Powertrain families
N55B30T0 · S55B30T0
M2 (F87) — Coupe
2016–2021
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- F87
- Production
- 2016–2021
- Body style
- 2-door coupe
- Platform
- BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive
Body variants
M2 → F87 → Coupe
M2 F87: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected coupe fits into the family.
F87 established M2 as BMW M's compact rear-wheel-drive coupé in 2016. It paired the short 2 Series body with wider axles and major chassis components related to the contemporary M3/M4, while retaining a six-speed manual option alongside the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The original M2 used an N55-derived turbo inline-six; the 2018 M2 Competition changed to the M-developed S55 and brought cooling, braking, structure and seat revisions. The limited M2 CS then raised performance again with adaptive suspension and extensive CFRP, so base, Competition and CS need separate technical rows.
Outputs and dates differ by market and model year, and the US rated the same engines under SAE rather than metric horsepower. The M Performance parts catalogue and the M2 CS Racing are not production trim levels and must remain outside the road-car modification table.
2016–2021generation lifecycle
1body branches
2engine/drive families
3range designations
F87factory code
BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drivearchitecture
Coupe: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,468 mm
Width1,854 mm
Height1,410 mm
Wheelbase2,693 mm
Luggage390 L
Fuel tank52 L
Seats4
Doors2-door coupe
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coupe | F87 | 2016–2021 | 2-door coupe / 4 | 4,468 mm | 390 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented coupe applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M2 | 2016–2018 | N55B30T0 turbo inline-six | 370 PS | 6MT / 7DCT | RWD | Global range | BMW M2 F87 and M2 Competition |
| M2 Competition | 2018–2021 | S55B30T0 twin-turbo inline-six | 410 PS / 405 hp US | 6MT / 7DCT | RWD | Global range | BMW M2 F87 and M2 Competition |
| M2 CS | 2020–2021 | S55B30T0 twin-turbo inline-six | 450 PS / 444 hp US | 6MT / 7DCT | RWD | Global range | The BMW M2 CS F87 |
Factory designations
M2 · M2 Competition · M2 CS
High-performance powertrain
Engine, cooling, exhaust, software and transmission form a distinct M or ALPINA specification rather than an option package on the base model.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- F87: 4,468 mm × 1,854 mm × 1,410 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
First M2 launched
The N55-powered rear-drive coupé entered production with manual and DCT choices.
M2 Competition
S55 power, revised cooling and extensive chassis changes replaced the original specification.
M2 CS
The limited CS added more power, adaptive dampers, weight reduction and track-focused equipment.
F87 production ends
The first M2 family left production after close to 60,000 global sales.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Coupe
F87M2 F87 is a distinct F87 body branch. A lower-roof two-door body with longer doors and a more overtly sporting brief than the corresponding sedan. Engines/drive: N55B30T0, S55B30T0.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- F87 — Coupe
- Range designations
- M2, M2 Competition, M2 CS
- Powertrain families
- N55B30T0, S55B30T0
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW M2Wikipedia contributors
Secondary F87 model, engine, transmission and production overview.
- 02BMW M2 Coupé F87 and BMW M2 Competition F87BMW M
BMW M retrospective for the original and Competition road cars.
- 03The BMW M2 CS F87 from 2020BMW M
Direct BMW M documentation for the CS derivative.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- N55 M2, S55 Competition and S55 CS are distinct modification records.
- M2 CS Racing is a competition car, not a body style or road-market derivative.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026