Tuner’s S2 version of the baby BMW M Car has 446 horsepower and costs more than $80,000.
For nearly 40 years, Dinan has been making Ultimate Driving Machines even more ultimate by giving them higher levels of power, handling, and overall performance. They even turn their wrenches and tuners on BMW’s M cars, such as the M2 that Matt Farah of The Smoking Tire recently tested.
Dinan completely inverted its part bin onto the little coupe. It equipped the M2 in the video above with gearhead goodies such as an engine tune, an intake, a larger turbo with an improved flow rate, and a full exhaust system. Under all of that, Dinan added a coilover suspension setup, adjustable sway bars, and camber plates (among other parts) to sharpen the M2’s responses. It didn’t stop there. It also bolted on a special set of wheels and tires. Behind those, there’s a Brembo big brake kit.
Those under-the-hood upgrades take the M2’s turbocharged I6 from an impressive 365 horsepower and 343 lb-ft of torque to a traction-breaking 446/445. However, when combined with the suspension, wheels, tires, and brakes, that hardware skyrockets a base M2’s price from $52,500 to more than $82,000.
Is the Dinan version of the BMW M2 worth that kind of coin? According to Farah, the answer is yes. He finds it provides a better driving experience than an M4 and, thanks to the tuning of the suspension, a surprisingly smooth ride. Farah also praises the Dinan-developed M2 for its exhaust sound. While he admits it’s possible to get more power out of the M2 than Dinan does, he follows that up by stating the Dinan M2 makes its still remarkable amount of power while remaining emissions-compliant in all 50 states – kind of important given the fact that Farah films his evaluations in the strict state of California.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
