[Toolboss]

Was wondering how much clearance does the M-Sport bumper provide? I have an Acura TL that has only about 4-5" clearance before something below it scrapes the cement parking blocks and was wondering if the M-Sport bummer is even lower?

Thanks

[bimmercar]

m235i has 5.1" of ground clearance from brochure

[khaug]

Owner's manual says not to use car washes needing more than 4" of clearance. Big problem, as no good car washes in this area can meet that spec.

I tested the actual clearance on my car with blocks of wood, and it appears the actual clearance is barely over 4" (like maybe 4 1/4").

-K.

[Corinne]

Strange it should be so little. I just tested (with a block of wood) the clearance of my Lotus Elise with sports suspension and it's 4.7 inches. You don't get clearances much lower than an Elise. I'm interested because I'll be buying an M235i at the end of the year and was intending to fit the M sport front. I lightly scrape the bottom of my car when entering my parking area.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by bimmercar

m235i has 5.1" of ground clearance from brochure

Does the xDrive version of the 2er provide a bit more clearance than the RWD version?

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Does the xDrive version of the 2er provide a bit more clearance than the RWD version?

NO

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by Midwest M235i

NO

Interesting... I always was under the impression the xDrive was slightly higher than the RWD... Mind blown... Haha thanks

[bladeomatic]

I have a stock M235i (no splitter) and have already lightly scraped it on cement parking chocks. My standard operating procedure now is to turn on the parking camera as I'm pulling in to parking spaces. And I never put the front wheels all the way against the chocks, always stopping well before them to prevent any additional scrapes.

[bimmercar]

Originally Posted by Corinne

Strange it should be so little. I just tested (with a block of wood) the clearance of my Lotus Elise with sports suspension and it's 4.7 inches. You don't get clearances much lower than an Elise. I'm interested because I'll be buying an M235i at the end of the year and was intending to fit the M sport front. I lightly scrape the bottom of my car when entering my parking area.

the Porsche 911 ground clearance is lower, at 4.5"

[MEBII]

Does the front park distance control sensors "see" parking lot blocks?

[Killramos]

Originally Posted by MEBII

Does the front park distance control sensors "see" parking lot blocks?

Sort of. And only sometimes. If they are to short it works less good.

It will often see them initially and then the block will disappear as you get closer. Gives you an idea I guess.

I just don't pull up very far any more. It's a short ass car. I stick out far less than the average f150 with its wheels against the chock.

One option is to back into spots where allowed and use the camera to watch the chock.

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Originally Posted by bladeomatic

I have a stock M235i (no splitter) and have already lightly scraped it on cement parking chocks. My standard operating procedure now is to turn on the parking camera as I'm pulling in to parking spaces. And I never put the front wheels all the way against the chocks, always stopping well before them to prevent any additional scrapes.

Z'actly - and its short enough that you can stop a good 1/2 foot in front of the chocks and still not have the ass stick-out past the SUV's we inevitably park next to.

[Supernaut]

Originally Posted by khaug

Owner's manual says not to use car washes needing more than 4" of clearance. Big problem, as no good car washes in this area can meet that spec.

I tested the actual clearance on my car with blocks of wood, and it appears the actual clearance is barely over 4" (like maybe 4 1/4").

-K.

Yikes! This is good to know. My Mazda scrapes my drive when I have a passenger and I just measured it at 6" clearance at the nose. I bring home the M235i on Wednesday. I'll have my wife spot me as I pull in the first time.

4" won't clear a lot of parking blocks or most curbs - which tend to be at 6".

[MEBII]

Originally Posted by Killramos

Sort of. And only sometimes. If they are to short it works less good.

It will often see them initially and then the block will disappear as you get closer. Gives you an idea I guess.

I just don't pull up very far any more. It's a short ass car. I stick out far less than the average f150 with its wheels against the chock.

One option is to back into spots where allowed and use the camera to watch the chock.

In my current ride (2003 ZHP), i've gotten into the habit of parking short. Seem like adding a front camera might be a useful add....

[hoppy6698]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

My Mazda scrapes my drive when I have a passenger and I just measured it at 6" clearance at the nose. I bring home the M235i on Wednesday. I'll have my wife spot me as I pull in the first time.

4" won't clear a lot of parking blocks or most curbs - which tend to be at 6".

Don't mistake the softer compression of the Mazda with the BMW however. Spring compression rates will be completely different. I have yet to hit any curb with my M235 on stock suspension - but I do not pull my fender up to a curb. That is a poor habit of poor drivers who have no concept of where the front of their vehicle is. On the upside, the parking sensors are low enough to detect where curbs are and give plenty of warning.

Can't help on the parking entrances for the OP. Other than an angled approach to ensure both wheels don't dip at the same time.

[jofealvi]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Does the xDrive version of the 2er provide a bit more clearance than the RWD version?

In the europe configurator. www.bmw.de

You can see when the car rise up a Little in XDRIVE versión of M235I,
and when again do you push in RWD versión, this low a Little.

[mankid247]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

Interesting... I always was under the impression the xDrive was slightly higher than the RWD... Mind blown... Haha thanks

I'm not 100% sure on the m235 but at least with the 335i/xi with the DHP it does ride I believe 10-20mm higher than the RWD version I know this because I own an f30 335 and it does ride higher and seeing as it has the exact same suspension set up I would think this would apply to the M235 as well.

[hoppy6698]

Originally Posted by mankid247

I'm not 100% sure on the m235 but at least with the 335i/xi with the DHP it does ride I believe 10-20mm higher than the RWD version I know this because I own an f30 335 and it does ride higher and seeing as it has the exact same suspension set up I would think this would apply to the M235 as well.

Side by side on a lot, the xDrive M235 sits at the same height of the RWD M235. Not sure what changed in the platforms, but on the F30s, there is a notable height difference.

One of the bonuses of the M235 xDrive is that it is not as annoyingly high as the F30, among other bonuses :P

[MrBucket]

Originally Posted by mankid247

I'm not 100% sure on the m235 but at least with the 335i/xi with the DHP it does ride I believe 10-20mm higher than the RWD version I know this because I own an f30 335 and it does ride higher and seeing as it has the exact same suspension set up I would think this would apply to the M235 as well.

Nah, M235i is a bit more performance oriented so its still got the lower ride height with xdrive.

[HarmOG]

This isn't official, but it's "low". I have to angle out of most driveways and stop short of cement stoppers in parking lots.

[Boneman]

four inches.

[bimmercar]

Originally Posted by Boneman

four inches.

why is it that the brochure says the ground clearance is 5.1" for m235 but the front bumper is only 4"?