RE: BMW M240i: Driven

[HighwayStar]

RedTrident said:

That's not what I meant

More musing about what I can get away with having a small child.

After posting on here yesterday, I took it for a blast over the hills of Saddleworth. Some lovely roads. Flicked it into sport, every setting to optimise the driver experience. It wasn't any better. Honestly, it is completely over rated. A 2 litre 4 cylinder like a Golf GTi or the AMG45 is a much better drivers car imo.

Ok, the Golf I get as something for comparison to the M240i and I understand what you're are actually saying but the AMG45... that's a completely different level of performance for considerably more money than the BMW, thought that hasn't been universally praised for involvement either.

Out of curiousity, serious question... how did you get it so wrong with the BMW? Did you get a proper test drive of one?

[RedTrident]

Did have my 2 year old with me so was more looking to see if the pram fit and I could get her in and out.

At the time I suppose I was looking for other things. It felt solid, it was comfortable, relatively quiet and it is nimble.

Also thought it would loosen up a bit, the powerband is really narrow. The higher the revs the more noise rather than more power. Was trying to work out exactly what my gripes were when I went out in it last night and along with the lack of steering feel this would be my other main criticism.

I really don't think I'm looking at this car with unreasonable expectations. I've read the reviews about real world performance and how close they are to the genuine M cars. Maybe they are on paper but no way in real life. I'd love to read a long term comparison between this M240i and an M2.

Should have driven it on my own as well as with a 2 year old in on reflection!

[ScoobyChris]

RedTrident said:

Also thought it would loosen up a bit, the powerband is really narrow. The higher the revs the more noise rather than more power.

I'm surprised by that comment as my M140i pulls strongly from about 1500rpm all the way to the red line.

Chris

[smashy]

Does anyone actually like the way a BMW steering tightens up when put in sport mode if only as the article said you could mix and match

[ScoobyChris]

smashy said:

Does anyone actually like the way a BMW steering tightens up when put in sport mode if only as the article said you could mix and match

I do - wish it was heavy all the time

Chris

[cerb4.5lee]

ScoobyChris said:

smashy said:

Does anyone actually like the way a BMW steering tightens up when put in sport mode if only as the article said you could mix and match

I do - wish it was heavy all the time

Chris

Same for me because I've been used to bmw's hydraulic systems, the electric system just feels too light and vague to me.

[HighwayStar]

RedTrident said:

Did have my 2 year old with me so was more looking to see if the pram fit and I could get her in and out.

At the time I suppose I was looking for other things. It felt solid, it was comfortable, relatively quiet and it is nimble.

Also thought it would loosen up a bit, the powerband is really narrow. The higher the revs the more noise rather than more power. Was trying to work out exactly what my gripes were when I went out in it last night and along with the lack of steering feel this would be my other main criticism.

I really don't think I'm looking at this car with unreasonable expectations. I've read the reviews about real world performance and how close they are to the genuine M cars. Maybe they are on paper but no way in real life. I'd love to read a long term comparison between this M240i and an M2.

Should have driven it on my own as well as with a 2 year old in on reflection!

Yes, you really needed get and extended test drive... especially if you can't get onto roads you know well.

The reviews saying the M240i is close in performance to the M2 is in reference to the numbers. In the way the two cars go about their business, the M2 is thee drivers car. M3 suspension and other goodies... BMW did it right with that M2. The MXXXi cars are not M division cars.

[RedTrident]

HighwayStar said:

The MXXXi cars are not M division cars.

I think that was what I was alluding to. From my point of view the cheapest 1 series would have done what I value from the M140i. The power without the feel or responsiveness take away from the driving pleasure.

Lesson learned for me. Buy the real thing or don't bother and save my money buying the cheapest version knowing I'm not going to get the performance I want.

[RobM77]

smashy said:

Does anyone actually like the way a BMW steering tightens up when put in sport mode if only as the article said you could mix and match

I find the sport mode on later BMWs rather contrived to be honest. Why would I want more steering weight when I arrive at my favourite road or favourite set of corners?! The throttle response winds me up as well; all sport mode seems to do is increase the gain in the top part of the pedal - the annoying lag that most petrol BMWs have is still there, in fact with the greater throttle gain once the dam thing does respond, sport mode makes this lag seem even more annoying. The one nice thing though is that with sport mode engaged, heel and toe becomes easier whilst balancing your feet tentatively over the over-sensitive brake pedal. As you may guess, BMW's control weightings really wind me up! Admittedly though, no worse than many other manufacturers.

[JackReacher]

Bullmiester said:

I have the Birds set up( sus only) and am very happy with it, £1800, fitted in a few hours,the ride is still firm but the damping actually works instead of being deflected from one imperfection to the next.My problem with the std set up was the vertical movement it sent through the vehicle made it very uncomfortable on b roads and not confidence inspiring when pushing on.you can probably get a cheaper solution, but if like me, you just want a drive in/out solution, Birds certainly know there stuff. I find it crazy that BMW fit such poor suspension to there cars as for a relatively small amount of money they could do the job properly in the first place.Each to their own I know, but why people spend xxx ££ m exhasts etc when the damn thing cannot put down the power is beyond me !

Interesting thanks, yes it's a shame the suspension is a weak point but they have to create a difference between it and the M2. Do you know which suspension kit Birds 'tweak' for their application, presumably a bilstein/eibach kit, and no doubt a cheaper 'non tweaked' option is available that would make a significant difference, but understand why you'd go got the drive in and out option. Also agree to some extent on the preference of people to look at other modifications before the suspension. Personally, I have no idea why so many people of the Facebook group want JB4 boxes to increase bhp, 340bhp is plenty and it can struggle to get most of that down in damp conditions or undulating roads.

[MarJay]

£43570 as tested, or you could have an M2 for similar money with all the options as standard. Bit of a no-brainer really.

Shame I can't afford either.

[QuattroDave]

MarJay said:

£43570 as tested, or you could have an M2 for similar money with all the options as standard. Bit of a no-brainer really.

Shame I can't afford either.

No you can\t.

M2 is 46k before options and you'd still be ticking options to get to the spec this car is tested at and you'd be hard pushed to get any discount. Then there's the discounts widely available on the M240 which is roughly 7-8k so in reality you're looking at:

M2 - 50k
M240 - 35k

Which restores the order both in price and performance.

[KPB1973]

RedTrident said:

Lesson learned for me. Buy the real thing or don't bother and save my money buying the cheapest version knowing I'm not going to get the performance I want.

I don't think you're alone with this mistake.

First impressions of the M-lites (x35 and x40 variants) tend to be absolutely dominated by the sense of RWD, pretty good quality/comfort and the thumping 6cyl powertrain. They're pretty compelling, even on an extended test drive.

Its only exposure to different weather and all road conditions that brings their weakeness to the fore, with the biggest issue being the lack of control over the mass at the rear on undulating surfaces, where I found my M135i downright unpleasant beyond about 7 / 10ths.

Once I admitted to myself that the car was too powerful for the chassis, my gripes with the ZF8 (whining, lurching at low speeds, never really exploiting the full midrange in auto mode, dropping cogs on the motorway for small overtakes), small fuel tank and a few other issues, tipped me into downright frustration.

As the gearbox whine got worse and worse over the next 6 months, I couldn't wait to get rid.

I still read Babybmw etc to try and understand how 'tied down' the newer models 140/240 models are, but seemingly, if you don't spec the adaptive suspension you'll just suffer many of the same dynamic issues, just to a lesser extent compared to the older models.

The biggest frustration is that these cars, with a bit more effort (as shown by those who fit Eibach / Birds stuff) could have been absolutely epic right from the factory.

[RobM77]

That's interesting KPB, a useful insight. As I think I've said earlier, I've had few opportunities to drive the whole range of 1 and 3 series cars and I've often found, with a few exceptions, that my favourites for all round appeal are the bottom and top of the range, or any other model, but only with very carefully selected spec. I feel the same about Mercedes, as does a friend of mine whose used to drive them for a living. I wish I was more knowledgeable on ride and handling to pin it down specifically, but I get the general sense that the basic cars with all standard bits at the bottom of the range are thoroughly engineered, and the upgrades and changes made to the cars to raise their performance (for example, big wheels and low profile tyres), can have a detrimental effect on how the cars drive; whereas the M models have the sense of being thoroughly engineered with all those elements already in place. I may be talking rubbish, but that's the sense I get from the driver's seat or a lot of BMWs. I have heard others more qualified than me on here say the same thing. Working your way up through the range, you get this lovely cohesive feel with the basic models. For example, I looked at a 116d M Sport with my wife a few years ago and I loved the way it drove (although of course it was extremely slow!). Then, things are mixed going through interim models and suddenly when you step into an M car everything seems cohesive again, but at a much higher level of performance.

[KPB1973]

RobM77 said:

I get the general sense that the basic cars with all standard bits at the bottom of the range are thoroughly engineered, and the upgrades and changes made to the cars to raise their performance (for example, big wheels and low profile tyres), can have a detrimental effect on how the cars drive; whereas the M models have the sense of being thoroughly engineered with all those elements already in place.

I've not driven any M-cars to be able to comment properly, but I must say my 2016 530D drives as you'd hope a BMW saloon would. It at least feels like the front and rear suspension are working in partnership.

But based on the other F-series 1 & 3 series beemers i've driven, I think they've struggled to switch to ePAS, and over-reacted to the wooden-wheel reputation of the old E-series M Sports by dialing a bit too much softness into their passive set ups.

Sorry for the slight thread drift.

[RobM77]

KPB1973 said:

RobM77 said:

I get the general sense that the basic cars with all standard bits at the bottom of the range are thoroughly engineered, and the upgrades and changes made to the cars to raise their performance (for example, big wheels and low profile tyres), can have a detrimental effect on how the cars drive; whereas the M models have the sense of being thoroughly engineered with all those elements already in place.

I've not driven any M-cars to be able to comment properly, but I must say my 2016 530D drives as you'd hope a BMW saloon would. It at least feels like the front and rear suspension are working in partnership.

But based on the other F-series 1 & 3 series beemers i've driven, I think they've struggled to switch to ePAS, and over-reacted to the wooden-wheel reputation of the old E-series M Sports by dialing a bit too much softness into their passive set ups.

Sorry for the slight thread drift.

Maybe the effect I describe isn't necessarily rooted in the base models of each range, rather its the best selling 'typical' model of each range? The 530d is certainly a sweet spot lots of people go for.

[richard-h425d]

When will BMW produce the Coupe's in hatchback form....I would buy one immedietly.
I have had a M sport 3, X3 and X5, and 2 1 series which need a bold makeover by now but reluctantly BMW seem to style up the Coupes and very nice they are too but for poor peasants like me who need a little more utilitarian use of the motor the choice is limiting.....I have had to revert to a 220d A Class Mercedes with all the extras!!!
Come on BMW..I can't be the only bloke who needs the car to look a bit racy yet be more useful for the larger things in life?!

[Wowfabthingies]

I bought a 235i convertible and love the car - has best of all worlds for me.

[Spoof]

Not too many complaints in this review either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIdnkyilYKI

It's a budget performance car, nothing more, if you expected a complete M package, then more fool you - thats why BMW make an M2.

[mikebrownhill]

[quote=Wowfabthingies ]

I bought a 235i convertible and love the car - has best of all worlds for me. [url]

So did I and I agree, the convertible is a bit heavier yes, but I also have a M135i and the performance is hard to differentiate between them really - I have had a pair of stepladders, IKEA flat-packs and a child seat in the back of the M135i all at the same time and still had a bit of fun on the way home - and the convertible M235i is great for going out to a country pub on a nice sunny evening with my Moll.

I wouldn't be without either, and they don't do either in the full fat M version anyway do they.