Model Focus
The modern compact M car that still feels intentionally small.
The F87 M2 is the clean bridge between the older analog BMW M cars and the newer turbo era: short wheelbase, rear-drive balance, usable modern hardware, and a market that still reacts strongly to spec and mileage.
Visual details
Why enthusiasts love it
Common issues
5 key facts
Engine
N55 or S55 turbo inline-six
Gearbox
6-speed manual or DCT
Output
365 hp to 444 hp
Body style
Compact coupe
Market lane
Modern compact M benchmark
Positioning
The F87 matters because it resisted the size creep that affected so many modern performance cars. It still reads like a compact M coupe first and a tech product second.
Buyer relevance now
That makes spec especially important. Transmission, seat choice, wheel finish, factory color, and whether the car is a base M2, Competition, CS, or later heavily modified build all change the buying lane quickly.
Engine split
Early M2 cars carry the N55 and a slightly simpler, friendlier personality. Competition and CS variants move to the S55 and bring a more serious modern M tone with different market expectations.
Buyer relevance now
VINthusiast should eventually split these variants more cleanly, because the market already does. A clean manual N55 car is not interchangeable with a Competition or CS just because the body looks similar.
Why it belongs here
The F87 keeps the formula legible: compact coupe, serious rear-drive chassis, usable manual option, and enough production that buyers can still compare real examples instead of shopping one-off unicorns.
Buyer relevance now
That makes it a natural next BMW M model for VINthusiast once source depth holds up. It is modern enough to attract search traffic and familiar enough to connect with the current enthusiast audience.
Variant split
The F87 market only makes sense when you split the original N55 M2, the S55-powered Competition, and the later CS. They share the same broad shape, but buyers do not shop them as interchangeable cars.
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Base car
Original M2
N55-powered car with the friendlier, earlier F87 character
365 hp and the cleanest link to the launch identity of the model
Long Beach Blue, manual, and lightly modified cars sit in their own lane
S55 step-up
M2 Competition
S55 engine, new seats, and a noticeably more serious modern-M tone
Different front-end details and more aggressive spec expectations
The market treats Competition cars as a separate comp set from the N55 cars
Collector peak
M2 CS
Most focused and most expensive F87, with sharper collector pressure
Lighter, more limited, and much more sensitive to originality and file quality
Should be compared against other CS cars first, not against ordinary M2s
Color guide
The dedicated guide is where the brochure-style palette work lives: exterior colors, interior trims, notable combinations, and the original factory brochure when we have it.
That matters because buyers rarely compare cars as blank used inventory. They compare them against the factory identity they already have in their head.
Signature details
Detail 1
CS cockpit and dashboard
Detail 2
CS engine bay
Detail 3
CS front detail
Model History
The F87 M2 became the modern BMW M car that older-M buyers could still embrace without much translation.
It sits in a useful market lane because inventory exists, spec matters, and the enthusiast narrative is already well defined.
This is also one of the clearest future growth models for VINthusiast because it brings real listing volume without losing enthusiast specificity.
Technical Specs
Engine family
N55 or S55 turbo inline-six
Output
365 to 444 hp depending on variant
Transmission
6-speed manual or DCT
Layout
Rear-drive compact coupe
Variants
Base, Competition, CS
Market note
Modern high-volume enthusiast M
Equipment Checklist
The model page should explain the car at a high level. The deeper factory-equipment guide breaks down what came standard, what could be ordered, and which details buyers actually care about when comparing real cars today.
Open factory equipment guideSeparate original M2, Competition, and CS cars before comparing prices.
Check whether the car still wears the correct factory seats, wheel design, and brake setup for its variant.
Treat manual versus DCT as a primary market split, not a minor preference.
Look carefully for tuning, downpipes, exhaust swaps, and suspension changes because modified F87s are common.
Production Context
The F87 is not rare in the way an E30 or Z8 is rare. Its value comes from variant layering, transmission split, and how the market separates base M2, Competition, and CS cars.
Core variants
M2, M2 Competition, M2 CS
Transmission split
Manual and DCT
Buyer lens
Variant-specific, spec-sensitive
Buyer Checklist
Separate base M2, Competition, and CS cars before doing any comp work.
Check whether the car is manual or DCT first, because buyers filter that immediately.
Treat modifications carefully; the market can support tasteful builds, but stock or lightly modified cars remain easier to value.
Look for brake, tire, cooling, and regular service discipline instead of just low-mileage marketing.
Service Cadence
Regular fluid service and tire/brake upkeep matter because many cars were actually driven hard.
Turbo-era BMW maintenance should read preventive, not reactive.
Modern mileage alone is not enough; the file needs to match the way these cars are used.
Documentation Signals
Strong signals
Clear variant identification with stock or well-documented reversible modifications.
Consistent BMW specialist or high-quality independent service history.
Ownership story that explains how the car was used and maintained.
Caution signals
Competition or CS pricing attached to a weak file or vague spec description.
Heavy tuning without supporting mechanical records.
Low-mileage pitch with little proof of ongoing maintenance.
CARFAX / service-file lens
A clean history report is helpful, but it is not enough on its own. The buyers who pay strong money for this model want service cadence, specialist invoices, and proof that the expensive known items were addressed at believable mileage intervals.
Current Listings
2016 • F87
Orlando, FL
$9,963
2016 • F87
Rockville Centre, NY
$12,987
2017 • F87
Old Bridge, NJ
$13,417
2018 • F87
Newark, NJ
$13,895
2018 • F87
Newark, NJ
$14,987
2021 • F87
Fort Lee, NJ
$15,295
2020 • F87
Queens Village, NY
$15,988
2021 • F87
Medford, NY
$17,043
2021 • F87
Jersey City, NJ
$17,995
2016 • F87
Atlanta, GA
$18,142
2020 • F87
Levittown, NY
$18,195
2016 • F87
Red Bank, NJ
$18,995
2020 • F87
Little Ferry, NJ
$19,970
2020 • F87
Greenwich, CT
$19,985
2020 • F87
Huntington, NY
$19,995
2020 • F87
Green Brook, NJ
$20,490
2021 • F87
Hillside, NJ
$20,595
2021 • F87
Old Bridge, NJ
$21,195
2017 • F87
Danbury, CT
$21,804
2021 • F87
North Plainfield, NJ
$21,994
2021 • F87
Lewisville, TX
$25,350