435 X Drive or 240i as an everyday car?
Discussion
Well picked her up yesterday morning from Chester Dealership who have been good to deal with.
Love the colour, the interior, the engine and gearbox and the way that she drives.
Not happy with the lack of steering feedback, nor keen on the business navigation. Little things like showing the speed limit on the roads that you are driving on although, to be fair, they were often wrong on the Boxster in any case as speed limits change. Would have preferred the bigger screen.
Will slowly get use to the I-drive stuff but can anyone tell me how to turn off the bloody traffic announcements please.
Oh and a few photos:
Love the colour, the interior, the engine and gearbox and the way that she drives.
Not happy with the lack of steering feedback, nor keen on the business navigation. Little things like showing the speed limit on the roads that you are driving on although, to be fair, they were often wrong on the Boxster in any case as speed limits change. Would have preferred the bigger screen.
Will slowly get use to the I-drive stuff but can anyone tell me how to turn off the bloody traffic announcements please.
Oh and a few photos:
Davel said:
Cheers
It kills each announcement as it's being made but doesn't seem to stop them.
Ah, right. Click on Radio, then Options, scroll to the bottom and there's the traffic option. It kills each announcement as it's being made but doesn't seem to stop them.
You should download the BMW owner's manual. There are also BMW apps, such as the BMW Remote, one of which has a tracking function, thoguh I've not found it yet.
Probably the most useful iDrive feature I've found, so far, is the 8 preset buttons. Worth noting that to add something to the preset you press and hold the button/number before you open the function. Eg before you select the radio station, but at the point it's highlighted.
And it seems in Sport mode, not just Sport+, the traction control etc isn't 'full on' as it is with my previous BMWs.
Enjoy.
I got an M235i about a year ago and am still loving it - I also bought it without a test drive - I'd seen enough reviews on Youtube to know it would be perfect.
The standard exhaust makes some nice overrun pops and burbles in sport mode, along with some subtle upshift farts.
I agree the steering is a bit lifeless - it's especially noticeable if I drive my gf's Fiesta ST which is razor sharp. Sport mode makes the steering heavier, but I find this makes it feel even more numb - you can turn this off in the menus somewhere so that sport mode keeps the lighter comfort-mode steering weight.
The standard exhaust makes some nice overrun pops and burbles in sport mode, along with some subtle upshift farts.
I agree the steering is a bit lifeless - it's especially noticeable if I drive my gf's Fiesta ST which is razor sharp. Sport mode makes the steering heavier, but I find this makes it feel even more numb - you can turn this off in the menus somewhere so that sport mode keeps the lighter comfort-mode steering weight.
Well two weeks in and almost 500 miles to date, I have to admit to being very disappointed.
After all the rave reviews, I made the mistake of buying without a test drive.
I'm finding the lack of steering feedback quite unnerving and find the car fast but pretty characterless.
So sadly, I think that this will be a brief relationship and wish I'd kept the Boxster.
Oh dear, how to tell the wife ...
After all the rave reviews, I made the mistake of buying without a test drive.
I'm finding the lack of steering feedback quite unnerving and find the car fast but pretty characterless.
So sadly, I think that this will be a brief relationship and wish I'd kept the Boxster.
Oh dear, how to tell the wife ...
Edited by Davel on Wednesday 7th December 21:22
Really sorry to hear that 
I would love one but worry that I might feel similar because the steering on my 640d is nothing short of diabolical.
The steering is a serious issue on modern BMW's sadly and quite frankly it's annoying for a marque that used to pride themselves with reasonable drivers cars.
Gutted for you.
I would love one but worry that I might feel similar because the steering on my 640d is nothing short of diabolical. The steering is a serious issue on modern BMW's sadly and quite frankly it's annoying for a marque that used to pride themselves with reasonable drivers cars.
Gutted for you.
M2/M3/M4 lower arms and tension struts can be fitted to the front end to give more feel as well as more camber that helps even out tyre wear, might be worth investigating.
http://babybmw.net/viewtopic.php?f=74&t=69818
http://babybmw.net/viewtopic.php?f=74&t=69818
Edited by LocoBlade on Wednesday 7th December 21:48
It is not just modern BMW's I think people need to get over the fact that the majority of manufacturers will have killed feedback by going for EPAS in the hunt for a X percent gain in lowering emissions (and equally in some cases saying it is X percent quicker around Y). Even Porsche now use EPAS, so depending on your era of boxster you could be setting yourself up for disappointment there if you are looking for the latest one (and I think the gen just gone as well).
In honesty as a previous gen MX5 owner the switch to EPAS in the MK4 ND has killed the steering feedback as well, and if you think BMW is bad then go try Mazda's in any car even the MK4 MX5. Many people will sing about this and the other naturally because it is an MX5, but start digging around and you will find the odd one that states there is no real feedback to it, I actually found it worse than BMW as there is no real weighting to it, I think it was worse than my Mk2 Punto which had EPAS back in 2003!
An alignment and changing some parts out for additional camber may help on the steering weight front, but actually getting more feedback to the driver is quite tricky with EPAS. It is probably worth trying though (as a cheaper) alternative to selling up so quickly, although I would not be surprised if you only say it is marginally better as I think this "problem" is more deep rooted in you driving a car such as a Boxster previously and chances not with EPAS. Buying the 640D meant I was allowed to keep the MX5 so the lack of steering feedback from the 640D I sort of have to agree with Cerb, but equally I can pop back in the MX5 to get at least some back. Although steering "feedback" is an item that has been dying in a majority silently for many years.
It depends how far you want to go really to get feedback back as so few cars now have hydro PAS alone and equally no PAS at all (Alfa 4C for example).
In honesty as a previous gen MX5 owner the switch to EPAS in the MK4 ND has killed the steering feedback as well, and if you think BMW is bad then go try Mazda's in any car even the MK4 MX5. Many people will sing about this and the other naturally because it is an MX5, but start digging around and you will find the odd one that states there is no real feedback to it, I actually found it worse than BMW as there is no real weighting to it, I think it was worse than my Mk2 Punto which had EPAS back in 2003!
An alignment and changing some parts out for additional camber may help on the steering weight front, but actually getting more feedback to the driver is quite tricky with EPAS. It is probably worth trying though (as a cheaper) alternative to selling up so quickly, although I would not be surprised if you only say it is marginally better as I think this "problem" is more deep rooted in you driving a car such as a Boxster previously and chances not with EPAS. Buying the 640D meant I was allowed to keep the MX5 so the lack of steering feedback from the 640D I sort of have to agree with Cerb, but equally I can pop back in the MX5 to get at least some back. Although steering "feedback" is an item that has been dying in a majority silently for many years.
It depends how far you want to go really to get feedback back as so few cars now have hydro PAS alone and equally no PAS at all (Alfa 4C for example).
Edited by Ninja59 on Thursday 8th December 06:28
Edited by Ninja59 on Thursday 8th December 06:34
I've had my 235i 3 months now and still feel a bit like that. It's a good car in many ways, but flawed in more ways than you'd expect.
One thing which has stopped me getting rid so far is that when I first bought my last car, the TT, I found daily use disappointing. But once I'd realigned my expectations, stopped thinking of it in any way a sports car, then I liked it for its good points, enough to keep it 8 years. There are plenty of things to like about it, maybe focus on them.
Just a thought. Anyway, back to Autotrader
One thing which has stopped me getting rid so far is that when I first bought my last car, the TT, I found daily use disappointing. But once I'd realigned my expectations, stopped thinking of it in any way a sports car, then I liked it for its good points, enough to keep it 8 years. There are plenty of things to like about it, maybe focus on them.
Just a thought. Anyway, back to Autotrader
Unfortunately an M240 and any 1,2,3, or 4 Series this side of a proper M car is really a high spec rep-mobile.
While that might sound a bit harsh, there's nothing wrong with that, but there is an inevitable compromise in that they are mass produced products and as such will have to tick the boxes for CO2, fuel economy, EPAS, etc etc.
In that respect, they are always going to come up short compared to something like a Boxster, which is a purpose designed sports car produced in much lower volumes and although they still have to meet the regulations, they are less of compromise (e.g. they don't have to use the same basic chassis of an M240i as in a 116d - 2 very different cars for very different purposes).
There is a possibility that car mags rather over hype some of these cars though...
While that might sound a bit harsh, there's nothing wrong with that, but there is an inevitable compromise in that they are mass produced products and as such will have to tick the boxes for CO2, fuel economy, EPAS, etc etc.
In that respect, they are always going to come up short compared to something like a Boxster, which is a purpose designed sports car produced in much lower volumes and although they still have to meet the regulations, they are less of compromise (e.g. they don't have to use the same basic chassis of an M240i as in a 116d - 2 very different cars for very different purposes).
There is a possibility that car mags rather over hype some of these cars though...
I think that's fair.
I was guided pretty much by many of the rave reviews including a Top Gear one and a few on Youtube - all good.
I said at the start that mine was a heart over head decision and there weren't any locally to try.
So my fault entirely and lesson learned.
There's nothing wrong with the car as such, it's just not what I thought it would be in terms of fun / character etc.
I was guided pretty much by many of the rave reviews including a Top Gear one and a few on Youtube - all good.
I said at the start that mine was a heart over head decision and there weren't any locally to try.
So my fault entirely and lesson learned.
There's nothing wrong with the car as such, it's just not what I thought it would be in terms of fun / character etc.
Davel said:
I think that's fair.
I was guided pretty much by many of the rave reviews including a Top Gear one and a few on Youtube - all good.
I said at the start that mine was a heart over head decision and there weren't any locally to try.
So my fault entirely and lesson learned.
There's nothing wrong with the car as such, it's just not what I thought it would be in terms of fun / character etc.
Only thing I can say, give it some time, the car won't change but you will get used to it.I was guided pretty much by many of the rave reviews including a Top Gear one and a few on Youtube - all good.
I said at the start that mine was a heart over head decision and there weren't any locally to try.
So my fault entirely and lesson learned.
There's nothing wrong with the car as such, it's just not what I thought it would be in terms of fun / character etc.
The reality is that anything similar will be much the same.....as someone has said try an Audi S3 if you think your steering is lifeless! A trip in one of those made me wonder if the steering wheel was actually connected to the wheels!
Davel said:
Well two weeks in and almost 500 miles to date, I have to admit to being very disappointed.
After all the rave reviews, I made the mistake of buying without a test drive.
I'm finding the lack of steering feedback quite unnerving and find the car fast but pretty characterless.
So sadly, I think that this will be a brief relationship and wish I'd kept the Boxster.
Oh dear, how to tell the wife ...
Really sorry to hear that, nothing worse than spending a quite significant amount of money on a car and then being disappointed - had that T-shirt myself in the past!After all the rave reviews, I made the mistake of buying without a test drive.
I'm finding the lack of steering feedback quite unnerving and find the car fast but pretty characterless.
So sadly, I think that this will be a brief relationship and wish I'd kept the Boxster.
Oh dear, how to tell the wife ...
Edited by Davel on Wednesday 7th December 21:22
The only advice I'd give is don't make a hasty decision and jump out of the frying pan into the fire. Write a list of what you want the car to do and the features it needs to have, narrow down the alternatives and then try to get decent test drives in each contender before you decide. It will all work out fine in the end and if it's any consolation I suspect if you're not happy with an M240i a more expensive 435d wouldn't have floated your boat either; good luck with it all!
Sorry to read of your disappointment OP.
But as someone said you would probably have been even more disappointed with a 435d FWIW.
Your expectations were probably set by your previous car, which is generally regarded as one of the best driving cars you can buy so the 240i had a lot to live up to.
If you do change it a pre-purchase test drive looks essential!
But as someone said you would probably have been even more disappointed with a 435d FWIW.
Your expectations were probably set by your previous car, which is generally regarded as one of the best driving cars you can buy so the 240i had a lot to live up to.
If you do change it a pre-purchase test drive looks essential!
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