[DF]

Originally Posted by srleadjb

Yeah, I tend to enjoy the sportier side of things, I guess. I found myself always driving the M235i in sport because it sounded better....

Oh, and your twice my age if you're 92

I do too. My e93 had engine and suspension mods and thrashing it was fun. But driving to Santa Monica everyday was stiff. I find the f23 to strike the perfect balance.

I thought you were like 25 :-)

[srleadjb]

Originally Posted by DF

I do too. My e93 had engine and suspension mods and thrashing it was fun. But driving to Santa Monica everyday was stiff. I find the f23 to strike the perfect balance.

I thought you were like 25 :-)

Driving to SM everyday, I can see why you would want to be as comfortable as possible.

I wish I was 25 again.....

[DF]

Originally Posted by srleadjb

Driving to SM everyday, I can see why you would want to be as comfortable as possible.

I wish I was 25 again.....

If I had to pick up someone flying in from Vegas they could text me when they went wheels up and still beat me to LAX. GRRR

[rich8566]

Originally Posted by tc328

Watched the first few minutes....boring

Watch the last 6 minutes where they do head to head acceleration runs.

[zenmaster]

We've already known for some time what the B58 puts down to the wheels due to the 340i. We've also known for some time what the N55B30T0 puts down for the M2. Guess what? They are about the same for peak HP. That is, they are both around 330-335whp. So there should not be any surprise with what these street races are showing.

What *would* be surprising is if BMW improved the handling of the M240i over the M235i.

[Rick328]

I clicked the 2nd video only to see how long it would be...

23 mins
: : :

Interesting comments in this thread nonetheless!

[RotorOver]

Originally Posted by ZilberGrau ZHP

The Euros get an M mirror on the M2 and folding mirrors on the M240

Just test drove an M240i today in ATL, the mirrors fold in the US version as well.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by tc328

Watched the first few minutes....boring

Not even gonna watch now lol

[N & M]

Originally Posted by TunedM2

I think BMW M is going to be coming out with a M tuning package for the M2 soon.

The car is amazing but it would certainly be welcome. My car arrives in 2 days and already checking out the options of pipping the power up.

My gut feeling though is there is a new motor that will replace this current engine for the standard model.

[Diver]

The M2 may be more engaging when driven hard, but how often do you drive hard? It's fun to post about all sorts of stuff, but most of us never go to the track. We spend our time driving over poorly maintained roads. I want a car with a track tuned suspension for real world driving. If one can afford to keep it as a track toy, there are other cars that are even better track toys. The M2 is 3" wider making it a very wide car for one with a smallish interior. For those of us who drive automatics because we get stuck in traffic a lot, I can tell you the 8 speed is a great one. It shifts nearly as fast as a DCT and without all the weirdness of a DCT. Is an M240i my next ride, perhaps. It's roughly the same price as a loaded Camaro 2SS which has an insane Corvette V8 so I wonder...

[zenmaster]

Originally Posted by Diver

The M2 may be more engaging when driven hard, but how often do you drive hard? It's fun to post about all sorts of stuff, but most of us never go to the track. We spend our time driving over poorly maintained roads. I don't think I want a car with a track tuned suspension for real world driving. If one can afford to keep it as a track toy, there are other cars that are even better track toys. The M2 is 3' wider making it a very wide car for one with a smallish interior. For those of us who drive automatics because we get stuck in traffic a lot, I can tell you the 8 speed is a great one. It shifts nearly as fast as a DCT and without all the weirdness of a DCT. Is an M240i my next ride, perhaps. It's roughly the same price as a loaded Camaro 2SS which has an insane Corvette V8 so I wonder...

The thing is, you simply don't have to track an M car to enjoy the immensely improved handling benefits in daily driving.

Coming from a 3-series Msport, the M235i's default steering feels too loose, and its impossible to change it without also going to sport mode. The M235i's 18" wheels need to be wider. Even though the car is a little lighter, the suspension setup, even in sport mode, is not as good as the 3-series - feels like the center of gravity is actually higher in the M235i which is a bad thing.

The one thing I don't like about the auto transmissions is the useless way the car keeps the RPMs high after applying throttle. When throttle is completely let off after hard acceleration, the car should upshift at least after a second. I realize this can be overcome with paddles, but BMW really should do something about how long it sticks the engine in high RPM - it's comical and obnoxious.

[Diver]

Originally Posted by zenmaster

The thing is, you simply don't have to track an M car to enjoy the immensely improved handling benefits in daily driving.

Coming from a 3-series Msport, the M235i's default steering feels too loose, and its impossible to change it without also going to sport mode. The M235i's 18" wheels need to be wider. Even though the car is a little lighter, the suspension setup, even in sport mode, is not as good as the 3-series - feels like the center of gravity is actually higher in the M235i which is a bad thing.

The one thing I don't like about the auto transmissions is the useless way the car keeps the RPMs high after applying throttle. When throttle is completely let off after hard acceleration, the car should upshift at least after a second. I realize this can be overcome with paddles, but BMW really should do something about how long it sticks the engine in high RPM - it's comical and obnoxious.

I agree with you about the tires being too small. The transmission behavior you mention did not happen on the many loaners I drove with the 8 speed. Go to the 1'er forum and read all the DCT complaints from hesitation to surging.

One sits higher in the 2er (and 1er) which gives the feeling of a higher cg.

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by Diver

The M2 may be more engaging when driven hard, but how often do you drive hard? It's fun to post about all sorts of stuff, but most of us never go to the track. We spend our time driving over poorly maintained roads. I don't think I want a car with a track tuned suspension for real world driving. If one can afford to keep it as a track toy, there are other cars that are even better track toys. The M2 is 3' wider making it a very wide car for one with a smallish interior. For those of us who drive automatics because we get stuck in traffic a lot, I can tell you the 8 speed is a great one. It shifts nearly as fast as a DCT and without all the weirdness of a DCT. Is an M240i my next ride, perhaps. It's roughly the same price as a loaded Camaro 2SS which has an insane Corvette V8 so I wonder...

I think the suspension feel is really a preference, some will welcome the stiff ride of the M2 and some will not, of course the big point is that there is no mode choice on the M2, so you'd better like it.

As far as the tranny goes, if you want an auto I agree that the ZF 8AT is an incredible transmission. I test drove many car models before buying my M235 8AT, the only transmissions that performed as well as the ZF were the DCT/DSG type transmissions, none of the other slush box autos came close. The Mercedes, Audi and Lexus just felt sloppy . Many of the dual clutch boxes had issues like not engaging smoothly from a start and getting confused at inopportune times. I drove an S3 with DSG that jerked me around so much I thought it had something wrong with it. The projected maintenance costs later in the life cycle did not favor the dual clutch type either. I'd definitely buy a car with a good DCT, but I don't think the ZF8 leaves much on the table. They also highly praised the ZF8 in the video. If you spend all day at the track, sure DCT in manual mode is great but for everyday traffic driving it is hard to beat the Sport ZF8.

[Alpine F31]

Super boring

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by Alpine F31

Super boring

You mean any automatic or me ? I see your point. That is why there is a choice on transmissions.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by zenmaster

.................................the M235i's default steering feels too loose, --------------------------

Hmmmm, steering feels loose? Get your dealer to check it out. Sounds like something wrong with your 2er..

[JamRWS6]

Seems like with equal transmissions the M240i is probably faster in a straight line if it already isn't in some cases. That B58 is such a beast; should have put a tuned version in the M2.

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Hmmmm, steering feels loose? Get your dealer to check it out. Sounds like something wrong with your 2er..

The M235 has issues with the front end. I took mine in for knocking in the front end. They claimed it was a "design" characteristic. The funny thing is that when got it back they said that nothing had been fixed, but the knocking was gone. He said that a lot of M235s have been brought in for suspension noise.

[Dylan86]

N55 is still the choice for the M2, which is an all out performance machine. I wonder what reasoning or justification they had in doing this? Is it a stronger engine, internals wise? Or just a longer track record for reliability? I'm a bit stumped as to why the 240 gets the B58, and full on M2 sticks with a "tuned" version of the N55... Is it the revs and powerband that BMW was after ?

From what I'm hearing/reading the N55 holds boost to redline, and the B58 is a bit more of a tq happy engine, which can change the overall perception of the whole experience IMO..

[zenmaster]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Hmmmm, steering feels loose? Get your dealer to check it out. Sounds like something wrong with your 2er..

I don't think so, the "sport" steering mode makes it feel about right.

[Hrothgar]

Originally Posted by Dylan86

From what I'm hearing/reading the N55 holds boost to redline, and the B58 is a bit more of a tq happy engine, which can change the overall perception of the whole experience IMO..

That's my guess. If I had a full fledged M car, I'd want the power to remain up to red line like with the N55. In a DD, the more low end torquey characteristic of the B58 is probably more desirable by most. Just a thought.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by zenmaster

I don't think so, the "sport" steering mode makes it feel about right.

Did you mean to say that your 2er steering feels light (rather than "loose")?
That I can agree with. My previous bimmers had hydraulic steering, which did have a bit of a heavier feel - although not quite as sharp.