[turbobum]

So my wife and I did a test drive, weren't planning on it but the dealer had one w/a manual so I had to do it. Overall the car is impressive (and impressively expensive!) and hasn't lost the BMW character like the newer softer 3 series unfortunately has.

Funny thing however, my 135 (all stock), though not faster, feels quicker. Mine still has the twin-turbos so I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but the 135 just feels like the power comes on more quickly. I know the 235 wasn't completely broken in, but that shouldn't impact how the power is delivered. There was a little turbolag down low not noticeable at all on the 135. Again, maybe it's due to the single turbo. I've never driven a single turbo 135.

Still debating if the 235 is a big enough improvement over the 1 to justify the big $ to "upgrade"

[nachob]

135 louder stiffer feels quicker. m235i more refined softer. Yes it's better than other bmws but if I had 135i. I would keep it IMHO.

[WWM]

I didn't think the 135i felt faster at all. It felt more raw and visceral, but quite a bit slower especially at the top end. I'm comparing the 7DCT to the 8AT, maybe the manuals are a different story.

I would say the higher power, vastly superior interior and much more comfortable seats make it worth the upgrade.

[alexc93]

Did you drive in comfort or sport mode?

I moved over from a tuned, bolt on 135i and would have to say my m235i feels much more powerful to when my 135i was stock and honestly...fairly close to once I tuned the 135i.

[W///]

Originally Posted by turbobum

So my wife and I did a test drive, weren't planning on it but the dealer had one w/a manual so I had to do it. Overall the car is impressive (and impressively expensive!) and hasn't lost the BMW character like the newer softer 3 series unfortunately has.

Funny thing however, my 135 (all stock), though not faster, feels quicker. Mine still has the twin-turbos so I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but the 135 just feels like the power comes on more quickly. I know the 235 wasn't completely broken in, but that shouldn't impact how the power is delivered. There was a little turbolag down low not noticeable at all on the 135. Again, maybe it's due to the single turbo. I've never driven a single turbo 135.

Still debating if the 235 is a big enough improvement over the 1 to justify the big $ to "upgrade"

Personally, I wouldn't upgrade to an M235i. A bit too similar in some ways, unless you really want a warranty.

I'd wait for the M2

[Declio]

Originally Posted by alexc93

Did you drive in comfort or sport mode?

Pretty important...throttle feels dead in comfort mode (which is fine sometimes!)

[AWheeler]

In my experience, the M235 feels as though it has a little more top end power vs the 135 having a slightly more punchy low end. Both of these cars make a lot of torque, regardless.

As for the rest of the experience, the M235 is definitely a quieter, softer feel vs the 1 series.

[RPM90]

In my experience my 135i felt great and it had MT with the twin turbo's.
My F30 335i Msport is AT with single twin scroll turbo.
My 135i was powerful and fast and my 335i gives up nothing to the 135i.
I would even say the 335i feels a bit stronger and pulls just a bit higher on the top end before needing a gear change.

The N54 was very visceral, but so is the N55 in the M235i I drove.
The N55 in the 335i is more muted and the power thus feels like an electric engine with torque o'plenty and smooth.

Make sure to test any modern BMW in "sport" mode. The "comfort/normal or eco" modes are a waste in BMW's with sporting intentions and dull the cars reflexes.

The suspension in the M235i is a good bit better than the 135i.
The interior is not much different other than the added screen and controller.

My F30 335i is softer than the M235i.
Still I decided to go with the new 340i to see what the new engine is about and if BMW really did address the softness of the pre LCI F30.
I would have gone with the M235i if BMW had made the interior nicer than what my 135i had, but they didn't.

[xantdieselx]

Originally Posted by RPM90

In my experience my 135i felt great and it had MT with the twin turbo's.
My F30 335i Msport is AT with single twin scroll turbo.
My 135i was powerful and fast and my 335i gives up nothing to the 135i.
I would even say the 335i feels a bit stronger and pulls just a bit higher on the top end before needing a gear change.

The N54 was very visceral, but so is the N55 in the M235i I drove.
The N55 in the 335i is more muted and the power thus feels like an electric engine with torque o'plenty and smooth.

Make sure to test any modern BMW in "sport" mode. The "comfort/normal or eco" modes are a waste in BMW's with sporting intentions and dull the cars reflexes.

The suspension in the M235i is a good bit better than the 135i.
The interior is not much different other than the added screen and controller.

My F30 335i is softer than the M235i.
Still I decided to go with the new 340i to see what the new engine is about and if BMW really did address the softness of the pre LCI F30.
I would have gone with the M235i if BMW had made the interior nicer than what my 135i had, but they didn't.

Had an 08' 135i and have driven the M235i extensively on track. The M235i feels a hell of a lot stronger on the top end stock for stock. With the 135i it felt a bit neutered - it didn't have that pin you in the seat kind of pull. It was a steady pull from down low but didn't have much breath up top. The M235i might not pull as hard off idle but just keeps pulling on the top end. To the point where you start wondering if it going to stop pulling and the it pulls some more. I'm counting the days until I'm eligible for pull ahead on my 328i so I can order an M235i - with a manual of course.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Unless you are having problems with your 135i, i would not exchange it.

[Phiberoptik]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Unless you are having problems with your 135i, i would not exchange it.

x2

I would drive the 135i to the ground and get M2 for the weekend.

[alexc93]

Originally Posted by RPM90

In my experience my 135i felt great and it had MT with the twin turbo's.
My F30 335i Msport is AT with single twin scroll turbo.
My 135i was powerful and fast and my 335i gives up nothing to the 135i.
I would even say the 335i feels a bit stronger and pulls just a bit higher on the top end before needing a gear change.

The N54 was very visceral, but so is the N55 in the M235i I drove.
The N55 in the 335i is more muted and the power thus feels like an electric engine with torque o'plenty and smooth.

Make sure to test any modern BMW in "sport" mode. The "comfort/normal or eco" modes are a waste in BMW's with sporting intentions and dull the cars reflexes.

The suspension in the M235i is a good bit better than the 135i.
The interior is not much different other than the added screen and controller.

My F30 335i is softer than the M235i.
Still I decided to go with the new 340i to see what the new engine is about and if BMW really did address the softness of the pre LCI F30.
I would have gone with the M235i if BMW had made the interior nicer than what my 135i had, but they didn't.

I think the M235i interior is miles better than what my 135i was....

Granted I had a stripper 135i, so manual seats etc. But still...the M235i is much better put together and much less "plastic" feeling..

[bizzyqu]

The M235i interior seems almost identical to my F30 335i, just smaller.

[MrBucket]

Originally Posted by bizzyqu

The M235i interior seems almost identical to my F30 335i, just smaller.

I like my interior way more than the F30 loaners I've had. One big thing is the bottle holder in the door hits me in the leg with the F30, really annoying.

[bizzyqu]

Originally Posted by MrBucket

I like my interior way more than the F30 loaners I've had. One big thing is the bottle holder in the door hits me in the leg with the F30, really annoying.

Well the same as my m sport f30 interior with the same seats, nice leather, chunky steering wheel, black headliner. The base model F30s are pretty terrible.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by bizzyqu

The M235i interior seems almost identical to my F30 335i, just smaller.

They are similar.
It's the gauge cluster that looks the most cheap to me.
And that rear view mirror SUCKS, style over substance on that one.

And then there are the cheap silver painted side view mirrors that don't match anything, not the wheels, not the headlight area, not even the silver exterior color option.
If BMW really wanted them to stand out and make a statement then they should have at least made them of real aluminum or brushed aluminum and not just simple metallic paint attempting to look like aluminum.
If they are just going to simply paint them, then give the option to use the body color.
I wish I would have liked it more as I enjoyed driving it.

The base audio system is a pathetic joke. It sounded awful.
At this price point BMW should be straight up embarrassed at how awful it sounds. I didn't get to hear the 2 series HK system, but just from the specs it's not worth the same cost as the HK in the 3 series.
In the 3 series the amp power is nearly double and that makes a substantial difference. More speakers isn't important, but more clean power is.

The HK upgrade for the 2 series should be the base system as that price point. This a model targeted for a younger BMW buyer, as well as the older buyer who wants something and sportier than the 3, like me.
But given that it's targeted at the younger buyer it should have an awesome audio system as an upgrade, and a great system as the base system.
It doesn't. The base audio system in the new Mustang blows away whats in the 2 series.

It's still a great driving BMW though. I wish I would have like it more.
Too many little things added up to why I cancelled my order.
I may regret it, but I won't know until I've had my 340i for a while.
No big deal though as I'm back in the market in 3yrs.
By then the M2 should be in good supply if I go that route.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by MrBucket

I like my interior way more than the F30 loaners I've had. One big thing is the bottle holder in the door hits me in the leg with the F30, really annoying.

The F30 interior isn't the worlds best either when you compare it to Audi or MB.
Depending on the F30 model there are slight interior differences.
In the base F30 the area you are referring to sucked for me too. I don't like how far it intrudes, and I couldn't find a comfortable way to lean my leg.
But in my Msport with the sport seats it feels completely different like it's not the same door panel. I don't know if it different, but I think there is a difference as I clearly feel a difference.

It's a really stupid place for a bottle holder to begin with. Germans claim to laugh at Americans and their want of more bottle holding areas. So they just created an area in the door panel, not good.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by bizzyqu

Well the same as my m sport f30 interior with the same seats, nice leather, chunky steering wheel, black headliner. The base model F30s are pretty terrible.

The leather in the F30 and the 2 series is not what I call "nice leather".
It's pretty cheap quality really, and wears too easily.
Both my 135i and 335i had very noticeable wear on the bolsters on the entrance side. This is a VERY common problem with 1, 2, and 3 series Dakota leather.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by xantdieselx

Had an 08' 135i and have driven the M235i extensively on track. The M235i feels a hell of a lot stronger on the top end stock for stock. With the 135i it felt a bit neutered - it didn't have that pin you in the seat kind of pull. It was a steady pull from down low but didn't have much breath up top. The M235i might not pull as hard off idle but just keeps pulling on the top end. To the point where you start wondering if it going to stop pulling and the it pulls some more. I'm counting the days until I'm eligible for pull ahead on my 328i so I can order an M235i - with a manual of course.

Yes, the N55 does breathe better towards the higher rev range compared to the N54.
I'm excited to try the new B58 3.0 turbo in the 340i.
The M240i should come next year as a 2017, along with the 230i and it's new 2.0 turbo with more power.

Interestingly I read that the M2 will continue to use the N55 though an upgraded version. That's similar to what BMW did with the 1M. The 135i went from the N54 to the N55 but the 1M used an upgraded N54.

[2+3=5]

... And why do I need 6 bottle holders in my 2er??????