M235i Test drive.
Discussion
So I was fortunate to have a go in an M235i yesterday,good looking car in the flesh if a little generic from some angles,strangley I quite liked the rear which I didn't in
photos,i cant however help but feel it looks a wee bit big for its wheels.It felt more positive than the M135i I test drove a while back displaying better body control and
turn in,i couldn't quite get the electric seat as low as I wanted in relation to the wheel but then I am 6ft 4 ,as with the M135i I found the 3 tier dash and centre
console overly fussy for my tastes and I do wish you could spec a Sat Nav/entertainment screen that folds away instead of permanently being on show,but altogether an
enviroment where you could comfortably spend a good chunk of time.The engine felt very muscular with a low down burble giving way to a nice howl higher up,its slightly
manufactured on the inside thanks to BMW's Active Sound but that doesnt detract from an otherwise good 'voice',pops and crackles on the over run now seem par for the
course ala A45 AMG and F1 but the M235i throws those into the mix too.It certainly goes well mated to the 8speed ZF box.
Im not a big fan of electric steering systems,lacking in some feedback compared to hydraulic,this one however was pretty good,bit of a deadzone feel slightly off centre
but nicely weighted and not totally devoid of feel . The whole package feels very competent and grown up and its happy to play commuter and hooligan in equal measure
which cant be a bad thing.I have to say that overall it was a very capable little car car but then it wanted to be at nearly £43,000.00 with extras,ofc not all will be
quite so heavily specced with luxuries as the demonstrator I drove although this car was missing the LSD which could potentially put you over the 45k mark if you added
it to an already well specced example.If you look at the base price it has lost a little of the bargain tag that the M135i is renowned for but imo opinion
makes up for it in improved looks (subjective i know but i always preferred the coupe) and a better drive,it does however push it into more direct competition price wise
with say something like the A45 AMG,it will be interesting to see how it sells next to that car and its 'cheaper' M135i sibling.
I can almost understand why BMW reportedly wont make a road going M235i Racing because it could be too close in performance to the soon to be released M3/4 but it gives
me great hopes of a blistered arch faster variant in the M2 being something worth waiting for ....hopefully
photos,i cant however help but feel it looks a wee bit big for its wheels.It felt more positive than the M135i I test drove a while back displaying better body control and
turn in,i couldn't quite get the electric seat as low as I wanted in relation to the wheel but then I am 6ft 4 ,as with the M135i I found the 3 tier dash and centre
console overly fussy for my tastes and I do wish you could spec a Sat Nav/entertainment screen that folds away instead of permanently being on show,but altogether an
enviroment where you could comfortably spend a good chunk of time.The engine felt very muscular with a low down burble giving way to a nice howl higher up,its slightly
manufactured on the inside thanks to BMW's Active Sound but that doesnt detract from an otherwise good 'voice',pops and crackles on the over run now seem par for the
course ala A45 AMG and F1 but the M235i throws those into the mix too.It certainly goes well mated to the 8speed ZF box.
Im not a big fan of electric steering systems,lacking in some feedback compared to hydraulic,this one however was pretty good,bit of a deadzone feel slightly off centre
but nicely weighted and not totally devoid of feel . The whole package feels very competent and grown up and its happy to play commuter and hooligan in equal measure
which cant be a bad thing.I have to say that overall it was a very capable little car car but then it wanted to be at nearly £43,000.00 with extras,ofc not all will be
quite so heavily specced with luxuries as the demonstrator I drove although this car was missing the LSD which could potentially put you over the 45k mark if you added
it to an already well specced example.If you look at the base price it has lost a little of the bargain tag that the M135i is renowned for but imo opinion
makes up for it in improved looks (subjective i know but i always preferred the coupe) and a better drive,it does however push it into more direct competition price wise
with say something like the A45 AMG,it will be interesting to see how it sells next to that car and its 'cheaper' M135i sibling.
I can almost understand why BMW reportedly wont make a road going M235i Racing because it could be too close in performance to the soon to be released M3/4 but it gives
me great hopes of a blistered arch faster variant in the M2 being something worth waiting for ....hopefully
Edited by wizz72 on Sunday 9th March 10:54
Had a drive of this M235 at my dealership this afternoon.
My dealer only registered it on Friday, and I was the first to take it on a demo drive, so with only 10 miles on the clock, it wasn’t a full on test drive, but I’ve been promised another longer go if I want in a months time once it’s run in.
It was a fully optioned car given a dealer demo, so ZF8 auto, adaptive dampers, leccy heated seats, Harmon Kardon audio, adaptive xenons, Navigation etc.,etc.
So, what did I think of it.
As I suspected, I hated the electric steering, too vague in feel, although it gives a false impression of being ‘sporty & direct’ because of the 2.0:1 ratio but it not having an oil temp gauge, given how long it takes the N55 to warm up, is just daft IMHO. Instead you’ve got all this eco pro save the planet gubbins.
It’s a very nice car for what it is & rides a lot better than a stock E82 135 did, and it’s way more comfortable.
But......
And this is a big but for me, it didn’t put a smile on my face, and to me it feels like a E92 335i replacement rather than an E82 135i replacement given the size increase and ‘softening’ of the car compared to an E82 135i. To be honest you could close your eyes and be driving a 3 Series or even a 5 Series the way it drives. For the vast majority of people buying this car, I suspect that will be seen as a good thing, but it definitely lacks that ‘rawness’ and compact, small, terrier like nature that the E82 has, and as good as the ZF8 auto is, I prefer the DCT gearbox. Again, the DCT just has that more mechanical feel to it.
So, I might take up the offer of a longer drive in a months time, but I can’t see me replacing my 135i with a M235. When I feel the physical need for something ‘softer’ and more wafty, with a conventional auto ‘box again I’ll replace the 135 when the time comes with a Jag or a Rangie.
My dealer only registered it on Friday, and I was the first to take it on a demo drive, so with only 10 miles on the clock, it wasn’t a full on test drive, but I’ve been promised another longer go if I want in a months time once it’s run in.
It was a fully optioned car given a dealer demo, so ZF8 auto, adaptive dampers, leccy heated seats, Harmon Kardon audio, adaptive xenons, Navigation etc.,etc.
So, what did I think of it.
As I suspected, I hated the electric steering, too vague in feel, although it gives a false impression of being ‘sporty & direct’ because of the 2.0:1 ratio but it not having an oil temp gauge, given how long it takes the N55 to warm up, is just daft IMHO. Instead you’ve got all this eco pro save the planet gubbins.
It’s a very nice car for what it is & rides a lot better than a stock E82 135 did, and it’s way more comfortable.
But......
And this is a big but for me, it didn’t put a smile on my face, and to me it feels like a E92 335i replacement rather than an E82 135i replacement given the size increase and ‘softening’ of the car compared to an E82 135i. To be honest you could close your eyes and be driving a 3 Series or even a 5 Series the way it drives. For the vast majority of people buying this car, I suspect that will be seen as a good thing, but it definitely lacks that ‘rawness’ and compact, small, terrier like nature that the E82 has, and as good as the ZF8 auto is, I prefer the DCT gearbox. Again, the DCT just has that more mechanical feel to it.
So, I might take up the offer of a longer drive in a months time, but I can’t see me replacing my 135i with a M235. When I feel the physical need for something ‘softer’ and more wafty, with a conventional auto ‘box again I’ll replace the 135 when the time comes with a Jag or a Rangie.
Slippydiff said:
Please bring back good, old fashioned, straightforward hydraulic power steering !
Granted, at 2.7:1 ratio, it's not as quick as the 2.2:1 rack in the 1M, plus it has the weaker non-///M steering arms etc., but I certainly don't think it's lacking feel and weight (it is compared to a 1M, but is heaps better than any other E8* 1 Series with their electric steering, and this new M235 which was like twirling an american cars power steering compared with my E82 135i. I don't think the salesman was too impressed as I explained in no uncertain terms that I hated the steering, as I was manoevering it out of the car park at the start of the test drive.
As much as the ride quality of the E82 was back in stock form, at least it can be drastically improved upon - just as shame you have to pay money to get a car BMW should have built in the first place - but they would argue that they did - it's called the 1M.
I would have bought a 1M new instead of the 135, but with a knackered left shoulder, and living in London, a 3 pedal car is not an option for me any more.
Slippydiff said:
aeropilot said:
Slippydiff said:
Please bring back good, old fashioned, straightforward hydraulic power steering !
I realise that. My guess is the E82 I drove, was suffering from a combination of hopeless geometry, poor runflats and/or over-inflated runflats.
Not many UK 135i were optioned with this but there are a few around and I've seen reports from USA owners (where it is a little more common) that the feel isn't as good as the default steering.
I really want to test drive the M235i. We currently have a Z4 35i, with the DCT gear box and we're looking to upgrade to something a little more practical.
The M3 was on our list, but having test driven one, it doesn't make sense to us. Yes it's powerful and still has the DCT gearbox, but it's quite dated now (in comparison to the 2 and 4 series), a little big for what we want and it will come with M associated running costs. This has now got us thinking about buying an M235i as an alternative to the Z4. On paper the M235i is supposed to be quicker than the Z4, but I can't see how when it has the 8 speed auto gearbox.
The M3 was on our list, but having test driven one, it doesn't make sense to us. Yes it's powerful and still has the DCT gearbox, but it's quite dated now (in comparison to the 2 and 4 series), a little big for what we want and it will come with M associated running costs. This has now got us thinking about buying an M235i as an alternative to the Z4. On paper the M235i is supposed to be quicker than the Z4, but I can't see how when it has the 8 speed auto gearbox.
All i was saying is that the advertised showroom price was a whisker under £43,000.If you go to the BMW configurator and add everything you can almost get to 45k and that's still not with the LSD option. But your quite right,i have no doubt you can get it cheaper elsewhere if you know where to go. A well specced one at the price you suggest would be great as the basic on these is around 35k,it will be interesting to see what deals people can get
I like the look of it a lot, a work mate has a M135i and its a great car, only issue i had was its looks, this model looks like it sorts out that problem, im in the market for a car in the next 6 months, but i cant help thinking that this price range is very similar to a 981 Cayman/Boxster, a test drive will reveal the answer i guess.
I was at the same dealership on Sunday as well. Had a good look around at what they had on offer and was only impressed by a couple of cars...the B6 Alpina they had upstairs, the interior of the 6 series downstairs and surprisingly the i3.
What I didn't like was how generic the feel and look of the 1, 2 and 3 series are inside. The sat nav location, the switchgear, the cheap plasticky panels on the lower doorcards. Made the £50k 335xd they had feel hellishly overpriced.
What I didn't like was how generic the feel and look of the 1, 2 and 3 series are inside. The sat nav location, the switchgear, the cheap plasticky panels on the lower doorcards. Made the £50k 335xd they had feel hellishly overpriced.
Jim909 said:
I like the look of it a lot, a work mate has a M135i and its a great car, only issue i had was its looks, this model looks like it sorts out that problem, im in the market for a car in the next 6 months, but i cant help thinking that this price range is very similar to a 981 Cayman/Boxster, a test drive will reveal the answer i guess.
I'm in that place too, once spec'd to the same level as my 1 series it no longer looks like a bargain. Jim909 said:
I like the look of it a lot, a work mate has a M135i and its a great car, only issue i had was its looks, this model looks like it sorts out that problem, im in the market for a car in the next 6 months, but i cant help thinking that this price range is very similar to a 981 Cayman/Boxster, a test drive will reveal the answer i guess.
You would have to look at Cayman/Boxster S brought up to the same spec as the "base" M135i first, including their respective discounts. This should return a £15k difference at least, more if you start speccing fast depreciating options on both cars.Volition said:
M235i spec'd with all the options we want = £43k.
Boxster S spec'd with all the options we want £62k
20k difference is massive! Also factoring in that BMW are doing PCP deals on the M135/M235 at just under 6%. Porsche IR's are way higher on the Boxster S.
True - but my thought process is that if i am prepared to spend that much on a M235, I could get a slightly less spec Cayman S for not very much more, might well be my thought process thats skewy though, and yes i bet in the next 6 months some deals on the M235 will appear.Boxster S spec'd with all the options we want £62k
20k difference is massive! Also factoring in that BMW are doing PCP deals on the M135/M235 at just under 6%. Porsche IR's are way higher on the Boxster S.
Volition said:
M235i spec'd with all the options we want = £43k.
Boxster S spec'd with all the options we want £62k
20k difference is massive! Also factoring in that BMW are doing PCP deals on the M135/M235 at just under 6%. Porsche IR's are way higher on the Boxster S.
I don't get the comparison between a M235 and a Boxter.....???Boxster S spec'd with all the options we want £62k
20k difference is massive! Also factoring in that BMW are doing PCP deals on the M135/M235 at just under 6%. Porsche IR's are way higher on the Boxster S.
One is a 2dr, 4 seat sports saloon (forget this coupe marketing crap) with reasonable levels of practicality and the other is a 2 seat open top sports car with next to no practicality.
I can understand someone looking at a Z4 and comparing price with a Boxter, but not the M235....bizarre.
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