G87 M2 Owner's First Mod Guide: Start Here Before Buying Anything

You just took delivery of a G87 M2. Before you start adding parts, read this. The aftermarket for the G87 is still maturing and there's a lot of noise around what's actually worth buying first.

What You're Starting With

The G87 M2 is one of the best handling cars BMW has made. 453hp, S58 engine, a chassis tuned for engagement rather than comfort, and a wheelbase short enough to make direction changes feel effortless. It's not perfect stock. The exhaust is too quiet for a car this energetic. The stock tires are adequate but not exciting. The suspension is tuned for broad appeal. All of these are fixable.

First Mod: Tires

If you didn't spec the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires or Cup 2 tires at order, upgrade tires before anything else. The G87 runs 245/35R19 front and 275/35R19 rear. These are manageable sizes that don't require a second mortgage for a quality set.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S: the right choice for an 80/20 street/track split. Great wet performance, outstanding dry grip, reasonable longevity. The PS4S set lets the chassis show you what it can do.

Cup 2 (or Trofeo R): if you track it more than twice a year, these are worth the cost. Shorter wet weather life but meaningfully faster in the dry.

Second Mod: Exhaust

The G87 stock exhaust is the biggest disappointment on the car. BMW tuned the S58 to be quiet and the character that the engine is capable of expressing is almost entirely suppressed.

The aftermarket for G87 catbacks is growing. Browse G87 M2 specific parts for current exhaust options. The principles are the same as for the G80/G82: valved system for daily use, quality motor-actuated valves, OEM mode integration if available for your preferred control method.

A proper catback on the G87 costs $1,800-$2,400 for stainless, $2,400-$3,400 for titanium. Do the exhaust before anything else on the performance side.

Third Mod: Carbon Fiber Aero

The G87 M2 has a clean aggressive exterior that responds well to carbon additions. The Carbon Fiber GTX Front Lip is the highest-impact single piece. It sharpens the front end visually and adds a modest amount of front downforce at speed.

Beyond the front lip, carbon mirror caps are a clean addition that tie into the black trim elements already on the car. The rest of the exterior carbon work depends on your aesthetic direction: OEM+ (subtle, factory-look carbon) versus a more aggressive track car aesthetic.

What to Skip for Now

Engine tune: meaningful on a G87 but requires downpipes to justify the cost. Save it for Stage 2 when you're ready to commit to downpipes, tune, and potentially intercooler as a package.

Coilovers: the factory adaptive suspension on the G87 is good. Unless you're tracking the car seriously (more than 5-6 days per year), it doesn't need upgrading for street use.

Interior carbon trim: it looks great but it's the last thing to add, not the first. Sort the driving experience mods before the cosmetic ones.