01-06-2015, 02:00 PM | #1 |
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Comming from a 330i ZHP to a M235i review.
Long story short I injured my knee and was forced move to an automatic from a stick. My beloved '04 ZHP had to go, but I'm happy she found a good home and I found a good replacement.
Lets break this down into different parts of the car as a whole. Steering - Lets get this one over with. The steering on the 2 are very different. The ZHP had that old, "tried and true" BMW feeling. The weighting was perfect and the "not too heavy, not to light" aspect at all speeds was awesome. The M235i on the other hand is different. Is is not actually a negative as people say, but different. More accurate, lighter. The new weighting took some getting used to. Now that I have gotten used to it, I like it. There is no loss of feedback, you just need to calibrate. Suspension - This was always the ZHP's strong suit. It was not to hard on the road and track capable. The M235i has taken this to a whole new level. When in comfort, it is smooth as silk (even on frost heaved roads in the northeast). When in sport or Sport+ is will out corner the ZHP, even in the snow. Engine - The ZHP had a sweet mill for it's time. Fun to drive. But the M235i's mill is OMG. Transmission - (Note that although I bought an auto, I test drove the stick 2x) The ZHP had the best 6 speed box I've ever used. Great weight, short throw, etc. The M235i's shifter was about 9/10 as good. The throw was too long. The 8 speed auto is a revelation. If auto's were always this good, there would be less of us screaming for sticks. (That said, I will miss it even if it is medically not an option anymore.) Exterior - This is subjective. I like the look of both Interior - The M235i has it all over the ZHP. The ZHP had a nice interior and was uncluttered, but it is just short so many modern things. Toys - See interior. Summary - All in all, I kept the ZHP for 10 years. I always told BMW that I would buy a new car when they made a better one. So I bought a new one. I would have bought the M235i even if I hadn't hurt my knee, it just would have been stick. Last edited by tke743; 01-06-2015 at 02:06 PM.. |
01-06-2015, 02:43 PM | #2 |
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Congrats
I too have gotten use to the EPS (steering)....use to hate it in comfort mode Its like sensitivity on a PC mouse, the first time I up the sensitivity I was like WTF is this? Then ones I got ise to it I said to myself why didnt I change the setting 10 years ago
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01-06-2015, 02:46 PM | #3 | |
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01-06-2015, 03:26 PM | #7 | ||
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I posted this as I'm coming from a "legendary" model (The ZHP) to the M235i and thought it was relevant. Last edited by tke743; 01-06-2015 at 04:32 PM.. |
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01-06-2015, 07:11 PM | #9 |
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This is an excellent write up. I really do like how you described the steering. I had a 2005 330i (not a ZHP) and a 2005 M3 as well. I think you described the steering feel differences perfectly. It's not better or worse necessarily, just different.
And I agree that the suspension of the M235i does beat out the E46 as well. While I know the M3 would handle as well or better, it was pretty harsh as a daily driver. The 2 series has a great suspension for everything. Thanks for your comparison -- very well done.
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01-06-2015, 07:16 PM | #10 |
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Awesome review! I think it's safe to say that the M235i is kind of the modern day - ZHP. At the very minimum, the ZHP was the originator of the "is" 335i, 135i, and eventually the "M Performance" line up....at least to me it is!
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01-06-2015, 08:15 PM | #11 |
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Congrats and awesome review!
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01-06-2015, 08:23 PM | #12 |
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Great write up. I have a ZHP sedan that has been my commuter for the past 5 years. I also have an F80 M3 as a toy, and I take delivery of a 228i Track Pack later this month.
I'm pretty sure I'll be impressed with the THP on my 228i, but I will own the ZHP until the day either I die or it dies. You're right in that it's not as good as a modern car with adaptive shocks and all the fancy tech, but I still love driving it, even back to back with my M3. It's a great "reference" car to keep around, as I think it was the pinnacle of that traditional BMW feel that doesn't really exist any more.
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01-06-2015, 08:27 PM | #13 |
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Another point that becomes clear with this comparison is how much better a decent adaptive damping system will perform than even a REALLY good passive system. That's a big factor in the M235i's ride and handling balance.
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01-06-2015, 08:35 PM | #14 | |
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I completely agree, but then there are the ZHP's bastard children, the "M-line" vehicles. Last edited by tke743; 01-06-2015 at 09:19 PM.. |
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01-06-2015, 09:02 PM | #15 |
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You are obviously a person of impecable taste in cars. I'm also going from a ZHP 6 speed to an M235i AT. (just started the order today for Welt delivery). I agree on almost every point except the manual in the f22 is really fantastic, I found it equal to my ZHPs if not better; albeit the car is 130,000 miles old.
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01-06-2015, 09:18 PM | #16 | |
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01-06-2015, 10:27 PM | #17 |
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Even if the steering gear itself is the same part number, the steering is heavily influenced by the suspension, tires, and other factors. The M3 and ZHP steering feel and response are not the same. They are both good, but when I was test driving cars back then, I found that I preferred the ZHP over the M3. But that's neither here nor there, we both agree that the ZHP is a fantastic car.
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01-06-2015, 10:48 PM | #18 | |
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01-07-2015, 05:34 PM | #19 | |
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01-08-2015, 03:27 AM | #20 |
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Great review and comparison between the two cars. As a former owner of an early e46 323i and also an e36M3, I can agree with you on all points. In regards to the steering, you said it well. They are different, and the hydraulic steering of the early BMWs isn't necessarily "better". The F22 steering is actually more precise, albeit a little lighter. After getting used to it, I prefer it more than the hydraulic ones on the early e46 and e36. The hydraulic steering of the e46/e36 has a heavier feeling, but IMO, it is slower, and had on-center play. That is, at speed, you could move the steering wheel 5-10 degrees left or right, with no effect on the steering. In the F22 (in sport+ mode), this is not the case. The steering is quicker, and it reacts to the slightest movement of the steering wheel. I'm not sure if the e46 ZHP steering had on-center play or not, but I do know that they increased the steering ratio on it vs. the earlier e46s to make it feel sportier.
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01-08-2015, 07:49 AM | #22 |
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The ZHP had NO play on center. Just like the M235i. The big thing people say in reviews on the M235i steering is that they get no feedback from the steering. That is completely untrue, it is just lighter in direct proportion to the lighter steering. For those of us who have been driving BWM's for years it takes some getting used to. But now that I have re-calibrated I like it. It is not better or worse, just different.
Last edited by tke743; 01-08-2015 at 10:18 AM.. |
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