RE: BMW M235i Performance: PH Blog

[chrispj]

chungasarnies said:

Really quite like this. Used E90 M3 or one of these would be an interesting, but completely unrealistic comparison I suspect.

One of the mags (Car or Evo, can't remember which) did this a month or two back. IIRC the conclusion was that the 235 was great until 8/10 and then lost composure while the M3 shone the harder you pushed it.

[Mermaid]

Clivey said:

.. It'd also be interesting to see a comparison between the M135i and M235i (any details of the chassis / suspension changes?).

A head to head (M235i with the LSD) & throw in the 1M into the mix - the low profile M235i will do rather well I expect.

[Dave Hedgehog]

chrispj said:

chungasarnies said:

Really quite like this. Used E90 M3 or one of these would be an interesting, but completely unrealistic comparison I suspect.

One of the mags (Car or Evo, can't remember which) did this a month or two back. IIRC the conclusion was that the 235 was great until 8/10 and then lost composure while the M3 shone the harder you pushed it.

the BMW guys that accompanied me said to think of the 235i as a competent GT car rather than a flat out racer, which i think is right, for most people this i suspect this will be a bonus as it makes it an easier car to live with and wont be tiring on long journeys

[mpx14]

I wonder if this comes with variable steering ratio rack? Manual, locking diff, upgraded lights and adjustable dampers are all I would spec.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Think this is the only BMW I would actually buy out of their current line up (M3 excepted of course, I don't think the new M5 really does much for me either)

[Kawasicki]

Chris, I think you see yourself as a PH driving god, what with your manual gearbox and your rear wheel drive.

Now, stop and think. What you really want is a sporty auto fwd car with non defeatable stability control. Anyone who says they can feel the difference on public roads is lying.

Who drives fast these days anyways? It's dangerous you know!

[Clivey]

Mermaid said:

A head to head (M235i with the LSD) & throw in the 1M into the mix - the low profile M235i will do rather well I expect.

It'd be a good test to see, that's for sure.

Is the LSD available on the M135i yet? I can't see it on the options list. In any case, at least you can get an aftermarket unit. I'm interested to see whether the "improvements" that've been made re. the chassis on the M235i can also be made on the hatch.

[chelme]

Prawnboy said:

hey i'm a human league fan and last time they were on the turntable i don't remember them sounding like fake engine noise!

LOL 'Here's how the automotive media actually works...' Give us a BMW for two months and we'll write really good stuff about it, excusing all its faults...

[Stevoox]

Very interested in one of these but cant decide if getting rid of the 265 Trophy for one would be the right decision...

[EricE]

I would love to know how this compares to a M135i with a quaife, KW/Bilstein suspension and maybe some stiffer ARBs.
Unfortunately a M135i vs M235i comparison would cause most of PH to get an aneurysm so that’s not going to happen.

[k99]

Kawasicki said:

Chris, I think you see yourself as a PH driving god, what with your manual gearbox and your rear wheel drive.

Now, stop and think. What you really want is a sporty auto fwd car with non defeatable stability control. Anyone who says they can feel the difference on public roads is lying.

Who drives fast these days anyways? It's dangerous you know!

Get your coat ;-)

[Clivey]

Kawasicki said:

Chris, I think you see yourself as a PH driving god, what with your manual gearbox and your rear wheel drive.

Now, stop and think. What you really want is a sporty auto fwd car with non defeatable stability control. Anyone who says they can feel the difference on public roads is lying.

Who drives fast these days anyways? It's dangerous you know!

Genuine "lol" there.

[cerb4.5lee]

k99 said:

Kawasicki said:

Chris, I think you see yourself as a PH driving god, what with your manual gearbox and your rear wheel drive.

Now, stop and think. What you really want is a sporty auto fwd car with non defeatable stability control. Anyone who says they can feel the difference on public roads is lying.

Who drives fast these days anyways? It's dangerous you know!

Get your coat ;-)

[rogerhudson]

What good is any car that consumes tyres like petrol?

[DoubleSix]

If a review is going to focus so heavily on aesthetics any chance we could have photos that chime in line with the text.

A pic of Harris's mug through the wheel is of no use to me, a picture of the wheel the reviewer is talking about would actually be of interest.

[cerb4.5lee]

rogerhudson said:

What good is any car that consumes tyres like petrol?

A pretty exciting one in my book!

[Jamesp24]

Must be something about those front left center caps flying off..my M135I just done one.

[Captainawesome]

chungasarnies said:

Really quite like this. Used E90 M3 or one of these would be an interesting, but completely unrealistic comparison I suspect.

Evo magazine did a feature comparing those exact two cars last month.

Verdict?

The M3 does a better job of being a new car than the M235i does of being an M car.

[Roma101]

Stevoox said:

Very interested in one of these but cant decide if getting rid of the 265 Trophy for one would be the right decision...

Same decision here. Answer: get a 275 Trophy with Ohlins?

[Roma101]

If anyone is contemplating getting a M235i, do not get the M Performance 19" wheels with super skinny tyres. On anything less than perfectly smooth roads, the ride is shocking (IMO), especially if you have the passive dampers. Stick with the 18" and get the adaptive if you can.