[XutvJet]

I've been a part of this group since late 2015 but I haven't posted anything about my M235 in years. This is my Mineral White 2016 M235. I ordered it with a Coral red interior, 6MT, and slick top (no moonroof) back in November 2015. I wanted the most connected and lightest M235 possible. It weighs 3,350lbs per the local truck scales and whopping 275lbs less than a friend's M235 xdrive.

The car has been fitted with the MP LSD, MP dry carbon fiber interior bits, MP exhaust and flat black 3.5" tips, HJS Euro 6 catted downpipe, Dinantronics Stage 2 piggyback, and an FTP charge pipe.

I made a custom engine cover from an E90 5 series V8 valve cover as I never liked the huge plastic engine cover. Plus, the car now sits outside 24/7 as my 2011 Cayman acquired last October takes it's garage space and the smaller engine cover makes it easier to inspect for rodent activity (none so far, thank goodness). The smaller cover and the removed hood heat shield let more of that N55 sound into the interior.

The car is running Dinan springs with 10mm rear spring spacers, Alutec 18x8 et43 wheels, 245/35 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires at all four corners (no rubbing), and Bilstein Damptronic shocks in the rear.

The car has the MP rear diffuser and lip spoiler, MP side sills, gloss black wrapped portions of the diffuser and side mirrors, M2 style grills, and carbon fiber front winglets partially wrapped in mineral white wrap. The rear red reflectors and front orange reflectors have been wrapped in translucent lightly smoked vinyl.

The car has been bulletproof after nearly 8 years and 72k miles and 7 Midwest winters. The only things that failed were a $30 windshield wiper fluid pump and the original battery. I absolutely love this chassis and N55 and will likely get a 2017-2018 M2 DCT in the summer to replace it. The EWG N55 is generally easy to work on, reliable if you're not trying to push stupid power, and parts not insanely expensive.

[leftoverture]

No, don't sell it. With all you've done you have it the way you want it and its got a manual. Seems like a keeper to me. Plus, white is the best color!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

I've been a part of this group since late 2015 but I haven't posted anything about my M235 in years. This is my Mineral White 2016 M235. I ordered it with a Coral red interior, 6MT, and slick top (no moonroof) back in November 2015. I wanted the most connected and lightest M235 possible. It weighs 3,350lbs per the local truck scales and whopping 275lbs less than a friend's M235 xdrive.

The car has been fitted with the MP LSD, MP dry carbon fiber interior bits, MP exhaust and flat black 3.5" tips, HJS Euro 6 catted downpipe, Dinantronics Stage 2 piggyback, and an FTP charge pipe.

I think your car is a great build, and I'm surprised how light it is. My M240i RWD/MT/No Sunroof weighed-in at 3,432# with a half-tank of fuel. Even if your car had only one gallon of fuel in it, the M235i and M240i would seem to have a noticeable difference in weight.

My car's modifications affecting weight were a Wavetrac LSD, aluminum subframe bushings, Koni coilovers w/camber plates, studs, 18X9½/18X9 Apex ARC-8 wheels w/255 R888R tires, 5mm spacers (2), race pads, and Schroth 4-point harnesses. The trunk junk was out of the car, and the interior storage units were all empty. Not having weighed the car before the modifications, I don't have a definitive idea of their effect upon the weight on the scales. If I had to guess, I'd say +/- 30#.

[XutvJet]

When I weighed my M235, it had around a 1/4 tank of fuel and nothing else in the car, but wasn't stripped. Probably the reason your M240 weighed more was the extra fuel, the extra weight from the closed deck block, and the extra weight from the extra radiator and fluids.

[mecheng77]

I have a 2014, white M235i rwd.
I wish I didn’t have the sunroof and I have the black interior but love the coral red!
It’s so fun to drive.
If you are not tracking it, try the M2 before you buy, the M235i might be more playful

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

If you are not tracking it, try the M2 before you buy, the M235i might be more playful

My biggest complaint with my M235 is the suspension tuning. The car is in desperate need of thicker swaybars and improved damping, especially in the rear. Coilovers and swaybars might work, but it would be $3k+ and then I have to contend with all the noises to common to coilovers.

My Cayman has really adjusted my desire for more body control and handling. The Cayman is very firm, controlled, and borderline rough. The M2 will certainly ride firmer, but it has just such a better suspension setup compared to the M235 plus those sexy looks. I also don't want two 6MTs. I'd like to try a DCT car. I've never felt BMWs heart has been in making the late model 6mt driving experience that great with the clutch void of much feel, the clutch delay valve, and the shifter rather disconnected. My Ultimate Clutch Pedal and MP shift knob helped things, but it's still pretty muted.

[freakystyly]

If you're not looking for daily driver attributes then yeah, M2 has a better starting point to mod. The fender flares alone are worth it.

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

My biggest complaint with my M235 is the suspension tuning. The car is in desperate need of thicker swaybars and improved damping, especially in the rear. Coilovers and swaybars might work, but it would be $3k+ and then I have to contend with all the noises to common to coilovers.

My Cayman has really adjusted my desire for more body control and handling. The Cayman is very firm, controlled, and borderline rough. The M2 will certainly ride firmer, but it has just such a better suspension setup compared to the M235 plus those sexy looks. I also don't want two 6MTs. I'd like to try a DCT car. I've never felt BMWs heart has been in making the late model 6mt driving experience that great with the clutch void of much feel, the clutch delay valve, and the shifter rather disconnected. My Ultimate Clutch Pedal and MP shift knob helped things, but it's still pretty muted.

DCT is great and so is the ZF 8sp

I’ve never missed owning a manual with a ZF, lightning fast when you want to play. Smooth when you just want to drive on traffic

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

DCT is great and so is the ZF 8sp

I’ve never missed owning a manual with a ZF, lightning fast when you want to play. Smooth when you just want to drive on traffic

Yeah, I'd actually prefer the ZF 8 speed. Less complication, better overall daily driving dynamics. Gives up very little to a DCT.

[Kernel Kurtz]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

My Cayman has really adjusted my desire for more body control and handling. The Cayman is very firm, controlled, and borderline rough. The M2 will certainly ride firmer, but it has just such a better suspension setup compared to the M235 plus those sexy looks. I also don't want two 6MTs. I'd like to try a DCT car. I've never felt BMWs heart has been in making the late model 6mt driving experience that great with the clutch void of much feel, the clutch delay valve, and the shifter rather disconnected. My Ultimate Clutch Pedal and MP shift knob helped things, but it's still pretty muted.

Unless you really need the back seats (which are not terribly useful anyway IMO) why not just get a newer Cayman? The Porsche PDK is highly regarded.

Personally I would upgrade to a Cayman before an M2 if I tire of my M240i. I like the xDrive because winter, but I would be giving that up either way.

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by Kernel Kurtz

Unless you really need the back seats (which are not terribly useful anyway IMO) why not just get a newer Cayman? The Porsche PDK is highly regarded.

Personally I would upgrade to a Cayman before an M2 if I tire of my M240i. I like the xDrive because winter, but I would be giving that up either way.

That is the exactly problem I have with Caymans, they are one trick pony’s but amazing at it: ultimate handling driving pleasure

The F22 is practical too, I can carry ppl in the back comfortably, the car is quiet and it has a great sized trunk. Seats down I can fit my large mtn bike

It’s hard to use all of the caymans handling prowess unless you live near some canon carving roads

[Kernel Kurtz]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

The F22 is practical too, I can carry ppl in the back comfortably

Comfortably for who?

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by Kernel Kurtz

Unless you really need the back seats (which are not terribly useful anyway IMO) why not just get a newer Cayman? The Porsche PDK is highly regarded.

Personally I would upgrade to a Cayman before an M2 if I tire of my M240i. I like the xDrive because winter, but I would be giving that up either way.

I'm keeping the Cayman. My M235 would be replaced. My Cayman is a fully loaded 6MT 987.2 Cayman Base model which is highly desirable and will never depreciate (likely appreciate) as it has none of the issues common to the 987.1 or the 987.2 S model cars. It's slower (0-60 in the low-mid 5s), but the car is so damn fun for the street driving/back road driving. Keep it above 4500rpms and it's surprisingly quick from 0-90mph (really leaps off the line like it were AWD). I got the Cayman as a toy and figured it would be my weekend car. I drive it 80%+ of the time assuming it's not raining, snowing, or below 40 degrees. I don't drive it in those conditions only because it have summer tires and I don't want to be washing two cars all the time

PDKs are freaking awesome, but 6MT experience is a must for these cars if the best track times aren't important to you. The costs to fix/replace a PDK is eye-watering too. Easily $10K-18K.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

That is the exactly problem I have with Caymans, they are one trick pony’s but amazing at it: ultimate handling driving pleasure

The F22 is practical too, I can carry ppl in the back comfortably, the car is quiet and it has a great sized trunk. Seats down I can fit my large mtn bike

It’s hard to use all of the caymans handling prowess unless you live near some canon carving roads

I've own my Cayman for a year now and I'm just starting to figure out it's limits. Even on the base suspension teamed with 19s and POS Pirelli PZero summer tires plus an LSD, the limits and dynamics are much higher than those of the M235. I'll do the Cayman R suspension next spring, but I'm not really doing it for performance, just the ~1" drop.

I totally agree that the F22 is practical. My kids (15 and 19 now) grew up in this thing. My son and I are 6' 1", my daughter 5' 10", and wife 5' 8". We still take the M235 on sub 30-45 minute trips in the city. I think it's the most perfect sports coupe ever made. It's the perfect size, super comfy and supportive seats, excellent performance, decent in the snow with the right tires, great MPGs, and reliable. If I were single, I'd still have it and on those very rare days where I absolutely needed the room, I'd just go rent a truck or SUV for a day or two. All these traits are why I want to stick with the F22 and grab a mint gray OG M2 DCT.

[OffThegrid]

Looks awesome. Can’t believe were getting close to 10 years on theses cars.