[lemonana]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

I'm still trying to choose between the M240 and 440 for my next car and this review did not make my decision any easier

440 comes with head up display

[superherorockstar]

As much as I love the 240 there's something that I love just a little bit more about the m2.

[superherorockstar]

Originally Posted by jpnh

One of the things I love about the M240 is that its a car.....rather than a rolling living room

I literally laughed out loud when I read that! And wholeheartedly agree.

[Dylan86]

Originally Posted by superherorockstar

As much as I love the 240 there's something that I love just a little bit more about the m2.

Out of the box, the M2 is hands down the better performance car. Can't deny it.

But I think there's something to be said, on a daily driver, for having the best of both worlds. This is where the M2**i car comes into the equation. A simple brake job will cost much less, for example, on the M2**i. And you can purchase the M2**i, today, for much less $$ too. And that's with options like different colours and trims that make it a unique purchase, on an individual basis.

The "value" to each person is just another form of perception, which is highly subjective and not worth debating over IMO. I'm glad they offer this performance level 2 series in a non "M" series, as it's giving us more, for less.

[superherorockstar]

Originally Posted by Dylan86

Out of the box, the M2 is hands down the better performance car. Can't deny it.

But I think there's something to be said, on a daily driver, for having the best of both worlds. This is where the M2**i car comes into the equation. A simple brake job will cost much less, for example, on the M2**i. And you can purchase the M2**i, today, for much less $$ too. And that's with options like different colours and trims that make it a unique purchase, on an individual basis.

The "value" to each person is just another form of perception, which is highly subjective and not worth debating over IMO. I'm glad they offer this performance level 2 series in a non "M" series, as it's giving us more, for less.

I completely agree and I'd probably go with the 240 based on the price difference. Because anything over 50k and I'm instantly looking at the new ZL1

[Irishace]

Scary thing is the 240 has a far better motor than the M2. The motor has proven to take to tuning far better than the n55. Tuned 240s will end up blowing away tuned M2.

[XutvJet]

^Not really.

[jpnh]

Originally Posted by Irishace

Scary thing is the 240 has a far better motor than the M2. The motor has proven to take to tuning far better than the n55. Tuned 240s will end up blowing away tuned M2.

And I think everyone expects that to be the next significant upgrade to the M2

[jaykoolzboy]

M2 vs M240i

IMO aside from the same root , it's really two different car that fits 2 different personality. Very similar to WRX and STI difference (where some people prefers the WRX over STI and vice versa)

For m240i buyer

1. A car that is very ideal as Daily Driver or even as your only car.
2. Can have occasion track day and have fun with it.
3. Don't have to pay over 50k for a sports car.
4. Don't want to get all the attention from random strange people


For m2 buyer

1. Hardcore BMW M car fan that just wants the best available
2. Can be use as a dedicated Track day fun car
3. Former E36 E46 M3 owner that's looking for the closest replacement
4. Don't mind to pay 55k+ for a 2 series



From my perspective, this is a perfect collaboration from BMW, you want the hardcore 2 series and don't mind all the wait (=enthusiasts) you just go for M2. If you want to use this car as very comfortable daily driver without losing single bit of performance, just go for M240i.

I see no conflicts between those 2 cars. We should really appreciate BMW for even offering both m240i and m2 simultaneously.

[RotorOver]

Picked up my M240i from the dealer on 10 Sept and just got through the break in period today. All I can say is the car is awesome. While I was on a couple of M2 wait lists since the May time frame and did not get to test drive the car, when I did test drive the M240i I made the decision to go that route as I was pretty impressed.

There is no doubt the M2 would have been an excellent car, but for those of you sitting on the fence I can tell you I have no regrets. For background, I don't intend on tracking the car much if any, so that was not a big consideration for me. One big consideration- I commute 26 miles each way in shitty Atlanta traffic and I can honestly say I actually look forward to my drive now! The car is a blast when you want it to be and docile & compliant the other times.

As far as price, mine was optioned up and I got it from a local dealer for $1800 below invoice compared to the M2 DCT with Exec at MSRP we are talking a $10k difference in out the door price. Certainly nothing to sneeze at.

The engine transmission combo is very good and I have no issues with the steering feel, it's solid in all modes. As far as the stereo, I'm unfamiliar with the past 2 series issues, but even without the HK option, the sound system sounds fine to me and I've had custom sound systems in the past.

Well, good luck to you making the decision to waiting out an M2 or not. I can tell you I have been very happy with the M240i.

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by nvmaddog

There is no doubt that the M2 is the more awesome car and what I'd rather have, but the 235/240 may be a little bit more livable for a lot less money.

I agree but for the same money or even less than what you will pay for an M240 you can get a 2011+ E9x M3 with 15-20k miles(barely broken in) and have something really special. Yes the M3 is way heavier, oh wait it's only 60lbs heavier. Yeah but the M3 isn't any faster to 1/4 mile. Actually it is, look at the trap speed. Look at what happens beyond that point to 150mph. 1.8sec is huge in terms distance/car lengths. The M3 will out handle, out perform, out resale(5, 10, 15yrs from now) the M240. So my advice would be start shopping for a clean M3 E9x, and pocket the few grand you can save for mods or whatever else.

[Germanauto]

If you think about it, the M2 is one of the best bargains in the entire market. How many $51-$56K cars perform so well and look so good? It's a very accessible automobile for all enthusiasts.

[SeanWRT]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

0.2 seconds and 2mph in the 1/4 mile (12.9@109mph vs 12.7@111mph) indicates that the B58 is putting down about 15-20whp/wtq more than the N55, which is in line with what dyno numbers are showing for B58's.

m2 gets 12.5@113mph in C/D test, probably that's all about M DCT.

[simianspeedster]

A few thoughts from a previous 1 Series owner and current 2016 TTS owner (for about 1 more week) who just test drove an M235i last week for the 2nd time before buying a 435i GC.

The 2 Series interior -- Yes, it's a bit plain, but not in a bad way, IMO. It's simple, but not cheap for the most part. For gearheads who prefer classic BMWs, I see it as an advantage. As much as I loved my 1, the interior cheapness jumped out at me on a regular basis. The 2 splits the difference between the modern feel of the F3X 3/4 interior and the basic feel of the E82. The ergonomics and positioning of the controls are also better than the 1 though still a bit upright feeling.

C&D's Virtual Cockpit reference -- First, the good news: virtual cockpit is pretty cool when it works. Now, the bad news: it doesn't work reliably for any extended period of time, and Audi has no idea how to fix it. My 2016 TTS was in the shop for 23 days in the first 8,000 miles before they effectively gave up on me and my car, probably because the Audi/VW diesel woes are overwhelming them. Even ignoring the other problems my TTS has experienced (self-leveling headlight failures, seats falling apart, broken seat frame from the factory, strange transmission noises in reverse, etc.), the virtual cockpit technology has been a disaster. It crashes with regularity, even to the point where the gauges disappear, and that is a serious safety issue. The data connection is intermittent. Traffic data drops all the time, and the reliability of the navigation info suffers (trust me, you'll end up using your phone all the time). MMI has problems reading the most basic information from your contacts (example: any address in my iPhone that says "street" or "road" will stump MMI; your contacts must use Audi's preferred abbreviations EXACTLY like "st" and "rd" or no dice, but they are not published, of course).

Audi dealers cannot deal with virtual cockpit issues, and Audi of America doesn't even have a formal policy about future software upgrades because (in their words) individual OS builds are matched to each rev of virtual cockpit hardware, and they're not standardized. They replaced the computer in my car, along with the data antenna, sim card, and wiring harness, reset the system several times and reloaded the software 3 times, and still no solution, so they stopped trying. I'm not exaggerating: the specialists they assigned to handle my case at the regional and national level stopped returning my calls and emails, and not for anything I did (no cursing, etc.). The dealer and Audio of America pointed fingers at each other. It's been a surreal experience.

It was not easy, but I recently negotiated a lemon law buyback of my TTS -- the agreement is complete, and the car should be back in their hands in about 1 more week. I am aware of another TTS driver who went through the same process (they're still testing his car to debug the virtual cockpit issues), and others on AudiWorld forums are having similar issues. Lord help Audi when these issues start hitting them at scale now that virtual cockpit is available on their volume selling cars (A3, A4, A5, Q7, etc.) Can you imagine owning virtual cockpit in 5 years with no updates, no dealer knowledge, and Audi of America playing ostrich? No bueno.

So...if you think the 2 Series interior is too simple and lacks modern tech, and that's a deciding factor for you, consider the alternative of being a beta tester for Audi and hating your car for being a buggy computer on wheels. Trust me -- it's no fun. At least the 2 Series' analog gauges just work, as does iDrive, so don't take that for granted. Over the last decade or so, we've owned 6 cars with iDrive, and while it's not perfect, I've never experienced a single iDrive OS crash.

In short, be careful what you wish for...

[DS_BMW]

Originally Posted by mPlasticDesign

I agree but for the same money or even less than what you will pay for an M240 you can get a 2011+ E9x M3 with 15-20k miles(barely broken in) and have something really special. Yes the M3 is way heavier, oh wait it's only 60lbs heavier. Yeah but the M3 isn't any faster to 1/4 mile. Actually it is, look at the trap speed. Look at what happens beyond that point to 150mph. 1.8sec is huge in terms distance/car lengths. The M3 will out handle, out perform, out resale(5, 10, 15yrs from now) the M240. So my advice would be start shopping for a clean M3 E9x, and pocket the few grand you can save for mods or whatever else.

True but then you have to roll without a warranty.

[doccyber]

Originally Posted by raysspl

If you're buying a new M240i, chances are, you can afford the M2. The price point difference between the two is a fairly weak argument to me

I agree, specially since the M2 doesn't even come with the real M mirrors.

[ORIGIN M.]

M2 CSL will surely be PHEV.

Next Gen M2 is a given!

Originally Posted by Viffermike

CD throws down a few gauntlets for the redesign:

"An un-optioned M240i’s interior is a dark, gloomy place that can’t approach the modern feel and specialness of any Audi equipped with that company’s Virtual Cockpit system."
A-frakking-MEN.

"We do, however, have to protest the unnecessary extra heft these modes dial into the M240i’s electrically assisted power steering ... Steering is accurate and confidence-inspiring if not as communicative as we’d prefer (making the effort higher does not improve feel)."
Halle-frakking-LUJAH.

Also: if you read between the lines, the review basically says "DCT: Why?" (The newly beefed-up ZF8 auto is that good).

No mention of the stereo -- which, it's worth mentioning, seems to be somewhat 'fixed' for 2017 based on feedback on the M2 forums. Maybe BMW finally corrected the wiring issue that created the out-of-phase condition in the rear speakers?

I think the next-gen M2 will be an absolute beast slayer in its segment. It will have to be ... and I personally think it has a very good chance (But not as good of a chance as the M4) of being a hybrid.

[ABPReader]

Originally Posted by jaykoolzboy

For m240i buyer

1. A car that is very ideal as Daily Driver or even as your only car.
2. Can have occasion track day and have fun with it.
3. Don't have to pay over 50k for a sports car.
4. Don't want to get all the attention from random strange people A)
B)


For m2 buyer

1. Hardcore BMW M car fan that just wants the best available
2. Can be use as a dedicated Track day fun car
3. Former E36 E46 M3 owner that's looking for the closest replacement C)
4. Don't mind to pay 55k+ for a 2 series

I agree with you at 90%

A) As an estoril blue M235i owner, I can tell you that the car gets a lot of attention. Many thumbs up from drivers/pedestrians, many good comment on parking or at the fuel station, ... But I agree that an M2 will get more attention.
B) 5. If you don't want 18 months to get the car (at least in Europe)
C) Some said that the M235i was the new E36/E46 M3 in 2014, then some others told that when the M2 was announced. The M2 is by far a more hardcore car than the old M3 e36 and e46. We can probably agree that neither N55 cars nor B58 cars can provide the feeling of the S54.

[MikeT]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

If you think about it, the M2 is one of the best bargains in the entire market. How many $51-$56K cars perform so well and look so good? It's a very accessible automobile for all enthusiasts.

Unless your brother owns the dealership or something like that, you ain't getting a new M2 for $51k.

A zero-option, Alpine White M2 starts at $52,695 with delivery fee. Add on metallic paint, the exec package and the DCT, you're at almost $58k. Maybe the M2 is a bargain at $58k. I'm not going to argue that it's not, as I haven't driven the car.

I totally get the theoretical argument that a stripper M2 is a better value than a loaded M235/M240. In practice, though, the real-world price of M2s for the typical buyer is going to be $10k or so higher than for M235/M240. The reality is that buyers of the latter are typically paying mid-to-high $40s while M2 buyers are paying mostly high $50s. If the M2 is this amazing bargain in the high $50s, the M240 must be the absolute deal of the century when its real-world price is $10K or so less.

[Who's on first]

Originally Posted by RotorOver

Picked up my M240i from the dealer on 10 Sept and just got through the break in period today. All I can say is the car is awesome. While I was on a couple of M2 wait lists since the May time frame and did not get to test drive the car, when I did test drive the M240i I made the decision to go that route as I was pretty impressed.

There is no doubt the M2 would have been an excellent car, but for those of you sitting on the fence I can tell you I have no regrets. For background, I don't intend on tracking the car much if any, so that was not a big consideration for me. One big consideration- I commute 26 miles each way in shitty Atlanta traffic and I can honestly say I actually look forward to my drive now! The car is a blast when you want it to be and docile & compliant the other times.

As far as price, mine was optioned up and I got it from a local dealer for $1800 below invoice compared to the M2 DCT with Exec at MSRP we are talking a $10k difference in out the door price. Certainly nothing to sneeze at.

The engine transmission combo is very good and I have no issues with the steering feel, it's solid in all modes. As far as the stereo, I'm unfamiliar with the past 2 series issues, but even without the HK option, the sound system sounds fine to me and I've had custom sound systems in the past.

Well, good luck to you making the decision to waiting out an M2 or not. I can tell you I have been very happy with the M240i.

There's a brake-in period now for these cars?

I don't remember that on mine. Only M motors had brake-in's.

[dukeapenguin]

Originally Posted by suprem

I discovered this forum after I decided to get an M240i this past summer. I came here hoping to find ideas for cosmetic mods that would give the car some cool but subtle style changes. I found that and more. It's been great.

Anywho, my car was delivered to my doorstep this past Saturday and I drove it for the first time today. I am completely blown away by how great it is. I'm no car expert at all and I'm coming from what I thought was a pretty cool Lexus 350 F Sport, but if there are people out there like me - people just looking for a fun car to drive to the gym, to the store, out to dinner, etc - you will have a blast in an M240. It's on another level. I'm truly impressed at how bad ass the car is and I suspect I will be getting a couple of speeding tickets over the next few months.

Also, if there's anyone debating the Mineral Grey color, it's so dope on the car. Photos do not do that color justice.

tl;dr - Incredible car with incredible feel, quick as a wink, roomie enough in back for average sized humans. And it seems to be a head turner. At least where I was driving it today.

I change from RC350 F Sport to M235i MT RWD Converti and I am very very happy with my bmw.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Dylan86

My "Indie" BMW tech, who's been BMW Master Certified for some time, truly thinks that the M235i/240i is a breed of an "M" car, to a degree. He simply said BMW doesn't make M models without them being special or different to some effect (unlike a 235i with M package, which is usually just cosmetic). He said this car is a "special breed, and we're lucky to even have the option to have such a model loaded this way from the factory (adaptive M suspension, Brembo brakes, yada yada yada)". Branding is a big part of it, and this is still the only BMW M***i model in existence (to the best of my knowledge) so it is unique in it's own way.. There is the 335i/435i with MSport package etc, but it's not the same thing, in his opinion. The fact that BMW branded the car with an M first, means something, somewhere on the line..

I told him that I don't like to speak "M" language with the car because I feel it's not a full on M model and I don't want to seem like a poser. His response was " that's foolish, but this is the only model of it's kind, and it's going to get some push back from the M community". He owns two e46 M3's one is a vert for his wife and the other is a prepped track car, fwiw..

So many opinions.. I'm taking my badges off of the back, sick of explaining this shit to everyone around my neck of the woods (rare BMW sightings lol).

D

E30 M technic along with BMW M535 models and M635 models from the past are cars that had an Mxxx nomenclature and really held their value and are quite rare.

An M235/240 is not a full on M car but your mechanic is ABSOLUTELY correct it is more M car than an M sport model.

M sport is badging , wheels and tires and maybe seats.

An Mxxx model has much more reworking from the M team and usually adds an improved suspension along with M sport tweaks.