[Surge]

Posted this on the F80 Bimmerpost forum. I'm sure I'll get tons of flames, but thought I'd tell it like it is.
(BTW - I was a manufacturing engineer at Toyota, and also worked at Ford and GM. So I know a bit about cars.)

- - - -

First, let me clarify that I can afford an M6, so it's not a question of finances. I went to the dealer today set on ordering an M4. But there was an m235i in the showroom, so I thought, 'why not sit in it'… let's see what the "lesser" model feels like.

Well, to cut a longer story short, I was floored. The M235i is in many ways, a nicer car inside than the M3/4. And a more fun drive.

My point is not to speak negatively of the M3/4, but just to say that before you sign that deal, do yourself a favor and test drive the m235i.

Let's get into some details:
INTERIOR
- no center armrest on the M3
- M3 has no passthrough! Carrying 4 adults to the ski slopes?! Sorry. Out of luck (esp since no roof rack will fit on the CF roof). M235? Yup - center passthrough. Rear seats fold 40/20/40, as they should.
- the M3 I looked at had full leather. Should be a "wow", right? Wrong.
If you want to know what full leather done right should look like, check out your neighborhood Porsche dealership. For one thing, the inside door handles are plastic. Another thing: the rear seat backs are a hard, cheap plastic.
Another thing - the center console sides are leather only part of the way, the rest is that same cheap plastic.
- seats - love the extendable length cushion on the m235i. Not possible on the M3
- armrest - love that it slides on the m235. Doesn't move on the M3…
- door "thunk" when closed - sounds better on the m235
- roofliner - the M3 has the same low rent vinyl roof liner that the m235i has. Not impressed for an $80K+ car.

Hmmm…

which car exactly costs 50% more?!

Drive
The m235 was sublime in the way it drove. Watch the reviews. There's a reason why so many reviewers use words like "magic" and "love" and "I want to buy this car" when they test it. Do you hear the same words with the M3/4? No.

If you track the car and you care about the badge, the M3/4 will win.
But if you want a true driver's car, it's the m235 all the way!

Again, not out here to trash owners of the M3/4, just to say that if you're thinking about buying one (as I was), do yourself a favor and check out the m235i.

[dharo1]

+1

[MO3]

I went to buy a 435i and the only demo was taken out by another customer as I was late to my appointment so my salesman recommended I take the M235i for a drive while waiting for the 435i to come back! I did and it was love at first drive!

[DSTR]

Another rational view like mine cost not factored in overall. I simply liked the car. Better for me is the M235i but maybe not others. Thats all that matters in the end...how you feel about a car. Its a great car/package and on top of that a great performance value. Win f'n win!

[mjposner]

Floored by this. I sat in an M4 two weeks ago and I though it had a nicer interior and the leather was far nicer (I still think pebbly Dakota leather looks and feels like vinyl), the merino leather in the M4 feels and looks like leather. I also prefer the wider cockpit.

I miss my old M3....wish I could afford a new M4.

[e90post_user]

You have definitely "stirred" more attention on F8x forums with your post.
Congrats on your choice

[ska///235i]

M3/4 interior is better in every way...IMO

[sstarrx3]

Everything you said about driving fun may be true. The smaller cars tend to drive and handle better. Everything else I would find hard to believe you would take an M235i over an M4. The Interior of the M4 is much nicer. You have the option of getting full leather that includes the dash and doors and other trim pieces. I have always said I do not need M power in a car. I do really like the upgraded interior in them. The interior in the 2 series in general is just cheap looking. Dakota leather may be durable but it looks and feels like plastic. The dash without leather looks like it was pulled right out of a VW Jetta. There is nothing luxurious about it. Therefore I see the M235i option if not for the purpose of saving money as a choice if someone just wants a pure driving car. Which is ok if that is all you want. I want my $50000 car to have luxurious interior and this is where the 2 series fails in spades.

[Cavpilot2k]

I just recently sat in a 435 when I test drove a M235, and while it's not an M4, all I could think was "God, this thing is BIG!"
Couldn't really notice anything else beyond the size.
To be fair, I am currently driving a 135, so the 4-series is roughly 8x the size of my car. ;-)
I can't see myself in anything bigger than a 2-series, but I think I'll hold out for the M2.

[sstarrx3]

Originally Posted by Cavpilot2k

I just recently sat in a 435 when I test drove a M235, and while it's not an M4, all I could think was "God, this thing is BIG!"
Couldn't really notice anything else beyond the size.
To be fair, I am currently driving a 135, so the 4-series is roughly 8x the size of my car. ;-)
I can't see myself in anything bigger than a 2-series, but I think I'll hold out for the M2.

When I was looking to get mine I went to a dealer lot and they had an Alpine White 428i next to a Alpine White 228i. From the outside I did not think they looked that much different in size. The 4 looked a little bigger but not a massive amount. The 4 looked wide inside so more interior room for sure. Coming from a 1 series I can see how it would feel massive.

[USPSALIMITED]

Looked at the M4 and decided to stick with the 235 also.

It is not about money, I can't afford either one of them.

[Cavpilot2k]

Originally Posted by USPSALIMITED

Looked at the M4 and decided to stick with the 235 also.

It is not about money, I can't afford either one of them.

[Surge]

The interior of the M4 is NOT as nice as the m235i in my view. That's why I focused on the interior in my post. I too was floored by this.

Read my points again carefully if you don't believe it.

Full leather - should be amazing right? Well yeah the leather is softer than the Dakota; BUT, it's NOT full leather. Get inside one and pull the door shut. What does your hand touch? The inside of the door grab handle is cheap plastic.

Then there's the side of the console, near the shifter. It's leather for part of it, then it just stops. I'll post some pictures:

May seem like I'm nitpicking, but not in an ~$80K car.

Look at Porsche for real full leather, or BMW's own 6 series. I know these can be more expensive than the M3, but not necessarily.

I wish they wouldn't call it "full leather", when it's really not.

[mike@tpc]

I went in to get a 435 and got the 2.

[sdpauly]

Now all they have to do is not screw up the M2...

[ska///235i]

Ok I can understand the complain on the M3/4 interior as its not worth $80k...but its still way better than the m235

[nachob]

I passed up Jessica Alba when I met my wife!

: ) Just kidding.

Yes, less is more. You can't fake the dimensions. One thing I also noticed is that the M3 seats look great but I actually found the M235i seats more comfy.

I still like the M3 since I have two kids and it is the best of both worlds for a DD where you carry two kids every day but the size of the M235i is pretty much perfect. If it lost a few pounds that would be even better......the car not my wife! : )


I am also a MT guy but I actually prefer the auto over the DCT. It's quick, smooth and feels better parking or stop and go... that's if I was into automatic sports cars of course!

Congrats!

[Researcher]

I agree with the OP. The M interior for the price is not in anyway better than Porsche or even Lexus for that matter. I actually think it is below that in my Stingray (price compared). For those that say the interior of the 235 is not adequately luxurious, you must all be billionaires that have never driven Hondas, Fords, Toyotas before!

[3.0L]

I spent a full year reading reviews on every car I thought I could be happy with. I even did practice builds at many car manufacturers websites, tweeking options every way imaginable.

Finally, I zeroed in on the M235i. I scheduled a test drive. My plan was to test drive, then return home to think about it a little more.

Well, I came home with the car.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Nice!!

[sstarrx3]

Originally Posted by Surge

The interior of the M4 is NOT as nice as the m235i in my view. That's why I focused on the interior in my post. I too was floored by this.

Read my points again carefully if you don't believe it.

Full leather - should be amazing right? Well yeah the leather is softer than the Dakota; BUT, it's NOT full leather. Get inside one and pull the door shut. What does your hand touch? The inside of the door grab handle is cheap plastic.

Then there's the side of the console, near the shifter. It's leather for part of it, then it just stops. I'll post some pictures:

May seem like I'm nitpicking, but not in an ~$80K car.

Look at Porsche for real full leather, or BMW's own 6 series. I know these can be more expensive than the M3, but not necessarily.




I wish they wouldn't call it "full leather", when it's really not.

Ok, you should expect more from an $80,000 car, but that was not what the OP was about. Money was supposedly not the object. The M235i interior still sux!!!! It is plastic from top to bottom. Porsche was not even in the equation on this one. To say the M235i interior is nicer that the M4 is just ludicrous. It is lacking as much if not more in that department for a $50,000 ride than the M4 is for an $80,000 ride. Porsche is in another class. They have to make the interior super cushy in those because the ride is so damn rough you dont want to drive more than 100 miles in it before needed to get out and take breather.

[sstarrx3]

Originally Posted by Researcher

I agree with the OP. The M interior for the price is not in anyway better than Porsche or even Lexus for that matter. I actually think it is below that in my Stingray (price compared). For those that say the interior of the 235 is not adequately luxurious, you must all be billionaires that have never driven Hondas, Fords, Toyotas before!

I have driven these all before and FORD in their Platinum line of cars have very nice interiors. BMW 2 series interior cant even come close. I bought my car for the drive and the cost. Money is an object for me. The drive for me was more important than the interior at this price point. My car was only $38000. I could have gotten a maxed out FORD with much nicer interior for the same money, but it would not have driven like my 2er.