RE: BMW M240i: Driven
Discussion
mikebrownhill said:
Wowfabthingies said:
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.
Which two of the three would you not be without, M135i, M235i, or Moll?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.
You do have to admire the options lists you see for some cars (particularly german)... I mean things like lumbar support, cruise control, split folding seats and electric door mirrors.... all stuff that should really be bog standard. And everything is a "pack"... you can't get a reverse camera unless you also get parking sensors front and back and the mirrors programmed to dip when you select reverse. Can't have heated seats without also having to have fully electric adjustment and leather. Can't just have cruise control, has to be that plus speed limiter, plus automatic braking and lane keep.
Otispunkmeyer said:
You do have to admire the options lists you see for some cars (particularly german)... I mean things like lumbar support, cruise control, split folding seats and electric door mirrors.... all stuff that should really be bog standard. And everything is a "pack"... you can't get a reverse camera unless you also get parking sensors front and back and the mirrors programmed to dip when you select reverse. Can't have heated seats without also having to have fully electric adjustment and leather. Can't just have cruise control, has to be that plus speed limiter, plus automatic braking and lane keep.
Quite so, given the almost trivial cost of fitting them when building a new car, vs. the price people are willing to pay to add them - they're a great earner for the manufacturers, an incremental one for dealers. 4941cc said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
You do have to admire the options lists you see for some cars (particularly german)... I mean things like lumbar support, cruise control, split folding seats and electric door mirrors.... all stuff that should really be bog standard. And everything is a "pack"... you can't get a reverse camera unless you also get parking sensors front and back and the mirrors programmed to dip when you select reverse. Can't have heated seats without also having to have fully electric adjustment and leather. Can't just have cruise control, has to be that plus speed limiter, plus automatic braking and lane keep.
Quite so, given the almost trivial cost of fitting them when building a new car, vs. the price people are willing to pay to add them - they're a great earner for the manufacturers, an incremental one for dealers. I saw a Boxster S sitting outside a Porsche dealer yesterday @ £69,000 including some £16,000 of extras. £69,000 for a BOXSTER????
Otispunkmeyer said:
You do have to admire the options lists you see for some cars (particularly german)... I mean things like lumbar support, cruise control, split folding seats and electric door mirrors.... all stuff that should really be bog standard. And everything is a "pack"... you can't get a reverse camera unless you also get parking sensors front and back and the mirrors programmed to dip when you select reverse. Can't have heated seats without also having to have fully electric adjustment and leather. Can't just have cruise control, has to be that plus speed limiter, plus automatic braking and lane keep.
To be fair, most things you *can* spec on their own, but is more cost effective to spec as part of a pack to promote "spec creep"!(M140i on order, heated seats specced, on their own)
ian_c_uk said:
To be fair, most things you *can* spec on their own, but is more cost effective to spec as part of a pack to promote "spec creep"!
Easier to residualise for the sake of PCP GFVs and end of lease return values, if you consider the number of permutations of 20 or so individual options, vs. two or three preselected packages. 
MustardCutter said:
Ares said:
MustardCutter said:
Ares said:
So it needs waste gate chatter, poops and bangs to make it not bland and give it soul?? How chav-tastic 
What do you define as soul in a car?Certainly not just wastegate chatter and a popping exhaust, unless you are under 18.
I would imagine many petrol heads over the age of 18 enjoy the various mechanical, induction and exhaust noises cars can make. Do they not form part of the car's character? Not everyone over the age of 18 want to be isolated from everything going on like an Audi or Roller, surely?
daemon said:
clarkeysntfc said:
Got an M140i Shadow Edition with the Auto box coming in September so looking forward to ownership 
Sounds good 
What colour did you go for and did you add any other options?
Automatic. Pro Nav and a few other nice things. Tried not to go too options crazy!
Otispunkmeyer said:
You do have to admire the options lists you see for some cars (particularly german)... I mean things like lumbar support, cruise control, split folding seats and electric door mirrors.... all stuff that should really be bog standard. And everything is a "pack"... you can't get a reverse camera unless you also get parking sensors front and back and the mirrors programmed to dip when you select reverse. Can't have heated seats without also having to have fully electric adjustment and leather. Can't just have cruise control, has to be that plus speed limiter, plus automatic braking and lane keep.
For the M240i, you've only got about 10 odd options.<br><br>Reversing camera was available on its own. Packs are usually for things that go together like a cigarette lighter and ashtray.<br><br>
Only with the pov spec (218/220) cars do you get an options list as long as your arm, the 230 has some of those options included and at the top level you get most of the options from the lower spec as standard.
BMW can sell cars on their own merit, they drive well and that makes them desirable, a Ford Kuga that comes with a whole bunch of crap because it cant sell on the merits of its drive, so they pack it with crap and sell it on the basis of how many toys it has.<br><br>
Also, a new Civic has a better standard sound system than the M240i as standard, yes they do this so you'll buy the £600 Harmon Kardon option that the Civic doesn't offer and IMHO, is the only option worth getting on an M240i (and the only one I got, I don't need lane assist or auto braking because I know how to drive). Then again, the Civic and 2 series are like chalk and cheese in almost every regard (I have nothing against the Civic either mind you, a good car in its class but it's a different class to the BMW).
Edited by captain_cynic on Thursday 31st August 15:25
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff