In with the new, out with the old

[bimmerdriver]

After owning my 2002 M3 6MT Coupe for 10 years, I decided it was time for a change. For the past 5 years, I had been driving a 2018 X2 as my daily driver, because I didn't want to put rush hour miles on the M3. I wasn't happy with the X2 and I don't have a three car garage, so I decided to sell both the M3 and the X2 and get one car to replace them, so it could live in the garage. I traded in the X2 for a 2020 M2C DCT and I sold the M3.

I couldn't be happier with the M2C. In addition to my E46 M3 6MT, I've driven an E92 M3 DCT, an F80 M3 6MT and a G80 M3 CS DCT. I enjoy driving the M2C more than all of them. It's an absolute blast to drive. I love the torque of the S55 and I especially enjoy the DCT. The torque of the S55 comes on very quickly and coupled with the instantaneous shifts of the DCT, you can switch the car from docile to breathing fire in a heartbeat. If you apply a bit of throttle and downshift while taking a corner, the back end kicks out and it will stay out for as long as you want.

I've always thought of the M2C as the reincarnation of an E46 M3 and now that I have owned both, I think it's definitely true.

Car	E46 M3	F87 M2C	F82 M4
Length	176.8 in.	176.2 in.	184.5 in.
Width	70.1 in.	73.0 in.	73.6 in.
Height	54 in.	55.5 in.	54.4 in.
Wheelbase	107.5 in.	106.0 in.	110.7 in.
Front Track	59.4 in.	62.2 in.	62.2 in.
Rear Track	60 in.	63 in.	63.1 in.
Horsepower	333 hp @ 7,900 rpm	405 hp @ 5,230 rpm	425 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Torque	262 lb-ft @ 4,900 rpm	406 lb-ft @ 2,350 rpm	406 lb-ft @ 1,850 rpm
Weight	3,415 lbs.	3,600 lbs.	3,625 lbs.

If you compare the specifications of the E46 M3 and the F87 M2C, the size of the cars is very similar, except the M2C is noticeably wider, especially in the rear. The F80 M4 is substantially longer, which is why I wasn't interested in one.

The biggest difference is in the horsepower and the torque and you really notice it when you're behind the wheel. Even though my M3 had a 4.10 diff and TMS underdrive pulleys, the M2C is much quicker, stock. The S55 can put out over 500 HP with only a tune. With downpipes and intakes, it can put out over 600 HP.

It's fair to say that the S54 engine sounds much better than the S55, especially with an aftermarket exhaust, such as the Eisenman that I had on mine. It's possible to improve the sound of the S55, but it will never sound as good as an S54.

The E46 M3 also has better steering, since it's hydraulic, rather than electric. However, the M2C handles better, even stock. Even compared to my E46 M3 which had PSS9s and TMS front and rear sway bars, my M2C handles better.

Anyone looking for a worthy successor to an E46 M3, it's definitely the F87 M2C. (In some ways, the OG M2 is even more like the E46 M3.)

[dl.m3]

Congrats, glad you're enjoying your new car. But having driven multiple M2 and M2C's, they drive nothing like the E46 M3, in all aspects. I wish people would just accept that the E46 and the S54 is unique to that era and nothing modern really compares to that driving experience.

Cheers.


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[bimmerdriver]

But having driven multiple M2 and M2C's, they drive nothing like the E46 M3, in all aspects. I wish people would just accept that the E46 and the S54 is unique to that era and nothing modern really compares to that driving experience.

I owned an E46 M3 for 10 years, so I'm very familiar with the driving experience. It's pretty obvious that the only thing that compares directly to an E46 M3 is an E46 M3, similarly to an E30 M3, an E9x M3, and so on, but to say you can't compare another generation of M car against an E46 M3 because it's not in the E46 era is silly. Any car can be compared with any other car. If you're comparing M cars, the F87 is similar in many ways to an E46 M3 and they have subjective and objective strengths and benefits.

[Zhpghost]

I went from a 2015 m235i to a 2004 330i zhp.

I actually enjoy the e46 more, but my m235i was stock. With a couple mods that thing would have been much more fun but I was just on streets. Congrats on the new whip it will age gracefully!