Life is about making choices. For example, are you buying a brand new BMW M240i or are you going for a young used M2? In any case, they are evenly matched on paper.
You must have noticed: today (or actually tonight) we were introduced to the brand new 2 Series. As we are used to from BMW, the design takes some getting used to. But the 2 Series isn't as controversial as the new 4 Series, so I'm sure it will be fine.
The provisional top version is the M240i. Fortunately, there is no question of downsizing: it has an in-line six with 374 hp. That is more than a standard M2 of the previous generation. The new M240i has the same wide hips and is therefore not inferior to an M2 in terms of looks. In terms of price, we can also make a comparison: for €75,336 you can find plenty of beautiful young used M2's. Time to put the cars next to each other!
Design
Let's start with the outside. Where the M2 distinguished itself from its less fortunate brothers with wide hips, the new M2 has this standard. A bit of the same story as with the 911 Carrera S, which used to have narrower hips than the 4S and now not anymore. Furthermore, the new 2 Series has a standard hood with a powerdome á la M4 F82.
The above applies to all new 2 Series. The M240i takes that one step further with striking bumpers with triangular air intakes. At the rear we see a diffuser and a spoiler lip. The only thing missing are actually four exhausts, otherwise this could have been an M2. The new M240i and the M2 both look fat, otherwise it is a matter of taste. The M2 has an important advantage here: we have been able to get used to the design for six years.
Motor
Also not unimportant: the powertrain. The new BMW M240i and the old M2 both have a 3.0-litre inline six with turbo under the hood. So they are breaking even in that regard. If we look at the specifications, however, the M240i pulls the longest straw. The newcomer has 4 whole horsepower more. The difference in torque is greater: 500 Nm vs. 465 Nm. We have to say right away: in overboost mode, the M2 can also reach 500 Nm.
The differences are therefore quite small, but the M240i still has the better numbers. Does this mean the M240i is also faster? Not, because the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes exactly 4.3 seconds for both. This undoubtedly has to do with the fact that the new 2 Series has grown slightly. We don't know the (unlimited) top speed of the M240i yet, so nothing can be said about that yet.
Drive
So far, the new M240i and the old M2 seem fairly evenly matched on paper, but there is an important difference. The M240i is currently only available as an xDrive, while the M2 is of course an old-fashioned rear-wheel drive. And that's what you want in a compact BMW bomb. Fortunately, @willeme was able to share good news earlier today: the rear-wheel drive M240i will come later. That's just not official yet, so we've got a lot to do.
Transmission
As long as the rear-wheel drive M240i is not there, the M2 will therefore be the preferred option for the purists in our midst. All the more so because it was also available with a manual gearbox. This does not apply to the new M240i: you always have an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic. Which, of course, is nothing wrong with that.
Interior
If we peek inside, we see that the new interior of the 2 Series is almost identical to that of the new 3 and 4 Series. Compared to the previous 2 Series (and therefore the M2) it is a bit tighter and tidier. But the interior of the M2 can also continue with it. If you are in doubt between an M240i and an M2, the interior will probably not be a decisive factor.
Price
What can be a decisive factor is the price. The new M240i can be ordered from €75,336. Then you have standard 19-inch rims, an M Sport differential and M Sport brakes. If you check things like 20 inch rims and an adaptive chassis you will be even more expensive.
The alternative is shopping for a second-hand M2. Then you can get a very neat M2 for 15 mille less. For example, we found the above M2 on Marktplaats, in the characteristic Long Beach Blue color, with a manual gearbox and with only 19,000 km left. If you really look around 75k you can even get an M2 Competition with 410 hp. For €77,750 you may have the most beautiful M2 from Marktplaats: a red M2 Competition with M Performance Parts.
The temptation to give up the new BMW M240i for an 'old' one. So M2 is big. Or would you rather put together a brand new M240i yourself? Just call!