Went and drove a couple M235i's

[Matticus91]

Happened to have some time to kill near my BMW dealer today so I took a couple cars out. Here's my (very) brief review in comparison to my current 135. Please note that I'm not a pro, just an enthusiast and this is my unbiased opinion having no idea what to expect before sitting in either car.


2016 BMW M235i X-Drive (auto trans, blue one below): MSRP: $51,500 (decently optioned)

1. Great traction on launch
2. Wonderful sounds on upshifts
3. In Sport+ mode the trans was actually pretty decent and would downshift at pretty respecible points.
4. Corners are almost too easy, yet the car felt heavy with the AWD
5. Steering is LIGHT.

2016 BMW M235i (rwd w/ manual trans, grey one below): MSRP: $50,030 (loaded)

1. Gearbox felt great, missed my classic perforated shifter (very picky comment lol)
2. Felt great in the corners, could feel the front not pulling like the X-Drive but this is my personal preference
3. Loaded version didn't feel me wanting anything extra, and didn't feel too heavy.

Not specific to either of the ones I drove:

1. Car feels "tighter" as it should being 3 years newer
2. Good quality materials, I think the leather is a step up from the boston leather in 135's
3. HK sounded more balanced from the factory
4. Ride/Traction options more plentiful and customizable
5. Comfort is great, no complaints on head room (I'm 6'3" and I think you'd have to be 6'6"+ to have issues)

My take-away from the drives: At the price points of these cars and considering what's included and what isn't, I could not justify making the switch from my '13 135i to a M235i. However, for only a few grand more the M2 starts around $55,000 and you get all of the fun options plus more, like better brakes and a real LSD. So if I were to be making this call right now I think I'd feel a little dumb not going for the M2, despite the current wait.

20160523_111856 by Matt Steele, on Flickr

20160523_111908 by Matt Steele, on Flickr

20160523_112715 by Matt Steele, on Flickr

And a pic from actual heaven:

20160523_112708 by Matt Steele, on Flickr

[Esteban]

Then there's the M240i (replaces the M235i), which will be available shortly with the B58 engine, making 335hp and 369lb-ft of torque.

[ShocknAwe]

B58 will be the first real contender with the N54. Damn shame they didn't put it in the M2, honestly.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Then there's the M240i (replaces the M235i), which will be available shortly with the B58 engine, making 335hp and 369lb-ft of torque.

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

B58 will be the first real contender with the N54. Damn shame they didn't put it in the M2, honestly.

Yeah the 240 and B58 will certainly be interesting but AFAIK the 240 will be the same options as the 235, so still lacks all the extra goodies otherwise and just gets the power bump. Admittedly more tempting than the M235 but is it worth it?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

B58 will be the first real contender with the N54. Damn shame they didn't put it in the M2, honestly.

Yes, this looks to be a worthy replacement for the N55. Agree that BMW should've waited a bit and put it in the M2.

This new engine produces the same performance levels as the sought after 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe.

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1262859

[Schalldampfer1]

The 240 will be really crazy with tuning. So far on a 340i with a JB4 and intake only, they dyno'ed at around 400 wheel! With DP's and e85/100 oct it should be even crazier!

[Cavpilot2k]

Yeah, I drove the 235 when my 135 lease was ending and wasn't impressed enough to make the switch and pay the extra premium, so I bought another 135. I plan to drive this car until the wheels fall off and the plan WAS to go M2 at that time (in a few years when it becomes widely available).
That is until a few days ago when the 240 specs came out. For DD duty, the 240 is incredibly compelling ad will probably be my next car in 3-5 years (assuming, of course, that I can bring myself to give up my beloved 1er).

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Yes, this looks to be a worthy replacement for the N55. Agree that BMW should've waited a bit and put it in the M2.

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1262859

I agree, people will be complaining about the M2 missing this for sure.

Originally Posted by Schalldampfer1

The 240 will be really crazy with tuning. So far on a 340i with a JB4 and intake only, they dyno'ed at around 400 wheel! With DP's and e85/100 oct it should be even crazier!

That is pretty sweet, and makes sense considering numbers produced with the N55 and JB4. I'm curious to see what its limits are like on the stock engine/turbo.

Originally Posted by Cavpilot2k

Yeah, I drove the 235 when my 135 lease was ending and wasn't impressed enough to make the switch and pay the extra premium, so I bought another 135. I plan to drive this car until the wheels fall off and the plan WAS to go M2 at that time (in a few years when it becomes widely available).
That is until a few days ago when the 240 specs came out. For DD duty, the 240 is incredibly compelling ad will probably be my next car in 3-5 years (assuming, of course, that I can bring myself to give up my beloved 1er).

Giving up the 1ers is never easy!

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Cavpilot2k

Yeah, I drove the 235 when my 135 lease was ending and wasn't impressed enough to make the switch and pay the extra premium, so I bought another 135. I plan to drive this car until the wheels fall off and the plan WAS to go M2 at that time (in a few years when it becomes widely available).
That is until a few days ago when the 240 specs came out. For DD duty, the 240 is incredibly compelling ad will probably be my next car in 3-5 years (assuming, of course, that I can bring myself to give up my beloved 1er).

I'm with you on the M235i. I've test driven it 3 times now and also was just not that impressed. The numbers on the new M240i are better, and the M2 seems to be a pretty great car. But my 1er is just where I want it now, plus I like it's looks much more than the 2 series, even the M2. I'm keeping my 135i for the long haul, but who knows, maybe one day I'll add another car. Maybe an M car.

[3ics]

I "only" have a 128 and sat in a 228i today while I was in for service. I have not had a chance to drive the 235s, but based on the press, it seems like a great package. I did a BMW event last year and tossed a 228 around on a track and really had a good time and walked away impressed.

But the one quality that I really like about the 1 series is the simplicity of the interior. I don't want a ton of buttons on the dash, don't need a navigation screen etc. The old "stark" interiors seem much nicer than the newer BMW interiors.

Ok... enough ranting.... Now I'm like the old man yelling at the clouds... Lol

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by 3ics

I "only" have a 128 and sat in a 228i today while I was in for service. I have not had a chance to drive the 235s, but based on the press, it seems like a great package. I did a BMW event last year and tossed a 228 around on a track and really had a good time and walked away impressed.

But the one quality that I really like about the 1 series is the simplicity of the interior. I don't want a ton of buttons on the dash, don't need a navigation screen etc. The old "stark" interiors seem much nicer than the newer BMW interiors.

Ok... enough ranting.... Now I'm like the old man yelling at the clouds... Lol

Not really a rant I get your point! I also appreciate the simplicity of the older cars. However I'm also a techie and LOVE shiny things so I can go either way haha

[tock172]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

B58 will be the first real contender with the N54. Damn shame they didn't put it in the M2, honestly.

Originally Posted by Esteban

Yes, this looks to be a worthy replacement for the N55. Agree that BMW should've waited a bit and put it in the M2.

That would go against BMW's M.O. for the past few years. The 1M had the N54B30TO, the highest output variant of the N54, at a time when BMW had already switched over to using the N55 in most models. The M2 has the N55B30T0, the highest output variant of the N55, which shares it's forged steel crankshaft, crankshaft bearings and pistons with the S55, right as BMW is gearing up to phase out the N55 for the B58. It's conventional for BMW to design and perfect a high-performance version of a previously existing engine. The high performing variant of the B58 will power whatever replaces the M2, or (doubtfully) the LCI M2.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Not really a rant I get your point! I also appreciate the simplicity of the older cars. However I'm also a techie and LOVE shiny things so I can go either way haha

I like shiny new things as well but agree the simple cockpit of the 1er is better. Everything you need, nothing you don't.

[SHKDOWN]

Great thread, Matticus91!

The value of this board is on display throughout this thread. People's different experiences with 128s, 135s, 235s...comparisons/discussions about the different transmissions, engines, accessories offered with each, etc.

What's the "take away"?

Be patient. Test drive until you find the experience you crave, the experience you need.

And when you've found it...IT'S SUBJECT TO CHANGE!

Ahhhh...driving enthusiasts, friggin' neurotic bunch, and we love it.

[champignon]

Thanks everyone for this thread, it has been fun to read.

There's "latest and greatest," and then there is "road feel" and the sensation of driving the sort of car that BMW made its name producing. I am personally not very interested in track times or other statistics, such as 0 to 60 times separated by tenths of a second. I also don't much care about the minutiae that separates this from that particular engine. Others will vehemently disagree.

There is a lineage of BMW small sports sedans and coupes, at least the coupes with a boxy shape like a sedan, that for me defines this brand. It started with the 1600, then the 2002, and on up through earlier iterations of the 3 series and M3s. All of them, for their time, had more than enough power, and the cars were designed from the ground up to be fun to drive. These were cars for driving purists, whether you were on a short jaunt to the grocery store, or if you went for a drive in the country. Luxury was very much secondary, although certainly by the early 90s these cars were relatively luxurious when viewed in the context of their times.

When one looks at something like an M2, which I have not driven but have seen many pictures of and read many reviews, it appears one is talking of an entirely different sort of animal. This is not a bad animal, it is not a bad car, but it is not of the lineage that I describe, with its complicated interior, electronic nannies, and electric steering (no matter how refined).

Perhaps BMW is developing a new niche for themselves. That will satisfy those looking for something new, and that is a good thing. For those seeing the old, true blue, faithful original, it is just not the same thing, and BMW will never make cars again, that really resemble, truthfully, the old ones that made their reputation, no matter what pops up in their advertising montages.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by SHKDOWN

Great thread, Matticus91!

The value of this board is on display throughout this thread. People's different experiences with 128s, 135s, 235s...comparisons/discussions about the different transmissions, engines, accessories offered with each, etc.

What's the "take away"?

Be patient. Test drive until you find the experience you crave, the experience you need.

And when you've found it...IT'S SUBJECT TO CHANGE!

Ahhhh...driving enthusiasts, friggin' neurotic bunch, and we love it.

Originally Posted by champignon

Thanks everyone for this thread, it has been fun to read.

There's "latest and greatest," and then there is "road feel" and the sensation of driving the sort of car that BMW made its name producing. I am personally not very interested in track times or other statistics, such as 0 to 60 times separated by tenths of a second. I also don't much care about the minutiae that separates this from that particular engine. Others will vehemently disagree.

There is a lineage of BMW small sports sedans and coupes, at least the coupes with a boxy shape like a sedan, that for me defines this brand. It started with the 1600, then the 2002, and on up through earlier iterations of the 3 series and M3s. All of them, for their time, had more than enough power, and the cars were designed from the ground up to be fun to drive. These were cars for driving purists, whether you were on a short jaunt to the grocery store, or if you went for a drive in the country. Luxury was very much secondary, although certainly by the early 90s these cars were relatively luxurious when viewed in the context of their times.

When one looks at something like an M2, which I have not driven but have seen many pictures of and read many reviews, it appears one is talking of an entirely different sort of animal. This is not a bad animal, it is not a bad car, but it is not of the lineage that I describe, with its complicated interior, electronic nannies, and electric steering (no matter how refined).

Perhaps BMW is developing a new niche for themselves. That will satisfy those looking for something new, and that is a good thing. For those seeing the old, true blue, faithful original, it is just not the same thing, and BMW will never make cars again, that really resemble, truthfully, the old ones that made their reputation, no matter what pops up in their advertising montages.

I'm glad everyone had pulled some value from this thread! it was truly just a means to share my opinion on the direction cars like ours are headed. I think the "enthusiast" platform of raw inputs and raw interiors is a bit of a dying breed so it's important to keep our eyes open on the new offerings.

As a side note for anyone interested, I also went and drove the new Miata the same day, right before driving the M235i's. Now, I know these are VERY different cars and in totally different realms, but let's keep in mind that they have, or at least should have the same goals as far as who to attract when it comes to drivers.

The Miata I drove was fully loaded, and at $31k is not a cheap option IMO. However it did still retain much of the raw and "connectedness" that has made those cars sacred to all forms of drivers for many years now. That's something to appreciate.

I think BMW should take a step back a little for their next enthusiast rig and maybe try being a little less refined. Even if it's just the "base" version of a more kitted car. Or they can go the Porsche route and have a track pack that replaces handles with straps

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

As a side note for anyone interested, I also went and drove the new Miata the same day, right before driving the M235i's. Now, I know these are VERY different cars and in totally different realms, but let's keep in mind that they have, or at least should have the same goals as far as who to attract when it comes to drivers.

The Miata I drove was fully loaded, and at $31k is not a cheap option IMO. However it did still retain much of the raw and "connectedness" that has made those cars sacred to all forms of drivers for many years now. That's something to appreciate.

The Miata looks like it would be a fun track toy.

[champignon]

If I wanted a small, current model convertible-sports car, I'd definitely consider the Miata. The one thing that would give me pause, however, would be the anemic engine, although I have read in reviews stating that it feels like it is going fast even when it is not.

[Esteban]

Here's a good example of the 2016 Miata on the track. Granted, this is the Club version with a few extra goodies. To skip to the Miata on the track, go to 14:31. Most of us have probably already seen this video, but it's still fun. I love Randy Pobst.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by champignon

If I wanted a small, current model convertible-sports car, I'd definitely consider the Miata. The one thing that would give me pause, however, would be the anemic engine, although I have read in reviews stating that it feels like it is going fast even when it is not.

Originally Posted by Esteban

Here's a good example of the 2016 Miata on the track. Granted, this is the Club version with a few extra goodies. To skip to the Miata on the track, go to 14:31. Most of us have probably already seen this video, but it's still fun. I love Randy Pobst.

On the bit about it feeling like it's going fast - eehhhhhhhh not really... You know it's not fast if you've driven a fast car and you're going to want more power.

That said, I was able to chirp second and it does make some nice burbles and pops which was surprising. I bet with some moderate tuning and an exhaust it would be pretty nice to drive. Stock wouldn't do it for me though.

[Ed P]

My previous car was an NC MX-5 (the last gen). About 170 hp and 100 lbs heavier than the current (ND) model (which has 155 hp). And a bit larger. I think the new one is too small. It's VERY small, like a toy.

It was a GREAT car. Handling was RIGHT NOW, so it felt quicker than it was. Really enjoyed it, but got a little tired of the noise on the highway. I will probably have another someday. Probably the best track car out there if you're not rich. . Very reliable/fixupable.

But I wanted a better highway car (not many hills or twisties in Florida).

[SHKDOWN]

Well stated, Matticus91 and champignon.