for buying this sort of car. That I do like the looks is a plus. It has the perfect amount of power for the purpose - lower and I can want more, more and it is frustratingly difficult to use the power with smooth transitions on and off (yes, I do have a more powerful car and have driven many). No other £50k car gives you 400 bhp from a six cylinder engine. A new Cayman GTS would probably be better to drive (I did quite a few miles in the 981 GT4 and loved it, and wasn't bothered by the high gearing which so many complain about) but would cost £30k more to a decent spec and is obviously far less practical. A new Evora is more. When lesser Boxsters and Caymans went 4 cylinder they lost their charm for me in spite of how capable they are. I took the M2 out back to back with a friend's Alpine and while that is lovely I preferred the M2, I wanted a manual and space for weekend luggage for 2. What other sports car for a comparable price would you suggest? To compare the prices of older second hand cars is absurd - we all know that newness is something you pay a lot for and which some of us value. Now I will mention the things I like least about the M2 - not one point of which you mentioned: poor DAB radio reception, small map in the nav system, and not being able to switch off the auto rev-matching without switching the traction control fully off. The only upgrade to mine has been Alcon front brake disks and harder pads (the standards didn't cope with enthusiastic road driving let alone track use - outrageous in a car like this). Sorry for the length of the post, I wonder whether anyone will read it?!

I still think it`s a great car for that what it cost new when you also compare it to what you can get new else in that range of sportiness. Taking used cars into the comparison is interesting but you can`t put this in as a Reason when you rate the car. I think this car is more a compromise when you don`t want to commit to a proper 2-Seater like the 718. - I would be in the 718-Camp because I have another car I can use for the daily stuff or holidays.

Other than the lack of steering feedback/turn-in slowness it seems Jay's experience driving the car is far more positive than negative, that he's "forcing" himself to dislike it because too many people love it. Similarly, I don't think it is fair to blame a car for its own popularity preventing it from being "special."

Who in their right mind would suggest a Kia Stinger over a M2????

Chris Harris says you are wrong

Doesn't see a place for silver in the world for fast cars .. have you seen the Carrera GT in silver 😐 it looks epic

Inscrutable as always, I appreciate you James for your candor, not being a fanboy. I'll disagree with one point though, a manual transmission is the only way to properly spec a little (relatively) m car. The dct, though definitely a well-sorted automatic that's convenient, saps a lot of the car's character. Thanks for all the thoughtful content-

About time you had a shirt affiliate I think 🤔 great vid

I’ve never felt on mine or anyone say the steering is laggy either - what settings were the steering set to? Out of the 3 modes I find sport to be the best and the point in is extremely precise

Really great bang for you buck. And lots of after market stuff for it.

I hate to agree with anyone......but you're right. I got out of one yesterday and jumped straight into my 82 924, yes, 924! It felt AMAZING,so alive, instant throttle response, flick switch gear change and so chuckable. It has been very slightly breathed on; larger throttle body and lowered, but that's it. Saved myself a fortune

Another great shirt mate you really how to socket to us plus a great video

Love the Shirt❤️

These are cracking cars with a manual box 🤤

As a one year long owner of an M2 competition and as somebody who currently owns 10 BMWs of all vintages (1991-2020) along with 15 other cars let me just say this: It is a great little car. The only problem with it in my humble opinion is the wait. It is definitely 300 pounds too heavy. I disagree with the steering assessment as, while this electric steering is not as good as Porsche’s, it is still very nice indeed. I leave mine in comfort so it does not feel as artificial as when it is in sport. I actually like the intake noise that the engine makes and my Akrapović exhaust sounds really good for a turbocharged car. for the US market, we got the big brakes as Standard, so breaking is no problem. I think the optimal power level for this car is somewhere between 500 and 550bhp. I have an M2CS 6MT on order with carbon ceramic brakes. I am very curious as to how the CS is going to compare to M2 Comp. In conclusion, I do believe that the M2 competition is a perfect city car at least here in the United States. I do enjoy driving it a lot more on a daily basis than I enjoy driving my 600 hp S63.

James could you please review the 1m coupe and also do a proper review of a stock e46 M3 csl. Love to hear your input on those cars. Thank you. hope you read this.

I had one from Sytner BMW Leicester for 2 days. It’s just too racey, I hate the whining noise from behind the rear seats, the suspension is way too hard and the auto gearbox always drops down even under light acceleration and there is far too much tyre road noise when your cruising at 60 or 70 on an A-road. It’s just too much. I’m sure it’s great on a race track but all I want to do is go to the shops or. Is it some mates and not feel stressed out when I get there.

Paul Wallace now has one, it’s become the chavs with a bit of money favourite ride

G'day from Australia. Good on you for always having the guts to give your opinion. A typical Australian trait, by the way. Obviously also love the RHD.

M2 is just a platform you tune into something great and you can make a S55 sound good, but with equal length mid pipes that balances out the sound from 2 odd 3 cylinders battling each other to a smooth sound 6

Hi Jay, I have an M2 Comp (stock) - and you're totally right about the steering especially in its heaviest setting. It doesn't inspire confidence and makes it feel somewhat lethargic. It's my one gripe with the car. Also top tip for the running in service: Bring your own oils and save a staggeringly vast amount of money.

Not a fan either. But we are a very small minority apparently. I've driven all M2 variants, and while they are very nice cars considering that they are based on an entry level small-ish BMW I just couldn't see myself spending nearly as much money on them as BMW is asking. You can get cars for that money which were, from the ground up, designed as sportscars. The gulf in enjoyment between driving one of those, or a 2 series with a big engine and stiff suspension, is very large indeed. And it's not like there actually is that much space in a 2 series anyway. I think the car works for BMW fans, but anyone who is more brand agnostic and tries a few other cars might not see the point.

A nice review James I think everybody who can remember hoped this was going to be a modern E30 M3 and it never lived up to the fame.... others will give you the breakdown below I am sure....

Hi Jay, I don't need a daily driver, so instead just bought myself a 1M coupe, that of course comes with a proper manual gearbox & is very rare on the road. My first BMW actually & I LOVE IT!!!

About the steering, was the tire pressure correct?

Yes, you are the only person. I’m not a BMW fan & the M2C is perhaps the best value performance on the planet - pure driver’s car. Have driven one and it’s a 9/10.

Steering ratio is non-linear and BMW like to fit slow off-centre racks to M cars for high speed stability. The trade off is an overall feeling of a lack of response, once beyond 10 or 2 it is fine, but it does spoil a sporty feel.

Great review. I worry the weight of M cars has increased too much and was interested in the flabby steering response in this context. My ‘old’ M2 has a good response in my view. Would be interested in your review of the new M3 and M4 ; seems their weight has gone up a lot 🍟🍔

Would be very interesting to see what you thought of a 1M.

Try not to laugh but i actually preferred my old E90 320si to drive than the N55 M2 i drove for a day. The M2 felt to me like all modern bimmers. Heavy arcade machines with no soul. My old E90 was far from perfect but at least it felt mor analogue with its hyd steering. I'd guess the 1M is the last true drivers car BMW made..i agree with you on this one James 👍

Sounds like a fair and honest review and I’d love to have one in manual on my driveway any day!

Looks fine, but hate the rear lights.

bmw introduced a budget m3 and its been a hit. thats it.

How can you say the m2 comp doesn’t stand out and the m140i does?! M140i looks like a 116d if you didn’t know what it was

Hey James I know of a few people who have done single turbo conversions to their m3/m4s and it makes the engine sound a lot better much more of straight 6 roar than a can full of bees

Yes! =) To be honest i had massive problems with my m2c with regards to the electrics and the extremely poor service of BMW Sweden. However, with regards to driving its wonderful, which you clearly notice when you switch from something else. When you arent driving it, sitting paying bills... its not perfect... not even close, but when you sit down and push the button you forgive it for all the problems it gave you and simply enjoy it. No you actually love it!!! How strange we are ... =)

Comparing this to a Kia ? are you okay lol?, the M2 is miles 'Better'

Lost me when he tried to compare an M2 to a Kia Stinger 🤦‍♂️

Nice shirt man!

I drive one of those M2C‘s and have to admit, that I partly agree on the things you said. The steering feels a bit delayed and the interior is not like the other real M-Cars. It’s a bit more focused on driving performance than being „nice“. But on the other hand it’s almost half of the price of an M4 and has the same engine. Lacking the individual program is no big deal. Mine is far away from stock and very individual. It’s a car made for fun and track if you like, so everyone throws out the stock suspension at some point anyways. Why then going for adaptiv dampers? Sound will always be something subjective. I like the S55 sound, even if it sounds better in the pre OPF M4 and M3. Mine is okay with Akrapovic Slip-On and modified mid-resonator, but it will never sound like a E46 M3 😉

I'd have a Giulia Ti Sport over this. 3521 lbs, superior handling and usable in more situations, $25,000 less. It was developed as the Quadrafoglio spec first, so you get the carbon fiber driveshaft and roof, and full development of all the other good bits of the Qv, minus the engine.

We love our m2 !

A neighbor has a 2017 M2 coupe built as close to the (former) MotoGP pace car as possible while staying street legal. Yes, most people don't know what it is and you don't stand out between all the C63s here, but some do know what that small car with all the stickers is 😊

The reason why i like the M2 Comp is because its a small (keyword) two door coupe with back seats that can be used, if needed, by two average size adults. In my current lifestyle i would get a V8 Vantage 4.7 with a manual, if i was looking for a two seat sports car, however if i were to have a child or needed 2 extra seats on a small ocasion, then i would get the M2 Comp or a 1M.

Overhyped or not the thing looks the business👌💥

How to make an S55 sound decent - equal length midpipes.

Agreed. The Atmo M six pots had something special and visceral about them. These turbo Beemers are well, Ehhh whatever!

Sorry, but he seemed to like it, outside of the sound of the S55 and the steering lag. I own an ‘18, never noticed that lag, but could be subjective. And apparently the comp has even better turn in due to bracing. I think he’s trying to channel Jeremy Clarkson waaaay too hard, but it kinda works. This guy is doing the speed limit on country roads grandmothers use to ferry their groceries to and fro. Take it to the track like a real reviewer, and then tell me this car isn’t special.

Having had a few M cars over the years I thought I’d try an m2. I’m disappointed. Why? In a word... Suspension. It simply can’t put its power down. It pogo’s it’s way down the road and the traction light is constantly flickering and cutting the power, it’s so frustrating. Only when you switch it fully off do you realise how fast the thing is. It needs AST or similar suspension upgrades from the likes of litchfield to improve it but that’s £3k. The m2 is much hyped and there are some good points plus maybe I’ve been spoilt as my other car is a sublime 911 GTS (991.2) but I’m disappointed. The chassis engineers could have done a lot better.

Firstly, take it on track, the steering and levels of grip is unbelievable for a standard car Secondly rev it out, granny shifting at 4k, no wonder you think it sounds shit. Take it all the way to the limiter

It's definitely a car some love and some hate! Great video

Great review