2020 BMW M2 Competition (F87) - Modded to Over 600 HorsepowerTheTruthAboutCars.comDrive Culture | TTAC CreatorThu, September 17, 2026 at 4:20 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleThe 2020 BMW M2 Competition in this video keeps a fully stock exterior and interior, but don't let that fool you - the S55 under the hood is far from factory. The build highlights include: S55 3.0L inline‑six, 7‑speed DCT, MHD Stage 2 tune, MHD Flex Fuel + ECA analyzer, XHP Stage 3 trans tune, S5X crankhub upgrade, BMC drop‑in filters, running 50% ethanol. Power Estimate: No dyno yet, but this setup should land in the low‑to‑mid 600s WHP/WTQ range - serious punch with OEM looks. What's in the Video: Real‑world pulls, flex‑fuel behavior, driving impressions, and how these mods transform the M2C's character without changing its appearance.AdvertisementAdvertisementDrive Culture is detailed car review YouTube channel hosted by the ultimate car enthusiast, Jonathon Rivers. Who is Jonathon Rivers? Well, he's a 15-year-plus auto industry veteran, who was born and raised in the Motor City! He lived several years in Japan, speaks and reads Japanese, and now works for American Honda Motor. (Although this channel is his own & not affiliated) He's owned several fun cars including an Evo IV, multiple Civic Si, Focus RS, and most recently the Integra Type S (which he led planning for Acura)! He's also been lucky enough to drive just about every key new product in the market from compact cars to SUVs and EVs as well as super cars! If that isn't enough to prove his "car guy" status, Rivers has also been featured in Motor Trend, Car and Driver, AutoBlog, Jay Leno's Garage, Raiti's Rides and the Savage Geese channels! He's on Instagram here and Facebook here.The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.A transcript, summarized by AI and edited by a staffer, is below.AdvertisementAdvertisement[Image: YouTube Screenshot]Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.SummaryThe transcript reviews a 2020 BMW M2 Competition (F87) that looks largely stock but has significant engine modifications. The reviewer considers the first-generation M2 one of BMW's most appealing modern M cars because it returned to the relatively compact formula associated with earlier M3s such as the E30 and E46. ExteriorThe M2 Competition is finished in Black Sapphire Metallic, which the reviewer says looks particularly menacing when combined with the Competition model's black trim and carbon-fiber accents. The front features the characteristic BMW kidney grilles, adaptive LED headlights, functional cooling openings and visible intercoolers.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Competition-specific front fascia distinguishes it from the regular F87 M2. The car also has a center hood bulge, aggressive character lines, M-specific mirrors and a black rear lip spoiler. The car rides on 19-inch wheels with Michelin tires, using 245/35ZR19 tires in front and 265/35ZR19s in back. Large cross-drilled brakes with prominent M-branded calipers fill the wheels. The reviewer particularly likes the fact that the exterior remains relatively restrained rather than adopting the increasingly aggressive aftermarket styling common on modified cars. At the rear are LED taillights, a subtle black spoiler, parking sensors, a diffuser and quad exhaust outlets. Overall, the reviewer describes the F87's rounded, traditional BMW styling as considerably cleaner and more classic-looking than the newer, more angular G87 M2. InteriorInside, the reviewer appreciates the combination of analog gauges, physical controls and digital technology. Compared with newer BMWs dominated by screens, the F87's interior feels more traditional and driver-focused.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Competition features carbon-fiber trim, soft-touch materials, contrast stitching and a thick M steering wheel with blue-and-red stitching. The car has the later version of BMW's iDrive system, physical climate controls, heated seats, a conventional parking brake and a seven-speed DCT selector. The seats are M2-specific units with substantial bolstering, fixed headrests, blue stitching and Alcantara accents. A Harman Kardon audio system adds premium touches. The reviewer finds the interior well built and says the car has held up well despite its age. The rear seats are understandably tight, but the reviewer says they're usable for shorter trips and can accommodate adults in a pinch. There are also child-seat anchors. One surprise is the 13.8 cubic feet of cargo space, with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat that makes the M2 more practical than its small coupe dimensions suggest. PowertrainA stock 2020 M2 Competition uses the S55 twin-turbocharged inline-six borrowed from the M3/M4, producing 405 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The standard transmission was a six-speed manual, although this particular car has the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe car being reviewed, however, is heavily modified.The owner has installed:An MHD engine tuneXHP transmission softwareAn MHD flex-fuel sensor and ethanol-content analyzerThe ability to run ethanol blendsApproximately E50 fuel during the reviewThe owner estimates the modified car produces roughly 600 horsepower at the wheels, with approximately similar torque-an enormous increase over the stock M2 Competition's output. Driving impressionsOne of the most striking aspects of the car is how normal it feels in its less aggressive settings. Despite the substantial increase in power, the suspension, exhaust and exterior remain stock, so the car doesn't feel excessively modified during ordinary driving. AdvertisementAdvertisementSwitching to Sport mode sharpens the steering and throttle response. Once the throttle is opened, however, the additional power becomes immediately obvious. The reviewer repeatedly notes that the car struggles for traction, even without using full throttle, but describes the experience as entertaining rather than frightening. The stock suspension remains compliant enough to handle rough pavement and railroad crossings without excessive harshness. The reviewer sees this as evidence that retaining the factory chassis setup was a good choice for a car that needs to remain usable on the street.The stock exhaust is also praised. It isn't excessively loud or filled with aftermarket-style pops and bangs, allowing the engine's sound to remain sporty without becoming obnoxious. Future modificationsThe owner says the next major modification could be converting the S55 from its factory twin-turbo setup to a single turbo. That change could provide another significant increase in power, depending on the boost level and configuration. Bottom lineThe review presents the F87 M2 Competition as a compact, relatively understated BMW M car that combines classic BMW styling with serious performance. Its conventional interior, physical controls and restrained exterior are contrasted favorably with the larger, more angular direction of newer M cars.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat makes this particular example unusual is the contrast between its nearly stock appearance and its roughly 600-wheel-horsepower modified S55. The car retains the factory suspension and exhaust, allowing it to remain surprisingly civilized during normal driving while delivering dramatically more performance when the throttle is opened. The transcript's overall theme is that the M2 Competition provides an unusually strong foundation for modification: compact dimensions, a powerful twin-turbo inline-six, rear-wheel drive, a sophisticated chassis and a relatively understated design.
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