TRE TR87 Aero kit.

When the G87 M2 first hit the market, it was clear that its stock form left room for improvement on the track. We recognised this and set out to develop a comprehensive aerodynamic package that would not only enhance the car's aesthetic appeal but also serve purpose to increase downforce. The result? The TRE TR87 Carbon Fibre Body Kit, a meticulously crafted solution designed to unlock a greater potential of the G87 M2.

We wanted to create something with the TR87 kit that delivered not just at the shows and on the road, but also on the track. Now track performance was by no means the primary concern when it come to designing the kit. There are other kits out there that are more focused and likely better options. But the G87 M2 is a £60k+ car and it will spend the majority of its time on the road. We did not want to make an ‘everyday racecar’ kit. It needed to look mean on the road but then still be an asset on track (rather than just look good).

Design Philosophy: Form and Function in Perfect Harmony

The TR87 kit seamlessly blends design cues from the G-chassis family, the iconic F87 M2, and a focus on functional aerodynamics. Each component is sculpted to optimise airflow, generating downforce and improving stability at speed.

CFD Testing: Data-Driven Performance

To validate the kit's effectiveness, we tested it out using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. The results were impressive: the TR87 kit generates a substantial 108kg of downforce at 120mph, with a perfect 50/50 balance between the front splitter and rear wing. With the ability to alter the rear wing angle optimising towards a low drag co-efficent.

 

EBC Brakes Upgrade

Track enthusiasts know that the stock brakes on road cars can often be their Achilles' heel. The G87 M2 is no exception, with its factory brakes prone to overheating under the intense demands of track driving. To address this, we turned to EBC Brakes for a serious upgrade. EBC, a renowned name in braking technology, fitted the M2 with a high-performance package designed to handle the rigors of the track. Here's a breakdown of the key components:

• Two-Piece Floating Discs: Replacing the stock rotors, these discs are engineered to dissipate heat more effectively,reducing the risk of brake fade. The floating design allows for some movement, minimising stress on the mounting points.
• EBC Blue Stuff Pads: Designed for both road and track use, these pads offer excellent friction and fade resistance,ensuring consistent braking performance even during extended track sessions.
• Braided Brake Lines: Replacing the factory rubber lines, these braided steel lines offer improved pedal feel and feedback due to their resistance to expansion under pressure.

For M2 owners looking to maximise their track day experience, a brake upgrade like this is an investment worth considering. The ability to brake later and harder not only improves lap times but also increases safety and confidence on the track. With EBC's proven performance, The G87 M2 is now fully equipped to handle anything the track throws at it.

Swift Performance

With the uprated brakes fitted it was now time to fine tune the car for the track, so we headed to Swift Performance who specialise in track preparation, 4 wheel alignment, suspension/ brake upgrades, tuning, and restoration. Russell from Swift suggested we focus on improving the stability, feedback and alignment utilising the following parts.

 

Millway Motorsport Camber Plates

With stock camber being maxed out at around 2 degrees on the G87 M2, Swift Performance suggested we optimise for the track with greater camber adjustment when setting up the alignment. Solution: Millway motorsport camber plates. These offer up to 3-3.5 degrees of adjustment and are compatible with the OEM EDC dampers and control unit, resulting in:

• Increased grip & cornering stability: Larger contact patch during turns
• Reduced understeer: More balanced handling characteristics
• Tunability: Tailor camber to specific tracks & driving styles
• Track-focused performance: Exceed limitations of stock setup

MOTON Suspension Uniball kit

Replacing soft rubber with a solid connection: Upgrade to rose jointed front control arm bushings. The factory rubber bushings in your G87 M2 prioritise comfort over performance. On the track, this compliance translates into unwanted deflection under the intense forces of braking and cornering. This affects braking precision, steering feel ,and overall handling. Solution: The MOTON Suspension Uniball Kit replaces these rubber bushings with a rigid rose joint. This eliminates deflection, resulting in:

• Sharper Steering: Experience more immediate and precise steering response.
• Improved Feedback: Feel directly connected to the road surface for greater confidence and control.
• Enhanced Handling: Enjoy improved turn-in, braking, and overall predictability during high-performance driving.

Russell told us that this modification is also a drastic improvement on the F87 M2 and should translate well to the G87 M2.

Hardrace adjustable toe arms

When dialling in the camber adjustment you also need to adjust the toe, which is easily exceeded from factory on the G87 M2. Toe arms with wider adjustment than factory will ensure the inwards / outward alignment of the rear wheels will be optimised for track straight-line and cornering grip. Solution: Hardrace adjustable rear toe arms replaces the OE toe arms with more adjustability and rose jointed links, resulting in:

• Optimised Toe Adjustment: Fine-tune toe settings beyond factory limitations for improved track performance.
• Enhanced Straight-Line Stability: Minimise unwanted toe changes during acceleration and braking for a more predictable and stable feel.
• Improved Cornering Grip: Precisely adjust toe for balanced handling and maximised traction through corners.
• Increased Adjustability: Rose jointed links offer a wider range of adjustment compared to stock toe arms.
• Durability & Performance: Upgraded materials and construction ensure long-lasting performance on and off the track.

Alignment

Jack's G87 M2 alignment is set up for aggressive track use, prioritising turn-in and traction under acceleration. Here's a breakdown of the benefits of this setup over the stock alignment:

Front:

• 3.1 degrees camber: This increases the contact patch of the tyres during cornering, leading to improved grip and cornering stability.
• Increased toe out: This helps the car turn in more quickly and smoothly.

Rear:

• 2.1 degrees camber: This provides a balance between grip and stability under acceleration.
• Toe in: This helps the rear wheels track together, which improves traction under acceleration.

Overall, this alignment setup provides a car that is well-suited for aggressive track driving. The increased front-end grip allows faster cornering and with more confidence, while the rear-end setup provides the traction needed to put the power down effectively.

It's important to note that this alignment setup is not suitable for everyday street driving. The increased camber will lead to uneven tire wear, and the toe out will make the car less stable at high speeds. If you're looking for an alignment setup that can be used for both street and track driving, you'll need to find a compromise between the two.

AUTOID highly recommends Swift Performance as the go to for any track preparation and performance based work on your BMW M car. Owners Tim & Russ worked a staggering 14 years together as BMW technicians, offering as much care on their customer cars as their own.

Visit Swift Performance

 

 

How does the G87 M2 feel after the track modifications? Jack's thoughts.

Brakes

'The upgraded discs, combined with the upgraded pads, fluid and lines have created a more consistent and reassuring feel under braking. The relationship between brake pressure and brake performance is dialled right in. The pads, on track, were exceptional - the performance improved as the laps went on, with no fade whatsoever. Genuinely really impressive'

 

Handling upgrades & Alignment 

'The car is completely transformed now. The Moton Bushes have made a noticeable difference in steering feel, with a notable amount of vibration and feedback coming through the wheel that wasn’t there before. With the front camber and rear toe dialled in, traction out of corners is sensational. The car feels like it’s on rails, it questions the need for a 4WD option for this car and supports BMWs decision not to do it. The overall feel of the car now is one of a complete package.

Combined with a track focused alignment with additional camber and toe-out. This is then taken one step further with M4 CSL coding to the steering - this removes any dead spots within the steering and again, enhances the overall experience. Each of these small mods, combine to make a dramatic difference in the experience of the car. I cannot overstate, this car feels incredible to drive - my favourite shop car by far.'

 

Areeve Tuning Box

'The Areeve tuning box was faultless. I’ll be honest, I did have a little nervousness around this as I was unsure how the engine would enjoy a piggy-back tune when being pushed to the absolute limit on track.

We usually recommend the tuning box being perfect for road, and recommend a full tune for track cars. I needn’t be worried. The box didn’t skip a beat. The power delivery was perfect, the way the power has been tuned - the smoother power and torque curves - make the pedal incredibly predicable and you feel the car wanting to work with you.

I have full confidence in pushing out of corners knowing I am not going to be surprised with a lump of turbo lag or twitchy throttle response.'

 

MSS Hybrid Adjustable Suspension

'The MSS Hybrid Adjustable suspension is a bit of an Apple-esque “it works like magic” moment. When you’re on the road, in comfort mode and poodling around, the car genuinely feels like a 5 series. Then you switch it to Sports Plus. And you put some energy into the corners and lean on the car, it’s completely solid. I still do not fully understand how, you need to drive the car to experience it.

You can run out wide, run the curbs without loosing teeth; you can push into the corners remaining flat and level. Yes, the kit has its limitations - you lack the proper tune-ability that comes with coilovers; and honestly, they are an expensive kit (close to coilovers in price). They make a great one size-fits-all solution: Perfect for people not looking to change to full blown coilovers, but want something more than standard lowering springs.'

 

Yokohama AD09:

'The AD09s have been spoken about at length by reviewers. They make a great daily driving tyre with surprisingly excellent wet-traction for what is essentially a semi-slick tyre. Once you switch them on, and get some heat into them, you somehow unlock performance which is beyond anything I’ve seen from a PS4s or even a Cup2. Genuinely very impressive and even more so knowing their price point.'

 

What would you change for the next track day?

'For the next track day I will most likely be doing a driver mod. I need to scrub up on my own skills and improve my seating position…'

 

How does our G87 M2 compare to our G80 M3 on track?

'Comparing to the G80, which had a noticeable amount of understeer compared, the M2 was the car to have. Obviously the M3 was essentially as it was out of the box, with stock tyres and eibach front lowering springs - the M2 was dialled in specifically for the track day.'

 

Watch us take our G87 M2 on track:

 

Was it worth it?

As demonstrated in our recent video above, the TRE TR87 kit, Swift Performance tuning and EBC brake upgrade transforms the G87 M2's on-track behaviour. The suspension and geometry set up from Swift and the big brake kit from EBC as a package came together, allowing Jack to push harder into corners and maintain stability under braking. The balanced downforce distribution from the TR87 kit and alignment translates to a more neutral yet sharper handling feel, reducing understeer and allowing for smoother transitions between turns.

The G87 M2 feels more planted and predictable, with improved responsiveness and feedback. These upgrades enhance the performance but also amplifies the driving experience, creating a deeper connection between driver and machine.

The AUTOID TR87 is a testament to the power of thoughtful design and engineering. By combining form and function, AUTOID has created a package that not only elevates the G87 M2's appearance but also unlocks its potential as a track-focused machine. Whether you're a seasoned track veteran or a weekend warrior, the TR87 as a package offers a compelling upgrade path for those seeking to maximise the performance and enjoyment of their G87 M2.