RE: BMW M235i: Driven

[SprintSpeciale]

kambites said:

Shame about the lack of steering feel but otherwise sounds (and looks) like a nice little(ish) car. I don't think the lack of ultimate chassis composure on track matters a great deal given that 99% of them will probably never see a track.

Nice to see you can still get a manual 'box.

Edited by kambites on Friday 24th January 09:12

I agree with this.

I am becoming a bit bored of modern stuff though. It is too accomplished. That's exactly what you want from your daily driver, but not for a fun car, because you never get anywhere near the car's limits unless you track it [exceptions allowed for those who live in the Black Mountains or the Highlands].

I think my fantasy BMW fun car would result from taking a 2002, and rebuilding it around the engine and gearbox of one of these. The old 2002 had a short wheelbase (2500mm) and was about 100mm narrower (1675mm). I think the standard wheels may have been 13" even! Now that, without any ABS, traction control, stability control, etc. really would be something to grab your attention on a Sunday morning drive through the Sussex countryside..

So, I need a written off M135i, a basically solid but scruffy 2002 and a PM to restopower...

[kambites]

Dave Hedgehog said:

"comfortable and refined at motorway speeds" not a phrase i want from a sports car

Good job that it's not, in any way shape or form, a sports car then.

The Z4 is BMW's small sports car. This is a small two-door execute saloon type thing with a big engine.

[LovesSweetExile]

vz-r_dave said:

Agreed, this car is not good looking, no better than the 1 series before. Serious BMW blinkers for those who believe anything different. The 3 and 4 series look great. The 2 series is a squished horrible version (of the good looking manly 4) made for girls!!

Or maybe it's entirely subjective?

[tosh.brice]

"a six-footer can sit behind another in reasonable comfort"
really? with that roof line?

[DiscoColin]

MonkeyMatt said:

DJP said:

Over 1500kg?

How do they get such a small car to weigh so much?

By making it big

Exactly. It is essentially E46 sized I reckon, but burdened with a decades worth of extra safety standards (more airbags, pedestrian impact test requirements, etc...). You could argue that a VW Polo is barely a small car any more, but the weight of the top models of those can be within 2 powerfully built passengers of 1500kg...

Cars are just bigger these days, and that generally means heavier or much more expensive.

[kambites]

I'd struggle to call anything in the current BMW line-up "pretty" (although the i8 might change that), but to my eye the 2-series is the best of a decidedly mediocre lot in terms of looks.

[Dave Hedgehog]

kambites said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

"comfortable and refined at motorway speeds" not a phrase i want from a sports car

Good job that it's not, in any way shape or form, a sports car then.

The Z4 is BMW's small sports car. This is a small two-door execute saloon type thing with a big engine.

but its race car, it has M badge

[kambites]

Dave Hedgehog said:

but its race car, it has M badge

[MikeGoodwin]

Im not sure I could own a 2 series after owning an E92. Looks dumpy, the front end I can live with. The rear looks ste.

[Dan Trent]

We've updated the review with a little snippet of vid of Dan driving the car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway - see here and don't worry, it's not all on the bowl. Bit of infield action with compulsory dab of oppo included!

Cheers,

Dan

[shoestring7]

Dan Trent said:

We've updated the review with a little snippet of vid of Dan driving the car at M235i - see here and don't worry, it's not all on the bowl. Bit of infield action with compulsory dab of oppo included!

Cheers,

Dan

I know its enhanced, but that BMW 6 pot does sound great.

SS7

[loudlashadjuster]

kambites said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

but its race car, it has M badge

That sits nicely alongside " MongoDB is web scale", able to be trotted out at any point in a discussion

I like this M235i and I'm surprised it's getting so much flak. Are we so spoiled by excellent cars that a smallish, well-built, not unattractive, relatively affordable, 320hp RWD coupe gets a big 'meh' from a lot of people?

[kambites]

loudlashadjuster said:

I like this M235i and I'm surprised it's getting so much flak. Are we so spoiled by excellent cars that a smallish, well-built, not unattractive, relatively affordable, 320hp RWD coupe gets a big 'meh' from a lot of people?

I think rather the opposite - the fact that even a powerful "small" coupe is so big, heavy and numb is what creates the apathy.

I'm sure it's very "good" but it doesn't do anything that I have much interest in; which is sad because this out of all of BMW's line-up, probably should. Basically it falls into the "I'd consider it for the wife" category of cars.

[British Beef]

Dave Hedgehog said:

kambites said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

"comfortable and refined at motorway speeds" not a phrase i want from a sports car

Good job that it's not, in any way shape or form, a sports car then.

The Z4 is BMW's small sports car. This is a small two-door execute saloon type thing with a big engine.

but its race car, it has M badge

The Z4 is no sports car from a recent drive I had in one.

It looks like a sports car, costs roughly what a small sports car should cost, but weighs the same as a small family saloon, infact probably more thant this 2 series, and has the driver appeal of nothing resembling a sports car.

[TNH]

Looks and sounds fantastic. Lots of want.

[nickfrog]

QuattroDave said:

You know I'm starting to warm to the M135i looks wise in certain colours, the mineral grey and blue being the best. Whilst this undoubtedly looks better it's starting to blend in with the looks of the 3 & 5 from the front which means that it'll be 'seen' everywhere. I prefer my cars to look a little more unique, hence the 'ugly' M135i being more my cuppa, not to mention a fair few thousand cheaper!

You really don't belong here. Remember PH is primarily about looks and image and the M135i has been decreed as objectively fugly by a majority of Phers, particularly those not in the market for a £30k car.

[Trtj]

The 135i is monumentally ugly, it got lucky because its a great car. This car is marketing all over!

[Wolands Advocate]

kambites said:

I think rather the opposite - the fact that even a powerful "small" coupe is so big, heavy and numb is what creates the apathy.

Where does the article describe it as "big, heavy and numb"?! I've just read half a dozen reviews from here, EVO, Car, Autocar, AutoExpress and a couple of US mags and they all heap praise on it as a return to what BMW does best - small, snappy 6-cylinder coupes. Yet the internet seems to know better. Ok, it could be lighter but as no review singles that out for serious criticism, that seems largely irrelevant in the cold light of day. Could it be smaller? Perhaps, but then it wouldn't seat four and have a reasonable boot. And in any event it's not a big car. Is it numb? Apparently not. Just afflicted with modern steering as is pretty much everything. And getting rid of the infernal automatic gearbox (which isn't standard anyway) helps in that respect - it might be a paragon of technical excellence and lightning quick shifting, but it does nothing for involvement.

I don't find my M135i big, heavy or numb. If I did, I wouldn't own it and I doubt the M235i is a worse steer in any respect.

I agree with those that say the styling goes wrong at the back of the M235i though.

[Hellbound]

It'll look better in the metal.

If there's an M235i Gran Coupe in future, you whingers will have a field day!

[okie592]

BMW will stick a M badge on anything these days won't they?

Totally looses the sleeper effect that so many jiz themselfs over 118d with 300hp so cool lol