Any M235i/M240i Owners here?
Discussion
One of three cars on my Short list, (Golf R and Mustang ECOboost the others). Most concerned about the steering. I am OK with a "Variable" system where the assistance is reduced at speed but am not interested where the Rack ratio changes and something is picking away at the back of my brain about a BMW Package that did that. Other than that how is it as a daily driver and in bad weather?
As standard M235i's will have the 'Drive Performance' modes which reduce the power assistance in Sports/Sports+ modes to make it feel heavier.
On top of that there is an option called 'Variable Sport Steering'. This makes the steering more sensitive for the first half rotation either side of "straight on"... essentially, imagine that on the steering rack the teeth in the middle part are closer together than on the ends.
So, if you want your steering input to give a linear amount of turn, make sure you don't have Variable Sport Steering. Shouldn't be a problem as very few people specify it.
On top of that there is an option called 'Variable Sport Steering'. This makes the steering more sensitive for the first half rotation either side of "straight on"... essentially, imagine that on the steering rack the teeth in the middle part are closer together than on the ends.
So, if you want your steering input to give a linear amount of turn, make sure you don't have Variable Sport Steering. Shouldn't be a problem as very few people specify it.
My M135i was incredibly tractable in the wet despite the lack of LSD. It does eventually push understeers though, which can be cheaply dialled out with M4 LCAs.
Lateral grip is immense, as expected with 50/50 and quite a low cog/pmoi and the SS tyres as std.
I strongly recommend a set of winters in case it does get quite wintery.
Loads of abbreviation, apologies !
Steering not great but kind of improved with the LCAs too.
Lateral grip is immense, as expected with 50/50 and quite a low cog/pmoi and the SS tyres as std.
I strongly recommend a set of winters in case it does get quite wintery.
Loads of abbreviation, apologies !
Steering not great but kind of improved with the LCAs too.
Variable Sport Steering is standard on both the M235i and M240i. To my knowledge there are/were no packages available to change the steering set-up.
I've run both an M135i and M240i recently and they are both great as a daily. I found the N55 engine in the M135i to have more character and didn't instantly like the B58 engine in the M240i but the extra mid-range punch brought me 'round after a month or so. M135i had Bridgestone Potenza Run-Flats and the M240i was on Michelin Pilot Super Sports. The difference in road noise, ride quality and grip was pretty marked (appreciate the cars were not the same but having driven M235is on non-run flats the result is the same).
I can understand you considering the Golf for its all-round abilities but I'd take a 6-cylinder engine and RWD every time.
I've run both an M135i and M240i recently and they are both great as a daily. I found the N55 engine in the M135i to have more character and didn't instantly like the B58 engine in the M240i but the extra mid-range punch brought me 'round after a month or so. M135i had Bridgestone Potenza Run-Flats and the M240i was on Michelin Pilot Super Sports. The difference in road noise, ride quality and grip was pretty marked (appreciate the cars were not the same but having driven M235is on non-run flats the result is the same).
I can understand you considering the Golf for its all-round abilities but I'd take a 6-cylinder engine and RWD every time.
Don't dismiss the 230i MSport. It's lighter and better balanced than the M240 and is the sweeter handling car, it still has plenty of poke (but suffers less than the M240 for the lack of LSD), is available with an optional manual, and is significantly cheaper than the M240 whilst being just as well equipped. Spiritually it's the closest thing to the original M3. It's the most underrated car in BMW's lineup.
telecat said:
One of three cars on my Short list, (Golf R and Mustang ECOboost the others). Most concerned about the steering. I am OK with a "Variable" system where the assistance is reduced at speed but am not interested where the Rack ratio changes and something is picking away at the back of my brain about a BMW Package that did that. Other than that how is it as a daily driver and in bad weather?
I've got plenty of experience with the M135i (which my Mum now runs), the M235i (i have a pair of them for work), and the 340i (which is my daily).The M235i with adaptive damping is great, but a friend substituted his variable damping for the Birds kits (springs, dampers, anti-roll bars and LSD) and they transformed the car.
At the same time my pair of M235i's run the standard passive suspension and whilst they were really firm for the first 2000 miles or so once the suspension bedded in and loosened up a little bit the ride/handling compromise for A and B road use is excellent. This is on the Michelin PSS though - the runflats change everything.
And whilst there are times when i would wish for a limited slip diff, i wouldn't say it's absolutely necessary by any means.
So, i'd say for a daily driver running Michelin PSS you may feel the need for a LSD when it's cold and/or wet, but if you simply temper your enthusiasm a little you'll find the balance of the chassis is quite entertaining.
The steering is light, but then it seems to be in most modern cars. If you simply retune yourself to listen more carefully through your fingertips you'll find the feedback is still there.
No, it's not as pure as it used to be thanks to electric steering racks, but as with the 991 electric steering i think the press has greatly exaggerated the issue.
The M235/240i is a fine daily driver, even in bad weather, as long as you drive suitably for the conditions and you avoid the runflats
Yeah, they all have variable ratio steering, but I only found it noticeable at first when turning into tight junctions - sometimes I would steer more than I expected as the rack gets quicker the more you turn - it isn't really noticeable in normal driving, and now I have the opposite problem driving other cars that seem to need loads more lock.
I think I would prefer if the rack was quicker overall though - our Fiesta ST feels a lot more pointy and connected through the steering. I've got the heavier sports steering turned off as it just seems to numb things further.
As a daily driver it is perfect for me - comfortable, fast and fairly cheep to run.
In bad weather the traction control is not over eager to kick in, and the electronic diff (braking the spinning wheel) helps to get the power down - it all works much better than my old E90. Watch out for the Pilot Super Sports though - as they wear out a light drizzle can be like driving on ice - mine has got very sideways a few times under fairly gentle straight line acceleration.
I think I would prefer if the rack was quicker overall though - our Fiesta ST feels a lot more pointy and connected through the steering. I've got the heavier sports steering turned off as it just seems to numb things further.
As a daily driver it is perfect for me - comfortable, fast and fairly cheep to run.
In bad weather the traction control is not over eager to kick in, and the electronic diff (braking the spinning wheel) helps to get the power down - it all works much better than my old E90. Watch out for the Pilot Super Sports though - as they wear out a light drizzle can be like driving on ice - mine has got very sideways a few times under fairly gentle straight line acceleration.
RBH58 said:
Don't dismiss the 230i MSport. It's lighter and better balanced than the M240 and is the sweeter handling car, it still has plenty of poke (but suffers less than the M240 for the lack of LSD), is available with an optional manual, and is significantly cheaper than the M240 whilst being just as well equipped. Spiritually it's the closest thing to the original M3. It's the most underrated car in BMW's lineup.
However, it's not lowered like the M240i is and its rear ARB is 3mm thinner, which will cause more understeer.I find it very hard to believe it's the closest thing to the original M3, spiritually or otherwise. Of new cars, the GT86 is probably closer.
VerySideways said:
mr_fibuli said:
Watch out for the Pilot Super Sports though - as they wear out a light drizzle can be like driving on ice - mine has got very sideways a few times under fairly gentle straight line acceleration.
Good point. Noticeable below 5mm, really bad once you hit 3mm... bennyboysvuk said:
However, it's not lowered like the M240i is and its rear ARB is 3mm thinner, which will cause more understeer.
I find it very hard to believe it's the closest thing to the original M3, spiritually or otherwise. Of new cars, the GT86 is probably closer.
It's a sweeter handling car than the M240 and feels more agile. You can feel the M240's additional weight over the front axle. It doesn't change direction as well as the 230i MSport. Sure....it's not as sharp as an 86/BRZ, but it's 90% of the way there I reckon.I find it very hard to believe it's the closest thing to the original M3, spiritually or otherwise. Of new cars, the GT86 is probably closer.
RBH58 said:
It's a sweeter handling car than the M240 and feels more agile. You can feel the M240's additional weight over the front axle. It doesn't change direction as well as the 230i MSport. Sure....it's not as sharp as an 86/BRZ, but it's 90% of the way there I reckon.
I think that given the downsides of the 230i, which to me are that it's even less engaging than the M240i to drive, has too much grip, too wallowy suspension, too tuned for understeer, no LSD, not even an electronic LSD (as far as I'm aware) and standard 2 series brakes that are to be found on the 116i, it just doesn't stack up very well. I've been disappointed by every non-M car that I've driven of late. BMW have pushed more towards luxury (which is what the masses want) instead of fun and even the Sports versions are just not as engaging as they used to be.Sorry OP, this all sounds a bit derisory of the M240i. If you want raw thrills then the M240i won't provide those until you're into license losing speeds, but generally speaking it's a great car.
The 230i MSport I drove had the same suspension tune and brakes as the M240. Don't know what 230i MSport you get in your part of the world? I even checked with a BMW mechanic friend of mine after I drove the 230 & 240 back to back. He confirmed only minor differences in the suspension due to the M240's heavier weight and nose heavy bias. And he confirmed that the brakes were exactly the same. Sure, there wasn't a huge difference in handling, but you could feel the extra weight over the front axle on the M240, and it made the 230 feel more agile and quicker to turn in . I also found the M240's power over the top for a street car...especially in speed camera infatuated Australia...and the 230 more than quick enough.
Edited by RBH58 on Wednesday 22 March 09:36
Edited by RBH58 on Wednesday 22 March 09:38
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