Used 2019 BMW M2

The 2019 BMW M2 Competition gets a new name, a new price and a very aggressive new attitude. As if the previous track-ready M2 wasn’t good enough, BMW has seen fit to improve its smallest M car with a big jump in horsepower, up to 405 from 365, and an equally large torque bump. While the 2019 M2 Competition costs significantly more than the standard 2 Series upon which it is based, it is also the most affordable M car, and quite frankly, one of the most enjoyable drivers in the entire BMW fleet. It’s true the Audi RS 3 and Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 offer similar power and luxury, but neither offers the rarity of two doors, a manual transmission or rear-wheel drive.

In a word, BMW’s new M2 Competition is even more of a high-performance coupe than before. Off the track, where most of its life will be spent, BMW’s little beast is a pleasant companion. The cabin is impressively quiet when not at full throttle, and the driver’s seat hugs your body. Also notable is how civilized the M2 is on the highway given its immense capabilities on the track. The BMW M2 Competition is one of the great high-performance coupes of our time. This is truly a sports car with a dual nature, and it’s easy to love both personalities. Around town its 405-horsepower turbocharged powerband is broad and wide, with a reservoir of grunt, and the standard 6-speed manual transmission remains stellar and is the one we recommend. A zero-to-60 run is accomplished in around four seconds, and top speed is electronically limited at 155 mph. A 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is available, but as with the M3 and M4, it’s not as refined as the automatics offered by Audi or even Cadillac’s V-Series performance cars. On the track, however, the 7-speed shines.

Based on the 2 Series coupe, the M2 Competition offers seating for four, although the rear seats are not really usable by adults for more than a quick ride to lunch or trip to the gym. The aggressive new M’s sport bucket seats are supremely comfortable and supportive in all the right places and at all the right times. BMW’s iDrive controller is still here and includes such clever upgrades as a GoPro app for capturing your drives. A set of center-console selector switches allows control of settings for the engine, steering and Dynamic Stability Control. Selections can be stored for easy recall using the steering-wheel-mounted M1 and M2 buttons.

Whereas a standard 2 Series is handsome, the M2 Competition is tough. It’s like a 2 Series that put in quality gym time. Although the two models share the same wheelbase, the M2 Competition is wider, slightly longer and it is meaner-looking with unique front and rear fascias that express this coupe’s extra muscle. From behind, an M2 can be positively identified by its wider hips and its black chrome quad tailpipes hooked to a new performance exhaust. It’s a beautiful little monster, and better proportioned than the M version of the old 1 Series. Standard-issue wheels are 19 inches, wrapped in performance tires. Power-folding mirrors are also a nice touch.

M DRIVER’S PACKAGE
What better way to break in your new M than spending a day with an experienced BMW driving instructor at one of the company’s South Carolina or California test tracks. An added bonus from the package is the raising of the car’s electronically limited top speed from 155 to 168 mph.

M LAPTIMER APP
Developed by BMW, the M Laptimer app logs speed, steering angle, accelerator position, fuel consumption and longitudinal and lateral acceleration. The data allow drivers to compare their performance against other drivers, as well as share their most impressive laps via e-mail or Facebook.

The BMW M2 Competition comes out the gate with a slew of racing-focused hardware and high-performance bits like an Active M rear differential, track-ready cooling system and upgraded brakes. But even if you never track it — and let’s be honest, will you? — the M2 is still a German luxury car. In that respect it arrives with amenities like black Dakota leather upholstery, 14-way-power front seats, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, 3-stage heated front seats and universal garage remote. The BMW’s infotainment system consists of an 8.8-inch center screen, navigation with real-time traffic, and a 12-speaker harman/kardon premium audio system with AM/FM/USB/HD Radio/CD player and Bluetooth connectivity. Also included is BMW’s Ultimate Service, which includes three years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

Aside from an automatic transmission, most options for the 2019 BMW M2 Competition are bundled into the sole, $1,550 Executive Package. It includes adaptive headlights that swivel as you turn, heated steering wheel, wireless charging cradle and in-car Wi-Fi, and rear parking sensors. It also includes the Active Driving Assistant, a recommendable safety and driver-assist system that bundles lane-departure warning, frontal-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Apple CarPlay is available for an extra $300, and a moonroof is offered at around $1,050. The M Driver’s Package (see Favorite Features) is $2,500, while the dual-clutch M DCT automatic adds another $2,900.

The heart of the 2019 BMW M2 Competition is a new, all-aluminum turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 based on the unit used in the M3/M4 cars. It features direct injection and variable camshaft timing and variable-valve lift control to make a robust 405 horsepower. Torque output is rich at 406 lb-ft. These figures allow the M2 to hit the 0-60-mph benchmark in as little as 4.0 seconds. All M2s are rear-wheel drive. A 6-speed manual is the standard transmission (and our recommendation), and a 7-speed twin-clutch automatic is optional. An automatic engine start/stop system cuts power at stoplights to save fuel, but can be defeated if you find the start-ups too abrupt.

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6
405 horsepower @ 5,230-7,000 rpm
406 lb-ft of torque @ 2,350-5,230 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A