BMW G87 M2 Upgrade Guide: Intake, Cooling & Suspension

The G87 M2 uses the same S58 engine as the G80 M3 and G82 M4 in a shorter, lighter body. That's good news when you shop: a lot of engine-side parts are shared across the G8X cars, while the chassis and body parts are M2-specific. This guide covers what we'd change and in what order.

Exhaust: covered in its own guide

The S58 exhaust is covered in detail in our S58 exhaust guide. The short version for the M2:

• Rear section for more sound with no emissions parts touched: AWE SwitchPath for the G87 or the Dinan valved axle-back.
• Mid-pipe for the biggest change in sound, like the Active Autowerke G87 equal-length pipe. Pipes that remove the OPF/GPF filters are for off-road and competition use only.
• Downpipes for tuned cars. Catted ones, like the CTS high-flow cats, are the street option. Catless race downpipes are for off-road and competition use only, and all downpipes need a tune.

Intake: sound, response and room to grow

The S58 airbox feeds two turbos. An aftermarket intake brings more turbo and induction noise and opens up the path for a tuned car. On a stock car the gain is modest. The bigger reason is a tune that asks for more air.

• Eventuri V2 carbon intake (matte): a carbon system with a larger turbo inlet area than stock. Pair it with the Eventuri G87 scoop set, which is made for the M2. The M3/M4 scoops don't fit.
• Dinan carbon cold air intake (matte): listed for the G87 by name, with a strong intake sound.
• MMX carbon fiber intake, Pipercross AirMax, Burger Motorsport Elite and Project Gamma carbon: other complete G8X systems at different price points.
• Keep the stock airbox: an MMX high-flow panel filter or FTP drop-in filter is the simplest upgrade there is.

Inlet pipes connect the intake to the turbos. The factory pipes are worth replacing on a tuned car: FTP high-flow inlet pipe (lite) or the MMX intake pipe kit. The plastic factory charge pipe can be upgraded too, with the FTP S58 charge pipe.

Cooling: what to do before the track

Heat is what slows an S58 down, on track or in a Texas summer. The engine uses a water-to-air charge cooler on top of the engine, cooled by its own low-temperature circuit and a front heat exchanger. Engine oil and coolant have their own coolers too.

• Charge air: an upgraded heat exchanger, like the CTS Turbo unit or the Mishimoto heat exchanger (separate automatic and manual versions), keeps intake temperatures down on repeated pulls. On tuned cars, the CSF charge-air cooler manifold or the VTT Game Changer charge air cooler go further.
• Oil: the CSF engine oil cooler or Mishimoto oil cooler is the first thing we'd add for track days.
• Coolant: auxiliary radiators from CSF or Mishimoto, and VTT silicone coolant hoses.
• Automatic cars on track: the Mishimoto transmission cooler for the ZF 8-speed.
• Protection: the oil cooler sits low and exposed. A CTS Turbo skid plate or MMX oil cooler guard keeps road debris off it.

Suspension: springs, coilovers and sway bars

The G87 comes with adaptive dampers, so the first question is whether you want to keep them.

• Keep the factory dampers: H&R VTF adjustable springs are made to work with the electronic shocks. Other options: the Eibach Pro-Kit, AST adjustable springs, or the Dinan adjustable coil-over system, which keeps the factory electronic shocks and adds threaded height adjustment.
• Upgraded electronic dampers: Bilstein EVO SE, electronically controlled with adjustable ride height.
• Full coilovers: KW V4, Öhlins Road & Track or AST 5200 Series for track-focused cars.
• Sway bars: the H&R G87 sway bar kit, the Eibach front and rear kit or the Eibach rear bar alone. Less roll without a harsher ride. Add MMX adjustable front and rear drop links on a lowered car.
• Alignment and bushings: MMX adjustable toe arms, MMX front control arm spherical bushings and the Dinan rear suspension link kit take flex out of the rubber bushings.
• Braces: the MMX G87 underbody brace, a carbon strut brace from Eventuri or Project Gamma, or the CTS Turbo strut brace. With a larger exhaust, the Active Autowerke G87 brace or Scorpion tunnel brace replaces the factory tunnel brace.
• Differential mounts: the MMX dual diff mount or VTT diff lockdown kit for launches and hard shifts on a tuned car.

Get an alignment after any spring, coilover or arm change.

Carbon and exterior

The G87's body is unique, so M3/M4 body parts don't fit. The Vorsteiner Aero program is built for the M2:

• Carbon fiber hood and aero front spoiler.
• Vented fenders with side skirts.
• Carbon trunk lid and rear diffuser with underfloor.

Under the hood, a carbon engine cover from Eventuri or VTT finishes the engine bay. Inside, MMX magnetic paddle shifters replace the stock paddles.

Power

Intakes, inlet pipes and downpipes do the most with a tune. Plug-in options include the JB4 for the G87 and the MMX Power Control Module. Cooling upgrades go hand in hand with more power.

What we'd do

• Daily driver: an intake with the G87 scoops, H&R VTF springs on the factory dampers, and a valved rear exhaust.
• Weekend canyon car: add sway bars, adjustable drop links, a strut brace and the underbody brace.
• Track or tuned: oil cooler and heat exchanger first, then coilovers, toe arms and diff mounts. Add inlet pipes, catted downpipes and a tune for power, and a skid plate to protect the coolers.

We can install all of it at our shop in Dallas.

Browse by category for your car: intakes, cooling, intercoolers, suspension, carbon and exterior and exhaust, or see everything for the G87 M2.