BMW 2 series

[daydotz]

I like them its just a shame I can't get a Msport in Valencia orange

[groundcontrol]

Stenn said:

My wife has one as a company car and I love it. It's only a 220d but I love the way it drives. Nice manual gearbox, handles really well and it's probably the best (or least bad?) 4 cyl diesel I've driven. Fairly quick, pulls from very low in the rev range but is quite 'revvy' for a diesel. I'd certainly buy one with my own cash, but it would have to be the 235i.

Edited by Stenn on Saturday 3rd October 12:40

I'd love a 235i if they looked exactly like this but with a twin exhaust.

[Sticks.]

groundcontrol said:

I'd love a 235i if they looked exactly like this but with a twin exhaust.

I'd love one if it had a hatchback rather than the useless boot. The Active Tourer, just no.

[Jezzerh]

ZesPak said:

Always hated the 1-series looks wise, but I think the 2-series looks ok.

This thing however, is also a 2 series.


It makes the B-class look great.

Absolutely gopping. Why would you ever part with cash for one of those?

[lord trumpton]

Jezzerh said:

ZesPak said:

Always hated the 1-series looks wise, but I think the 2-series looks ok.

This thing however, is also a 2 series.


It makes the B-class look great.

Absolutely gopping. Why would you ever part with cash for one of those?

I saw one at the local bmw dealership yesterday - it's awful in the flesh and would look better with a citroen badge on. utter plop

[anonymous-user]

ZesPak said:

Always hated the 1-series looks wise, but I think the 2-series looks ok.

This thing however, is also a 2 series.


It makes the B-class look great.

What in the fk is that? Who stuck BMW badges on an old Zafira?!

[Ice White Socks]

I had a 220d delivered as a company car a few weeks ago- wife also drives a mk5 GTI (had a Mk5 R32 before that but never driven a Mk7R) . The golf still has great quality feeling about it and is a real keeper for us- but the 220d is by far the better drive with a great feeling of balance and poise. It came with adaptaptive suspension which lifts the ride way above any other car I have owned. I would definitely buy a 235i with my own money- the added six cylinder soundtrack would just finish it off for me.

I normally agree with most general forum opinions but can't understand all the pig ugly comments at all- It doesn't have a killer angle that for sure- but can only think it must come across much better in the flesh



also on the M sport side sills- I think the profile of tricked up 235i looks sensational!

[Wish]

agree, my wife's 235i looks exactly like that.

[justanother5tar]

Saw a 235i the other week, it was lowered and looked absolutely fantastic.

Good looking little cars to me, although it did look immensely better lowered a little. I like the M Performance skirts and stuff, but the wheels are just awful. Look like something from Ripspeed in Halfords, which is a shame.

Those 2 series Zafira looking things don't look any better in the flesh either, horrid things.

[Rob_F]

darren f said:

A case of BMW plotting car-market world domination by having a every body shape in every model in their line up I think (... see also Audi).

As an aside (and for fear of this being too specific, resulting in the thread being shunted into the BNW forum), has anyone tried / got a 228i? It seems a 'non-devils-fuel' economic alternative to a 235i and there seems to be a few about for reasonable money (.. probably because nobody wants them!). Of course the PH stock answer is "get the 235, you know you will regret it", but I'm interested in opinions.

I have a 328i F30, it goes very well indeed, i've no doubt it makes every one of the claimed HP. Not the most characterful engine in the world though - the exhaust sounds okay but it's all a bit quiet and ordinary. Saying that it is light years ahead of the diesels in terms of refinement, response, noise, power band, etc. Easy 40mpg on a motorway run, making it at least 20% more efficient overall than my old Renaultsport Megane and at least as fast in a straight line - you cannot argue with the numbers.

[Mr Tidy]

[redacted]

[darren f]

Rob_F said:

I have a 328i F30, it goes very well indeed, i've no doubt it makes every one of the claimed HP. Not the most characterful engine in the world though - the exhaust sounds okay but it's all a bit quiet and ordinary. Saying that it is light years ahead of the diesels in terms of refinement, response, noise, power band, etc. Easy 40mpg on a motorway run, making it at least 20% more efficient overall than my old Renaultsport Megane and at least as fast in a straight line - you cannot argue with the numbers.

Thanks Rob, food for thought. Being a turbo, I assume it is nice and 'torquey' to drive, similar in nature to a turbo diesel? Or does it need revving to feel any sense of speed? With all the impending grief (IMO) coming diesel's way, I am veering towards petrol but as I get progressively older and lazier, I just know I would miss the 'effortless torque' TDis normally possess.

Also TBH I'd prefer a 3-er 328i (... more convenient for family tranportation) but they are rarer then gold plated hen's teeth. On BMW's AUC there is maybe one for every 50 or 60-odd 330ds, finding one with a spec I want (Pro Nav, memory seats) is going to be a huge ask. Just finding one to test drive is going to be challenge I think. There are more 335is about, the PH-er in me is drawn by the prospect of some straight-6 action, less so by the running costs.

Hence the thought process about looking at the 2-series, where there appears to be a decent selection of pre-owned / demo 228is, some with a reasonable spec and price. And as for 235s (and 135s for that matter)- there is an absolute glut on the AUC- is this over supply by BMW (if so, it's not reflected in BMW's prices though ), or are they that difficult to live with?

[Rob_F]

darren f said:

Rob_F said:

I have a 328i F30, it goes very well indeed, i've no doubt it makes every one of the claimed HP. Not the most characterful engine in the world though - the exhaust sounds okay but it's all a bit quiet and ordinary. Saying that it is light years ahead of the diesels in terms of refinement, response, noise, power band, etc. Easy 40mpg on a motorway run, making it at least 20% more efficient overall than my old Renaultsport Megane and at least as fast in a straight line - you cannot argue with the numbers.

Thanks Rob, food for thought. Being a turbo, I assume it is nice and 'torquey' to drive, similar in nature to a turbo diesel? Or does it need revving to feel any sense of speed? With all the impending grief (IMO) coming diesel's way, I am veering towards petrol but as I get progressively older and lazier, I just know I would miss the 'effortless torque' TDis normally possess.

Also TBH I'd prefer a 3-er 328i (... more convenient for family tranportation) but they are rarer then gold plated hen's teeth. On BMW's AUC there is maybe one for every 50 or 60-odd 330ds, finding one with a spec I want (Pro Nav, memory seats) is going to be a huge ask. Just finding one to test drive is going to be challenge I think. There are more 335is about, the PH-er in me is drawn by the prospect of some straight-6 action, less so by the running costs.

Hence the thought process about looking at the 2-series, where there appears to be a decent selection of pre-owned / demo 228is, some with a reasonable spec and price. And as for 235s (and 135s for that matter)- there is an absolute glut on the AUC- is this over supply by BMW (if so, it's not reflected in BMW's prices though ), or are they that difficult to live with?

Yes lots of torque, it makes 350nm from 1250-4800rpm, notably earlier than a 320d which I believe makes 380nm from 1750-2750. As you can see the powerband is much much wider so you don't have that horrible gap to catch you out at roundabouts etc. My brother in law has a 330d, and I believe there's very little in outright pace if you're willing to rev the petrol.

I was happy with a fairly basic car, all mine has are adaptive lights and folding mirrors, the lack of nav is annoying but not a deal breaker for me. I got a decent phone mount that clips into the dash rather than the screen so it's out of sight/neat and then i can use google maps.

Funnily enough I was driving an M235i this weekend doing a driving experience at goodwood (see below!). The engine seemed really nice, but when I test drove an M135i (which I was considering when I bought my 3) I was underwhelmed by the rest of the driving experience - nothing else about it felt much different from a normal 1 series which was disappointing. I also didn't really click with the auto-gearbox, but saying that the manual is hardly a peach either with quite a notchy change.

I can see me looking for a 235i or 335i when it's time to change, the options I'd be looking for are adaptive suspension and lumbar support - as I don't find the seats that comfy and the suspension is very bouncy as standard (coming from a Renaultsport Megane, mind you).