[Rupes]

I've never purchased a first year model car before. This is just common sense at some point - bugs need to be worked out, and later models tend to be better built, etc.

On this car, I'm curious if this is even a real consideration. First, we know the engine has a long history with BMW, so there shouldn't be a lot of concerns there. The 2 series has been out for a few years and any minor updates that have been made to fit and finish should have also been accounted for in this model. What other unforeseeable things would keep you from getting a first year model car? I guess i just don't want some rattly crap bucket after a few years because BMW rushed production to get me one of the first examples.

[Reedomn]

I wouldn't be concerned in the least buying a first model year BMW. I've done it with the M3 and 1M (only model year) and all have been great. I think the bigger concern if you care is the LCI updates which seem to happen months after initial release. New headlights/taillights etc....It's more annoying than anything..............I would say if you want an M2 right away, you should get it.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Rupes

I've never purchased a first year model car before. This is just common sense at some point - bugs need to be worked out, and later models tend to be better built, etc.

On this car, I'm curious if this is even a real consideration. First, we know the engine has a long history with BMW, so there shouldn't be a lot of concerns there. The 2 series has been out for a few years and any minor updates that have been made to fit and finish should have also been accounted for in this model. What other unforeseeable things would keep you from getting a first year model car? I guess i just don't want some rattly crap bucket after a few years because BMW rushed production to get me one of the first examples.

Maybe I'm thinking of someone else, but weren't you the one that said you were a die hard NA fan? Why are you considering an M2 all of a sudden?

In terms of build quality, I'm not worried about the M2 to be honest. The N55 has been out for a while, the suspension, brakes, trans and diff will come straight out of an M3/4 most likely.

So the car shouldn't be pretty good IMO.

[dmboone25]

I would guess this would be less of a concern in today's automotive world - of my 5 BMWs, 3 of them were brand-new models in the first year of production when I purchased: the E92, E82, and F22.

I can say that I have had good luck on that front, and haven't had many issues at all (knock on wood).

I think W/// makes a good point too on the engine - it is a well known quantity at this point, and any changes made to the engine for the higher performance should also make it "stronger" as well, if that makes sense.

Don't forget, you're also bascially covered for 4 years/50K miles, so any issues tied to first year production, should there be any, would hopefully occur in that time frame and not on your own personal dime.

[Alpine F31]

Originally Posted by W///

In terms of build quality, I'm not worried about the M2 to be honest. The N55 has been out for a while, the suspension, brakes, trans and diff will come straight out of an M3/4 most likely.

So the car should be pretty good IMO.

FIFY

[Rupes]

Originally Posted by W///

Maybe I'm thinking of someone else, but weren't you the one that said you were a die hard NA fan? Why are you considering an M2 all of a sudden?

Someone else maybe. I've been toying around and posting on here for quite a while about buying an M2, but I do like my N/A motors.

[KevinM]

I'm usually in the "wait-a-year" camp, but I do agree with the comments above. Proven engine + components from the F8x M3/4 + it might be launched with the 2 series LCI...seems like a pretty safe deal.

[sth519]

Just a quick reminder: BMW doesn't just do updates from model year to model year, they also make incremental changes in between.

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

I would guess this would be less of a concern in today's automotive world - of my 5 BMWs, 3 of them were brand-new models in the first year of production when I purchased: the E92, E82, and F22.

I can say that I have had good luck on that front, and haven't had many issues at all (knock on wood).

I think W/// makes a good point too on the engine - it is a well known quantity at this point, and any changes made to the engine for the higher performance should also make it "stronger" as well, if that makes sense.

Don't forget, you're also bascially covered for 4 years/50K miles, so any issues tied to first year production, should there be any, would hopefully occur in that time frame and not on your own personal dime.

Ditto. Now if you were thinking on a C63 or any other W205 chassis Benz coming out of Alabama, I'd tell you to think again. Not a bash against MB or AMG, really good cars but that plant...OMG what a nightmare in terms of build quality. And the info was (is) all over the media. I'd be looking at a 2 or 3 year gap before I'd ever consider something from there...which I'm not of course, just a story to put your concerns in perspective. The M2 will be built in Leipzig which has an excellent reputation. Add the comments from anyone above and...no concerns at all IMO.

[abp689]

Still, rod bearing issues that were known about were not resolved after 1st model year, subframe issues...

Seems like big ticket items can happen in the first model year and continue regardless.

Reference the 996 IMS. A known issue with a 10% failure rate. Waiting after 1st model year or not would not have helped. In fact, I believe the "solution" on the 996 several years later did not prevent the issue but it did eliminate aftermarket solutions.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Mark's M

Ditto. Now if you were thinking on a C63 or any other W205 chassis Benz coming out of Alabama, I'd tell you to think again. Not a bash against MB or AMG, really good cars but that plant...OMG what a nightmare in terms of build quality. And the info was (is) all over the media. I'd be looking at a 2 or 3 year gap before I'd ever consider something from there...which I'm not of course, just a story to put your concerns in perspective. The M2 will be built in Leipzig which has an excellent reputation. Add the comments from anyone above and...no concerns at all IMO.

It's funny that these are the topics we are down to discussing because we haven't had any newer mules for a while.

All you have to do is close your eyes and imagine your F80!

[HotelGuy]

Originally Posted by Mark's M

Ditto. Now if you were thinking on a C63 or any other W205 chassis Benz coming out of Alabama, I'd tell you to think again. Not a bash against MB or AMG, really good cars but that plant...OMG what a nightmare in terms of build quality. And the info was (is) all over the media. I'd be looking at a 2 or 3 year gap before I'd ever consider something from there...which I'm not of course, just a story to put your concerns in perspective. The M2 will be built in Leipzig which has an excellent reputation. Add the comments from anyone above and...no concerns at all IMO.

I agree 100% with this. After reading the reviews of the new C63, I had started to look into this car. When I read that it was coming from Alabama, I was somewhat turned off. We know the German engineering is there but for such a high performance machine, I was turned off.

[sdpauly]

As a general rule of thumb, I never buy a car the first model year it's out. Let others be the guinnea pigs / beta testers and I'll come along a couple years later once it's all sorted out. I don't care who makes it, there are ALWAYS problems in the first couple years.

This is one of the reasons why I won't be buying an M2.

[Dr Fatpuss]

its basically an 235 with more real m parts. the 235 is solid and the real m parts will just add to that already solid chassis. the tweaks to the suspension and wider track will be easy for bmw to work out cause they run wide body m235's in races already and from that they have piles of data. the n55 can safely crank out 400hp so no worries there. the m2 will be a beast first year out...fear not.