discussion N55 vs S55 M2

[TBP88]

Allow me to add my perspective purely from the point of view of M2 Comp owner.

The state of tune of the standard car feels as if it is reigned in. Adding an ECU tune with CS map really suits it much better. I’ve run stage 1 maps on mine and feel the low down torque is much too aggressive for the standard suspension and tyres and that the OE type maps suit it well.

Mine has a KW V1 suspension which is the same as BMW M Sport suspension. This really tamed the rear of the car and allows for slides that are more predictable and controllable. It turned a car that could be scary to drive fast around town into a fun car to drive fast and gave it a more playful character without the bite.

I don’t care for the M Sport exhaust. While I prefer the look of it to the OE one that comes standard with the car - specifically the carbon tips (which can be added) and the smaller real silencer (replacing the cow udder) I son’t think it sounds any better, only louder. There are plenty S55s in our neighbourhood and most of them have modified exhausts and I listen to these every weekend racing down Nic Diedericks and I remain completely unimpressed by their vulgar noise. That said I don’t think there is anything wrong with the sound and character of the S55 compared to N55. When you hear it you immediately know what it is and I love the sound, which reminds me of the bark of a Rottweiler compared to the N55 which you hear plenty of and many of them plenty loud and still no more impressive to me personally.

I can’t give my personal comparison to the new M2, because I haven’t driven one and I also don’t care to drive one as it is heaver than the previous Gen S55 M3 and about the same size but reported to be less fun to drive and less involving. It is a straight line monster and a bahn stormer for sure with plenty of torque to hit hard, but that doesn’t feature high on my list of priorities for a car like this.

I’ve owned mine since 2019 / 20 000km. It is as near a fun car as can be had for the money and enough to keep me from buying a Cayman.

What I like most:
- fun and controllable oversteer in M mode
- grunt at any rpm with minimal turbo lag
- the KW suspension dynamics
- the ability to turn it from fun to scary in less than 3 minutes
- having more than 340 kW available in a car that can be driven every day
- overtaking slow traffic
- back round or highway blasts
- DCT in efficient mode and steering in comfort
- the characteristic S55 engine / exhaust sound
- the M Performance brakes (with braided lines added as well as proper fluid)
- carplay
- HK sound

What I don’t like so much:
- the suspension is very firm and I don’t want to fiddle with damping all the time so leave it at standard settings
- the car is low with the added carbon bits
- interior quality not at the same level as my fiancé’s S3 of the same year
- DCT - I would have preferred this in manual and I would have enjoyed it more for that. It can be driven in manual mode of course and it the gearbox is very quick and efficient, but not driving it enough sometimes have me forgetting that I’m in manual and not in auto, which really sounds silly
- the s-tronic gearbox on the S3 seems more intuitive than BMW’s attempt
- it isn’t as settled at speed on roads with poor surface conditions as a conparable Audi model - I suppose that is true of most BMW cars as I have experienced it with other models as well

What I would change:
- replace the Michellin SS with Cup 2 tyres
- I replaced the charge pipes with anodized aluminium

I replace the oil and filter every 6 months / 6000km whichever comes first. I regard this as essential maintenance on these cars.

I use 5 litres ethanol to each tank as I believe it is better for the car than standard 95 octane only.

I don’t consider the OG model so be superior in any way. I think it is a bit less of an M car in every way compared to the Comp. That doesn’t mean I knock it - I think it is plenty good, but the Comp is that bit better in everything for me.

I still think it the best M car BMW has built in the last decade or more.


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Unless you literally only drive in the dry I'd strongly suggest you stick to the more all weather tyres - wet/cold grip on the slicker tyres is dreadful, at times downright dangerous. Particularly on a car with the reputation the M2 has.

 

[AudiDriver]

Unless you literally only drive in the dry I'd strongly suggest you stick to the more all weather tyres - wet/cold grip on the slicker tyres is dreadful, at times downright dangerous. Particularly on a car with the reputation the M2 has.

It’s a garage queen used in mostly dry weather only.

But I agree and up to now that is what prevented me from fitting the Cup 2’s.

Otherwise I think the PS4S would be excellent as an all rounder.

Apologies OP for the hijack.

And I wanted to add that I don’t like the heavily weighted steering on these cars. Even in comfort I would prefer a lighter wheel.


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[922-ZN]

It’s a garage queen used in mostly dry weather only.

But I agree and up to now that is what prevented me from fitting the Cup 2’s.

Otherwise I think the PS4S would be excellent as an all rounder.

Apologies OP for the hijack.

And I wanted to add that I don’t like the heavily weighted steering on these cars. Even in comfort I would prefer a lighter wheel.


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PS4S is a perfectly fine tyre for road use, you wouldn't notice the grip difference between PS4S and cup 2 on the roads, unless they're tight and twisty however, tracking the car, they are day and night different

 

[922-ZN]

Unless you literally only drive in the dry I'd strongly suggest you stick to the more all weather tyres - wet/cold grip on the slicker tyres is dreadful, at times downright dangerous. Particularly on a car with the reputation the M2 has.

I discovered this first hand when a cloud burst on the N2 heading back from the South Coast, 50km/h and I was still struggling to hold it on the road

 

[K0dAx]

A bit of a different perspective as an OG M2 owner, the engine is the T0 so it's quite a ways different from the common N55 and sounds amazing. The car drives great and is well balanced, with power delivery being super linear. It sounds better than the S55.

The seats and integrated logic settings are not the best in comparison to the comp with steering and shift logic buttons and the bigger brakes on the comp would be lovely to have. I don't mind the dials but it would have been nice to have the traditional M tachometer with the rev lights.

Having driven both the M2 and the M2 Comp on the road, skidpan and track, I'll say the S55 is much stronger on acceleration but the torque delivery needs you to be about your business and can catch you out more times than not (especially with DSC off on track). The OG M2 feels more predictable, better in the corners and washes out less on turn in when the tires are up to temp, not sure what suspension differences are between the two.

You will not lose anything in driving experience between the two but if you want something that looks more M like, esp interior, the Comp is the clear choice.

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