[wjjkoevoets]

UPDATE 26-Jan-2016:
Finally got the carbon parts installed today, looking really nice! Next mod will likely be the F80 M3 M Performance Steering wheel with the blue band (as opposed to the red band for the F22 M Performance Steering Wheel) to match my EBII exterior! Really loving this!

The only downside is that the camera's flash seems to overly accentuate the tiny bits of dirt It looks better in RL.







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UPDATE 22-Dec-2015:
Here's an update on the car's current "winter" state:

- Styling 381 17" winter wheels with Michelin Alpin tires
- M Performance Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps
- M Performance Exhaust
- M Performance Floor mats
- M Performance Side Splitter Blades
- M Performance Gloss Black Grilles
- M Performance Stainless Steel Pedal Footrest
- M Performance Rocker Panel Film Set
- M Performance Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler
- 3DDesign Rear Diffuser for 2 tip

Engine is fully stock at this time, 30000km on it. Still the best car I've ever owned!






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Hi guys,

I consider this to be my informal introduction post. Just some random dude from rural small-town in the Netherlands. A few months ago I bought an Estoril Blue M235i and I have been enjoying it ever since. I can safely say it's the best car I've ever owned and driven so far (previously owned an E82 120i). The 8-speed ZF has just been amazing!

A local BMW dealer was also nice enough to perform an integration level from NBT_B all the way up to NBT_K (I was experiencing some Bluetooth issues and I couldn't update the iDrive firmware due to NBT_B). Additionally I've asked them to "fix" the start/stop system so it remembers the last setting (AKA "OFF"). I also installed the latest available Europe maps for the navigation to get everything fully up to date.

Cars like this are generally rare in the Netherlands, because the pricing is very poor due to ridiculous taxation. I'm guessing you can get a full-option M235i in the states for $65,000, in the Netherlands a full-option M235i will set you back $82,000. Everybody drives some silly 2 cylinder 1.0 turbo over here It's a real shame, because looking at this forum makes me realize that (despite some environmental regulations) folks in the states get to enjoy a lot more real cars on the road!

I'm not much of a technician and the car is still in warranty so I will not be doing any serious (performance) modding, but I will likely disable the exhaust valve at some point (who'd want to silence a car like this?!).

My only complaint with the car is that the rims look a bit small from certain angles. It could do with bigger ones.

Anyways, sorry for rambling! Here are some pics.

Exterior:




Interior:



Engine:


Software:

[Luminous]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the awesome car! Nice to see a Dutch 235 on here!

I lived in Maastricht for 5 years before returning to the states in 2012 but have been considering moving back to Amsterdam ever since. Of course I'd bring my car but I don't even want to imagine how much it costs to fill the tank there!

[wjjkoevoets]

Originally Posted by Luminous

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the awesome car! Nice to see a Dutch 235 on here!

I lived in Maastricht for 5 years before returning to the states in 2012 but have been considering moving back to Amsterdam ever since. Of course I'd bring my car but I don't even want to imagine how much it costs to fill the tank there!

Thank you

You will probably want to leave your car in the sates haha. Prices have been dropping since a few weeks. It's currently around €1.50 / $1.68 per liter which equates to around $6,35 per gallon. It could be worse though. A few months ago it was over $6.80 per gallon

Again, this is part of the reason why noone drives a real car here anymore

[Luminous]

Originally Posted by wjjkoevoets

Thank you

You will probably want to leave your car in the sates haha. Prices have been dropping since a few weeks. It's currently around €1.50 / $1.68 per liter which equates to around $6,35 per gallon. It could be worse though. A few months ago it was over $6.80 per gallon

Again, this is part of the reason why noone drives a real car here anymore

Do you plan on getting a tune? There's definitely no shortage of excellent tuning shops in NL, Belgium and Germany. I highly recommend an ecu tune, will make your car feel like a true M.

[wjjkoevoets]

Originally Posted by Luminous

Do you plan on getting a tune? There's definitely no shortage of excellent tuning shops in NL, Belgium and Germany. I highly recommend an ecu tune, will make your car feel like a true M.

The thought has crossed my mind. I am a bit of chicken when it comes to touching the engine (I know I probably shouldn't). It will likely happen at some point, but it will have to be done by a company with very good ratings and proper service.

Before the M235i, the fastest car I had driven was an E60 530i (258 HP version), so the M235i feels like a beast already haha.

Do you happen to have an ECU tune? Any other mods?

EDIT: I see you have the Enzo tune on your M235i? Damn!

[Luminous]

Originally Posted by wjjkoevoets

The thought has crossed my mind. I am a bit of chicken when it comes to touching the engine (I know I probably shouldn't). It will likely happen at some point, but it will have to be done by a company with very good ratings and proper service.

Before the M235i, the fastest car I had driven was an E60 530i (258 HP version), so the M235i feels like a beast already haha.

Do you happen to have an ECU tune? Any other mods?

EDIT: I see you have the Enzo tune on your M235i? Damn!

Yea the Enzo tune is great, I experimented with several of the piggybacks but the ecu tune feels a lot better. I know BR Performance in Belgium is a very well respected BMW tuner, in fact I believe they were the first to crack the f series ecu. If I was still in Europe I'd definitely check them out. I also added intercooler, sport cat, charge pipes and the mp exhaust, the car feels phenomenal! Now just saving up for a new turbo

[mike@x-ph.com]

Welcome

[raysspl]

Wouldn't higher wages/salary adjust for the more expensive costs of car over there in Netherlands?

[Luminous]

Originally Posted by raysspl

Wouldn't higher wages/salary adjust for the more expensive costs of car over there in Netherlands?

Wages definitely are not higher in Europe. That being said, cost of living is generally less expensive.

[wjjkoevoets]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Welcome

Thank you!

Originally Posted by raysspl

Wouldn't higher wages/salary adjust for the more expensive costs of car over there in Netherlands?

If only it did. But no, the "BPM" tax, which only applies to cars, is not compensated by possible higher wages

BPM is about $7800 on a new M235i here.

And that's ignoring the 21% sales tax...

[mvallido]

Congrats and welcome to the EBII group!

[wjjkoevoets]

Here's an update on the car's current "winter" state:

- Styling 381 17" winter wheels with Michelin Alpin tires
- M Performance Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps
- M Performance Exhaust
- M Performance Floor mats
- M Performance Side Splitter Blades
- M Performance Gloss Black Grilles
- M Performance Stainless Steel Pedal Footrest
- M Performance Rocker Panel Film Set
- M Performance Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler
- 3DDesign Rear Diffuser for 2 tip

Engine is fully stock at this time, 30000km on it. Still the best car I've ever owned!

[bimmerfile]

[QUOTE=wjjkoevoets;19103657]Here's an update on the car's current "winter" state:

- Styling 381 17" winter wheels with Michelin Alpin tires
- M Performance Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps
- M Performance Exhaust
- M Performance Floor mats
- M Performance Side Splitter Blades
- M Performance Gloss Black Grilles
- M Performance Stainless Steel Pedal Footrest
- M Performance Rocker Panel Film Set
- M Performance Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler
- 3DDesign Rear Diffuser for 2 tip
]/QUOTE]

Do you have a link to your version of the 3DDesign rear diffuser?
I only get their carbon fiber version in my searches and yours doesn't look like carbon fiber.
I want to paint all but the lower center part, so CF would be a waste.

[wjjkoevoets]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Do you have a link to your version of the 3DDesign rear diffuser?
I only get their carbon fiber version in my searches and yours doesn't look like carbon fiber.
I want to paint all but the lower center part, so CF would be a waste.

Sorry, no. It's actually a carbon fiber diffuser, but the camera of my phone isn't that good and the pictures were downsized from 8160x6120 to 800x600.

Here's a better picture of the diffuser:

View post on imgur.com

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by wjjkoevoets

Sorry, no. It's actually a carbon fiber diffuser, but the camera of my phone isn't that good and the pictures were downsized from 8160x6120 to 800x600.

Here's a better picture of the diffuser:

View post on imgur.com

Thanks for that.
I like desgn of yours more than the OEM M Perf rear diffuser from BMW, but $2700 is to rich for my blood.

[wjjkoevoets]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Thanks for that.
I like desgn of yours more than the OEM M Perf rear diffuser from BMW, but $2700 is to rich for my blood.

No problem, you're welcome

Are you sure it's $2700? I believe you can get it from IND for $1700?

2-tip: http://ind-distribution.com/ind/3d-d...n-reardiffuser
4-tip: http://ind-distribution.com/ind/bran...rdiffuser-1304

Still not cheap, but a lot better than $2700!

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by wjjkoevoets

No problem, you're welcome

Are you sure it's $2700? I believe you can get it from IND for $1700?

2-tip: http://ind-distribution.com/ind/3d-d...n-reardiffuser
4-tip: http://ind-distribution.com/ind/bran...rdiffuser-1304

Still not cheap, but a lot better than $2700!

Ummm, yah: $1,695 USD = $2,387 Cdn, then you have to add 13% HST (Fed and Prv taxes) = $2,697 and that doesn't even include shipping and possible duty and brokerage fees.
Could end up costing closer to $3,000 Canadian by the time I get it.

2 years ago, the Canadian $ was worth more than the $USD, but with the collapse of oil prices, our dollar has taken a sheit-kicking.

[vladberca]

It's great to see some real petrol sport cars between the huge amount of diesels!
Congrats and keep up the good work done so far!

[wjjkoevoets]

A little update on my car. I've ordered the M Performance pedals, carbon shifter, carbon shifter base, carbon trim, carbon handbrake, steel pedals and alcantara handbrake for my car.

Next week I hope to have my M Perf interior complete with the exception of the M Perf II steering wheel (non-racing variant). I will get that at some point, because it look really, really awesome in my opinion!

The end result should then look something like in the picture above!

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Ummm, yah: $1,695 USD = $2,387 Cdn, then you have to add 13% HST (Fed and Prv taxes) = $2,697 and that doesn't even include shipping and possible duty and brokerage fees.
Could end up costing closer to $3,000 Canadian by the time I get it.

2 years ago, the Canadian $ was worth more than the $USD, but with the collapse of oil prices, our dollar has taken a sheit-kicking.

I'm sorry! I completely forgot that you live in Canada That really sucks.

Originally Posted by vladberca

It's great to see some real petrol sport cars between the huge amount of diesels!
Congrats and keep up the good work done so far!

Well, over here, there aren't that much Diesels, it's just that almost everyone drives a small boring lunch box for a car. I actually looked the information up, there are only 146 M235i's in the country where I live At least diesels tend to be larger more decent cars, unlike those 1.0 petrol turbo'd shitboxes :P

[BMW335iOn18s]

Originally Posted by wjjkoevoets

A little update on my car. I've ordered the M Performance pedals, carbon shifter, carbon shifter base, carbon trim, carbon handbrake, steel pedals and alcantara handbrake for my car.

Next week I hope to have my M Perf interior complete with the exception of the M Perf II steering wheel (non-racing variant). I will get that at some point, because it look really, really awesome in my opinion!

The end result should then look something like in the picture above!

I'm sorry! I completely forgot that you live in Canada That really sucks.

Well, over here, there aren't that much Diesels, it's just that almost everyone drives a small boring lunch box for a car. I actually looked the information up, there are only 146 M235i's in the country where I live At least diesels tend to be larger more decent cars, unlike those 1.0 petrol turbo'd shitboxes :P

Haha wow that's interesting. How do you look up how many of X car there are in your country?

[wjjkoevoets]

Originally Posted by BMW335iOn18s

Haha wow that's interesting. How do you look up how many of X car there are in your country?

I stumbled upon it by accident actually when looking at other BMWs for sale. It referred to a website that creates reports on the basis of available data. I did make a mistake though, the statistics are for the 2-series coupe in general which includes the 220i, 228i and M235i.

Mostly useless of course, but it's quite interesting:
- There are 1,452,949 cars that also have the color blue
- 32% of the 2-series coupe owners are female;
- There are 7,394,485 cars older than my car;
- There are 146 2-series coupes registered;
- 32,364 (118,369 for the 228i) cars are faster OR have more HP;
- The average owner is born in 1958.

That's quite disappointing, only 150 or so registered 2-series coupes

[Glassjaw047]

Congrats sir! Welcome and excellent choice in exterior color!