[Gabbykat]

It has been about 3 weeks and I'm still figuring things out. I remember the test drive to be a bit quieter in the acceleration. I'm sure the demo car also had run flats but not sure about a sun roof. The weight of the sun roof can't make that much of a difference, right? My car is at about 350 km and the demo car was at about 90 km.

How long did it take for you to love your new car and was there a a-ha moment?

I love the terra interior and basically everything visual about it...except for the angular lines below the front fender.

So to be clear, I loved the test drive and i shopped around, did my research and this was the car for me. I just remember the test drive car seemed smoother in acceleration (starting from stop and starting uphill). I live in a hilly area so it was something I made sure to check when going for the test drive.

Update: it is just a little over a month or my second tank of gas...I have bonded and feel the car is also feeling me. I am even tentative about applying for a job because the location is too close to drive to...how can I not drive my car?

It is literally down the hill, up a hill and I'm there; my car would have been barely warmed up.

[mdputnam]

By "quieter in the acceleration" do you mean less noise or slower? If slower you need to wait until the engine is well broken in before judging whether the acceleration is acceptable. If you mean less noise when accelerating...

My Ah Ha moment was when the dealership bastards loaned me a 2016 M235i during the last warranty service on my 135is, I had to have the M235i, but loved my 135is, so now I have two BMWs in the driveway. Curse you BMW and your diabolical marketing plan!

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Gabbby

How long did it take for you to love your new car and was there a a-ha moment?

My "ah hah" moment was during the test drive, just before I signed the papers. I bought the car I test drove. Been smiling ever since.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Gabbby

.
How long did it take for you to love your new car and was there a a-ha moment?

Before I bought it...

[ianp622]

Loved it the moment I saw it in the BMW Welt, and then it just got better from there.

[DF]

I knew from the reviews I wanted it. The 4 series was too big and too soft. Then I drove it and it reminded me of my e46. Evertime I get s loaner it reminds me how much I prefer my m235

[3rdcoast228i]

I was looking at cars online for months and when I found my car online I said to my self that's my car! I resisted for 2 or 3 days, finally took a test drive and still tried to resist. I was in love from first sight though, and still am.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by Gabbby

It has been about 3 weeks and I'm still figuring things out. I remember the test drive to be a bit quieter in the acceleration. I'm sure the demo car also had run flats but not sure about a sun roof. The weight of the sun roof can't make that much of a difference, right? My car is at about 350 km and the demo car was at about 90 km.

How long did it take for you to love your new car and was there a a-ha moment?

I love the terra interior and basically everything visual about it...except for the angular lines below the front fender.

The motor and drivetrain are really tight and the ECU is still adjusting your driving style, fuel type, etc. It will take a solid 3,000+ miles for the car to really wake up. I wasn't overly impressed with my M235 6MT at first, but after a month or two, it woke up quite a bit and seems to get faster and faster (currently has 13K miles). Also, try driving in DSC Off. The car is FAR more willing and aggressive. All nannies are off and the power is the strongest. In all other modes, it's quite apparent the nannies are killing some power and making the driving experience smoother.

I absolutely love my M235 and is the only car in 28 years of driving that puts a smile on my face every day.

[esp260]

I had my mind set on a 4 series, and honestly didn't even look into the 2 series line. I saw a 228i sport line and really didn't like the look. After realizing that a 428i spec'd out would be a little out of what I was willing to pay, I learned about the 228i w/M-sport package and have loved it ever since.

On my first test drive, my sales guy threw me the keys and said "I'll see you in 20 minutes". Came back from the test drive and put my order down!

[SlickShift]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Before I bought it...

Yeah, same. If you don't have the moment before you sign the papers it's not the car for you.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by Gabbby

It has been about 3 weeks and I'm still figuring things out. I remember the test drive to be a bit quieter in the acceleration. I'm sure the demo car also had run flats but not sure about a sun roof. The weight of the sun roof can't make that much of a difference, right? My car is at about 350 km and the demo car was at about 90 km.

How long did it take for you to love your new car and was there a a-ha moment?

I love the terra interior and basically everything visual about it...except for the angular lines below the front fender.

Maybe an AWD thing? I see everyone commenting has RWD and you have AWD. I love driving mine every time. But, it's also RWD. Every AWD BMW I've driven (and owned) has been more muted in its delights. My 240i is as close as I've gotten to my 2006 M3C in fun factor.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

Maybe an AWD thing?............................................ ......................

Nope.
Guess again..

[p912guy]

I first fell in "lust" while shopping for a new mid-sized SUV for my wife, specifically an X3. While waiting for the salesman to bring the X3 around for me to test drive, an Alpine White M235i convertible with a MT and the top down, sitting on the showroom floor near my salesman's cubicle caught my eye, or rather, reached out and grabbed me. I walked around it a few times drooling and then popped open the door and slide into the driver's seat and dreamed about what it might be like to drive this every day, rather than my beloved MINI Cooper S Hardtop. While the X3 wasn't the right choice for my wife, 4 months later, after watching the internet price drop successively each month, I returned to the scene of the crime with acceptable numbers in my head. After a brief test drive which turned "lust" into gotta-have "love", I drove my new M235i home and haven't had a single regret since.

[Beartato]

Driving it home from the dealer.

I test drove an AWD one but ordered the RWD 6 speed one. Well not ordered, the dealer transferred it from out of state. Instantly reminded me of my old E36 M3, but significantly more refined.

Wait until it's broken in and you can really push it, that's when the fun begins.

[chattanooga240]

I would not have signed paperwork if I did not like most of the aspects about the car. You can tell in about 5 minutes on a test drive whether a car works for you or it doesn't.

[Maynard]

Originally Posted by SlickShift

Yeah, same. If you don't have the moment before you sign the papers it's not the car for you.

This sums it up nicely - for me the 228 was in a different league from e/t else I'd been considering, and the test drive set the hook. It did take a while to get used to things, and to break it in, so I'd say it definitely gets better over time. But like any other major relationship, if you have to work at it to make it good, then you should start looking for the replacement now.

[Mr Carrots]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

Maybe an AWD thing? I see everyone commenting has RWD and you have AWD. I love driving mine every time. But, it's also RWD. Every AWD BMW I've driven (and owned) has been more muted in its delights. My 240i is as close as I've gotten to my 2006 M3C in fun factor.

nope, I love my AWD, the insane grip when I go WOT at green lights was worth the extra 2k.

I suspect its because OP got the 230 not the the 240?

I drove my car back to back with an M4 and a C63s AMG and didn't feel like it was a major step down from either (and I pushed them all VERY hard in the test drive)

[Bill Kayen]

I test drove the car after VW gave me a date to buy my TDI back. I knew after the test drive that I had to have one. I couldn't stop smiling after the test drive and I haven't stopped smiling yet. Give it time and you will learn to love it.

[Gabbykat]

Originally Posted by mdputnam

By "quieter in the acceleration" do you mean less noise or slower? If slower you need to wait until the engine is well broken in before judging whether the acceleration is acceptable. If you mean less noise when accelerating...

My Ah Ha moment was when the dealership bastards loaned me a 2016 M235i during the last warranty service on my 135is, I had to have the M235i, but loved my 135is, so now I have two BMWs in the driveway. Curse you BMW and your diabolical marketing plan!

Slower when accelerating. It sounds like it is trying harder to accelerate at this point so Glad to know it will change after the break in.

While I was waiting for my car and it was delayed 2 weeks, I got a 7 series loaner and a 320 loaner and knew I made the right choice. The 7 was way too big and had too many distractions and the 320 did not have enough power.

As I said, I love how it looks but only the acceleration seemed lacking.

[Gabbykat]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

The motor and drivetrain are really tight and the ECU is still adjusting your driving style, fuel type, etc. It will take a solid 3,000+ miles for the car to really wake up. I wasn't overly impressed with my M235 6MT at first, but after a month or two, it woke up quite a bit and seems to get faster and faster (currently has 13K miles). Also, try driving in DSC Off. The car is FAR more willing and aggressive. All nannies are off and the power is the strongest. In all other modes, it's quite apparent the nannies are killing some power and making the driving experience smoother.

I absolutely love my M235 and is the only car in 28 years of driving that puts a smile on my face every day.

Is the DSC the car with the swiggle lines? I was told by the specialist not to deactivate that and only maybe if I am stuck in the snow.

I love it in sport mode but avoided the sport + mode because o really don't know what the DSC off really means. It doesn't say much in the manual.

[RotorOver]

For me it was kinda like when I first met my wife- you just know.

[Gabbykat]

Originally Posted by RotorOver

For me it was kinda like when I first met my wife- you just know.

Awww...sweet.