BMW · 2016–2021 · track setup

M2 F87

The F87 M2 is a short, wide, punchy coupe that feels more playful than the bigger M3 and M4. The Competition brings the M4's twin-turbo S55 engine and more cooling airflow. On track, the original N55 car runs hot oil, and both versions need camber plates and rear geometry work to stop eating front tire shoulders.
Engine
3.0 L turbo inline-six (N55, 2016–2018); 3.0 L twin-turbo inline-six (S55, Competition)
Power
≈365 hp (M2); 405 hp (Competition)
Weight
≈3,450 lb (Competition, as tested)
Layout
Front-engine
Drive
RWD
Performance planner ↓

These are starting points gathered from the sources listed at the bottom, not a guarantee. Cars, tires and parts vary: have a reputable alignment shop set your car, check factory specs for road use, and change one thing at a time.

01On track

Strengths
  • +Short wheelbase and wide track make it agile and easy to rotate
  • +Strong turbo torque, especially in Competition form
  • +Takes a 275/35-18 square setup with modest camber
  • +Shares many chassis upgrades with the M3/M4, so parts are plentiful
Watch out for
  • −Original N55 car can reach limp-mode oil temperatures on track
  • −Front camber is not adjustable from the factory
  • −Factory rear adjusters cannot give ideal camber and toe at the same time
  • −Short wheelbase is less forgiving of abrupt inputs at high speed

02Alignment

Where to start the alignment.

Alignment · starting points
VIEWED FROM BEHIND · CAMBER EXAGGERATED ×3-3.3°FRONT L-3.3°FRONT R-2.5°REAR L-2.5°REAR R
FrontRear
Camber-3.0° to -3.5°-2.0° to -3.0°
ToeAbout 1/8" total toe-outAbout 1/8" total toe-in

No M2-specific track spec was found. This range is based on BimmerWorld's baseline for the related F-chassis 435i (-3.5° front with 1/8" total toe-out, -3° rear with 1/8" total toe-in), so start at the less aggressive end and adjust using tire temperatures. Rear values like these need adjustable toe arms, and more rear camber needs adjustable camber arms.

Sources [4,6,8]

03Tires & brakes

Tires and brakes

  • 200TW endurance
    • Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS
    • Yokohama Advan A052
    • Falken Azenis RT660+
    • Nankang Sportnex CR-S
    • BFGoodrich g-Force Rival S 1.5
    • Continental ExtremeContact Force
    265/35-18 or 275/35-18 square on 18x9.5" ET28/ET35; staggered 265/35-18 front with 285/35-18 or 295/35-18 rear

    The 2025 Tire Rack 200TW track test was run on a BMW M2 in 275/35-18, so its results map closely to this car: the RE-71RS was the overall winner, the Nankang CR-S showed very low wear, and the A052 was rated easy to drive hard.

    Sources [7,9]
  • Max-performance summer
    • Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
    265/35-18 or 275/35-18 square; 265/30-19 or 275/30-19 square
    Sources [7]
  • R-compound / slick
    • Goodyear Supercar 3R
    • Toyo Proxes R888R
    • Nankang AR-1
    • Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
    • Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
    265/35-18 or 275/35-18 square
    Sources [7]
Brake pads

BimmerWorld lists Performance Friction 08 (long track days) and 11 (sprints), and Carbotech XP8 (novice to advanced) and XP10 (advanced and instructor-level) race pads. Pick by session length and experience, and check fitment for your caliper.

Brake fluid

Castrol SRF (518°F wet boiling point) or Motul RBF 600/660 (about 400°F wet); use normal-viscosity fluid on track.

Run matched compounds front and rear. [10,11]

04Known issues on track

Fix these before they find you.

  • Oil temperatures (N55 M2)

    CSF reports that the 2016–2018 N55 M2 can see oil temperatures around 275–280°F on track, which triggers limp mode. Its larger drop-in oil cooler peaked at 240°F in its own hot-weather testing (manufacturer data). Fit an uprated cooler before track days in hot weather, and watch the oil temperature gauge. [3]

  • Crank hub (S55 Competition)

    The Competition uses the S55, the same engine family as the M3/M4. R44 Performance puts spun crank hubs at under 5% of S55 engines and fits a hub kit before adding power. [1,7,12]

  • Rear geometry limits

    The factory rear camber and toe bolts have a limited range, so you can have more rear camber or the right toe-in, but not both. Adjustable rear toe arms with a lockout kit for the factory eccentric fix this. [4,6]

05Modification roadmap

In the order that pays off.

  1. 0
    Safety & reliability first

    Safety and reliability first

    • Uprated oil cooler (N55 cars)Stops limp mode from cutting sessions short in hot weather.
    • Crank hub kit (S55 Competition, before tuning)Cheap insurance against a spun hub.
    • Track pads, high-boiling fluid and brake ductsStreet pads and fluid fade quickly on a 3,400 lb-plus car.
    • Seats and harnesses only with proper roll protectionNever fit harnesses without a roll bar or cage.
  2. 1
    Tires & alignment

    Tires and alignment

    • Square 18" wheels with 265 or 275 200TW tiresLighter, cheaper tires that can be rotated, and less understeer.
    • Front camber platesNo factory front camber adjustment; this is the biggest grip gain.
    • Adjustable rear toe armsSet rear camber and toe without compromise.
  3. 2
    Suspension & brakes

    Suspension

    • Lowering springs or coilovers, plus adjustable drop linksBetter body control; drop links restore geometry after lowering.
    • Solid front control arm bushesKeep front toe stable under braking for more precise steering.
    • Anti-roll barsTune balance once tires and alignment are sorted.
  4. 3
    Power & aero

    Power last

    • TuneOnly after cooling, brakes and chassis are ready for the extra heat and speed.

06Performance planner

What each upgrade is worth on this car.

Pick upgrades and see the estimated lap-time change on a reference circuit, how much margin your brakes and engine have late in a session, and which changes buy durability rather than speed.

Performance planner · M2 F87 (incl. Competition)Model estimate
Tires
Brake pads
Brake fluid
Brake cooling
Brakes
Alignment
Suspension
Differential
Weight
Power
Cooling
Oil system
Aero
1:48.19stock 1:48.19−0.0%

Reference circuit (fictional, 3.5 km). Late lap includes brake fade and heat derating once the system runs out of margin.

T1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8SPEED · your plan vs stock · top 128 mph
Brake fade marginFades
Engine heat marginDerates
Oil starvation riskLow
Tire life (relative)100%
Sensitivity · each upgrade alone vs stock (late lap)
  • R-compound tires−5.38%load ↑
  • 200TW endurance tires−2.67%load ↑
  • Street/track pads−0.90%durability ↑
  • Race pads−0.90%durability ↑
  • High-temp fluid−0.90%durability ↑
  • Brake cooling ducts−0.90%durability ↑
  • Big brake kit−0.88%durability ↑
  • Track alignment−0.85%
  • Coilovers + sway bars−0.71%
  • Splitter + wing−0.69%
  • Oil cooler + radiator−0.34%durability ↑
  • Lighter wheels + seat−0.20%
  • Limited-slip differential−0.11%load ↑
  • Oil system (baffles / accumulator)±0
  • Intake, exhaust, tune±0load ↑
This car’s roadmap below starts with: Uprated oil cooler (N55 cars) · Crank hub kit (S55 Competition, before tuning) · Track pads, high-boiling fluid and brake ducts · Seats and harnesses only with proper roll protection

Estimates from a simplified point-mass lap simulation of M2 F87 (incl. Competition) (3,451 lb, 365 hp) on a fictional circuit, with generic effects for each upgrade category. Good for comparing options on the same car, not for predicting your lap time. Real results depend on the driver, the exact parts, the track and the conditions. Durability starts lower on this car because of its known issues: heat.

Free printable setup sheet →

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-18. Summaries are TRACK’s own wording; follow the links for the original detail. Product and brand names belong to their owners.

  1. [1]2019 BMW M2 Competition road testMotorWeek · accessed 2026-10
  2. [2]2019 BMW M2Consumer Guide · accessed 2026-10
  3. [3]BMW F87 M2 (N55) Race-Spec Oil CoolerCSF · accessed 2026-10
  4. [4]BMW F87 M2 / M2 Competition Suspension Tuning GuideSuspension Secrets · accessed 2026-10
  5. [5]Vorshlag Front Camber Plates with OEM Perches - F80 M3 / F82 / F83 M4 / F87 M2 CompetitionEvasive Motorsports · accessed 2026-10
  6. [6]BimmerWorld Race Rear Adjustable Toe Arms - F8X M2/M3/M4, G8X M2/M3/M4BimmerWorld · accessed 2026-10
  7. [7]BMW F87 M2 Wheel & Tire Fitment GuideApex Race Parts · accessed 2026-10
  8. [8]What it took to give our 435i an alignment before SCCA Time TrialsGrassroots Motorsports · accessed 2026-10
  9. [9]2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test (summary of Tire Rack data)Tyre Reviews · accessed 2026-10
  10. [10]Race & Track Brake PadsBimmerWorld · accessed 2026-10
  11. [11]Brake FluidBimmerWorld · accessed 2026-10
  12. [12]How we turned our broken high mileage BMW F80 M3 into a track monsterR44 Performance · accessed 2026-10
Related platforms