2018 M3 CS vs 2020 M4 CS vs 2021 M2 Competition

[Idel]

I am looking to get a car for an occasional street drive and track day. I am looking at the 2018 M3 CS, the 2020 M4 CS, and the 2021 M2 Competition. My wife wants some “technologies” on the inside (blind spot, parking aides, etc). Any suggestions what could be a good track car / street driver?

[M3SQRD]

IIRC, I don’t believe the following were offered on the CS models:

-Active blind spot detection
-Driving assistance (collision avoidance)
-Parking assistant (self parking)
-Surround View

Things like Comfort Access, HK Sound System, Dual Zone Climate Control, Heated Steering Wheel, Rear Center HVAC controls and Headlight Washers also were deleted.

I’m not familiar with the f87 M2C so I don’t know what was/wasn’t offered on them.

If the “technologies” are nonnegotiable then your list is down to one car at most. If I was looking to buy a CS and keep it for awhile, I would not want that stuff on my car (full disclosure - I didn’t order any of it on my ‘16 f82) because it becomes outdated quickly and ultimately it ends up being more of a liability in terms of reliability, maintenance costs, etc. However, that’s me and that’s why BMW offers different packages for different people. Good luck with your search.

[NickyC]

CS and don’t look back, M4 gets you more cool items like the OLEDs and GTS interior panels, but the M3 is rarer and likely to hold value better. You can’t go wrong with either car, amazing machines.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by NickyC

CS and don’t look back, M4 gets you more cool items like the OLEDs and GTS interior panels, but the M3 is rarer and likely to hold value better. You can’t go wrong with either car, amazing machines.

Sorry if my post came across as a vote against the CS models.

OP - my vote is for a CS because they are the best iteration of the f8x generation (excluding the GT4 version). Do whatever it takes to convince your wife that she doesn’t need driver nannies! The driving experience of a CS more than makes up for the items not available on the CS.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by Idel

I am looking to get a car for an occasional street drive and track day. I am looking at the 2018 M3 CS, the 2020 M4 CS, and the 2021 M2 Competition. My wife wants some “technologies” on the inside (blind spot, parking aides, etc). Any suggestions what could be a good track car / street driver?

The CS lacks any "technologies" since they are removed intentionally and a Honda Accord and Toyota Camry will have more "technologies" like Touch Open Doors aka Comfort Access or Dynamic Cruise Control lol.

If you want an F80 M3 or F82 M4 with all of the "technologies" like Blind Spot or Back Up Camera, you'll need to get like Executive Package since back up camera was like behind this package for a while or one with Active Driving Assistance (still no dynamic cruise control since it was never offered" since the other safety features were moving around between Exec and Active Driving package.

Blind spot is a totally different option and is not bundled with anything.

I think the M2 Competition would have those safety features but they are usually part of a package and not standard.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Sorry if my post came across as a vote against the CS models.

OP - my vote is for a CS because they are the best iteration of the f8x generation (excluding the GT4 version). Do whatever it takes to convince your wife that she doesn’t need driver nannies! The driving experience of a CS more than makes up for the items not available on the CS.

Nothing at all to apologize for, that thought never crossed my mind.

[Idel]

Thanks! This is all great information! Do any of them have superiority over the others when it comes to on-track driving?

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by Idel

Thanks! This is all great information! Do any of them have superiority over the others when it comes to on-track driving?

One way to look at it is…BMW released the base f8x. Great car but room for improvement. GTS was released in 2016. Comp also was released in 2016 and BMW had retuned the edc dampers, suspension, diff, eps, and mdm/dsc. There had to be overlap of development of the GTS and Comp so there’s a good chance some of the GTS tuning influenced some of the Comp tuning. After the release of the Comp, BMW took a step back and said we can make a higher performing car by taking some of the best parts of the base, GTS and Comp, remove some parts that a harder-core model doesn’t need, as well as additional engine and edc/suspension, DCT, eps, diff and mdm/dsc tuning. The end result of all this was the CS.

A 100% stock CS is the best dual street-track version of the f8x. The GTS beats the CS as being the best track version. Install some track pads and brake fluid and you’re ready for the track. The CS with the 763M in 19/20 helps it out perform the Comp on the street and track. You’ll get mixed results from the comp and base model owners. I don’t know where the f87 M2C would fall on the list. I haven’t had a chance to drive one. I actually prefer the original s55 engine tuning with the large torque kick < 2k rpm. I’ve modified my suspension, brakes, exhaust, wheels, gts/stage 1 tune, gts coding, gts DCT, etc. so I barely remember what the stock car felt like.

Don’t stop trying to convince your wife that she doesn’t need the “technologies”

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by Idel

Thanks! This is all great information! Do any of them have superiority over the others when it comes to on-track driving?

GTS>CS>ZCP (I think, but the 20s aren’t the best track rims> Non-ZCP

[IB M]

Get the M3 CS because four doors and real door handles for wife and basically same performance as the M4CS on the track. M2C is a smaller car, great for track but shorter wheelbase and less room for two people on Sunday drives.

Edit - unless your wife drives 6MT , then M2C 6MT might be the move

[Humdizzle]

between those options i would go m3cs. since its more rare than the m4 and looks better imo.

the m2c is a lovely package too. but its not going to have the tech that the m3 offers. you do get parking sensors, collision detection, and lane departure warning. but thats about it. there is less sound deadening, no adaptive suspension, and worse stereo. interior isn't as premium either. it gets rough dakota leather instead of nappa.

i would give it a test drive though. the f87s definitely drive different to the f80 and feel more old school, more fun on street. I sold my 2015 m3 for an m2 comp.