[mtecnic]

Anyone trade in or sell an e9x M3 to get one of these? If so what are your impressions? I saw the article for this in one other post but i'm looking for as many conclusions as possible as i'm considering this.

[MUFCbmwbear]

I traded in my 09 E92 M3 for 14 M235i. Manual on both. The fact that I dont regret it at all sums it up I think. My plan is to get into a F80 M3 or F87 M2 down the road.
if you have any specific questions let me know.

[mtecnic]

Originally Posted by MUFCbmwbear

I traded in my 09 E92 M3 for 14 M235i. Manual on both. The fact that I dont regret it at all sums it up I think. My plan is to get into a F80 M3 or F87 M2 down the road.
if you have any specific questions let me know.

Thank you for the reply and I do have questions.

1. Power. How does it compare in your opionion?
2. Roominess. Any perceivable difference?
3. Handling. As crisp or better?
4. Feeback. Some reports I've read say its a bit numb.
5. Why not just go to an F80 M3 out of the gate?

Thank you in advance!

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by mtecnic

Thank you for the reply and I do have questions.

1. Power. How does it compare in your opionion?
2. Roominess. Any perceivable difference?
3. Handling. As crisp or better?
4. Feeback. Some reports I've read say its a bit numb.
5. Why not just go to an F80 M3 out of the gate?

Thank you in advance!

General conclusions:
1 - M235 has more low end power, less high end roar - 235 is more usable on the street, adequate on the track. M3 is a delight on the track, but you need to rev it on the street.
2 - For the driver or overall? I'm 6'4 and had no issues driving either car. I can't say the same for rear seat passengers or the luggage.
3 - Not as crisp, M235i is generally softer even in sport. Again, better road car, not as good of a track car (Wait for M2)
4 - The 235 is good, the M3 is better.
5 - About $10-20,000 reasons

[FunRevn]

This has been discussed quite a bit.

I had a 2008 M3 E92 and at the end of that lease I ended up picking up an E90 335 sedan with BMWs M Performance Tune also known as the MPPK.

I thoroughly enjoyed that car because of the low end torque. But always missed that aggressive ready for a fight stance.

When the 335 came off of lease, I ordered an M235 Euro delivery and couldn't be happier. My car should be arriving sometime in the next two weeks and of course the wait is killing me.

The 235 really has a lot to offer it's not a full-blown M car, (I drove a new 2015 M3 at a BMW event in Palm Springs on auto cross as well as a racetrack and it's awesome but not a car want to live with in Los Angeles on a daily basis)

The new M3 takes too much to get into the fun zone versus a much more attainable fun zone on the M235.

A good comparison is the M235 and the previous M3 The M235 has a fabulous transmission, manual or automatic. For me the automatic met my needs and really is almost as rewarding as the DTC I had in my 2008 M3 not quite as cool and I'll miss the rev matching downshifts, yet the down shifts on the M235 are actually quicker with no slippage vs the DCT. The suspension is not as firm but it's much more enjoyable on a daily basis and it handles quite well at street limits in comparison with the M3.

The new M3 is much more aggressive. Of course you can live with it on the street but again to get into the zone you have to be doing some illegal maneuvers. If you want a track car the new M3 is the choice hands-down. But if you want a nice blend for the street I think you can't go wrong with the M235. It also easy on the wallet and the mileage is quite good too.

It really all depends on what you want out of a car and what you would like to spend (I didn't say afford)

Cheers

[Ricfutures]

I did the same and starting to really miss the E92 M3. Here's what I love and what I miss:

Miss about the M3:
- Interior in the M3 is so much better. Material quality, thump when you close the doors. I feel like I have more creeks and rattles in the 235 that I need to address than what I had in the M3. Door panels feel cheap, door handles are terribly designed, sun visors are the same one's from the 1 series.
- Seats are much better in the E92 (bigger/taller bolsters) and the leather is definitely much better in the M3.
- I have the individual audio in the M3 and it's leaps and bound better than the HK audio in the 235. (I added a 10" sub which certainly helped.)
- I also prefer the steering wheel buttons/functions in the E92 as you can not only control the volume but also skip and fast forward/rewind through sections of tracks. In the 235 you can only skip tracks and fast forward/rewind on the center counsel.
- The rear coat hangers are awkwardly placed (1st world problems)
- Engine noise is going to be an obvious win for the M3
- 1 button to adjust throttle response/dampening (and it's on the steering wheel)
- Steering response
- Suspension, I love a firmer ride.
- Much more aftermarket options
- Throttle response
- Tilting headrests (probably my biggest disappointment when picking up the 235)

What I love about the 235:
- Very easy to toss around, park, etc...
- Much more economic (I can easily get 270 miles from this 13gl tank even in Sport+ where as I would be lucky to get 210 miles from the 17gl tank in the M3)
- Technology in the vehicle is awesome
- Free service/maintenance for next 4yrs

I don't buy into the argument that the 235 is easier to drive than the E92 M3. That was the fun part of the car, winding it up to make it go... and it friggen went! That being said it made sense for me to get into something like the 235 at this time. My plan to to sell her when the M2 dealer markup period is over or grab a used M3/M4 if it doesn't live up to expectations.

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by FunRevn

This has been discussed quite a bit.

I had a 2008 M3 E92 and at the end of that lease I ended up picking up an E90 335 sedan with BMWs M Performance Tune also known as the MPPK.

I thoroughly enjoyed that car because of the low end torque. But always missed that aggressive ready for a fight stance.

When the 335 came off of lease, I ordered an M235 Euro delivery and couldn't be happier. My car should be arriving sometime in the next two weeks and of course the wait is killing me.

The 235 really has a lot to offer it's not a full-blown M car, (I drove a new 2015 M3 at a BMW event in Palm Springs on auto cross as well as a racetrack and it's awesome but not a car want to live with in Los Angeles on a daily basis)

The new M3 takes too much to get into the fun zone versus a much more attainable fun zone on the M235.

A good comparison is the M235 and the previous M3 The M235 has a fabulous transmission, manual or automatic. For me the automatic met my needs and really is almost as rewarding as the DTC I had in my 2008 M3 not quite as cool and I'll miss the rev matching downshifts, yet the down shifts on the M235 are actually quicker with no slippage vs the DCT. The suspension is not as firm but it's much more enjoyable on a daily basis and it handles quite well at street limits in comparison with the M3.

The new M3 is much more aggressive. Of course you can live with it on the street but again to get into the zone you have to be doing some illegal maneuvers. If you want a track car the new M3 is the choice hands-down. But if you want a nice blend for the street I think you can't go wrong with the M235. It also easy on the wallet and the mileage is quite good too.

It really all depends on what you want out of a car and what you would like to spend (I didn't say afford)

Cheers

Man did you ever sum that up well. Just about my exact thoughts. Ricfutures made a few good points as well but unlike him...and much like FunRevn says.....I didn't really enjoy the M3 in city driving because it was so high strung. I don't own a 235 but I've driven it enough to better appreciate its tamer manners and around town "fun to drive" factor. Having said that, I'm holding tight for the M2.

[mtecnic]

A lot of good feedback in this thread.

Two things?

Why wouldn't an M3 be a good car to live in LA with?

I'm not understanding this fun zone you're speaking of with the 235. Can you elaborate a little on this so I can wrap my head around it ?

[FunRevn]

It is mostly with the way the car is setup and the power delivery.

The Previous M3 required much higher RPMss to make awesome power. The M235 and the new M3 to a certain extent have loads of torque at very low rpms giving you instant thrust from a stand still. The Previous M3 of course performed well if you used launch control or really got aggressive. The M235 can go just as quick with a lot less drama and stay under the radar so to speak. More usable power at lower speeds and rpm.

Handling. The limits of the new and old M3 are higher and the suspension is flatter. To get the SENSATION of high speed or cornering limits you must drive harder and faster than the M235. This is not to say the M235 is a slouch, its that the fun starts sooner and with less drama and no "hay look at me and how fast I'm going" as in the M3.

The New M3 is fine for Los Angles if you dont mind the stiff suspension. But that is an individual thing. For me I love them all. But the size, power delivery and suspension, the M235 works best for me.

Thats the beauty of options.

[horsepower_and_hounds]

Word......