[vivalaReagan]

after a few weeks of ownership, i thought i'd offer thoughts on some minor details of the m235i. plenty of good threads & posts regarding engine power & handling, so i'll limit my commentary on these items. the purpose of this thread is to inform those who are considering purchasing the new 2 series on items not covered in other threads. when i research a new car before purchase, i really enjoy gleaning as much info as i can, especially via non-professional (read: actual customer) sources. feel free to add, expound, agree, disagree, etc. keep in mind that i exited a 2007 x5, so some of the m235i features i address might not be new or unknown to you. also, nothing is perfect and i really love this car; please don't interpret any criticisms too harshly. bottom line, this is a great car!

engine power is fantastic and i find its delivery to be smooth, effortless, and without lag at almost any rev range in the power band. this car flat out flies. the handling is just short of exceptional. i'm not an engineer or mechanic, so take the following with a grain of salt. my only two complaints are: 1) how easily the handling is upset by small ruts in the road when you jump on the accelerator. the car gets "shifty" and at times feels like an overpowered front wheel drive. 2) how unsettled & out-of-sorts the car can feel powering out of a long winding curve, specially if it's bumpy or undulating. this is probably due to the lack of a LSD.

likes

the steering wheel is phenomenal in both look & feel. it is the perfect thickness and the leather is soft & high quality. adjustment options are ample in both tilt/rake & distance, making it easy to find the perfect position. i won't comment on the electrically assisted steering since it has been adequately addressed in other threads.

the driver side knee pad on the center console is a nice touch, especially when you have the seat moved forward to accommodate rear seat passengers.

the sliding center arm rest is a nice touch & helps to further customize the driving position. i discovered this feature by accident. however, there is a need for a small channel beneath the lid to allow an aux jack and/or usb wire to pass through without crimping.

the seats strike a nice balance between support & comfort. i especially enjoy the adjustable side bolsters, which widen and narrow via what seems to be inflatable bladders.

rear seat headrests can be folded down for increased visibility.

the idrive handwriting feature is uber cool, extremely functional, and efficient. it definitely improves the scroll wheel method.

i love how easy it is to send gps coordinates from the "my bmw remote app" to the car. definitely beats typing in a new address manually.

CD player is also a DVD player (but only in park).


needs improvement

the vehicle defaults to comfort mode each time you restart it. i prefer to drive in sport mode but must select this setting each time due to the comfort default. i haven't found a way to change this in the idrive settings, yet.

the brakes are incredibly powerful and fade-free but have too much pedal travel before engagement.

the instrument cluster extended content section is always backlit, while the top two-thirds containing the analog speed and rpm gauges are not unless the headlights are on. this was tough to adjust to and made it seem like the gauges were broken.

the dual climate feature doesn't have a sync option & is always in dual mode. my other cars have the ability to align the temperatures unless you desire separate climate conditions. granted, it's a small complaint but when the cabin isn't comfortable, you have to adjust both dials every time.

the floor mats & carpeting are surprisingly poor quality. i expected more from a $50k vehicle. i'll be purchasing aftermarket mats as soon as they're available.

the sticker had the storage package listed & i cannot figure out what it entails. there was a decent cargo net in the trunk, which is quite useful. the cup holders also have these ridiculous removable inserts. one is far too shallow to be useful at all and the other has two odd cutouts, one of which seems to accommodate the key fob. these came out on day one, never to return.

the start/stop feature seems to freak out at times and shuts down on a stop, only to immediately restart. i don't like that the car defaults to this mode in comfort or eco pro & haven't figured out how to change this without manually disengaging it every time. it's also easy to get distracted when you park & think you've already placed the transmission in park & shut off the engine because the start/stop arrested the engine. take your foot of the brake to exit & the car quickly starts & moves forward. this could be dangerous.

the lack of an oil temp gauge is unacceptable & needs to be addressed in a software update.

the wheel wells are poorly insulated and loud when the sticky sport tires fling rocks & gravel into them. again, i expected more from a $50k car.

storage in the center armrest console is abysmally non-existent, and half of it has been confiscated by the snap-in adapter. there's probably a huge unused cavern beneath it that should have been appropriated.

it's only march & i'm already concerned about a/c performance in summer weather. it seems underpowered, even in max mode.

similarly, the heated seats aren't warm enough on their highest setting.

the lack of a backup camera as a standard feature was a poor cost-cutting decision by bmw.

eco pro is a complete dog. i think a prius would punk this car in eco. it seems to start in second gear & shift immediately into eighth. lol

the hood release has "x2" printed on it but doesn't require two pulls to open. odd.

the exterior paint color (i have EB) is beautiful but not great quality. quite a bit of orange peel.

[FunRevn]

Great feedback. Thank you for taking the time to post this. Some of these I too felt on an extended test drive. But I think only an owner can provide the level of detail you have provided.

One to add is that the HK upgrade does not include L7 surround sound or an EQ

The start stop I think can be shut off in idrive. Set it to last selection or something like that. Also putting the car in Sport mode cancels the SS.

AC not performing. Is the blue /red dial between the center vents set to red ? This may contribute to the lack of cooling. The white line should be in between red and blue in normal conditions and if you would like a cool breeze then go more blue.

The second pull on the hood release eliminates the need to actualy have a lever to release the hood.

Thanks again.

[ska///235i]

So both comfort & eco mode both have stop/start?

[modeboy]

Originally Posted by FunRevn

Great feedback. Thank you for taking the time to post this. Some of these I too felt on an extended test drive. But I think only an owner can provide the level of detail you have provided.

One to add is that the HK upgrade does not include L7 surround sound or an EQ

The start stop I think can be shut off in idrive. Set it to last selection or something like that. Also putting the car in Sport mode cancels the SS.

AC not performing. Is the blue /red dial between the center vents set to red ? This may contribute to the lack of cooling. The white line should be in between red and blue in normal conditions and if you would like a cool breeze then go more blue.

The second pull on the hood release eliminates the need to actually find the lever to release the hood.

Thanks again.

One think I will say - even though the HK doesn't have EQ/L7, I have to say that it sounds better than the HK system in my old 135i.

And I couldn't find that damn lever to lift the hood. Ran my fingers all the way around and couldn't find it! It was night, though... will look again during the day.

I do find the lack of a sync on the climate controls annoying.

JB

[modeboy]

Originally Posted by ska325xi

So both comfort & eco mode both have stop/start?

Yes.

JB

[pikcachu]

there is no lever... you need to push the inside hood release twice

[modeboy]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

there is no lever... you need to push the inside hood release twice

What's the point in having to do it twice? Why not once?

JB

[pikcachu]

not sure but that's how it works.... once releases it, twice opens it

[flyga3]

Originally Posted by modeboy

What's the point in having to do it twice? Why not once?

JB

Eliminates the need for the lever in the engine bay.

[leesat]

does your A/C starts everytime when you start your car? Mine does and cannot figure it out how to stop it when ever I start my car after 10min.

[scanspeak]

Thanks for the thorough review

[Delnari]

I have just hit the AC button once on the dash and it has not come back on during multiple stop/restarts of the car. I know it's automatic system and wonder when it will actually start to light up again. Been on the cool/cold side here in VA still, but maybe next month when the weather breaks it will roll back and forth on the auto AC.

[five3three]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

not sure but that's how it works.... once releases it, twice opens it

Yep. It seemed to serve it's purpose at the auto shows as nearly everybody was having trouble popping open the hood for all the new BMW's. They pop once and go looking for a hood latch.

[pit1]

Originally Posted by vivalaReagan

the car gets "shifty" and at times feels like an overpowered front wheel drive.

This is the first thing I noticed on my test drive last week, and I couldn't get past it. So glad someone else noticed the same, I hadn't heard a word yet in reviews. I thought it could have been attributed to the RFT rubber on the test vehicle.

Sport mode helped keep the car a bit more planted, or masked by heavier steering, but the front-end does become unsettlingly light under initial acceleration. I approached the test drive with extreme anticipation, matched only by the E82 release. Then I felt this, and the romance was over, I immediately missed my 135i. Steering perfection is why I love BMWs, without that, there are other options.

[dmboone25]

Wow - these are great observations, and I would have to agree with most of them!

Definitely on the heated seats - they just don't get very hot. My first 135 was hardly ever put into the top setting because it was really hot - the 135 I turned in never got that hot, but the seats were hotter than this.

I will say the steering wheel is an improvement over the E82 - especially with the heated wheel option. That "helps" you notice the seats less IMO.

I am glad you mentioned the A/C - the day I picked up my car, it was in the low 60s, and I wanted to see how cold it got - I was surprised to notice, like you did, that it didn't seem to blow that hard, or that cold. This will be something to keep an eye on for sure...

I thought I was just being crazy by noticing the rock sounds ! You are totally correct - you can hear it, and it makes you think you're tearing the shit out of the bottom of the car - I never noticed this in the 135. Same driving conditions, same speeds, same streets...

Once more gripe I will add is the iPhone connector that they sent me - I specifically asked for the new 8 pin connection (iPhone 5) and they sent me the older, 30 pin. When I plug my phone into the car via the Apple USB cord (the white one), the iDrive screen says that the USB isn't connected. I have never had iDrive before, so I am not sure if I am doing something obviously wrong or not...

I also cannot believe that the "oh shit" handles are gone. Wtf??? This is another omission along the lines of the oil temp not showing up in the instrument cluster - I actually went to grab one the other day while my dad was driving, and was surprised to hit nothing but air. And the door handles are so far forward that they really aren't usable in a spirited driving experience.

It is definitely stupid that the car defaults to comfort every time you turn it off. I wonder if that can be adjusted somehow...it drives me nuts...

[Gaviin]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Once more gripe I will add is the iPhone connector that they sent me - I specifically asked for the new 8 pin connection (iPhone 5) and they sent me the older, 30 pin. When I plug my phone into the car via the Apple USB cord (the white one), the iDrive screen says that the USB isn't connected. I have never had iDrive before, so I am not sure if I am doing something obviously wrong or not...

There was a post in another thread that may help: http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...3#post15568173

So the car comes with an iPhone USB cable, or are you saying you ordered one from some other place?

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Gaviin

There was a post in another thread that may help: http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...3#post15568173

So the car comes with an iPhone USB cable, or are you saying you ordered one from some other place?

Sorry - should have been more clear - the car comes with a Y looking device, that has a male connection for the aux jack in your car and on your phone, as well as the 30 pin jack for connection to the phone, which is USB into the car on the other end.

I defininitely didn't order it - I am pretty sure it comes standard - but I had made sure to tell them I needed the new one, but that got missed somehow...

[Lucky13]

The start/stop feature can be programmed at the dealer for last mode. In other words if it was off the next time you start the car it will be off. This has been discussed in the other BMW forums. Additionally, if you are at a light or stop sign keep very light pressure on the break and it will not shut off.

[Gaviin]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Sorry - should have been more clear - the car comes with a Y looking device, that has a male connection for the aux jack in your car and on your phone, as well as the 30 pin jack for connection to the phone, which is USB into the car on the other end.

I defininitely didn't order it - I am pretty sure it comes standard - but I had made sure to tell them I needed the new one, but that got missed somehow...

Ah gotcha. I'll have to mention that to my sales guy. I had planned on buying an extra USB -> iphone 5 cable for that, but if there's a way to get one with the car, then great!

(Getting close on finalizing my order, so I gotta start thinking about all these details. )

[rwalker]

No cigarette lighter output under the glovebox, just a hole where one should be :-(

No LSD offered yet.

[M.barnes]

Smokers package is an option, not a standard (in uk at least)

[rwalker]

heh. I just want the extra power outlet; the car has a lighter in the center console.