[moldcad]

OK guys - so after long deliberation between the 435i and the M235i, a decision has been made and I have a rather fully loaded M235i on Order. Will not explain my cons and pros, as I'm afraid doing so I could easily change my mind - as from a logical viewpoint, the larger, more luxurious and (yes, let's face it) nicer-looking 435i can be considered by most of you the better candidate for somebody who - as I am:

- is coming from the F10 (too large for me while underpowered in its 528xi incarnation)
- already has small powerful car in the household (the absolutely outstanding Golf R)

But I enjoy driving the R so much more than the 528xi, and it's not just because it's so much faster - it's so agile and tossable that it makes me feel 20 years younger and puts a smile on my face. Since my wife loves it, too - and uses as her DD - it happens too often recently that when she took the R, even though my F10 was sitting in the garage waiting to be driven - I preferred to wait till she's back home so I can take the nicely warmed-up R for a ride...During my test drives, I was finding the M235i nearly as exciting as the Golf R (only 3 months ago I wouldn't believe I'd ever say anything like that), with the additional fun factor of RWD... On the other hand, when test-driving the 435i I almost felt it as big and heavy as my F10... So one day I said "what the heck, let's do it" and - with my 528xi lease just coming to the end - I leased the M235i... Considering I started my BMW close relationship with the now almost classic E46 330i, it's sort of coming back to where it had begun.

One thing I never liked in this car are the 436M wheels, so the first thing to do when it arrives is put Dunlop WinterSport 4D (non-RFT) tires on them and only use them as my winter set. I'm now debating over a new wheels for the summer; as it comes with 18" Michelin PSSs the logical choice would be to use them - if I so decide I'll probably buy the 461 Ferric Grey wheels for them (jest take a look at the pic below and see how much nicer they are than the stock M235i ones; with more classy spokes and the lack of inner "rant" making them look larger). But, I'am also considering something not-BMW, and here is my question to the M235i crowd:

- what wheel/tyre size has been found to look the most sporty and aggressive, while not causing any rubbing or other problems? It can be either 18" or maybe even 19" (I ordered the M Adaptive Suspension so I hope 19" will not necessarily mean too harsh a ride)? Please post your tested and proven configurations in both 18 and 19' line-ups.

Will return with some pics as soon as she arrives!

[BMW335iOn18s]

I recall a member saying that there wasn't too much room for a much wider tire in the rear wheels wells....

I can't help much, but just wanted to say that I'm looking forward to hearing your perspective on Golf R vs. M235i! I have a 2012 Jetta GLI (2.0 TSI) 6 speed manual, and I'm not a fan of VWs manual transmissions, but i believe in the EU you guys only get DSG Golf R's. My mother has a N20 528i (rwd though) and I LOVE driving it. For such a boat, it's powerful, relatively agile, and extremely luxurious...the nice thing is that I think my M235i has 85% off the luxury with 1000% of the sportiness....I think you'll LOVE the car! Good luck and post pics! Sorry for the thread jack..

[moldcad]

Yep - I'm aware I'm going to give up on something, and the inside materials' quality as well as the general feels of luxury is the most important of them. But I can tell you I didn't find the 435i much better in this regard than the M235i. Plus, I'a rather small guy and with the children with families of their own, I was transporting air in my F10 and almost felt it too large for my physical size, not just in how it feels when driven...

Oh, and mine is going to be Alpine White, too

[mfourn20]

I have the 461 on my M Sport 228. I love them, they look fantastic, and they're easy to clean. I think the 235s wheels are awful.

[moldcad]

Originally Posted by mfourn20

I have the 461 on my M Sport 228. I love them, they look fantastic, and they're easy to clean. I think the 235s wheels are awful.

Agreed. Do you have them in silver, or "Ferric Grey"?

[moldcad]

Originally Posted by BMW335iOn18s

i believe in the EU you guys only get DSG Golf R's

Mine is DSG indeed, but we can order MT as well.

[mfourn20]

Mine are silver. I think the silver goes well with my estoril blue...if it were white I would have preferred the ferric gray.

[crqflier]

Try this: http://www.myapexparts.com/2014/12/1...-on-bmw-m235i/

[sputman]

I agree completely, the default 436M wheels are not my cup of tea at all. In Canada at least, we were able to substitute the 461M wheels as a factory order option at no charge... so that's what I did.

I ordered some Dunlop Wintersports 4Ds as well do go on these rims as I planned on buying some 405M wheels come spring... but the 461Ms look better in person that I thought.

Here's a real-life pic of the rims.

[alz0rz]

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...php?t=1070807#

265/35 tires on 9.5 +58 wheels.

[mmmmm235i]

Couldn't agree more on the stock wheel point and I am very jealous to hear about this canadian option. ATTENTION CANADIANS: if you like the default 436m wheels you can have mine if you order the 461s and trade me. I too have a black 235 and those wheels look about 100x nicer than mine.