Recently, I decided to put my tuned BMW M2 to the test using a Dragy device, keen to see how my real-world performance stacked up against the figures and other enthusiasts’ results. While dyno numbers offer one perspective, Dragy provides valuable data on actual road performance. Interestingly, I brought my Dragy along on a trip to England and had a chance to test my brother’s Mazda MX-5 2.0-litre manual. He’s more about the driving experience than outright speed, but even he was curious about a 0-60 run.
On his first and only attempt, the MX-5 clocked a 7.02-second 0-60 mph time, beating Mazda’s official 7.3-second claim. This got me thinking about my own M2. BMW advertises a 4.3-second 0-60 mph for the manual M2, a figure echoed by various automotive publications. However, the best I’ve managed in my M2, even with performance tuning, is 5.12 seconds.
That’s a significant gap from the claimed 4.3 seconds. While my 5.12 seconds is quicker than my brother’s MX-5, it’s still quite a distance from the manufacturer’s stated performance. I’m wondering if I’m missing something crucial with the 6-speed manual transmission (6MT). DCT models have launch control for consistently quick starts and maintain boost through shifts. My 6MT M2 seems to bog down off the line before the turbo fully spools, and I feel a drop in boost during the 1st to 2nd gear change.
Is there a specific launch technique for the 6MT M2 to get closer to that elusive 4.3-second 0-60? Should I be employing a no-lift shift between 1st and 2nd? I’m eager to hear from other 6MT M2 drivers: what 0-60 mph times have you actually recorded with your Dragy, and what launch techniques are you using to achieve them? Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!
