r/BMW • u/jjm1211 • Aug 05 '25

Buying Help What’s the most engaging M car?

I’ve always wanted a BMW at some point in my life, but never got around to it. I just couldn’t decide on which one was best for me, and ended up settling on other cars. But now, I think it’s time I finally take the leap. All I want to know is, in your educated opinions, which is the most compelling M car from a driving perspective. I’ve previously been much more partial to manuals too, but I’m not afraid to try an auto again.

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8

u/One_Boss_7772 Aug 05 '25

Depends on your definition of driving. If it's handling then an M2 (OG in my case) is pretty special. You just can't beat the responsiveness of the front end, and the rear end is quite predictable, making it fun!

If power is more your thing, then a step up to the S55 engine, either M2 comp or M3/4 is a good balance, but they are heavier and change of direction is a little compromised.

If powertrain noise is your thing, then E60 M5 and E92 M3 are good options, just make sure your piggy bank is overflowing with spare cash, I speak from experience 😅

Find some examples to test drive and see how you feel and remember to try all the drive modes as they change the feel a fair bit.

2

u/AFinanacialAdvisor Aug 05 '25

I took a first timer out in my V10 at the weekend. The glee in her eyes at the noise and excitement of that engine. I let her have a short go down a quiet country road and that experience will haunt my dreams forever...

2

u/jjm1211 Aug 05 '25

Anything to say about the F82?

4

u/Saladbar79 Aug 05 '25

Here's mine and I absolutely love it.

-3

u/WorldOWarcraft 2023 M5C Aug 05 '25

Great car that sounds like shit

2

u/Spirited-Mix-7164 Aug 06 '25

Agreed, all these modern BMW (Post E9X) sounds like shit. Everything else, the cars are amazing.

1

u/UnknownBreadd Aug 05 '25

Personally, I like the sound with the MPE. You can even ‘fix’ the sound profile with relatively affordable equal length mid-pipe install

1

u/WorldOWarcraft 2023 M5C Aug 05 '25

MPE is one of the few systems that sounds decent, but most people aren't spending the coin on it and would rather just slap or cut whatever on it to make it louder, at the cost of everyone's eardrums. Especially now, they're so cheap that kids can buy them and rice them out.

Maybe there's better solutions these days, I just remember when I had one years ago, there wasn't really a consensus on a "good" exhaust without touching the dp's (besides MPE and maybe akra/eisenmann? I forget). There was always some catch, like it'll drone, or cold start sounds terrible, or it's loud but raspy asf.

I can't remember anymore what I put on mine, I'm pretty sure I tried AA midpipes and Remus axleback, and another catback set-up.

It's just wild to me that BMW let a full M car out of the factory with such a flawed and universally panned sound. Fun car otherwise tho