1M vs M235i

1M vs M235i

Author
Discussion

PKZ4M

Original Poster:

184 posts

147 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
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My 1M had to visit the dealer today for some rountine maintenance. I was loaned a new M235i for the day. I have to say it's quite an impressive piece of kit. Goes very well from low revs, sounds nice too. Much smoother than 1M, both ride and engine. I also have to admit that I'd never be able to change gear in my 1M any where near as smoothly as that fancy 8 speed auto does (up and down). Turn in was great too. Probably the Michelin SS's help here, as I still have Pilot S's on my 1M.

So would I swap permanently? No way.... I love the rougher rawer edge of the 1M, it's quirkiness, and it feels a tad stronger at the top end, it's also gonna stay a rarer sight and makes more sense as an occasional weekend / odd track day car. Having said that anyone waiting for their M235i is not going to be disappointed, as it's a great little performance car.... more modern? yes; more refined? yes; more suited to everyday? yes; more special? not quite ;-)


k99

544 posts

167 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
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Interesting as I'm thinking of a M235i as a replacement for a Z4 35i.
Was it on 18" wheels? What did you think of the ride over potholes etc?
I'd considered a 4 series but the 2 series looks ideal if you only have occasional rear passengers.

Babw

886 posts

145 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
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k99 said:
Interesting as I'm thinking of a M235i as a replacement for a Z4 35i.
Was it on 18" wheels? What did you think of the ride over potholes etc?
I'd considered a 4 series but the 2 series looks ideal if you only have occasional rear passengers.
I wouldn't say the 235i is as "fun" as the Z4 35i which is a surprisingly overlooked car for entertainment factor (obviously due to the limited passenger space).

Volition

227 posts

135 months

Friday 11th April 2014
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k99 said:
Interesting as I'm thinking of a M235i as a replacement for a Z4 35i.
Was it on 18" wheels? What did you think of the ride over potholes etc?
I'd considered a 4 series but the 2 series looks ideal if you only have occasional rear passengers.
I am going from a Z4 35i to an M235i. The M235i is equally as fun as the Z4 and easier to live with. I have 19 inch V spokes on my Z4, which give it a really harsh ride. The ride in the M235i was no where near as harsh as the Z4 over pot holes and speed bumps. The M235i feels quite a bit quicker too, after all it does have a newer engine and more horse power. I was concerned the 8-speed auto wouldn't be a match for my current DCT gearbox, but it's pretty damn good. Can't wait to take delivery of it.

We also considered and test rode an M3.

With regards to the 1M - I just can't look at a 1 series coupe now without thinking it looks extremely dated in comparison to the 2 series. Just my personal opinion. Also as a daily driver the M235i was a lot more fun to drive than the M3.


k99

544 posts

167 months

Friday 11th April 2014
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Volition said:
I am going from a Z4 35i to an M235i. The M235i is equally as fun as the Z4 and easier to live with. I have 19 inch V spokes on my Z4, which give it a really harsh ride. The ride in the M235i was no where near as harsh as the Z4 over pot holes and speed bumps. The M235i feels quite a bit quicker too, after all it does have a newer engine and more horse power. I was concerned the 8-speed auto wouldn't be a match for my current DCT gearbox, but it's pretty damn good. Can't wait to take delivery of it.
Same here mine has Msport suspension, 19" and run flats - so always driving around dodging potholes etc.

PKZ4M

Original Poster:

184 posts

147 months

Friday 11th April 2014
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k99 said:
Interesting as I'm thinking of a M235i as a replacement for a Z4 35i.
Was it on 18" wheels? What did you think of the ride over potholes etc?
I'd considered a 4 series but the 2 series looks ideal if you only have occasional rear passengers.
It was on 18" wheels and ride was excellent compared to my 1M. Firm and well controlled, but no crashing or banging over the bumpy bits.

Martin_M

2,071 posts

226 months

Friday 11th April 2014
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There's no questioning the fact that the M235i is a nice car but as an M135i owner, I don't think the extra money they're asking is worth it unless it is significantly better to drive than my own car (I haven't driven one so don't know for sure).

Within this price bracket, there are just so many new options now...subaru wrx sti, golf R, S3, nearly new A45...it's going to be hard deciding what to replace my m135i with!

As for the 1M - I like it because it's an M car, I like the quad exhaust and the fact it's a rare sight. That said, IMo it's starting to look dated and whilst I like the idea of the rawness the OP talks about, there are two many other options which offer performance and luxury to my mind...

PKZ4M

Original Poster:

184 posts

147 months

Friday 11th April 2014
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"With regards to the 1M - I just can't look at a 1 series coupe now without thinking it looks extremely dated in comparison to the 2 series. Just my personal opinion. Also as a daily driver the M235i was a lot more fun to drive than the M3."



1 series coupe certainly not as modern looking as the 2 series, but in 1M guise I think it still looks "special"...,,


Edited by PKZ4M on Friday 11th April 17:53

WheresMyCar

49 posts

143 months

Saturday 12th April 2014
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I used to have a previous flavour 135i and chopped it in for 1M. The 1M is far more raw and when you're tired and grumpy and have a headache, a real ball ache to drive. Wouldn't swap it though, it's a proper M car, not something that's a (reasonable) compromise between comfort and performance. 3 years in, I still think it looks the part as well (obnoxious, ugly, purposeful), which I wasn't really feeling with the 135i after just a year of ownwership.

wizz72

575 posts

227 months

Saturday 12th April 2014
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I always like the 1 series coupe shape, I thought at the time of its release it looked different for a BMW.My old 135i always divided opinion on looks,which I liked,better that than something that blended into the background.

The new 2 series is a good looking car but far more generic,it blends into the BMW range rather than out as the old 1er coupe did imo.

I adore the way my 1M looks. Wide,squat,angry,ugly,purposeful,menacing. Different. Give me a blistered arch M2 and I may consider changing.

Martin_M

2,071 posts

226 months

Saturday 12th April 2014
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wizz72 said:
I always like the 1 series coupe shape, I thought at the time of its release it looked different for a BMW.My old 135i always divided opinion on looks,which I liked,better that than something that blended into the background.

The new 2 series is a good looking car but far more generic,it blends into the BMW range rather than out as the old 1er coupe did imo.

I adore the way my 1M looks. Wide,squat,angry,ugly,purposeful,menacing. Different. Give me a blistered arch M2 and I may consider changing.
No word on an M2? Do we reckon it's likely?

Johnb850

111 posts

170 months

Saturday 12th April 2014
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Martin_M said:
No word on an M2? Do we reckon it's likely?
The M235i Racing can be bought with number plates.

So I dont think an M2 is too far away. There is definatley a market for a full blown ///M-car in the 40-50k price bracket which has previously been filled by the Z3M, Z4M, and 1M.

Martin_M

2,071 posts

226 months

Saturday 12th April 2014
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Johnb850 said:
Martin_M said:
No word on an M2? Do we reckon it's likely?
The M235i Racing can be bought with number plates.

So I dont think an M2 is too far away. There is definatley a market for a full blown ///M-car in the 40-50k price bracket which has previously been filled by the Z3M, Z4M, and 1M.
Think you've identified the correct price bracket for sure - do you remember when the M3 was £39k new! Car prices have increased so much over the years.

I see Chris Harris has a new M235i to play with - will be interested to hear what he makes of it although I know that some accuse him of being biased in favour of BMWs.

zeduffman

4,054 posts

150 months

Saturday 12th April 2014
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The 2-series is a surprisingly big car imo. That alone draws me to the 1M over the M235i/possible M2 to be honest.

I like the simplicity of the 1M too. Nothing to go out of date, other than the iDrive screen - if you have it.

Disclaimer: I haven't driven either biggrin

-Z-

5,980 posts

205 months

Saturday 12th April 2014
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Martin_M said:
Think you've identified the correct price bracket for sure - do you remember when the M3 was £39k new! Car prices have increased so much over the years.

I see Chris Harris has a new M235i to play with - will be interested to hear what he makes of it although I know that some accuse him of being biased in favour of BMWs.
£39k in 2001 is £55k today and the new M4 costs £56k so not too bad IMO.

pscl227

248 posts

147 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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As a 1M owner (coming from a v10 M5) this car is truly brilliant, but there are 3 words that will always separate this from the M235i.....flared wheel arches.

I leave you with a picture of my dirty motor:


Edited by pscl227 on Sunday 13th April 20:47

Martin_M

2,071 posts

226 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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-Z- said:
Martin_M said:
Think you've identified the correct price bracket for sure - do you remember when the M3 was £39k new! Car prices have increased so much over the years.

I see Chris Harris has a new M235i to play with - will be interested to hear what he makes of it although I know that some accuse him of being biased in favour of BMWs.
£39k in 2001 is £55k today and the new M4 costs £56k so not too bad IMO.
Fair point, I forgot that the E46 came out in 2000 - I know someone who bought a new M3 for around £39k in 2006 just before it was replaced by the E90 which is what got me thinking.

Regardless, unless I swap my house for a flat, a new M3 aint going to be on my driveway! lol...unless some good lease deals materialise as time goes on!

octainejunkee

121 posts

182 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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PKZ4M said:
It was on 18" wheels and ride was excellent compared to my 1M. Firm and well controlled, but no crashing or banging over the bumpy bits.
intresting read..

If you get yourself some e90 m3 18"s the ride and handling is vastly improved on the 1M - along with some geometry tweeks..

Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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zeduffman said:
The 2-series is a surprisingly big car imo. That alone draws me to the 1M over the M235i/possible M2 to be honest.

I like the simplicity of the 1M too. Nothing to go out of date, other than the iDrive screen - if you have it.

Disclaimer: I haven't driven either biggrin
The 1M will always have a following no matter how good the M235i/M2 is.

Martin_M

2,071 posts

226 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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Chris Harris on the M235i so far...

https://twitter.com/harrismonkey