This is will be the last update before the 2017 BMW M2’s long-term verdict. In the spirit of report card season, here’s a list of notes I’ve been keeping, some of which might not make it into the verdict.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT:
- “Speed limit in nav screen” An Executive package feature displays the speed limit, but rather than in a corner of the navigation screen, it’s one of nine choices in the lower part of the instrument panel. Relatedly, a digital speedometer is another option in that display, but it’s rendered in a small, red font that makes it rather pointless.
- “Highway-only traffic flow” I love being able to see real-time highway traffic flow, but I don’t like to see all the surface streets’ traffic simultaneously. It makes it difficult to “see the highway for the streets.”
- “Volume knob by iDrive” Others have migrated their volume knobs to the console between the seats, adjacent to the infotainment controller. BMW?
- “Retain last drive mode” The M2 remembers where I left the heated seat level; why not preferred drive mode?
- “Rear cupholder” The carpool kids want a cupholder molded into the plastic tray between the rear two seats.
EXCELLENT
- “Shifter(s)” Many offer paddles and a manual mode on the shift lever. Only a few get their orientation/function right.
- “Steering wheel” I love the contour of the wheel, the obvious thumb rests, the intuitive operation of all the buttons, and two barrel wheels (especially to change radio stations). And of course I love the feel of the steering itself, which was only improved with a new set of Michelin PS4S tires.
- “Bendy lights” That’s what my daughter calls them. The adaptive automatic high-beam LED headlamps (also part of the Executive pack) do an excellent job pointing through corners in my curvy, non-streetlamp neighborhood.
- “Heated seats” Because who doesn’t like these on a chilly morning? They heat quickly, and the three levels are distinct.
- “8 preset buttons” BMW’s allowance to program eight buttons with various functions is sublime, especially due to the sometimes-complexity of iDrive. For instance, I’ve programmed audio tone adjustment, check-oil level, and tire-pressure display with three of them.
More on our long-term BMW M2:
- Arrival
- Long-Term Update 1: Break-In Miles Complete
- Long-Term Update 2: Taking it to the Streets
- Long-Term Update 3: Oil, Scheduled Maintenance, and New Shoes
- Long-Term Update 4: Hot Lapping our M2 on Fresh, New Tires
- Long-Term Update 5: Is the M2 Too Hard, Too Hot, And Too Pricey?
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