Tuesday 13th May 2014

228i and M235i xDrive join 2 Series range

Has BMW just recreated a modern-day 2002 Turbo on the sly?

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Normally being denied another six-cylinder BMW would be a little disappointing. However, that the xDrive M235i probably won't be sold in the UK isn't too much of a concern, is it? Four-wheel drive makes sense on BMW's more practical stuff but on the flagship 2 Series we'd argue it should remain RWD. With the diff, of course. The hardware associated with sending power to the front wheels also adds another 70kg to the kerbweight.

228i a modern day 2002 Turbo?

Of more interest to PH is the 228i. No, really. Its 2.0-litre Twinpower turbo makes 245hp and 258lb ft with standard 205/40 R17 tyres that are actually a tad narrower than the famously 'skinny' GT86 rubber. It's also another 70kg lighter than the RWD M235i, giving it a 1,385kg DIN kerbweight. We had a quick chat with the BMW specialist Birds', who offered M135i/235i LSDs before the M Performance option, and they were "pretty confident" something similar could be made available on the 228i as well. Sounds promising.

So here we have a two door saloon coupe with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a '2' in the name. Sound familiar? All those twos and more featured in the 2002 Turbo, remember. Alright, it's a tenuous link (and there aren't any decals in the M Performance catalogue) but it could just be the return of the small fast BMW coupe. And there we were raving about the M3...

[Ali_T]

Having tried to cope with an RX8 in winter in Scotland, I'd say the x-drive is a big opportunity missed. Given that the A45 and Golf R are 4wd, I've already discounted the M135i and M235i from any purchase.

Edited by Ali_T on Tuesday 13th May 13:38

[Liquid Knight]

That's a terrible shame. A 235iX would be up against the Audi A5 quattro.

[kambites]

For those that don't mind the power delivery and/or noise or a heavily boosted four-pot, the 228i sounds like it might be the pick of the bunch for keen drivers.

[BlackPrince]

Ali_T said:

Having tried to cope with an RX8 in winter in Scotland, I'd say the x-drive is a big opportunity missed. Given that the A45 and Golf R are 4wd, I've already discounted the M135i and M235i from any purchase.

Edited by Ali_T on Tuesday 13th May 13:38

Snow tyres are absolutely miraculous and well worth the investment imho for RWD cars. I know people who drive 400hp Mustangs in Saskatchewan (part of central Canada where the temp can dip to -50C in winter) with snow tyres and while they can't drive with reckless abandon in winter, they definitely manage to get to and from work, shops, etc., without too much trouble.

Drove the 228i recently (auto sadly) and loved it. Even sounded decent.

[pegon]

From the artic part of Norway myself. Forget 4 wheel drive and invest in good vinter tyres. We have a saying here; "you will be twice as stuck with 4 wheel drive" meaning that you will not get much further but will require a towtruck instead of another car to get you out again.

[Lowtimer]

That 228i is just about bang on the same numbers for power, torque and weight as an unmodified 1990 Porsche 944 Turbo.

Although the 944 came with a limited slip diff as standard, but Birds will put one in a 228i for you.

So it will be pleasingly brisk, even in the modern world.

[E65Ross]

Liquid Knight said:

That's a terrible shame. A 235iX would be up against the Audi A5 quattro.

I wouldn't, that'd be the 4 series rival. It'd be up against the "saloon" Audi A3

[Gandahar]

The 228 could be a fun and (relatively) Q car.

[Mermaid]

E65Ross said:

Liquid Knight said:

That's a terrible shame. A 235iX would be up against the Audi A5 quattro.

I wouldn't, that'd be the 4 series rival. It'd be up against the "saloon" Audi A3

Illustrates how much overlap there is between the 1,2,3,4,5,6 versions of both

[DanielSan]

kambites said:

For those that don't mind the power delivery and/or noise or a heavily boosted four-pot, the 228i sounds like it might be the pick of the bunch for keen drivers.

Wonder how much it is? BMW could actually have a genuine, similarly priced alternative here if they've thought about the numbers carefully enough.

[J4CKO]

Lowtimer said:

That 228i is just about bang on the same numbers for power, torque and weight as an unmodified 1990 Porsche 944 Turbo.

Although the 944 came with a limited slip diff as standard, but Birds will put one in a 228i for you.

So it will be pleasingly brisk, even in the modern world.

Yeah, would imagine it will be, slightly overshadowed by the 135i but 245 bhp isnt to be sniffed at and I bet if driven sedately it will do getting on for 40 mpg, not a feat a 944 Turbo can manage, 16.9 Mpg according to GC8, anyway, this will have the correct 16 valves, more like an S2

[shoestring7]

What's the betting the 245bhp motor will find its way into a 1-er? A 128i would make an interesting alternative to a Gti.

SS7

[kambites]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

So would I, hence the qualification in my statement.

[s m]

Lowtimer said:

That 228i is just about bang on the same numbers for power, torque and weight as an unmodified 1990 Porsche 944 Turbo.

Although the 944 came with a limited slip diff as standard, but Birds will put one in a 228i for you.


So it will be pleasingly brisk, even in the modern world.

70kg lighter than the M235i would make it 1490kg, not 1385kg ( unless it's got an amazingly large fuel tank! ).

Can't see it being the same/less weight as the E46 CSL.

[Liquid Knight]

E65Ross said:

Liquid Knight said:

That's a terrible shame. A 235iX would be up against the Audi A5 quattro.

I wouldn't, that'd be the 4 series rival. It'd be up against the "saloon" Audi A3

Is the A3 Coupe' off the sketch pad yet? I've not seen one.

Why would you compare a coupe' to a saloon?

Edited by Liquid Knight on Tuesday 13th May 14:52

[Lowtimer]

J4CKO said:

Yeah, would imagine it will be, slightly overshadowed by the 135i but 245 bhp isnt to be sniffed at and I bet if driven sedately it will do getting on for 40 mpg, not a feat a 944 Turbo can manage, 16.9 Mpg according to GC8, anyway, this will have the correct 16 valves, more like an S2

I remain convinced that GC8's is unwell. Mine is 300 bhp and averages 30-31 mpg when actually going places, about 27-28 mpg on a moors blast.

[angelicupstarts]

pegon said:

From the artic part of Norway myself. Forget 4 wheel drive and invest in good vinter tyres. We have a saying here; "you will be twice as stuck with 4 wheel drive" meaning that you will not get much further but will require a towtruck instead of another car to get you out again.

Brilliant ! Love it. And so true ....I have been stuck in a 4wd so far away from a possible rescue I had to use winch and tackle to get out !

[kambites]

s m said:

70kg lighter than the M235i would make it 1490kg, not 1385kg ( unless it's got an amazingly large fuel tank! ).

Can't see it being the same/less weight as the E46 CSL.

This article is quoting DIN, the normal figure quoted for the 235i is EU. I don't know what BMW quoted back in the days of the E46.

[s m]

kambites said:

s m said:

70kg lighter than the M235i would make it 1490kg, not 1385kg ( unless it's got an amazingly large fuel tank! ).

Can't see it being the same/less weight as the E46 CSL.

This article is quoting DIN, the normal figure quoted for the 235i is EU.

Autocar weighed an M235i at 1560kg - no driver, full tank.

If it was 70kg lighter it would be 1490kg with a full tank by my reckoning....

( Unladen DIN Weight = Weight of Car with 90% fuel, no driver, no cargo )

Edited by s m on Tuesday 13th May 15:17

[danp]

kambites said:

This article is quoting DIN, the normal figure quoted for the 235i is EU. I don't know what BMW quoted back in the days of the E46.

E46 M3 was 1570kg eu1 (CSL circa 110kg less), BMW list the m135i at 1530kg eu1 and the 220i at about 100kg less...so 228i would be 1450kg eu1 I'd guess (extra kit, bigger wheels/brakes poss)