Had a M235xi Loaner Yesterday

[bagekko]

They had to reprogram my new key for comfort access and they gave me a M235xi Convert for 2 hrs. BTW you do not need to go to dealer to program a key if you dont have comfort access, guess you hold key to steering column, hold start and maybe unlock.

Anyways I think they fixed many of the complaints in the 1er on the 2er. Swear the seat could go lower. The sport auto is nice, but if your a manual guy like me then the DCT feels better, it was too smooth for my tastes. Its faster on paper, but was hard to tell. The instrument cluster is really cool, but its very hard to have the wheel & seat position so you can see 100% of it, the new MSport wheel is nice, almost felt a tiny bit smaller than my 135 MSport one. Wish I had more time with it, I think they only made improvements.

In 2+ years would have no problem trading my 135 for it, but would want 6spd over sport auto, unless my DCT is the only other car I have besides the wifes X5 w/o a 3rd pedal, I need 2 non manual cars. Some dope at a dealer got my hopes up that the M240 had DCT as an option, thats not true today, perhaps in future. Though the 6spd in the M240 has computer controlled rev matching, thats crazy! Plus you can add LSD as an option on the M240!

[Matticus91]

I had similar opinions when i went and drove an M235i x-drive auto and a RWD manual. Great car but edging on the border of "too refined".

[doublevanosrc]

I like the M235 but the steering and brake pedal travel turned me off. However, I have come to terms that it's the only car to suit my taste and there might be one in my garage in the future.

[HyeWarrior]

My brother has a 6spd 235i. I like it a lot, but I like the smaller wheelbase of the 135i much more. Plus the brakes felt a little different to me as well. Great cars regardless. The seats are way better in the 235i

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

I like the M235 but the steering and brake pedal travel turned me off. However, I have come to terms that it's the only car to suit my taste and there might be one in my garage in the future.

Be like me and plan on driving my 1er forever.

[Hankdoll]

I was given a 228 M sport automatic loaner a few months back and loved it. I even think I liked the auto trans better than the DCT in my 1er...shifted almost as fast and was much more predictable.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by bagekko

...Some dope at a dealer got my hopes up that the M240 had DCT as an option, thats not true today, perhaps in future. Though the 6spd in the M240 has computer controlled rev matching, thats crazy! Plus you can add LSD as an option on the M240!

According to BMW USA's website the M240i has the Autostandard but you can ORDER a 6MT as a no cost option. CLICK on page #4 for options to see the no cost 6MT option.

For the M240i xDrive you can only get it with the ZF auto trans.

http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...modelcode=172C

[DuckCoverRoll]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing your perspective. In your opinion, would the m240i plus an LSD be enough to forgo the M2?

thx!

[davis449]

I saw the car I just got when I went to the dealer for a test drive in a 2015 M235i they had two days before I ended up in it.

I feel the same way about the ZF8 as most do. Stellar transmission and really hard to tell the difference in shift speed between it and my DCT (that was PPK 1, so fully up to date). It was much smoother at low speed than my DCT (I fully expected that), for sure, and in sport mode would kick you in the back. The brakes were different, steering different, but not nearly as terrible as everyone and their dog keeps saying. I came from Audi's and the steering felt pretty much the same as my previous 2011 A3 (not really a bad thing). The traction control is far superior to the 1er and does let you look like you can drive like a hero. Power level and power delivery felt a little more raw in the 135i, but I could tell it was probably just about the same in all actuality. Though walked away from that test drive feeling that it was a great car, I just could not make it worth the trade for my 1er in my mind.

Maybe I just didn't really want the updated version of the car I already had...IDK. All I know is that I did want a change of some sort. I don't regret my decision to go with this DCT Z4 to replace my 1er. What the hell did I need a back seat for if I NEVER used it anyway.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by DuckCoverRoll

Interesting! Thanks for sharing your perspective. In your opinion, would the m240i plus an LSD be enough to forgo the M2?

thx!

I thought the M240i came with an LSD standard?

[DuckCoverRoll]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

I thought the M240i came with an LSD standard?

If it is, that's news to me - I always thought that the 2 series used an open differential out of the factory. I remember when I looked at the m235i a few years ago, the configurator had a port installed option for LSD, but I didn't see it offered under the m240i configurator. Perhaps BMW has now thrown in a freebie LSD for the 2 series?

[bagekko]

I think a M240 w/ 6spd and LSD is a great alternative to the M2, especially if you want a convertible since there is no M2 vert. I have driven M3 & M4 and even in the M235 there was not that much diff, though I didnt have the M235 on a track.

Unless you want comp pkg, I would consider the M240 strongly.

Originally Posted by DuckCoverRoll

Interesting! Thanks for sharing your perspective. In your opinion, would the m240i plus an LSD be enough to forgo the M2?
thx!

[bagekko]

Nope, $2000 option, which is outrageous for a LSD

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

I thought the M240i came with an LSD standard?

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Be like me and plan on driving my 1er forever.

Well that's the plan but once it creeps up to 100k it probably will be replaced with an M235i. I'm on my 2nd 135 which I love dearly but sometimes i catch myself staring at the new F models like the 2 and 3 series.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Well that's the plan but once it creeps up to 100k it probably will be replaced with an M235i. I'm on my 2nd 135 which I love dearly but sometimes i catch myself staring at the new F models like the 2 and 3 series.

Don't do it man!

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Don't do it man!

If I were to lose my precious 1er due to an accident (totaled) I might replace it with an M240i, or even better, an M2 down the road sometime when they became more plentiful. The New 3 series cars are just too big for my taste.