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My BMW 328i now has a companion in the form of a BMW M2

1st April 2025, 18:45 by R Patil

A close friend and neighbour was in the market for a sports car last summer. We were left with new-car options, and I presented three of them: Porsche 718 Boxster / Cayman, BMW M2, and BMW Z4

BHPian suhaas307 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Deviating slightly from the thread/topic, a close friend and neighbour was in the market for a sports car last summer. The budget was INR 1 Cr, but can be expanded if necessary.

She has a thing for muscle cars and Mustangs in particular. Since they are no longer available, it was unceremoniously ruled out, much to her dismay. I suggested having a look at the used market, but there was nothing interesting enough listed for sale, and some of the cars we checked out looked pretty sketchy and questionable.

We were left with new-car options, and I presented three of them: 1) Porsche 718 Boxster / Cayman, 2) BMW M2, and 3) BMW Z4.

After discussing the options in detail and comparing spec sheets, she settled on the M2. The presence of a boot and rear seats, small as they may be, swayed her. But it's the usable ground clearance of the M2 vis a vis the Boxster and the Z4 that sold it for us.

We then scheduled a quick visit to KUN BMW and locked in the build, with the promise that it would be delivered in October.

The options specified on her build were limited to (a) smoked headlights, (b) red calipers and (c) silver wheels and black exterior paint. The automatic transmission was selected over the manual, for practical reasons.

Based on my recommendation, she avoided the excessive carbon bits like the carbon roof, interior trim, etc. Since this is a weekend toy, the weight saving and consequent lap-time-shortened bragging rights, courtesy the carbon roof, weren't worth ticking the 10 lakh (approx.) carbon-roof option.

Few months had passed since, and some time in July, we received a call from KUN with news that a similarly specified example has now become available and delivery can be taken as early as next week. This car was however equipped with the carbon roof option and black wheels, but was offered with a pretty good discount and hence it was a no-brainer.

A week later, we dropped by at KUN and took delivery of the car. Our friends at The Gloss Factor were kind enough to help us with PPF. (that I had very strongly recommended be done.)

The M2 now shares garage space with my humble little 328i.

After a bit of reading and research, I had also strongly recommended that she purchases the all-important wire-mesh protection grille-set for the front bumper radiators + heat-exchangers and the absolutely ridiculously positioned oil-cooler, precariously mounted right under the nose of the car. The grille set is a non-negotiable aftermarket modification for all M2s and even M3s and M4s in my opinion, given the prevailing conditions of our roads, often littered with loose stones, gravel and what not. The last thing we need is a leaking oil cooler / radiator.

Zunsport manufactures these parts, and with the help of Prateek from GTP Otomotive, we bought a set:

Kalyan from Carmed accommodated us on short notice to install the grill/mesh set:

Besides this, we have also shortlisted Active Autowerke's equal-length resonated mid-pipes - a highly recommended modification for all those who own a M2/M3/M4 not just from this generation but also the previous F-generation. Presently, the exhaust note is a bit harsh in my opinion. The equal-length mid-pipes will smoothen it surely, giving it a nicer, more exotic and higher-pitched exhaust note.

Post installation of the Zunsport wire-mesh grilles, we took the car for a drive and requested our good friends Sharan Shankar and Abhi (Bengaluru Horsepower) to help us get some aesthetic photographs of the car:

Thank you Abhi, for the wonderful photographs, and Sharan Shankar for accompanying us on the drive, with his insane 300+ horsepower Octavia 1.8 TSI tracking car.

So, what's it like to drive?

After a 300 km blast to Gudibanda and Penukonda, followed by a quick spin in and around Devanahalli, this is what I have to report:

This car is an assault on the senses! It hates being driven slowly. It detests cruising around in town. Even with the chassis, exhaust, steering and throttle set to normal, it's an in-your-face driving experience. The ride is stiff bordering on harsh, for city driving. So much as breathe on the A-pedal, and it wants to lunge forward like a Rottweiler on its choker waiting to be unleashed.

Turn up the wick on the open road/highway, with steering-suspension-exhaust-throttle set to extreme, and the car seemingly prepares itself for Armageddon! It is so sharp that it darts around even with the slightest steering input. The ride, while reasonably and relatively compliant, is firm enough to let you know that you are driving something serious. The S58 twin-turbo straight-six motor delivers power like there is no tomorrow! You get the sense that it's a bit unforgiving, while demanding your continuous and uninterrupted focus and attention at all times. It never feels settled or relaxed, even with all the gubbins turned down.

Frankly, it's all a bit too much for me! As engaging and amazing it is to drive, the prescribed consumption ought to be in small doses. This cannot be your daily car. Maybe in the EU / USA or Japan, but certainly not in India.

My 328i felt like a luxury cruise-liner in comparison.

That said, driving the M2 on occasion (since the owner travels frequently and has requested me to be its custodian) has helped scratch that sports-car itch for the time being.

We have planned several drives with both our Bimmers, so this M2 will feature often on this thread.

A two-door twin-turbo straight six hooligan, and a 5-cylinder diesel-powered tough-as-nails daily driver.