► AC Schnitzer’s take on the M240i
► Suspension, styling and engine tweaks available
► More liveable than you might expect
While you’d imagine the owner of a brand new £50,000 car would be pretty chuffed, the AC Schnitzer ACS2 proves that there’s no satisfying some people. Taking the already fast and fun BMW M240i as a base, the ACS2 sprinkles a bit more dynamism over the looks and driving experience.
The most obvious change is the adoption of lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres that perfectly fill the arches thanks to lower and stiffer suspension. A front splitter with roof and bootlid spoilers plus a quad exit exhaust system round out the external changes, with a thinner AC Schnitzer steering wheel, alloy pedals and metal shift paddles jazzing up the interior.
There’s also an engine upgrade that lifts power from 369bhp to 414bhp thanks to some electronic trickery. It’s not the cheapest power boost out there, but it does come with the peace of mind a three year or 100,000km engine warranty brings.
So, what does this one have?
Our test car gets all the cosmetic, suspension and exhaust work, but misses out on the power boost. AC Schnitzer’s UK representative commented that the standard engine was ‘fruity enough’ and given how much they overachieve when stuck on a dyno, he might have a point.
The engine fires with a little more fanfare than standard and there’s a bit more of a snarl when you’re on it. Thankfully AC Schnitzer hasn’t gone full Max Power, with the exhaust settling into the background at a cruise.
The new springs and shocks certainly firm up the ride, yet the dampers are perfectly matched to the coils. You get a far more detailed insight into the road’s topography, especially around town, but what you don’t get are any crashes, bangs or any suggestion that the ACS2 is out of its comfort zone. Even my 20-month-old son could snooze happily in his Isofix.
How does it handle the bends?
Very well indeed. Compared to a regular M240i, the ACS2 in keener to react to steering inputs and controls its body movements more tightly, giving a more agile feel to proceedings. The steering still isn’t particularly talkative, but the precise rack, ideal weighting and trustworthy front end still satisfy.
Traction is never an issue in the dry with the ACS2 simply firing off the line. Punch it out of a slower corner and you’ll feel a rear-bias to the four-wheel drive system, although you’d need to be seriously committed to properly unstick it. It’s certainly fair to say that the chassis should handle the additional power offered.
As for the rest of the driving experience, the ZF eight-speed auto does a fine job of selecting the right ratio while the (slightly wobbly) extended paddles make it easier to disagree with the computer. With strong and fade-resistant brakes, it’s a package that proves to be exceedingly good fun on the right road.
And the sensible stuff?
The 2 Series isn’t as compact as it once was, so the boot is surprisingly large and there’s plenty of width to the cabin. Rear legroom is tight, although there’s enough room for the aforementioned child seat if you wind the passenger seat forward a bit.
Interior quality is good and the infotainment is still class leading, if not quite as intuitive as the previous-generation iDrive. If you’d like a bit more detail, you can find it in our main BMW 2 Series review.
AC Schnitzer ACS2: verdict
While it’s easy for tuners to make production cars faster and more distinctive, retaining genuine everyday usability is a far harder nut to crack. AC Schnitzer clearly have a sledgehammer in a cupboard somewhere as the ACS2 certainly retains a sensible streak.
Given the improvements in handling and quality of the damping, we doubt many enthusiastic drivers will mind the firmer edge to proceedings. Even better, there’s still enough ride height to avoid wincing every time you come to a speedbump or steep driveway.
So where’s the rub? Engineering of this calibre doesn’t come cheap, with the full ACS2 pack costing around £20,000. We’d stick to the wheels and tyres, suspension and possibly engine mods to keep the spend below £15k.
