[ZPD]

Here is my take:
I just picked up my M2 yesterday and then did a 13 hour 800+ mile drive in it with the bucket seats. It was uncomfortable and I have a sore butt to prove it but it was more comfortable than expected. To be fair you would be hard-pressed to find a seat that is comfortable for a 13-hour stint. I know that my seats in my M850iGC and our Denali get uncomfortable after several hours.
I didn't mind the middle bump thing (but I also got the auto) and I liked how the back bolsters are adjustable. Plus those seats just look so damn sexy.
In the end, my opinion is to get the buckets if you are tracking the car and want an OEM look. Otherwise, get the regular seats. This will be my weekend track toy and a fun use of disposable income so it made sense to me. If my opinion changes after a couple of track days I can always pull them out and sell them for $15-$20K like some of the guys on ebay

[flashingX]

Seems many people will buy the car, and i am thinking of leasing, the reason being there might be expensive repairs once the warranty is over.

Or, some collectors values?

[AlpineBoost]

Originally Posted by flashingX

Seems many people will buy the car, and i am thinking of leasing, the reason being there might be expensive repairs once the warranty is over.

Or, some collectors values?

I've never leased a car and I don't know a ton about it. Why not just purchase and sell or trade in right before or once the warranty is up? We can't say for sure what 4 years from now will look like, but I feel like you'll make out pretty well on a car like a M2.

[flashingX]

Originally Posted by AlpineBoost

I've never leased a car and I don't know a ton about it. Why not just purchase and sell or trade in right before or once the warranty is up ?

Car depreciates quickly. We have tried both buy/sell and lease, and there seems not much difference in terms of total cost, eg, leasing do not pay sales tax for the residual.

Try to understand.

[ourlee]

My wife and I are using the m2 as a GT car with an annual trip to LA to visit son1. If I rolled in with those seats she would murder me

[AlpineBoost]

Originally Posted by flashingX

Car depreciates quickly. We have tried both buy/sell and lease, and there seems not much difference in terms of total cost, eg, leasing do not pay sales tax for the residual.

I hear you. Just seems like these days some cars don't really depreciate all that quickly, if at all, while few actually appreciate. Depends on what you got. But yeah, who knows what it'll look like later this decade with everything that's going on.

[fcman]

Originally Posted by flashingX

Seems many people will buy the car, and i am thinking of leasing, the reason being there might be expensive repairs once the warranty is over.

Or, some collectors values?

If you think the depreciation is more than the lease payments and want to get rid of it easily - Lease

If you think the depreciation is less than the lease payments and want to get rid of it whenever you want - Buy

Based on what I’ve seen so far, the lease payment has been around $1k/mo, so $36k over 3 years. I would be very surprised if depreciation is bad enough for you to come out ahead financially. So you’re paying quite a bit extra for the convenience of a lease

[DCC]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

And $2,500 for the M drivers package...thats a hefty donation to BMW.

no kidding... I still have not used the one that came with my M2CS... at least I didnt have to pay extra for that on the sticker


I understand there to be a 36 month validity for such a option.

[flashingX]

Originally Posted by DCC

no kidding... I still have not used the one that came with my M2CS... at least I didnt have to pay extra for that on the sticker


I understand there to be a 36 month validity for such a option.

If leasing, this would be like $1500?? Interesting

[soflacarguy]

For a lease to make financial sense, the following must be true:

1. High Residual Value
2. Low money factor
3. Incentivized lease programs (lease cash, rebates,etc)
4. Discounts off msrp

It’s very unlikely the m2 will lease well, as none of these factors are currently applicable. Fwiw - With current market conditions best leases are on EV’s.

[frostyrwd]

I personally prefer the look of the non-carbon roof. How noticeable is the higher center of gravity with the moonroof?

[MMMGuy60]

Originally Posted by frostyrwd

I personally prefer the look of the non-carbon roof. How noticeable is the higher center of gravity with the moonroof?

Only noticeable to people like Randy Pobst. While the CF roof is cool AF, I wanted a sunroof.

[Bumpinjeep]

You know what the actual benefits of getting the carbon pack are? I can tell you from first hand experience.

You get a freaking carbon fiber roof and carbon fiber racing bucket style seats.

That's all you have to know. The roof saves weight, blah blah blah, it's a street car. The seats are comfortable, heated, adjustable, look amazing, etc.

But at the end of the day, these things are dope, nothing more, nothing less.

[Humdizzle]

there is minimal to no performance benefit

but it looks cool and will get you higher resale value down the road. i remember when i was searching for an F80 i didn't even click on sunroof car ads. but everyone is different. i know some guys who buy Ms and actually want a sunroof or convertible top.

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by frostyrwd

I personally prefer the look of the non-carbon roof. How noticeable is the higher center of gravity with the moonroof?

Imagine that you have an additional 50 lbs of a stretched metal piece attached to the ceiling. It's not huge, but you will notice it's there.

Sunroof weight is centered around the glass, so I imagine it would be subject to greater inertia than a uniform layer of metal due to higher density around the glass area.

[Humdizzle]

Originally Posted by frostyrwd

I personally prefer the look of the non-carbon roof. How noticeable is the higher center of gravity with the moonroof?

- try running and cornering with your hands on your head
- try running and cornering with a heavy book or 5 pound weight held above your head.

pretty noticeable difference when going fast. not so much if your just walking.

[JG13]

Originally Posted by Bumpinjeep

You know what the actual benefits of getting the carbon pack are? I can tell you from first hand experience.

You get a freaking carbon fiber roof and carbon fiber racing bucket style seats.

That's all you have to know. The roof saves weight, blah blah blah, it's a street car. The seats are comfortable, heated, adjustable, look amazing, etc.

But at the end of the day, these things are dope, nothing more, nothing less.

This

I'm buying the carbon pack for myself but I know damn well that everybody I show the car too is going to drool over the seats and the roof.

I've known guys who have spent tens of thousands replacing the roof in their E46 M3 with a carbon fiber roof. My M2 is race spec from the factory. To each their own.

[LVI]

Originally Posted by flashingX

Totaling approximately $6000 USD.

Benefits I could think

- carbon roof lower center of gravity, more head room than sunroof.
- carbon seats is more in control, merino leather. Might not be comfortable for long drive, like more than 2 hours
- Coolness

Others? Please

The biggest issue with the carbon buckets for most people isn't the comfort, especially with BMW buckets which are adjustable.

They are quite comfortable once you're in them, HOWEVER, getting in and out of them is a different story if you actually use the car frequently/daily. The gymnastics required for ingress/egress in order to not shred your side bolsters get old after a while. If you park in tight parking spots or garages often, it'll suck even more. Your wife/gf will hate them, etc.

If this is a special occasion car, a car you track all the time, a weekend car you drive 250 to 1000 miles a year like a Porsche GT owner, etc. Get the buckets.

If you're going to use it every day, it'll get old after a while and you'll probably regret it.

YMMV

[ZPD]

Originally Posted by LVI

If this is a special occasion car, a car you track all the time, a weekend car you drive 250 to 1000 miles a year like a Porsche GT owner, etc. Get the buckets.

If you're going to use it every day, it'll get old after a while and you'll probably regret it.

YMMV

Those are some good points!

[sl0m0]

Originally Posted by LVI

The biggest issue with the carbon buckets for most people isn't the comfort, especially with BMW buckets which are adjustable.

They are quite comfortable once you're in them, HOWEVER, getting in and out of them is a different story if you actually use the car frequently/daily. The gymnastics required for ingress/egress in order to not shred your side bolsters get old after a while. If you park in tight parking spots or garages often, it'll suck even more. Your wife/gf will hate them, etc.

If this is a special occasion car, a car you track all the time, a weekend car you drive 250 to 1000 miles a year like a Porsche GT owner, etc. Get the buckets.

If you're going to use it every day, it'll get old after a while and you'll probably regret it.

YMMV

I got these from IND, that way the passenger can get in/out however she feels without any stress of harming the bolster.

https://ind-distribution.com/product...15f501f0&_ss=r

[Squidget]

And of course, even if you don't option the drivers package, you still get the complementary New Owners Track Drive thing. So, if you can, do that, it's free.

https://www.bmwblog.com/2021/07/29/n...rmance-center/

[F12M6MD]

The carbon buckets are fine. Ingress/egress is relative to the platform they’re installed in. I find (relative to the Porsche GT buckets), the dip between the side bolster and leg bolster offers a nice spot for your leg to maneuver the in/out process. I would say they are easier to deal with if the door is longer (M2, M4) but made more challenging if the car is lower (M8) or the B-pillar relative to the steering wheel is shorter (M3, M5CS). In all platforms, the one click door opening is harder than two (tight parking). But in all cases, just program seat memory 2 to a less aggressive seating position and you’ll be good. Overall, I wouldn’t specifically not spec them.

M