Best Bolt-On Mods for BMW M2 Competition & CS (2019-2021)

The best bolt-on mods for the 2019-2021 BMW M2 Competition and M2 CS are a titanium exhaust, a cold-air intake, a piggyback tune, coilovers, and race brake pads — the same five upgrades our Tampa shop installs most on the F87 chassis. The M2 Competition is a rear-wheel-drive sport coupe powered by the S55 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six, the same closed-deck engine BMW put in the F80 M3 and F82 M4. That shared hardware is why the M2 responds so well to bolt-ons: the S55 leaves real, dyno-proven power on the table from the factory. In this guide we break down the parts that actually move the needle, with the specific horsepower, torque, weight, and price numbers you need to build a smarter M2.

Why the BMW M2 Competition and M2 CS Are the Best Mod Platforms BMW Ever Built

The 2019-2021 BMW M2 Competition replaced the original N55-powered M2 and brought the S55 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six from the M3 and M4. In stock form it makes 405 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and 406 lb-ft of torque from 2,350 rpm, hitting 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds with the 7-speed DCT (4.4 seconds with the 6-speed manual). It weighs roughly 3,600 lb, rides on a short 106-inch wheelbase, and carries a near-50/50 weight balance — the recipe that makes it the enthusiast favorite of the modern M lineup.

The 2020-2021 M2 CS is the hardcore send-off: the same S55 turned up to 444 horsepower, a carbon-fiber roof, hood, and mirror caps that shave close to 100 lb, standard Adaptive M Suspension, and available Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Both cars share the same forged-crank, closed-deck S55 block, which is why the parts in this guide fit the Competition and the CS interchangeably. Because the factory tune is conservative, a few bolt-ons and a piggyback module unlock power the engine was already built to handle.

This matters because the S55 was engineered with real headroom. Its forged crankshaft, closed-deck block, and twin mono-scroll turbochargers were designed to survive the higher outputs of the F80/F82 M3/M4 Competition, so the M2's 405 hp leaves boost and timing on the table. That is the difference between the older N55-powered 2016-2018 base M2 (365 hp, single turbo) and the Competition: the S55 rewards airflow and boost mods far more predictably. It is why a simple intake, exhaust, and boost module return dyno gains you can feel from the seat, not just read on paper.

At our Tampa, FL shop we build F87 M2s every week, and the pattern is always the same: owners want more sound, more midrange punch, and sharper turn-in without turning a daily driver into a race car. The five categories below — exhaust, intake, tuning, suspension, and brakes — are the upgrades that deliver exactly that, in the order they give the most return per dollar.

Best Exhaust for the BMW M2 Competition: Akrapovic Slip-On Line (Titanium)

The best exhaust for the BMW M2 Competition and CS is the Akrapovic Slip-On Line in titanium. It is a direct-fit rear muffler replacement (part S-BM/T/3H) that bolts to the factory mid-pipe, so there is no cutting and no check-engine light. Because it is cast and formed from lightweight titanium, it removes more than 45% of the stock muffler weight — unsprung, rearward weight you feel in how eagerly the tail rotates. The included carbon-fiber tailpipes sharpen the S55 note through the mid and upper rev range while Akrapovic's tuning keeps cruising RPM free of the boomy drone that plagues cheaper cat-backs.

In our Tampa shop, the Akrapovic is the exhaust M2 Competition owners come back happiest about — the recurring feedback is that it sounds race-car serious under throttle yet stays quiet enough to daily without droning on I-275. Across the F87 community the same theme holds: enthusiasts value the titanium weight loss and the way it complements the S55's snarl without setting off fault codes. If you only ever do one modification to your M2, this is the one that changes the car's character the most.

Best Bolt-On Power: aFe Scorcher Module and Injen Cold-Air Intake

The fastest way to add real horsepower to an M2 Competition is a piggyback tuner plus a high-flow intake. The aFe Scorcher Bluetooth Power Module optimizes turbo boost pressure across the rev range and delivers a dyno-verified +32 horsepower and +44 lb-ft of torque without touching or leaving a trace on the factory ECU — you can dial power levels from your phone and revert to stock before a dealer visit. The Injen Evolution cold-air intake adds a further +22 horsepower and +27 lb-ft on the S55 with its sealed roto-molded airbox and dry SuperNano-Web filter. Run together, these two bolt-ons stack more than 50 crank horsepower onto a stock M2 Competition or CS.

Best Suspension: Ohlins Road & Track Coilovers vs. ST Adjustable Springs

The best handling upgrade for the M2 Competition is a coilover system, and the Ohlins Road & Track is our top pick for a street-and-track F87. It uses Ohlins' DFV (Dual Flow Valve) damping technology for a compliant street ride that firms up predictably under load, with full ride-height adjustment to set corner balance and kill fender gap. Owners who want the drop and improved body control without full coilovers can run the ST Adjustable Lowering Springs, which give a height-adjustable spring perch on the factory dampers for roughly a third of the coilover price. For serious track alignment, add the SPL Parts front lower control arms to recover the front camber the F87 needs to put its wide Michelins to work.

Best Brakes: EBC RP-1 Race Front Pads for Track-Day M2s

The M2 Competition ships with strong M compound brakes, but a hard track session on stock pads will overheat and fade them. The EBC Racing RP-1 front pads use a full-race friction compound rated for the extreme temperatures of open-lapping days and time attack, holding a firm pedal where street pads go soft. They are the direct upgrade for owners who take their M2 or CS to the track and want repeatable braking corner after corner. Pair them with fresh high-temp fluid, and the S55's speed becomes something you can lean on into every braking zone.

BMW M2 Competition and CS Upgrade Comparison

Here is how the top M2 Competition and CS bolt-ons compare by category, headline benefit, and price. Every part below is in stock at NLP Performance and fits the F87 S55 chassis.

How to Stage Your BMW M2 Competition Build

For most F87 owners we recommend building in three stages so each dollar counts. Stage 1 (sound and response): start with the Akrapovic titanium exhaust and the Injen intake — instant character and a cleaner top end. Stage 2 (power): add the aFe Scorcher module to bank +32 hp and +44 lb-ft, taking a stock-turbo M2 Competition into the 470–500 crank-hp range on pump gas. Stage 3 (chassis and stopping): finish with Ohlins or ST suspension, SPL control arms for camber, and EBC RP-1 brake pads so the M2 can use every bit of that new power on a canyon road or a track day. Build it in that order and you never pay for a part that outruns the rest of the car.