Thursday 19th September 2024

Manhart takes current BMW M240i to 440hp

Ignore the dubious styling add-ons - a faster xDrive 2 Series sounds brilliant

---

Given how the M2 has dominated all BMW 2 Series discussion for a while now, it’s been all too easy to forget about the M240i xDrive. Which is unfortunate, because it’s a great car: powerful, good to drive, lovely to listen to, and less in-your-face than the M car in every sense. And there’s purple on the colour chart. With a recent facelift, the M Performance car may be back on radars again soon, albeit once again fighting for attention alongside the 480hp M2. Ahead of then, and for those who don’t want an M2, Manhart has this: the MH2-450. 

As the name implies, this is (almost) a 450hp 2 Series. From a standard 374hp/369lb ft, it’s now at 440hp/442lb ft thanks to nothing more than Manhart’s in-house MHtronik powerbox. Long live the BMW 3.0-litre B58 engine. There is an assortment of silly exhaust options available for those who want to shout about their extra performance. Additional upgrades exist ‘for those for whom the power on offer here is not enough’. With the standard xDrive and auto box alongside the very tuneable engine, there aren’t many cars that make going very fast so simple. According to Google, the world’s most potent B58 makes 1,200hp. At the wheels. 

Anyway, the Manhart car. Ensuring it makes the most of the extra power are KW V4 coilovers (or you can just have H&R springs, or nothing at all - it’s a good stock setup) as well as wider tyres on Manhart’s Concave One wheels. It’s a familiar overhaul, complete with some wild graphics as well. Subtlety doesn’t really feature in Manhart’s vocab. But might it be argued the 2 Series suits it? It’s never going to truly blend in, even with the 240i’s fairly restrained aesthetic, so perhaps it’s best to lean into the OTT-ness. 

As with all the Manhart demos, though, the stickers and the white wheels and the bigger spoilers are all optional add ons. Going without the graphics but keeping everything else could make for something really smart. With a host of B58 tuning options out there, Manhart needs to make its offering stand out, after all. Its MHtronik powerbox for the M240i is €2,195. Tempting with early ones at less than £40k (and M2s some way from that), and surely with deals to be done on pre-facelift, lightly used ones. Especially in Thundernight purple. 

---

• Check out the BMW M2 ‘TR87 Edition’
• BMW M240i xDrive vs. Birds BMW M235i

[Twinair]

Yeah, the er, ‘styling packs’ I could probably very easily leave well alone! But more twist & more ponies upgrade - deffo. I drove one (in thunder night) before buying the GRY, really liked the M240i - and you can get some mega deals on a new one (with a pcp - cheaper than buying a used one on monthlies). I think the M240i is the thinking persons M2 tbh. Good car with good upgrades. Tick.

[Gibbler290]

So when you order one of these you can say: “No thanks, I don’t want the stickers”. Sorted.

[Motormouth88]

It looks like one of those over-styled Anime cars

[boxedin]

It's an Audi / Gazoo Racing mashup.

Aye, I'll tick the 'no badge' and 'no stickers' option.

[J4CKO]

Two grand for a Tuning box, thats punchy !

There are loads of options for the B58, can get a tuning box for £200, two grand would get you a bespoke remap and some other bits.

[bobj42]

Putting this power upgrade aside for a second, M240i second-hand prices have reached the point where they're looking like viable track cars. (Preferably RWD not xDrive).

I wonder if they would be faster/more reliable/cheaper to run compared to an old M3?

Edited by bobj42 on Thursday 19th September 08:35

[bigyoungdave]

As said in the article, the M240i is starting to look like very good value (relative to price of other stuff). If I didn't have to have something more practical I'd be tempted (by a standard model without tat thrown at it)

[GreatScott2016]

Tempting power upgrade but a costly one too! I’ve often been tempted by the M240i but I couldn’t live with that dash. Yuk. Besides, this wouldn’t persuade me to part with my OG M2, even if the M lite was more powerful. Sometimes, bhp numbers and pure speed are not enough

[Mike1990]

Looks like a generic car you get in GTA games!

[nismo48]

I quite like that..more horses is always a plus and the graphics you can take or leave them.

[CrippsCorner]

Always thought the M235i/M240i really are performance bargains compared to the M2 of the world, it's where my money would be going. Especially with this new model, it's better looking! Can't really complain about this one at all, minus most of the stickers of course.

[Julian Scott]

J4CKO said:

Two grand for a Tuning box, thats punchy !

There are loads of options for the B58, can get a tuning box for £200, two grand would get you a bespoke remap and some other bits.

Very true, but depends on the warranty/protection it comes with.

Guy I know fitted a Schnitzer performance kit to his BMW, cost £2500, did the same as the DMS kit did for less than a third of the price and 10x what he could get from eBay.... but was fitted at a BMW dealer, kept the BMW warranty and came with an addition Schnitzer warranty. Aside from the actual warranty, says a lot about the confidence in the kit.

If I was going to look at a tuning option, I'd happily pay more to get greater protection.

[Julian Scott]

bobj42 said:

Putting this power upgrade aside for a second, M240i second-hand prices have reached the point where they're looking like viable track cars. (Preferably RWD not xDrive).

I wonder if they would be faster/more reliable/cheaper to run compared to an old M3?

Edited by bobj42 on Thursday 19th September 08:35

Is it really an option as a track car? Performance road car with the odd trip on track, maybe, but a Caterham/Elise or even an MX5 is going to make a far far better starting point for a track car, Shirley?

[bobj42]

Julian Scott said:

bobj42 said:

Putting this power upgrade aside for a second, M240i second-hand prices have reached the point where they're looking like viable track cars. (Preferably RWD not xDrive).

I wonder if they would be faster/more reliable/cheaper to run compared to an old M3?

Edited by bobj42 on Thursday 19th September 08:35

Is it really an option as a track car? Performance road car with the odd trip on track, maybe, but a Caterham/Elise or even an MX5 is going to make a far far better starting point for a track car, Shirley?

At trackdays in the UK there are pretty much always stripped out second-hand BMWs out on track.
Countless ones at the Nurburgring too.
So I'd have to say yes.

Caterhams and MX5s are great sure, but each to their own, and you need some variety.
(Also BMWs can be a better fit for taller people.)

[s m]

bobj42 said:

Putting this power upgrade aside for a second, M240i second-hand prices have reached the point where they're looking like viable track cars. (Preferably RWD not xDrive).

I wonder if they would be faster/more reliable/cheaper to run compared to an old M3?

Edited by bobj42 on Thursday 19th September 08:35

Not definitive but certainly not slower in that clip. I’m sure there are others to the contrary………

[Julian Scott]

bobj42 said:

Julian Scott said:

bobj42 said:

Putting this power upgrade aside for a second, M240i second-hand prices have reached the point where they're looking like viable track cars. (Preferably RWD not xDrive).

I wonder if they would be faster/more reliable/cheaper to run compared to an old M3?

Edited by bobj42 on Thursday 19th September 08:35

Is it really an option as a track car? Performance road car with the odd trip on track, maybe, but a Caterham/Elise or even an MX5 is going to make a far far better starting point for a track car, Shirley?

At trackdays in the UK there are pretty much always stripped out second-hand BMWs out on track.
Countless ones at the Nurburgring too.
So I'd have to say yes.

Caterhams and MX5s are great sure, but each to their own, and you need some variety.
(Also BMWs can be a better fit for taller people.)

Yeah, fair point. Suspect it'll be a while until these are the E36 shells though?

[OoopsVoss]

bobj42 said:

Putting this power upgrade aside for a second, M240i second-hand prices have reached the point where they're looking like viable track cars. (Preferably RWD not xDrive).

I wonder if they would be faster/more reliable/cheaper to run compared to an old M3?

Edited by bobj42 on Thursday 19th September 08:35

I thought this version doesn't come as a RWD. You can turn off the X-Drive if you wish, but there is no RWD version (unless you want M2)

[s m]

OoopsVoss said:

bobj42 said:

Putting this power upgrade aside for a second, M240i second-hand prices have reached the point where they're looking like viable track cars. (Preferably RWD not xDrive).

I wonder if they would be faster/more reliable/cheaper to run compared to an old M3?

Edited by bobj42 on Thursday 19th September 08:35

I thought this version doesn't come as a RWD. You can turn off the X-Drive if you wish, but there is no RWD version (unless you want M2)

I think other markets get ( or used to ) the current shape in rwd only - called S-Drive or just M240i

[cerb4.5lee]

I never liked the white wheels on the Peugeot 106 Rallye, and I don't like the white wheels on this either. I never thought the day would come where I'd rather have black wheels to be fair!

Silver wheels are my most favourite though for sure.

[smilo996]

Would love all of that for about a week. Then hate the exterior. However the rest of he mods, if reliable, make a mandhard.
Still think the 1M has the dibs on iconic status but there is nothing not to like about this.