Wednesday 25th February 2015

2015 BMW M235i Cabriolet | Review

Fatter, pricier and considerably windier than the M235i Coupe, but far more fun than you were probably expecting

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Cabriolets always struggle to be taken seriously as performance cars, even if they're based on something really good. So we fully understand that the prospect of reading about a heavier, less rigid and more expensive version of the BMW M235i probably isn't making you salivate in anticipation a great driver's car.

Heavier yes, but still good fun

Yet, behind the obvious limitations that come from decapitating any structural box, there's a huge amount to like about the rag-top version of the M235i, largely because it doesn't try too hard to be something that it's not. And after recently being told that the new X6M was M's idea of the future of the performance car, the 2 Series is also welcome confirmation that BMW's go-faster division does still know how to make something with right-wheel drive, a punchy engine and a chassis that delivers an optimum balance between grunt and grip.

Who ate all the pies?
Admittedly physics aren't on the Cabrio's side. On BMW's official numbers it's a chunky 145kg fatter than the Coupe, with the extra mass of the sub-surface structural reinforcement (plus the roof and mechanism) pushing the kerbweight to a one-at-a-time-please 1,695kg. Despite that, the official 0-62mph time is only two tenths slower than that of the Coupe when fitted with the optional eight-speed automatic we tested the car with. There's no arguing that the extra mass has a noticeable effect on the Cabriolet's willingness to change direction. It's definitely not as agile as the fleet-footed Coupe, and you'll feel some understeer if you try and bung it too hard at a slower corner.

Slow-in, fast-out suits the M235i best

Next - look away, matron - rigidity. By cabriolet standards the M235i feels decently strong and stable. Anyone whose previous ragtop experience was one of the 1990s cereal boxes will find it feels like a roll cage-equipped tank by comparison. But if you try and carry an optimistic speed over a rough road surface with the roof down you do feel tremors in the structure, and see the rear-view mirror wobbling out of sequence. Find a big bump in the middle of a loaded-up corner and there's a similar sensation of an undamped force momentarily interrupting proceedings, although briefly enough its more wibble than wobble.

But...
Which brings us to the point where, if we had one, a curly-haired TV presenter would drop the 'B' word and turn the tables. Because inherent cabriolet foibles aside, the fresh-air M235i turns out to be a thoroughly enjoyable way to enjoy a cheek-tingling blast down a slippery B-road. BMW has an abundance of turbocharged straight sixes these days, and although this one can't match the output of the M4's motor, it's arguably the more charismatic unit, revving keenly beyond the 5,800rpm where peak power arrives and through to 7,000rpm, delivering some rorty harmonics while it does so.

Quite the looker given some recent BMWs

And although the M Performance 2 Series isn't a 'proper' M car within BMW's rigid hierarchy, it shares the characteristic that defines M's best offerings of having just slightly more power than grip; enough to make things interesting without getting excessively wayward. You can turn the stability control off and play the hooligan, but the M235i still feels alive with everything switched on as the tubby torque curve helps influence its cornering line. And, unlike the M4, there's definitely not a sensation-sapping superabundance of grip at road speeds, with the steering faithfully reporting fading adhesion through its electrical assistance. If anything, the cabriolet's slightly more relaxed natural pace - as dictated by its extra mass and occasional structural foible - positively encourages a sort of slow-in, fast-out technique that suits the car particularly well.

So that's a 'quite decent cabriolet' shocker, then. If you're going to do something as fundamentally daft as buy a car that's lost a major structural component, the M235i does seem a relatively painless way to do it. The Coupe is definitely still the better-driving car, but the Cabriolet certainly retains more old-fashioned M-ness than many of its supposed superiors.

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BMW M235I CABRIOLET
Engine: 2,979cc, straight-six turbocharged
Transmission: Eight-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 322@5,800-6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 332@1,300-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 5.0 sec (claimed)
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Weight: 1,695kg
MPG: 35.8 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 184g/km
Price: £39,255 (basic RRP)

 

[p1stonhead]

Reminds me of the E46 M3 Cab.

Looks like a cracker for £40k.

[v10yep]

1,695kg.... Good lord

[TurboHatchback]

v10yep said:

1,695kg.... Good lord

Indeed, that's damn near as heavy as my enormous AWD V8 luxobarge! Have they just machined it out of a giant billet of cast iron?

[moffat]

I had both the previous model 135i Coupe and then the 135i Convertible.

The convertible wasn't as good as the Coupe when driven hard, but combined with a chip (JB4 = 375bhp), BMW Performance Exhaust and BMW Performance Short Shift Kit actually made for a fantastic little car.

Roof down and cold engine startups where incredible. The exhaust was genuinely excellent really overlooked even by my BMW dealer who thought I was mad doing it until they heard it. I can only imagine that this is a great car, yes heavy but par for the course with convertibles these days.

Wonder if they will do an M2 Convertible?

I also much prefer these triple layered cloth roof's versus the horrible metal folding ones which make the cars look funny, add ridiculous weight and also steal all the boot space when down.

[g3org3y]

p1stonhead said:

Reminds me of the E46 M3 Cab.

Looks like a cracker for £40k.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's even quicker than the 'proper' M car on the road. Performance far more accessible with a lot less effort.

I reckon the M2 will be rather special.

[steveb8189]

Still not a big fan of the rear light cluster but everything else gets a thumbs up.

Found out last week they also make a 2 series with 7 seats... I may well be wrong but there can't be many models which have a 2 seat and a 7 seat variant!

[W00DY]

A 1700kg automatic cabrio is proof that ///M is still building drivers' cars?

It's not even good looking.

[aka_kerrly]

v10yep said:

1,695kg.... Good lord

Have people always been so sensitive to a cars weight?

A E36 M3 cabriolet is 1560kg, a E46 M3 1655kg and a E93 M3 1750kg, the new one is LIGHTER than the previous model!

[Patrick Bateman]

aka_kerrly said:

Have people always been so sensitive to a cars weight?

A E36 M3 cabriolet is 1560kg, a E46 M3 1655kg and a E93 M3 1750kg, the new one is LIGHTER than the previous model!

This isn't even a 3 series, let alone an M3.

This weighs the same as an F10 535i.

[aka_kerrly]

The 2 series is meant to be the coupe/convertible version of the 1 series but lets face it BMW naming scheme has gone out the window, a M4 Cabriolet is a 4 seater closer to the size of a 6 series than a previous generation 3 series plus it weighs in at circa 1850kg.

[Shaoxter]

moffat said:

I also much prefer these triple layered cloth roof's versus the horrible metal folding ones which make the cars look funny, add ridiculous weight and also steal all the boot space when down.

I wonder what the weight would have been with a metal roof?

[nbetts]

Nice write-up. Things are compromised when you chop the roof off. We all know that. However, it is how much that compromise shows in the actual car when driven down a road. Owning a M135 tin top - I know it is structurally more tight then the previous 135i Convertible that I had before. But to be honest I thought the 135i Convertible was a pretty good car anyway and it felt admirably good for a convertible.

This M235i does remind me, rather fondly, of my E36 Convertible I had in 1999. I loved that car and I reckon this M235i at around the same price that I paid for my E36 M3 Convertible back in 1999 (£46k) will be a cracking car.

Definitely one to add to the short-list for when it comes to replacing my M135i daily driver.

[J4CKO]

But its forty grand ! forty grand for a little BMW cabriolet, and that is before options, Jesus that is a lot of money !

[British Beef]

When is the last time BMW actually made a good looking, well proportioned drivers car?

I just cannot get past the proportions of these things, so ugly.

1695kg is within 50kg of my E39 M5, not sure how BMW has managed that scale of devolution over the past 15 years!!

[British Beef]

£40k basic likely £50k with options, surely that makes and Evora 400 at £70k a bargain ;-)

[SFO]

I like the relatively simple construction of this car .. no pointless metal roofs, and it looks much better than the 1 series convertible.

am surprised it is so heavy though. a mercedes SL400 with twin turbo V6 and metal folding roof is about the same weight!

[Cotic]

British Beef said:

£40k basic likely £50k with options, surely that makes and Evora 400 at £70k a bargain ;-)

Certainly makes the F-Type seem a bargain, at £58k; and the F-Type's lighter...

Edited by Cotic on Wednesday 25th February 12:24

[GroundEffect]

My E92 335i Coupe is 1610kg. So this car being a bit smaller is a person heavier due to the cab system. Not so bad.

With 330PS rather than 310PS of my car, it'll be about as fast. Good work, if it handles well.

Pity 4-seat cabrios look like arse, always.

[British Beef]

Cotic said:

British Beef said:

£40k basic likely £50k with options, surely that makes and Evora 400 at £70k a bargain ;-)

Certainly makes the F-Type seem a bargain, at £58k.

Yes, if you only need 2 seats. Evora offers 2+2, although no convertible!

Here lies the tricky little niche BMW are diving into, a compact "sporty" 2+2 convertible that weighs the same as an average estate car, yet costs the same as some attractive coupes from Lotus, Porsche, Jaguar etc. Who buys this sh!te, seriously?

[GTEYE]

I don't really see the point in getting too worked up about the weight.

If its presumably there to make it structurally sound and safe, that's fine by me.

By all accounts it drives well, its hardly slow, and is reasonably frugal, so again all sounds good.

Yes, its fairly expensive, but all cars are these days - the only downside for me is it looks a little frumpy, but I think the coupe does as well - but it's not a disaster by any means.

Edited by GTEYE on Wednesday 25th February 12:32

Edited by GTEYE on Wednesday 25th February 12:32