There’s a bit of an interesting dynamic with the BMW M2 Competition’s exhaust. On one hand, the BMW M2 is one of the better sounding Bavarian products on the market. Its N55 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine is still a great sounding engine and one that fans adore. However, the BMW M2 Competition won’t have the N55. Instead, it will sport a version of BMW’s S55 engine, the same one that powers the BMW M3 and M4 and its noise is one of the most constantly criticized things about any modern BMW. So the M2 Competition may sound a bit worse than the standard car. We’re hoping, though, that BMW can learn a bit from Akrapovic because this BMW M2 with the Slovenian company’s exhaust sounds exactly as the M2 Competition should sound.
Continue Reading Below
In this new video from Automotive Mike, we get a good look, and listen, to a BMW M2 with an Akrapovic exhaust. And it sounds fantastic. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of most aftermarket exhausts for the M2, as most of them sound too artificial and boomy. However, Akrapovic makes some incredible systems and this one is no different.
The sound of this BMW M2 is far more aggressive than the standard car. It’s throaty and angry at the bottom end but at the top end it gets high-pitched and wails a bit. It sounds great and is exactly how a more aggressive BMW M2 should sound. The standard M3 and M4 sound like they’re trying to simulate what a sports car should sound like. This Akrapovic-tuned BMW M2 sounds like a properly angry sports car.
If the BMW M2 Competition rolls off the assembly line with looks as aggressive and angry as it has and a sound like the M3, fans are going to be disappointed. However, if it comes out sounding like this Akrapovic M2, it will be a hit.
itll sound like an M3 M4 with akra which isnt bad but sounds really different from the current M2 engine with akra exhaust
This is an N55 engined M2 with Akra. The M2 Akra system divides after the cat, so you get the separate 3 cylinder bank harmonics that are the twin turbo S55’s biggest problem. That’s why an M2 with Akra sounds so similar to an S55. The best exhaust option, assuming stock isn’t enough for you (it’s already ridiculous for a stock car) is Dinan resonator delete and Gen 1 MPE. There are at least 2 variants of the M2 MPE with differences in sound. If you must let people know you have more money than you know what to do with, Arymtrix and iPE would be my picks.
The M2 doesn’t sound like a sport car to me, more like a GT car in this case with the Akra exhaust with some burbles and pops added to it. The rasp of the M3 and M4, which as you say is there to emulate the sound of a sport car (i’d even say race car)… Does exactly what it’s supposed to !
The car sounds unusual and raspy, as it SHOULD. Go listen to a 6 cylinder race car right now (Lancia Stratos, E9 CSL, the old F1 V6 Turbo cars…), and tell me which car sounds the closest, the M4 or the M2 ?
Rubbish. The S55 sounds nothing like an E9 of any description. Comparing it to the Stratos’ characteristic raspy wail is just BS as well. It’s obvious that you haven’t heard any of the cars you’re BSing about in real life, let alone driven them, which is why you leave out straight 6 engined race cars (like the 635CSI) because the S55 sounds nothing like any straight 6. I was going to post some videos but honestly, there’s no point. YouTube warriors will believe what they want.
Look man you might want to read the comment a second time. I didn’t say that the M4 sounds EXACTLY like these cars, my point is just if you compare the exhaust note of an S55 vs the N55 in the M2, you can’t deny that the S55 is much closer.
But the S55 is a turbocharged street legal engine, of course it’s not gonna sound exactly like an M1 Procar or a CSL Group 2. Still, there is that something in the tone, that rasp that rawness that the N55 just doesn’t have i’m sorry man.
And no i don’t have a Lancia Stratos in my garage, but maybe you do track your oldschool F1 every weekend, good for you then
so it sounds bad but full on sports car …. i kinda agree in fact !