M2 Competition upgrades: AutoSolutions shift kit and Ultimate Clutch Pedal
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- A review of the AutoSolutions shift kit and Ultimate Clutch Pedal for the BMW M2 Competition with manual transmission
AutoSolutions shift kits: www.autosolutions.net
Ultimate Clutch Pedal: www.ultimateclutchpedal.com
Thanks to TKX Performance for the expert installation: www.tkxperformance.com
GT4 photo credit: tracktimephotos.com
Music credit: Energy by bensound.com 
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Man being in the market for one of these this is great information. These were literally my sticking points so thank you. Might look into the dct a bit more. Can't believe I'm saying it
I'm with you--in retrospect, I would have probably done the DCT as well. It's likely much better for daily/local driving in stop and go traffic. Manual with the upgrades is great for autocross and winding country roads/canyon carving, but not the daily grind.
I am really glad that I watched this video since I have been looking for a well-engineered short shift kit for the M2 Comp. I currently own a manual Porsche 911 and feel the same disappointment as the host after test drove a brand new 2021 M2 Comp. I look ward to finding out other available short shift kits before I buy an M2 Comp.
I’ve got the exact same setup in my car! Amazingly short pedal travel now and shifter is precise and smooth. It all works so well that when I get into my e90 335 I think something is wrong with the drivetrain for the first couple shifts.
Try changing out the slave cylinder with a slave cylinder from the e9x. It'll remove the CDV which is built in to the slave cylinder. Just had it done and it really helped with the 1-2 shift.
Great recommendation-will look into it!
@@AutoPilotgogogo Great content, which shop did you work with to install?
@@aknatar8526 Thank you--TKX Performance in Huntington Station, NY
Best combo there is
Is the clutch pedal resting on the lower trim in the footwell? I've read a couple of reviews stating they had to make a cutout on the trim. I'm hoping it was just installation error.
Did you ever remove the CDV? Considering doing that on mine. I have the same wheels on order and I was unsure about the color choice at first. The combo looks fantastic - can't wait to get mine mounted.
I did, Ryan. It helped somewhat, particularly with the 1-2 shift balkiness. It’s still not perfect, however. In fact, the car is a bit more difficult to get going smoothly from a stop now that the CDV has been removed, especially when cold. This BMW manual will never be as accurate/smooth/intuitive as the manual in my GT4, but I’ve come to the conclusion that the M2C shines when driven in a spirited fashion. When the car is warm, traffic is light, and conditions allow you to shift at 4500-6000 rpm, it becomes remarkably smoother. It’s a car that loves smooth, curvy, open roads. Unfortunately, the daily work commute typically doesn’t offer these conditions. Wish I could use it more often in the settings it was made for. The strange thing about the GT4 is that it manages to shine on track and canyon roads, and also shifts smoothly at lower revs in daily traffic. Magic. I don’t know how Porsche does it. As for the APEX wheels, you’ll love them. Fit perfectly, well-made, and look so good!
100% understood your preference (agreed on the shifter height and 20 to 25% throw). I modified my old Integra GSR. Love the shifting action on that (used polyurethane bushings). Are you planning on a lightened flywheel as part of your recommendation as well ? I loved my light flywheel (not too light) on the GSR .
Hadn't thought about a lightened flywheel. Would be an interesting experiment, but I suspect it might make the car a bit too nervous/raw for the daily commute.
Yes, indeed if it's too light it becomes jerky not good for street. It may even stall on initial start up. I think a quarter to no more than a third lighter would be ideal. Thanks for your response. @@AutoPilotgogogo
*@AutoPilot what do you think about the $10 clutch stop vs the full clutch petal replacement? Apples & oranges comparison?*
I didn’t try the clutch stop, so I can’t comment from experience, but one advantage of the Ultimate Clutch Pedal is its adjustability for effort and position.
Thanks for this video. This may apply to the e90 m3 as well? I’m one day in since taking delivery and thinking my 987.1 cayman s is such a far better shifter hmm come to think of it has a factory short shift kit. Begs the question why doesn’t BMW offer this from factory, or option? Nice m2 cs enjoy
I’m sure it would help-see if AutoSolutions makes a kit for the E90. I had an E90 M3 several years ago and loved it. Such an epic engine. Mine was DCT, but I’m sure the feel of the stock manual transmission is similar to that of my current M2.
Question: does the M2C have auto rev match? If so, did the SSK or the UCP change any of the auto rev match? Thank you!
Yes it does have auto rev match. SSK and UCP had no effect on it. 👍
What wheel and tire combo are you running on your m2c? Specifics please?
APEX EC-7 wheels in anthracite finish:
19x9.5 ET28 front
19x10.5 ET45 rear
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires:
265/30-19 front
295/30-19 rear
More details and description of my wheel stud installation in this video: ruclips.net/video/QEbglCv6K7s/видео.html
Looks super notchy in the video - why no WOT pulls?
Notchy in a good, snick-snick way. Neglected to do a couple of full acceleration runs though the gears-something for a future video.
How do these affect your warranty? I assume because you leased it you'll swap the stock back in before you return the car?
Warranty should only be affected as pertains to parts directly impacted by the shift kit and clutch pedal. And I think BMW would be hard-pressed to claim that a transmission failure or clutch disk issue was caused by the shift kit or clutch pedal. As for end of lease, I may leave the parts installed, especially if the labor cost of switching back to the stock parts is equal to or more than what I could get for selling the aftermarket parts.
Which bushing did you get 95a, 80a, or 70a? Talking to Ronald now
80A--Urethane Bronze Front Bushing Upgrade
Hello, placed my order after watching your review, really seems to add a little something to the whole experience that I am really looking forward to. I did want to find out if you chose to upgrade the bushing and if so which one did you go with?
Glad to hear it. I think you'll really like the improved shift feel. I did the urethane bronze front bushing upgrade (80A).
AutoPilot great. I’m going with the 95a I think. Basically the downside I was told was that it would be louder but my car is already pretty loud anyways so I don’t mind it. But yes super excited. Ultimate clutch pedal on order as well. Again thanks for your thorough review.
@@AutoPilotgogogo so you went with the softest bushing in the front?
@@alexanderisawesome1 Are you asking about the shift kit bushing?
My manual M2 is the first manual I've ever owned. And I am struggling with the clutch pedal a little bit. The ultimate clutch pedal sounds like a good upgrade for me. And I'm also considering this short shift kid after your video. My one question though, is does it make driving the manual harder? Like is it easy to miss gears with a short shift kit or is it easy to miss the engagement point with the tighter clutch?
It's not you, it's the car. Seriously. I've been driving manual transmission cars since I was 15 years old, and this car makes me feel like a beginner. I'm not quite sure what it is, but my E46 330Ci wasn't this way, nor was my E60 545i. Both of those manuals were pretty smooth, if a bit long in throws. The ultimate clutch pedal definitely helps relocate the clutch pickup point closer to the floor, so there's no longer a ton of dead travel before the clutch engages all the way at the top of its travel. And the AutoSolutions short shift kit makes the shifter action feel a lot more mechanical and solid. It gets rid of the rubberiness and vagueness. Feels really good, and if anything it makes it easier to go from gear to gear--it's more precise. Definitely recommend it. Overall, though, even after both those upgrades, as well as doing the clutch delay valve delete recently, the car is still jerky with the 1-2 shift most times. I think it's just the transmission. My perspective did change a bit, though, when I took the car for an autocross day. It really shines and comes alive in that setting--it really rips. Rotates well, great power, a ton of fun. It's a side of the car you don't really get to see in day to day driving. The car in some ways becomes smoother with more aggressive driving and winding the engine out a bit before shifting. But its limits are high enough that you can't really do this on the street without being an idiot.
One final thought--don't ever drive a manual transmission Porsche Cayman, Boxster or 911, unless you plan on buying one right then. They're that good, especially the 981 GT4. So direct and mechanical yet smooth as silk--both shifting and clutch action. So good...
@@AutoPilotgogogo Hey have you made any progress toward a consistent 1-2 shift in hardware or driving style? Ive noticed the car likes to go into second if first is revved out to around 3500 rpm, but anything lower and the stupid thing bucks me
That’s the conclusion I’ve come to as well. 1-2 shift is much smoother at higher RPMs-4000 or 4500. Which is annoying on the morning commute or other times the car is not warmed up because you want to have some mechanical sympathy until it reaches temperature.
@@AutoPilotgogogoDoes the autosolutions kit come close to the Porsche feel?
@@thatscrazy1965 No, but it is a definite improvement over stock.
Hi - anything you would change since having it for the time your have had it?
It may sound like sacrilege, but I would actually strongly consider the DCT instead of the manual if I were to start over with the car again. That’s due to my personal situation of using the car as a daily driver in the crowded suburbs of NYC. The shift kit and clutch pedal upgrades are definitely worth it vs. the stock manual setup, but it’s just too hard to enjoy a manual transmission in heavy, stop and go traffic. I feel like I’m not coming close to experiencing the performance of the car given the constraints of a manual in dense traffic. If I lived in a less congested area with some nice, flowing, curvy roads, the manual would be a pleasure.
If I'm not mistaken you are located in NY, which shop do you go to for your shifter and clutch job?
TKX Performance in Huntington on Long Island--highly recommended.
@@AutoPilotgogogo thank you.
I appreciate this video, thanks, but as an owner of a 2021 M2 Comp with the manual transmission, I have no problem with the stock setup. I think it drives great. I'm not saying it couldn't be better, but it's pretty darn good from the factory. I'm not sure this kind of money and hassle for all these changes are worth it. Not for me anyway.
It's interesting. My views of the manual transmission in this car have changed over time. The short shift kit and UCP did make a difference, as did deleting the CDV. But overall I think a big part of my issue is that I can't drive the car on a daily basis the way it should be driven. My daily work commute is less than 3 miles, and doing errands around town on the weekends just doesn't do this car justice. On the rare occasion I can really drive it and stretch its legs, it starts to make sense again. As you probably know, it really comes into its element on smooth, curvy roads where you can wind it out and shift at higher rpms. The daily slog to work on rough roads in a cold car, shifting at 3000 rpm, is a drag. Interestingly, I daily drove a GT4 for a couple of years before picking up the M2C, and it actually behaved a lot better for the short drive to work--much smoother shifting and better behaved, even at low rpms and when cold. And when warmed up and on good, open roads, it was epic.
How does it help telling you which gear you are in to?
Because it’s tighter and more precise, with more defined gear detents, it assists with the feel or muscle memory of where the last shift occurred in the pattern-at least for me. 👍
I am planning ordering my M2C next month and I agree the shifter feel is sub par. It’s the only negative I took away from my test drive. What shop did you use to install the upgrades? I’m in Fairfield County, Ct. I seem to remember your not far from my location? Thanks
Great. I think you’ll love the car. I use TKX Performance in Huntington, NY, on Long Island, which would be a bit of a haul for you. Not sure about BMW independents in CT. I’ve had good experience with MotorworksWest in northern NJ-that may be closer to you.
Great fulsome review. The shift action of the M2C was a cause for hesitation in my recent test drive. It's great to see there is a solution. I test drove an Mcoupe with the autosolutions SSK and it shifted very well. I am still in the throes of debating getting either an M2C or a CPO 981 Cayman S or GTS, I've had 2 981S's in the past and so part of me wants something different (currently have a zf8 m240i which I am quite bored of), but part of me thinks once the novelty of the M2C wears off, I would prefer a 981S, which would offer a more lasting experience. Any thoughts as the owner of a GT4 and a M2c? this would be my only road car not used for daily commuting. I live in a large city with bad roads.
Glad you liked the review. Also glad to hear I’m not the only one bothered by the OEM M2C shifter. But you’ve had a Cayman before, so you know how good a shifter can be. I agree with your thinking that you may become bored with the M2C. When the new DME eventually gets unlocked by tuners, the car will be able to make big power, but obviously at the expense of voiding the warranty, unless you go with Dinan. I chose the M2C because it is my daily driver and I needed some degree of practicality to go with the fun. You’ll be using a car for a fun weekend driver, so I’d probably do a CPO 981 GTS. Since you’ve already had a Cayman S, a GTS would be a fun step up, and by going with the 981 you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful NA flat 6 that you can’t get anymore in the newer 718. 😃👍
@@AutoPilotgogogo cheers on the thoughts, as an occasional driver, 981 over M2C does seem relatively clear
nice. how much USD is the SSK ?
I lost the receipt when I migrated all of my email over a couple of years ago, but it's reasonably priced. He's a one-man show, making them himself for each order, and he does a really quality job. Highly recommended.
I am also surprised to find out that for as long as BMW has been making manual cars, they haven't been able to perfect it as Porsche does.
Yes--over the years I've had a manual E46 330Ci, a manual E60 545i, and now the manual M2 Comp, and none of them have had the amazing feel of the manual in my GT4.
@@AutoPilotgogogo Wonder if your GT4 exhibits the long gearing that has been reported by many car critics?
@@donovanh5679 It does, but I've learned to work around it. On the street, it means that you wish the gears were more closely spaced so you could work the shifter more often, and on track it creates some instances where you feel that upshifting results in being too low in the RPM range in that next gear, which makes you sit at a bit of a dead spot until the engine can spool back up again to the sweet spot in that next gear.
@@AutoPilotgogogo Interestingly enough, the British Evo car magazine selects M2 CS as its 2020 Evo Car of The Year over the Cayman GTS which ranks at 7th position. I believe the Cayman GTS shares the same trait of long gearing as the GT4, which probably contributes to the ranking. What I don't see is any complaint from Evo about the M2 CS's awkward shiting and long-travel pedal. I wonder if this is a difference in driving habits across the pond?
@@donovanh5679 Perhaps--they may also be wanting to reward BMW for what they see as a return to a true "M" car after all of these years of leaning toward luxury.
also did you remove the clutch delay valve
I didn’t. And that’s maybe why there’s still a bit of 1->2 jerkiness.
@@AutoPilotgogogo I agree the M2C isn't a very good shifter. I almost went with DCT for my M2CS until I found your review and backed it up with some real life trials in other M2's. One thing I would add I think its the final piece to your puzzle. I have the same shifter you do with the same bushings but couple with a Raceseng shift knob. It's a piece of art, feel great in the hand but most importantly is a taller / heavier knob. This actually helps the 1-2 shift and feels great while doing it. Thanks for the nice video I enjoyed it.
@@MW-uy3np What knob did you get? I was considering a Circuit Sphere or Cylinder
@@chrisbradley3224 yes the cylinder 100
does it make noise while in gear?
A rattling noise? No, not at all.
did you consider CAE?
Didn’t even know about them. Pricey stuff. Would be interested to see how they feel, but I do prefer to keep the overall OEM look.
How much did you spend ? Price break down?
$514 for AutoSolutions shift kit w bushing upgrade, $295 for ultimate clutch pedal, plus a couple hours of labor at my local race shop.
@@AutoPilotgogogo I bought the same set up for my 2020 m2,can’t wait! I know exactly what you are talking about shifting into 2nd gear, too.
Did the addition of the ssk or the ucp void your warranty?
I don't believe so
How exactly does one “get lost in the pattern?” I’ve never in any of my cars or motorcycles not known what gear I’ve been in or had to gear hunt. If you are getting lost you aren’t paying attention and don’t know your car.
Indeed, probably partly a function of not yet being familiar with the shifter in this particular car (and the gear ratios/expected speeds in each gear), and also not paying attention. The couple of times it happened, it was not being sure if I was in 5th or 3rd after cruising in traffic for a while. Definitely worsened by the vague, rubbery OEM shifter, though. Familiarity with the car and the much-improved shift kit have made all the difference. Interesting, though, that this doesn't happen in the GT4.
Buy a DCT like a real driver