The M2 CS represents the pinnacle of the F87 platform with many incremental exterior, interior, and mechanical enhancements. All this goodness will set you back $30k over the M2 Competition. Whether or not the premium is justified has been discussed ad nauseam on car review sites with many saying stick with the Competition.
But as a discerning collector, the BMW M2 CS presents an interesting opportunity. While casual collectors may not see pronounced differences to the Competition, this is a limited production car with bespoke parts befitting a collectible.
BMW M2 CS Exterior
When the M2 launched in 2016, auto journalists widely praised its exterior aesthetics. Five years later, with the introduction of the new G22 4 Series, BMW has revealed its evolving design language and to many, it’s not pretty. And, it’s here for roughly the next 7 years. This bodes well for the M2’s future desirability. Spy shots of the next gen M2 have been circulating, but it remains to be seen how much of the new design language is adopted.
BMW tweaked the body work to give the CS a more aggressive look that subtly but noticeably differentiates it from the base and Competition trims. The most obvious is the carbon fiber roof that features a hard-edged double bubble shape. Similarly, the painted carbon fiber hood features a large air intake area. Other exterior carbon bits including the front splitter, rear diffuser, rear gurney spoiler and mirror caps–all further differentiating the CS. Add the exclusive frozen gold wheel color, and the CS has plenty of factory specified features that will surely help this car become that much more desirable than other M2 models.
BMW M2 CS Interior
The interior is mostly lifted from the Competition, but the few added touches lets the driver know this car is just a bit more special. The M stripes on the headrests and the red seat stitching are the first cues that catch the eye. As the driver positions themselves behind the wheel, the added alcantara on the steering wheel, dashboard and shifter become evident. Lastly, as the driver familiarizes themselves with the cockpit, the carbon center tunnel adds a racy feel to the interior.
For the price difference though, BMW could have added something truly bespoke like the modern version of Scheel seats from the 3.0 CSL or removed the rear bench like the M4 GTS.
BMW M2 CS Mechanical
While the M2 Competition shares a detuned version of the 404hp engine with the M3/M4, the CS is the beneficiary of receiving the inline six, twin turbo charged 444hp M4 Competition engine. Unfortunately turbocharged engines lack the aural qualities of the their naturally aspirated counterparts and even the best suffer from lag. Not quite as apparent as with some engines like the Alfa 4C, it is noticeable winding up the engine while in a higher gear.
For the first time, BMW has added the standard M Adaptive suspension on the M2. As with the M4, there are three settings: Comfort, Sport and Sport+. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s are also available as an option and specifically made for the M2.
The 15.7 inch front steel rotors with six-piston calipers and 15.0 inch steel rear steel rotors with four-piston calipers are a carry over from the Competition, but carbon ceramics are available as a previously unavailable option.
All in all, these enhancements make for an incrementally improved ride over the Competition, but extracting the full difference will require a skilled driver on a closed course.
BMW M2 Maintenance
The future reliability of the M2 platform is difficult to say being a relatively new platform. A factory 4-yr 50,000 mile warranty should allay most fears, at least for a while. Once the warranty expires though, the car won’t be cheap to fix, especially for major repairs. The good news though is that finding a qualified mechanic should be with relative ease as BMW has a ubiquitous presence throughout the US. Repair costs will be comparable if not slightly less expensive than other cars in this price range, like a Porsche Boxster/Cayman GTS or a Mercedes CLK 55.
BMW M2 Desirability
The allure and provenance of BMW is well deserved with its long history of racing victories and ability to produce a consistently steady stream of appreciating classics. And over this time, BMW has built one of the most loyal fan bases of any car manufacturer. While some of those younger fans have less disposable income today, they will have more in the future. And these are the fans that will be your future customers.
One of the main drivers of desirability is obviously rarity – the basic laws of supply and demand. The COVID 19 pandemic has been wreaking havoc on automotive production lines across all manufactures, BMW included. Pre-pandemic, BMW was scheduled to finish production of the CS in 2020 with an estimated run of 2200 units (but could be more if demand dictates as with the 1M). It’s yet to be confirmed, but it’s possible with the downturn of the global economy and production delays that this number could be lower.
With the few cars that do reach US shores, only a percentage of those will be manual. Although the DCT produces a quicker 0-60 time, the manual as a dying feature on an already rare car will for sure be the one to get for future appreciation.
Assessment
There are a few models in BMW’s history that points to the M2 CS as a strong value and an appreciating future classic. Looking at the E9 chassis, the 3.0 CSi is far more desirable than the 3.0 CS. While there are other factors that account for the huge price difference between the cars (exclusivity and homologation being the main drivers), the M2 CS shares similarities including low production numbers and bespoke parts found only on this model.
The last CS car delivered from BMW, the E46 M3 CSL, has steadily been rising in price shortly after its introduction. This car also featured mechanical and visual elements found only on the CSL. And its appreciation in value has occurred despite the ill-shifting SMG transmission.
While it’s clear the M2 CS will eventually become a desirable collector’s car, current prices are in line with inflated prices of all new and used cars due to the pandemic. The expectation is that the car will dip before rising again in value.
