[DoggieHowser]

This being my first BMW/M car, I honestly thought the M2 was decently spec-ed so I never got why the M2 gets so much flack for its interior.

Fit and finish IMHO is perfectly fine and there's a reasonable amount of frills.

But then today, the sales guy arranged an X5 loaner while I was getting a front lip fitted.. and sumofabeech, the X5 is fitted with sooo many toys, I was getting kinda distracted on the way to work.

The HUD is REALLY REALLY REALLY good. It sure beats the sat nav dinky instructions in the middle of the dashboard. And it displays CURRENT SPEED and SPEED LIMITS at the same time. Why the M2 couldn't display this is beyond me, especially since the pre LCI dash is nigh unreadable - between the low contrast and the wheel blocking off part of the speedo. Not sure if the LCI dash now does that. I would prefer a HUD way before I get a virtual cockpit IMHO.

They also managed to sneak in the distance/range number in the same section as the digital fuel gauge. Although the fuel gauge is then duplicated in the left side of the dash as a fully mechanical display. Weird.

I also loved the surround view cameras which really came in handy with this big behemoth of a car, but then I got back in the M2 and it feels tiny and compact and I guess the surround view cameras would be worthless

In the end, I still like the M2 as a package. It is compact and purposeful with the controls connecting you to the car (especially in manual), without the distractions.

Oooh - the gauges in the X5 are the same as the ones in the LCI M2 with a black background and backlit lights BUT the gauges turned red when the headlights came on. So why doesn't the LCI M2's?

[RAM_F30_F87]

Apples and oranges. The X5 is a luxury SAV and the M2 is a true high performance coupe. I'll bet the windows sticker on the X5 was considerably higher than your M2 due to all the luxury features a large SAV buyer is looking for. Maybe you should consider the X5M that starts at $100,000+ so you can get the best of both worlds.
Being a multiple 3-series owner, I always wanted an M3 (or now M4), but couldn't justify the significantly higher cost.
The M2 was the first 'affordable' M for many of us most likely due to BMW limiting it's options.

[DoggieHowser]

ditto.

[DocB]

I have a 435 GC with all the frills you mention the X5 and they are fun and used frequently initially. After awhile I found little to no use for the surround cameras and the HUD is a frill that I don't think I would pay for if I could do it over.

As I have not yet picked up my MY18 M2 is it true that the dash cluster does not turn BMW red at night???

[DoggieHowser]

Originally Posted by DocB

I have a 435 GC with all the frills you mention the X5 and they are fun and used frequently initially. After awhile I found little to no use for the surround cameras and the HUD is a frill that I don't think I would pay for if I could do it over.

The HUD shows both the speed limit and the current speed. With the M2 pre LCI, it is either current speed or speed limit. Not both at the same time. Don't know if the LCI fixes that. With the cops here policing some areas with zero tolerance, it sure does come in handy. I've almost resorted to putting in my old Garmin which shows both.

Originally Posted by DocB

As I have not yet picked up my MY18 M2 is it true that the dash cluster does not turn BMW red at night???

AFAIK, no - check out the new LCI photos and videos section.


https://youtu.be/Pk0gjQyKDU0

[kfscoll]

I'm gonna miss the HUD when I eventually go from my F30 to an M2. However, I don't have speed limit info on my 335i. Other than that, when the HUD is turned off, all of the HUD's information is displayed on the dash exactly like it's displayed on the HUD. I figure the same set of information will appear on the dash of the M2, so in the end, I'll manage. Also, my 335i's dash isn't backlit (much like the pre-LCI M2), and it's damned near impossible to read during the day, so I rely heavily on the HUD. Since I'll be getting an LCI M2 with a legible dash, the HUD isn't nearly as important.

I've read that none of the M cars' dash clusters turn red at night. Bummer, but evidently it's an M car thing. If so, at least the M2 is consistent.

[DocB]

WTF! Why wouldn't the instrument cluster color match the remaining dash as it does in all other BMWs. Seems like the engineers made a quick decision to fix a known problem without thinking it all the way through.

[kab_m2]

Originally Posted by DocB

WTF! Why wouldn't the instrument cluster color match the remaining dash as it does in all other BMWs. Seems like the engineers made a quick decision to fix a known problem without thinking it all the way through.

who cares?
I actually prefer the white over the orange at night.

Also they changed the cluster in the entire 1/2 series lineup - so i don't think it was just to fix the m2 visibility issue

[Tag]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I find the HUD to be annoying and distracting. I simply hate it. It would be nice if they offered the surround cameras like they do with the M3/4, simply to avoid curbing your wheels.

[DocB]

Originally Posted by kab_m2

who cares?
I actually prefer the white over the orange at night.

Also they changed the cluster in the entire 1/2 series lineup - so i don't think it was just to fix the m2 visibility issue

You may not care however I do and I prefer the orange-red color. To each is own right? Personal preference. Will it make me change my mind on buying an M2, of course not.

[OSee]

Originally Posted by Tag

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I find the HUD to be annoying and distracting. I simply hate it. It would be nice if they offered the surround cameras like they do with the M3/4, simply to avoid curbing your wheels.

Same. Super distracting. But cool no less. Awesome for the first month or so and a thing friends can ohhhh and awww over.

Also, sounds like OP needs to buy a new 530

[kab_m2]

another new detailed video of the LCI

[nick_stp]

Originally Posted by kab_m2

another new detailed video of the LCI

It's believed to be the first LBB lci video.
Already been posted yesterday btw. http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1413158

[kab_m2]

Originally Posted by nick_stp

It's believed to be the first LBB lci video.
Already been posted yesterday btw. http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1413158

... my bad

[nick_stp]

Originally Posted by kab_m2

... my bad

All good mate. More people would see see this great video now

[DoggieHowser]

Originally Posted by OCfromOC

Also, sounds like OP needs to buy a new 530

Nope. Merely commenting the disparity in expectations between what I thought was a nice interior in my M2 vs what some other members have said about the apparently cheap interior of the M2.

I did say the M2's smaller size does seem to negate the need for a surround camera view. I would have liked a front sensor but the benefit of driving my wife's F20 LCI 125i (which does have front sensors) in the last couple of months meant I was getting used to the longer bonnet and overall front dimensions of the M2/F20.

The only thing I might have missed is the really detailed HUD.

That said on my drive back in the M2, I didn't miss any of the toys in the X5 as I was already having so much fun in the M2.

[OSee]

Originally Posted by DoggieHowser

Nope. Merely commenting the disparity in expectations between what I thought was a nice interior in my M2 vs what some other members have said about the apparently cheap interior of the M2.

I did say the M2's smaller size does seem to negate the need for a surround camera view. I would have liked a front sensor but the benefit of driving my wife's F20 LCI 125i (which does have front sensors) in the last couple of months meant I was getting used to the longer bonnet and overall front dimensions of the M2/F20.

The only thing I might have missed is the really detailed HUD.

That said on my drive back in the M2, I didn't miss any of the toys in the X5 as I was already having so much fun in the M2.

My last 3 cars were mid-sized / large luxury sedans with every bell and whistle. The time I spent in the M2 was a nice departure. Hoping it’s not too much of a departure after a few months. So your follow up posts does reassure me.

I’ll miss the cool factor of the HUD but I often found myself fixated and overly reliant on it. We’ll see.

[Emhyr var Emreis]

Originally Posted by DocB

You may not care however I do and I prefer the orange-red color. To each is own right? Personal preference. Will it make me change my mind on buying an M2, of course not.

I love the orange-red look at night, but I hate the lack of visibility during the day. At least LCI doesn't have that problem.

[hshot_rooke]

Originally Posted by DocB

As I have not yet picked up my MY18 M2 is it true that the dash cluster does not turn BMW red at night???

Not sure about MY2018, but I've seen my MY2017 both red and white at different times.

[F87_LCI]

I have both he HUD and Surround View in my current F30 as well. When my MY18 LCI arrives in a few months, I can't say I will really miss the HUD...was distracting at first but then you get used to it and honestly I never look down at the speedo anymore. I will DEFINITELY miss the surround view. I reverse into every parking spot and this gizmo is a life saver...or rather...a RIMS saver! Since I always try to find an end spot and park as close to the curb to mitigate door dings from soccer moms and their herds of door winging spawn, the potential for curb rash is there, but the surround view is awesome at reducing that risk.

[gtaM2]

i dont notice that the gauges are hard to see and thats even now that i am aware of the issue and looking harder for it... i wonder if it has something to do with eye sight

HUD i would love that because i have the wheel low and it blocks the top of the speedo

[M2Nebula]

Originally Posted by gtaM2

i dont notice that the gauges are hard to see and thats even now that i am aware of the issue and looking harder for it... i wonder if it has something to do with eye sight

HUD i would love that because i have the wheel low and it blocks the top of the speedo

I believe eyesight is part of the reason. I know mine is very split and I need glasses for distance, but then I can't see as well close-up. Tried progressive lenses, but since I don't wear glasses very frequently, only mainly when driving, they were very hard to get use to and bugged me more than the other problem. Still, the gauges are hard to see.

I am 56 and normally one's eyesight degenerates as they age. We should do a poll asking one's age and how hard is it to see your pre-LCI gauges?