[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by BarryJI

Yes, I might be mistaken about this. I have a 2015 and cannot remember what came with which package. You are absolutely right about the quantum difference.

MSport does bring along the fixed MSport suspension, which is rendered irrelevant when the Track Package substitutes the MAdaptive suspension and adds all the other features. As a result, the MSport difference for about $700 winds up being cosmetic.

[Abstraction]

Originally Posted by MikeG12

The 228 M-Sport package, at least the 2014 version, included suspension and wheel upgrades. Quantum difference in driving versus the base 228.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but with the xDrive you can't get the M Sport Suspension anyway, just the stock or Adaptive M.

[sstarrx3]

Originally Posted by mfourn20

Wow I fully agree! I thought I was the only one! It feels cheap, dumbed down. It feels like it was designed for non car people...and its surrounded by a sea of plastic vs the leather you get with the manual. It completely turned me off from the auto

I love the e gear selector. It's different...but much nicer than mechanical in my opinion.

[drivethemachine]

The reduced weight and shorter wheelbase will be the first thing you notice going from a 3 to 2.
Acceleration is better, and the whole thing feels more agile.

[pjohns21]

Originally Posted by Abstraction

Correct me if i'm wrong, but with the xDrive you can't get the M Sport Suspension anyway, just the stock or Adaptive M.

You're correct, which stinks. I wasn't even able to test drive the M sport susp. at the dealer because they only had xDrive models. It's a moot point for me now, though, .

[geep81]

My M235xi was in the shop for a bit soon after I got it, and in that time I got to drive 3 different cars. A boring 528xi, a more fun 320xi or 328xi (I forget which), and a really surprisingly fun 228xi.

I was really surprised by how great the 228 was.

It was really quick! It sounded great (not great like my M235, but great from a regular-car standpoint). I had a lot of fun throwing it around corners a little bit. It felt light and nimble. I really liked it, even comparing it to the M235.

And the 228 is only about 1s slower than the M235. That is not much different for such a difference in $$. I am impressed by the 228.

[Lucky13]

While were on the subject of the N52 vs N20 since I had about 10 versions of the inline 6 in my 16 BMW's I would take the N20 in a heartbeat. If you didn't have a manual transmission you had to rev the hell out of the N52 for it to be fun. I have the N20 in an X1 and it may sound like crap but it runs like a bat out of hell. Its probably the best stock 4 cylinder turbo on the market, just look at 0-60 times of any BMW with the engine verses about anything on the market. Smokes Mercedes, Audi, Range Rover, Ford, GM you name it. Just compare Caddy ATS times verses 328 or any SUV comparison and it pretty much blows away the competition and Mazda please they snooze in acceleration. Even the X3 with the N20 smokes everything in its class with a 4 cylinder.

[MG 228i]

Just code the N55 ASD if you miss the inline 6

[Abstraction]

Originally Posted by pjohns21

You're correct, which stinks. I wasn't even able to test drive the M sport susp. at the dealer because they only had xDrive models. It's a moot point for me now, though, .

yah, but when i weighed it out, i'm not gonna be tracking my car except for the occasional HPDE day. for 99.9% of the use, the non-M Sport will be just fine

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by BarryJI

No, M-Sport refers to body style and certain pieces of equipment (like the M steering wheel) and has no bearing on engine or suspension refinements, which are covered by the THP package.

My N26 sounds just fine with an exhaust mod.

Pretty sure I checked this out by looking at a few bills of material by VIN for 228i models and verified that the MSport package includes the 704 MSport suspension. (Maybe the non-MSport coupe does as well; I didn't check that out.). Also, in the BMWUSA configurator, if you select the Track Package after selecting MSport, you get a warning that by doing that you will delete the MSport suspension.

[raleedy]

I was one of the big whiners when BMW announed the replacement of the normally aspirated N52 engine with the turbo N20. But then I replaced my E92 328i (N52) with an F10 528i (N20). The 4-cyl N20 is an amazing motor. I'm looking forward to having it with a manual transmission in the 228i that I have ordered. It's true that it doesn't sound as good. But the harsh truth is that no turbocharged engine, including the N55 six-cylinder, can match the sound of a normally aspirated 6. Hence the artificial sound generators.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by raleedy

Pretty sure I checked this out by looking at a few bills of material by VIN for 228i models and verified that the MSport package includes the 704 MSport suspension. (Maybe the non-MSport coupe does as well; I didn't check that out.). Also, in the BMWUSA configurator, if you select the Track Package after selecting MSport, you get a warning that by doing that you will delete the MSport suspension.

You are correct. With MSport, you get a fixed specific MSport suspension. If you choose THP, that is upgraded to MAdaptive suspension, along with the rest of the content in the THP package. If you choose THP without MSport, you also upgrade that base suspension to the very same MAdaptive suspension - same result!! This is why, with THP already selected, the addition of MSport at that time only leaves the visual differences to add. If there was no such thing as THP, then everyone would experience the upgrade from a fixed base suspension to a fixed MSport suspension when they chose the MSport line, and that would be the only choice.

[pjohns21]

Originally Posted by Abstraction

yah, but when i weighed it out, i'm not gonna be tracking my car except for the occasional HPDE day. for 99.9% of the use, the non-M Sport will be just fine

Yup, and xDrive is worth it depending on where you live, and is faster to 60 because of the traction advantages

[Abstraction]

Originally Posted by pjohns21

Yup, and xDrive is worth it depending on where you live, and is faster to 60 because of the traction advantages

Definitely useful in Toronto, mind you, we have a RAV4 as well so not sure how much i'll be driving it in the winter (it's still awaiting production). I ordered it with the staggered summer tires, so I have 8 months to figure out the winter situation!

Back on topic, i test drove the 328i a couple times. For a sedan it's nice, but just felt a little blah in terms of driving experience. Driving the 228 and 328 back to back shows a big difference, and understandably so since they're very different cars. The 228i checked all the right boxes for me - handles well, quick and nimble, good on gas, and doesn't feel cheap like a FRS/BRZ.

I should also add that the 8AT is pretty impressive for an auto. Shifts are quick enough to make me think i wont miss driving a manual (esp in Toronto traffic).

[pjohns21]

Originally Posted by Abstraction

Definitely useful in Toronto, mind you, we have a RAV4 as well so not sure how much i'll be driving it in the winter (it's still awaiting production). I ordered it with the staggered summer tires, so I have 8 months to figure out the winter situation!

Back on topic, i test drove the 328i a couple times. For a sedan it's nice, but just felt a little blah in terms of driving experience. Driving the 228 and 328 back to back shows a big difference, and understandably so since they're very different cars. The 228i checked all the right boxes for me - handles well, quick and nimble, good on gas, and doesn't feel cheap like a FRS/BRZ.

I'm satisfied with my purchase since the 2 series is about the same size as the last gen. 3 series coupe... I haven't driven a 2 series in the way it should be driven yet but I have much higher hopes for it in terms of handling versus my 2013 3 series.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by MikeG12

The 228 M-Sport package, at least the 2014 version, included suspension and wheel upgrades. Quantum difference in driving versus the base 228.

But not different than the cheaper sport package. M-Sport was just the Sport Package plus cosmetic changes through 2015. The sport package now IS the base car in the US.

[mfourn20]

Originally Posted by geep81

My M235xi was in the shop for a bit soon after I got it, and in that time I got to drive 3 different cars. A boring 528xi, a more fun 320xi or 328xi (I forget which), and a really surprisingly fun 228xi.

I was really surprised by how great the 228 was.

It was really quick! It sounded great (not great like my M235, but great from a regular-car standpoint). I had a lot of fun throwing it around corners a little bit. It felt light and nimble. I really liked it, even comparing it to the M235.

And the 228 is only about 1s slower than the M235. That is not much different for such a difference in $$. I am impressed by the 228.

Thanks for being reasonable! Many people here like to shit all over the N20. It really is a fantastic engine. It's a little rough at startup, but I call it character. The torque is in all the right places. I do wish for a little more up top when rung out though! I think it sounds great as well once warmed up.

[Cyberdemon]

Just had a chance to drive the 128 in on my way into work - first time I've had a chance to drive the cars back to back for more than a few minutes and man, I see why people liked that engine so much.

Having driven the 4-cyl its a great engine, but it's amazing how refined and satisfying the I6 is as it revs out. The newer engines make up for it with low end torque, fuel economy and things that you will care more about on a day to day basis, but it's hard to live up to how nice the old engine was.

[geep81]

Originally Posted by mfourn20

Thanks for being reasonable! Many people here like to shit all over the N20. It really is a fantastic engine. It's a little rough at startup, but I call it character. The torque is in all the right places. I do wish for a little more up top when rung out though! I think it sounds great as well once warmed up.

Yeah, I was coming from using the sport mode all the time on my M235 to this 228, so I was ready for a different experience for sure, but it really did surprise me. I thought the sound from the engine was pretty great at higher rpm too.

[BillD1953]

Good read......glad I"ll be picking up my new silver 228i 6MT stripped coupe at the NH dealership this week.

[SteveInfante]

What I really enjoy about this car is when I downshift to 4th on the highway in Sport and mash the gas to pass someone this thing is a blast. I don't have M Sport or the THP. This is the best daily I've ever had to date.

[pjohns21]

Originally Posted by BarryJI

This is just snobbery and misleading. The N20/N26 is a fine engine with useful low-end torque and it will cruise at 90 mph making no more than 4500 rpm. The M-Sport option has NO bearing on engine performance, it's purely aesthetic (although I much prefer it). The Track Handling Package gives you the adaptive suspension, which broadens the car's capabilities greatly and I highly recommend a good tune, which will bring it alongside the M235i, at least from 0 to 100 mph.

Why does the M sport package have up to extra 2 auxiliary radiators in place of the fog lights then? Also, I don't think the motor sits at 4500 rpm in 8th gear on the highway at 90mph... at 70mph with that motor I don't even think I'm at 2000 rpm...