The BMW G87 M2 xDrive challenge is formally underway! For these of you who’re unaware, we’ve teamed up with Tom Wrigley Efficiency to show our Papaya Orange BMW G87 M2 right into a 1400 whp+ xDrive-converted monster to take to Texas 2K25 and be aggressive amongst a few of the quickest BMWs on the planet. There’s loads of work to be performed between now and subsequent April together with an entire OEM xDrive swap, full engine & gearbox construct with our single-turbo package and doubtlessly even some customized bodywork and inside modifications.
This week, the proficient technicians at Tom Wrigley Efficiency take away the engine and drivetrain so we are able to assess precisely what elements might be wanted and what alterations we have to make to transform the G87 M2 to xDrive.
The best way I simply stated “eliminated the engine and drivetrain” made it sound like a reasonably easy process. It’s a really systemised and routine job for the fellows at Tom Wrigley Efficiency. Nevertheless, it is no simple feat for the common mechanic who doesn’t have years of BMW predominant seller information and expertise.
WHY XDRIVE SWAP THE M2?
However, earlier than we get into the teardown, it’s possible you’ll be questioning why we’re xDrive-swapping an M2 within the first place. Apart from, BMW made the G87 to be the smaller, extra nimble and fascinating driver’s automotive. Isn’t rear wheel drive the right setup?
The reply, merely, is traction. If we’re aiming to make this one of many quickest BMWs on the planet with upwards of 1400+ bhp, a rear wheel drive format simply couldn’t switch all that energy to the street, particularly from a dig within the quarter mile. Rear wheel drive could also be okay for 100-200kph/60-130mph occasions however not drag racing at this stage of energy.
You’ll have seen the quickest BMW from Texas 2K24 earlier this yr was a 1500 bhp G42 M240i with 1 / 4 mile time of seven.9 seconds with the xDrive setup and drag tires enjoying a serious function in reaching these ridiculous occasions – Constructed by Store CT.
1500HP AWD G42 M240i – 7.9 1/4
I can already sense lots of you considering “then, why not simply begin with a G82 M4 xDrive or G42 M240i”?
There are just a few causes for this…
Primary is the truth that the G87 is barely lighter than the G82. Solely circa 30-50kg (spec-dependent) however each little helps. Secondly, there might be no different M2 prefer it. As an organization and as lovers, we simply wish to create one thing distinctive. We’re unlikely to seek out sufficient individuals loopy sufficient to begin retailing G87 M2 xDrive packages. This can be a problem to indicate what ourselves and Tom Wrigley Efficiency can obtain.
Anyway, again to the construct.
After first getting the automotive up on the ramp, the underside and drivetrain all seemed comparatively much like the opposite G8X autos. One thing we seen instantly was that the propshaft would have to be a good bit shorter than the one you’d discover on a G82. The drive flange on the again of the transmission additionally gave the impression to be a distinct design which might be a hurdle to beat. The one option to inform for certain was to drop the engine and gearbox out of the automotive to have a more in-depth look.
Rob, ex-BMW predominant seller tech & normal BMW wizard, jumped on the pc to make a buying record of recent bits we’d want in addition to gadgets that already cross over from rear wheel drive to xDrive vehicles.
One thing fascinating Rob identified from the get-go: the entrance anti-roll bar is similar on the rear wheel drive M2 and the G82 M4 xDrive. This both means BMW is cost-saving by having just one half quantity OR this might be a clue that BMW plans on releasing an xDrive model of the M2 sooner or later, probably the M2 CS. The latter wouldn’t be nice for us so we higher get cracking and beat BMW to it.
Components that we wanted for the xDrive swap embody new entrance hubs, shocks, suspension arms, drive shafts, a entrance prop shaft, an xDrive steering rack + arms + observe rod ends, steering column, backing plate, entrance differential, new arch liners with area for the brand new entrance driveshafts in addition to numerous sensors and {hardware}.
Along with that, we wanted a brand new ZF HP76 gearbox and naturally the switch case for xDrive. We have been hoping that we might connect the switch case to our current rear wheel drive gearbox as xDrive vehicles use the identical 8-speed ZF HP76 unit. Sadly, the design of the drive flange is totally different on the rear-wheel drive HP76, which means you’d both have to switch it or swap the transmission fully. We opted to swap it fully as we already had an entire donor drivetrain from a G82 M4 xDrive. We might then hold the present mechatronics unit already coded to our G87 and put that into the brand new gearbox.
To place it merely, we’d be taking the mind (mechatronics unit) from our unique rear wheel drive gearbox and placing it within the new xDrive gearbox. The mechatronics is already pre-coded to our automotive so there’s nothing to fret about on that entrance. What we might want to code, nonetheless, is the switch case however we’ll cross that bridge at a later date.
In round 90 minutes, the fellows at Tom Wrigley Efficiency had the engine and drivetrain out of the automotive. They like to drop the entire thing out as one unit to make issues simpler for them.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?
With the engine and gearbox now out of the automotive (sure, we discovered it fairly painful to see our 1-year-old G87 M2 on this state), the fellows started the xDrive swap together with putting in the brand new entrance suspension elements and giving just a few different elements a refresh with model new OEM elements.
The following step is to get the brand new xDrive working gear and engine again within the automotive and see what number of wheels determine to show. Undoubtedly there might be some form of critical problem because the conversion has gone too easily for us thus far.
I do know lots of you can be desirous to know whether or not our efforts have been a hit or an enormous waste of time however you’ll have to attend till the subsequent episode of the sequence. A few large ‘unknowns’ for us nonetheless are the entrance prop shaft and coding the switch case which can probably require some specialist assist.
It’s vital to notice that we don’t know anybody who has efficiently xDrive-converted a G87, which means we’re figuring the whole lot out as we go alongside. We’ve seen many individuals on boards saying it isn’t even attainable.
If you wish to see a distinct angle of the construct, be at liberty to take a look at EP.1 and a pair of of our latest docu-series on YouTube.
EP.1 The place all of it Began?
EP.2 The right way to construct an xDrive G87 M2 https://youtu.be/UCmp8qlaRmU
Final edited by R44 Efficiency; 05-13-2024 at 12:15 PM..
