BMW M140i vs Golf R. Which is best for Britain and tuning?
Discussion
CG2020UK said:
The thought of people opening up a 400bhp m140i is terrifying.
It’s ropey enough in an M4 or M2 and they’re on a completely different level.
My m140 is 500bhp and it puts it down fine, in the dry, with warm tyres, it’s seriously quick down a road now. Tries to kill you in the cold and wet though, which can be part of the fun It’s ropey enough in an M4 or M2 and they’re on a completely different level.
Driver101 said:
My post quotes HM2 who is talking about the M240i. Not the M2.
I wound my 235i north of 400hp with little in the way of supporting mods , set of bilsteins and DS2500 pads didnt get around to the diff but it was a great car and more manageable than a F82 M4 that I drove 
Leicester Loyal said:
Still got the ST then Dylan? I remember your thread on here and think we've spoke occasionally in there. You're a young lad aren't you? I don't know you personally but get a house before spending 25k on a car.
Back to my usual self, I think I'd go for the M140i, Golfs are pretty common but they are so capable. M2 and M4 are nice but the tier above really. Nothing wrong with keeping the ST for another 2 or 3 years though, very good car and if you're not carrying passengers regularly, suitable enough.
Hiya mate,Back to my usual self, I think I'd go for the M140i, Golfs are pretty common but they are so capable. M2 and M4 are nice but the tier above really. Nothing wrong with keeping the ST for another 2 or 3 years though, very good car and if you're not carrying passengers regularly, suitable enough.
Not to worry, I'm 22 now I bought my house over a year ago now so I've been sort of "grown up" in terms of money
I do enjoy the ST for what it is but it was the dilemma of spend more on the ST or just save that money and put it into the next car i.e either a Golf R or an M140. The rear of my ST is stripped out because I literally only take my girlfriend out in it so I thought why keep the rear seats? Plus makes it more practical as a van I suppose
Driver101 said:
popeyewhite said:
Driver101 said:
The problem is there are so many owners that have done nothing to cope with all the extra power.
The M2 already has good enough brakes for road use at higher power and doesn't need anything else to cope with just an extra 40 bhp.Dylanaledhall said:
Hiya mate,
Not to worry, I'm 22 now I bought my house over a year ago now so I've been sort of "grown up" in terms of money
I do enjoy the ST for what it is but it was the dilemma of spend more on the ST or just save that money and put it into the next car i.e either a Golf R or an M140. The rear of my ST is stripped out because I literally only take my girlfriend out in it so I thought why keep the rear seats? Plus makes it more practical as a van I suppose
In that case buy whatever makes you feel happy!Not to worry, I'm 22 now I bought my house over a year ago now so I've been sort of "grown up" in terms of money
I do enjoy the ST for what it is but it was the dilemma of spend more on the ST or just save that money and put it into the next car i.e either a Golf R or an M140. The rear of my ST is stripped out because I literally only take my girlfriend out in it so I thought why keep the rear seats? Plus makes it more practical as a van I suppose
Reckon I'll go down the stage 1 remap route in the next few months in my ST, a bit more power would make it much more capable.
Leicester Loyal said:
In that case buy whatever makes you feel happy!
Reckon I'll go down the stage 1 remap route in the next few months in my ST, a bit more power would make it much more capable.
Go for it! I've been happy with my Stage 2 map, admittedly I got used to the power quickly but apart from the occasional weekend blast, I really don't get to exploit even half of the power on my daily commute (town driving all the way Reckon I'll go down the stage 1 remap route in the next few months in my ST, a bit more power would make it much more capable.
)Dylanaledhall said:
LeighW said:
I don't know if it's the same for all years, but the 2019 M240i I viewed on Sunday (and bought!) showed the history on the display.
That's what I was expecting, didn't think it could be wiped. Hope you enjoy the car mate . An 240i will be my next car unless I find a good priced and well- speced M4. Typically the M4 was my partner's favourite too LeighW said:
Thanks mate, pick it up on Friday. This will be our daily driver and I think it will be ideal for that, it felt plenty fast enough to me and is one of the few well specced ones available. It amazes me that out of all the M240s on sale hardly any even have cruise control (I know it can be retro fitted though) - I'm assuming they're ex lease?
Quite possibly ex lease cars. Strange that BMW didn't fit it anyway since cruise comes standard on much cheaper cars. Cruise has never been an option on my personal radar - if it has it great. If not, I won't lose sleep over it. I just think it makes the car more attractive to a potential buyer. Purchased a 7.5 Golf R at the weekend. It's not standard (400/400), but is a step up from the tuned M140i I drove on the day I put the deposit down. Ride quality, handling,steering and cabin are better in the Golf. It is very fast as it puts all of its power into the tarmac, whereas the 500bhp BMW was spectacular fun but too fragile and too small. I can see others thinking it's more fun in the dry, and that may be the case, but I'd prefer a more practical, tuneable car I can use all the year round. I think a tuned M2 comp is considerably more special and may be a better alternative to a sorted Golf R.
popeyewhite said:
Purchased a 7.5 Golf R at the weekend. It's not standard (400/400), but is a step up from the tuned M140i I drove on the day I put the deposit down. Ride quality, handling,steering and cabin are better in the Golf. It is very fast as it puts all of its power into the tarmac, whereas the 500bhp BMW was spectacular fun but too fragile and too small. I can see others thinking it's more fun in the dry, and that may be the case, but I'd prefer a more practical, tuneable car I can use all the year round. I think a tuned M2 comp is considerably more special and may be a better alternative to a sorted Golf R.
Fair play, mate. Can't disagree with you especially in terms of handing and cabin (especially space). Just for me personally the 140s engine just won me over. Different strokes for different folks Hope you enjoy it though. The M4 was a much more competent car which is why I'm considering spending the extra money to get one. Still think a B58 in an M4 chassis would be fab. Edited by Dylanaledhall on Thursday 9th February 19:28
Dylanaledhall said:
Fair play, mate. Can't disagree with you especially in terms of handing and cabin (especially space). Just for me personally the 140s engine just won me over. Different strokes for different folks Hope you enjoy it though. The M4 was a much more competent car which is why I'm considering spending the extra money to get one. Still think a B58 in an M4 chassis would be fab.
The engine in the 140i is a cracker. Hope you enjoy it though. The M4 was a much more competent car which is why I'm considering spending the extra money to get one. Still think a B58 in an M4 chassis would be fab. So I finally got a drive in another M240 and must say it did suprise me. The first of these surprises was the brakes. I mentioned previously that the M140i that I drove didn't inspire much confidence when braking, they didn't feel bitey and although they worked, I felt you really had to push the pedal further than necessary. This M240i however braked much better, I'd say even better than my STs brakes but I've basically cooked those and I'm due replacements soon.
Something else I forgot the mlites did was creep in first gear. Surprised me at first because the last proper BMW I drove was an M4 and the M4 didn't creep forward in first.
But yeah, I just wanted to see what a 240 felt like on the road, was very comfy, still just as fast as I remember the 140 being but there's still something about that M4 which is way more tempting.
In terms of price, this M240 was £23,000 and it didn't have pro nav, didn't have the digital dash but did have the creme interior which really isn't to my taste. For £23,000 you can get into an ok M4 which to me, would be a hell of a lot more appealing and would make more sense.
Something else I forgot the mlites did was creep in first gear. Surprised me at first because the last proper BMW I drove was an M4 and the M4 didn't creep forward in first.
But yeah, I just wanted to see what a 240 felt like on the road, was very comfy, still just as fast as I remember the 140 being but there's still something about that M4 which is way more tempting.
In terms of price, this M240 was £23,000 and it didn't have pro nav, didn't have the digital dash but did have the creme interior which really isn't to my taste. For £23,000 you can get into an ok M4 which to me, would be a hell of a lot more appealing and would make more sense.
Edited by Dylanaledhall on Thursday 23 February 09:07
nickfrog said:
Brakes use the same hardware so should feel the same. Difference could be due to fluid, air in the system, tired and/or contaminated pads, or glazed discs.
Think the brakes on the 140 were just past their sell by date. Was pleasantly surprised by the 240 in that regard, just because when I drove the 140 I thought fgs, that's another mod I'd have to look at is upgrading the brakes straight away. The 240s felt miles better, lot more bite, pedal felt quite firm and I was actually stopping way too soon for red lights, junctions etc. But again, this is no complaint, I'm happy that they come like that. Edited by Dylanaledhall on Thursday 23 February 10:39
Dylanaledhall said:
But yeah, I just wanted to see what a 240 felt like on the road, was very comfy, still just as fast as I remember the 140 being but there's still something about that M4 which is way more tempting.
In terms of price, this M240 was £23,000 and it didn't have pro nav, didn't have the digital dash but did have the creme interior which really isn't to my taste. For £23,000 you can get into an ok M4 which to me, would be a hell of a lot more appealing and would make more sense.
For reference on price, I just paid £24500 for my '19 M240i. It's really well specced (pro nav, HK, camera, elec memory seats etc), one owner, 22k miles, so the one you drove seems a bit expensive for a '66? In terms of price, this M240 was £23,000 and it didn't have pro nav, didn't have the digital dash but did have the creme interior which really isn't to my taste. For £23,000 you can get into an ok M4 which to me, would be a hell of a lot more appealing and would make more sense.
I'll agree that the M4 looks/is a more special car, so it depends what you want from it really, mine's a daily driver. An M4 at that price will be a chunk older with a lot higher mileage. Really happy (so far!) with my 240 though, that engine is a peach.
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