[angler]

Ok, here is the high class problem. I have a 135i m-sport, 6mt vert with 38k. I am the original owner. My car is on the recall list for the airbag issue. My lease was up just as it got listed. BMW gave me a sweet deal to extend my lease for another year at 150.00 discount per month. Plus BMW also gave me a 2500 dollar certificate to use to buy my car (when it comes off the recall list) or purchase or lease another car on top of any other promo's they might have at the time. I live in New England and even though it has been ok getting through the winters with snows on I have been thinking about getting the 240 x drive vert so I don't have to deal with the winters like I do with having a rear wheel drive car. My only hesitation is I have a 6mt now and every car i have ever owned has had a manual. I am in my 50's so I have had a few cars in my life. My concern is I will not like driving the car without a 6mt. I have driven the 8 speed and think it's fun but having a car for a day as a loaner isn't the same as driving it everyday. So do I buy it out of lease or go for the 240? I know this is a subjective question but I am looking for other peoples thoughts on this subject as I am torn on this.

[krhodes1]

IMHO if you have any doubts about going to an automatic, don't do it.

Personally, I'd keep what you have, especially with the deal BMW is giving you to keep it.

[DF]

I wouldn't worry too much about the rear wheel drive. The winters are generally pretty meh unless you live north of Pittsfield. Now trading for a m240. That another issue all together :-)

[overcoil]

I'd never get rid of a 135 M-sport manual trans.

[ORIGIN M.]

"A man who will not trade up his carriage has no soul"

Live a little...

[Lucky13]

The biggest BMW regret I ever had was trading my E36 328 coupe manual for a new 528 auto back in 1998. The 528 was a great car but an auto just was boring as hell to drive. I'm 63 and never going back to an automatic. I was thinking about a 230 convertible but decided I'll keep my M235 because you can't get a stick in the 230 convertible.

[chattanooga240]

Originally Posted by angler

Ok, here is the high class problem. I have a 135i m-sport, 6mt vert with 38k. I am the original owner. My car is on the recall list for the airbag issue. My lease was up just as it got listed. BMW gave me a sweet deal to extend my lease for another year at 150.00 discount per month. Plus BMW also gave me a 2500 dollar certificate to use to buy my car (when it comes off the recall list) or purchase or lease another car on top of any other promo's they might have at the time. I live in New England and even though it has been ok getting through the winters with snows on I have been thinking about getting the 240 x drive vert so I don't have to deal with the winters like I do with having a rear wheel drive car. My only hesitation is I have a 6mt now and every car i have ever owned has had a manual. I am in my 50's so I have had a few cars in my life. My concern is I will not like driving the car without a 6mt. I have driven the 8 speed and think it's fun but having a car for a day as a loaner isn't the same as driving it everyday. So do I buy it out of lease or go for the 240? I know this is a subjective question but I am looking for other peoples thoughts on this subject as I am torn on this.

From someone who buys every rareish race car with a manual, you will not regret the 8 speed in the 235/240, take it to the bank.

I absolutely love the 135, my business partner bought one when they first came out after owning nothing but M3's and M5's, but I feel like the 240 would be a serious step up in most ways, even though that 135 is a little more rare these days.

Any chance you could keep the 135 and buy the 240?

[angler]

Originally Posted by nvmaddog

From someone who buys every rareish race car with a manual, you will not regret the 8 speed in the 235/240, take it to the bank.

I absolutely love the 135, my business partner bought one when they first came out after owning nothing but M3's and M5's, but I feel like the 240 would be a serious step up in most ways, even though that 135 is a little more rare these days.

Any chance you could keep the 135 and buy the 240?

I was actually thinking of leasing a 330 wagon and buying my car. Might make more sense then having a 135 and a 240. Even though having a 240 is very appealing to me for obvious reasons.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by angler

Ok, here is the high class problem. I have a 135i m-sport, 6mt vert with 38k. I am the original owner. My car is on the recall list for the airbag issue. My lease was up just as it got listed. BMW gave me a sweet deal to extend my lease for another year at 150.00 discount per month. Plus BMW also gave me a 2500 dollar certificate to use to buy my car (when it comes off the recall list) or purchase or lease another car on top of any other promo's they might have at the time. I live in New England and even though it has been ok getting through the winters with snows on I have been thinking about getting the 240 x drive vert so I don't have to deal with the winters like I do with having a rear wheel drive car. My only hesitation is I have a 6mt now and every car i have ever owned has had a manual. I am in my 50's so I have had a few cars in my life. My concern is I will not like driving the car without a 6mt. I have driven the 8 speed and think it's fun but having a car for a day as a loaner isn't the same as driving it everyday. So do I buy it out of lease or go for the 240? I know this is a subjective question but I am looking for other peoples thoughts on this subject as I am torn on this.

I think the only way you can arrive at the answer is to test drive, test drive, test drive. Everything else here is just opinion and probably won't help you much. After all, opinions are like a**holes; everyone has one.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by angler

I was actually thinking of leasing a 330 wagon and buying my car. Might make more sense then having a 135 and a 240. Even though having a 240 is very appealing to me for obvious reasons.

I will tell you I'm on my second 235 and bought dad a wagon, 2016 328 since we couldn't wait for the 330 for a variety of reasons. Couldn't get Sport because of the seats which he didn't want, although if I had more time I could have made it happen (sport pack with luxury seats).

Anyway long story short and back to stuff that you'd actually care about, I got Dinan stage 1 on that car and absolutely love it. If you did the sport package with the better brakes and adaptive suspension, then did Stage 1, the car would be sublime (at least as far as wagons go - it's not a GT4 or anything but we know that).

[Dylan86]

Tough choice, OP. Do you have the N55 in your 1?

[angler]

Originally Posted by Dylan86

Tough choice, OP. Do you have the N55 in your 1?

I do have the n55. I leased it in 2013.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Very tough choice, the 240 is the better car in my opinion but the 135 is going to be a classic

[Dylan86]

Originally Posted by angler

I do have the n55. I leased it in 2013.

I asked because that's a pretty reliable powertrain for long term ownership. I'd say, if you're good with the car, the size, and options then might as well spend some more years with it, maybe paid off years and enjoy it even more

D

[Lucky13]

Originally Posted by angler

Ok, here is the high class problem. I have a 135i m-sport, 6mt vert with 38k. I am the original owner. My car is on the recall list for the airbag issue. My lease was up just as it got listed. BMW gave me a sweet deal to extend my lease for another year at 150.00 discount per month. Plus BMW also gave me a 2500 dollar certificate to use to buy my car (when it comes off the recall list) or purchase or lease another car on top of any other promo's they might have at the time. I live in New England and even though it has been ok getting through the winters with snows on I have been thinking about getting the 240 x drive vert so I don't have to deal with the winters like I do with having a rear wheel drive car. My only hesitation is I have a 6mt now and every car i have ever owned has had a manual. I am in my 50's so I have had a few cars in my life. My concern is I will not like driving the car without a 6mt. I have driven the 8 speed and think it's fun but having a car for a day as a loaner isn't the same as driving it everyday. So do I buy it out of lease or go for the 240? I know this is a subjective question but I am looking for other peoples thoughts on this subject as I am torn on this.

Just a question about the lease, was the $150 discount because of the recall? My lease is up next May and I wish they would offer me this deal. I'm going to tell them I don't want to keep it and see if they move on the residual or offer a lower lease when the time comes.

[Topdown240]

I was in the same mindset as you six months ago. I have always had convertibles with manual transmissions. I wanted to add awd to that equation, but couldn't unless I went to a Porsche, which is a bit pricey for me. With great trepidation I went the auto route and got the M240 xdrive vert, and I must say I love it. In the 230 I'm not sure I would say the same, but with the power of the 240 (with which you are familiar, given your current car) I don't have the hunting for gears and hoping for a kick down experience I've had driving other auto transmissions.

As mentioned above, just one opinion, but your description of your wariness about giving up a stick sounded a lot like mine, and I have zero regrets about my M240.

[bryan_G01]

keep it, cage it, upgrade turbos!

[angler]

Originally Posted by Lucky13

Just a question about the lease, was the $150 discount because of the recall? My lease is up next May and I wish they would offer me this deal. I'm going to tell them I don't want to keep it and see if they move on the residual or offer a lower lease when the time comes.

Hi:
Yes, the recall was the reason they offered me the deal. They are not offering it anymore as they got permission from the Government to replace all defective air bags with a new same design airbag until they have a new designed airbag to install. The reason being is the defective airbags aren't compromised for 5 years or more depending on the climate the car is in. BMW will have a new design by then so in the meantime they are using the old design as a temporary place holder. Hope this makes sense. They only offered this deal for 3 months. I got lucky as all my paperwork to buy the car was finished and when I called to find the final buyout out price they told me they couldn't sell it to me as the car went on the recall list that day. So that started the process of the deal they offered me. I really got lucky as I fell into a sweet deal. Besides the 150 discount on a monthly basis, the 2500 certificate they reduced my residual by 15% as well if I want to buy the car at the end of the lease. Hope this helps.....

[Hellrot]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

IMHO if you have any doubts about going to an automatic, don't do it.

Personally, I'd keep what you have, especially with the deal BMW is giving you to keep it.

So true. Do not do it!

I bought an automatic Camaro SS and it lasted about 3 months. I ended up trading it in (and losing a bunch of money) for a manual SS.

[nike001]

Go drive one.

The engine feels almost completely different than the N55/4. BMW at this point has almost successfully tuned out the turbo feel. The new B58 runs a lot more like a NA car. No more real down low turbo pull, and you have to wind it out for power like the NA days. Very noticeable difference IMO.

[runnerlk]

I was in the same position and my E88 6mt was on the recall list as well. I got the identical offer. I gave up the MT and went with the DCT and have not looked back. I picked up a BMW exec car M235i vert loaded for over 12k off retail with the $2500.00 credit. Had 4300 miles on it.
Also 59 years old FWIW.
I think the 235i is a major step up in refinement over the E88 and the DCT shifts sooooo freakin fast you won't believe it.
I would expect the same from the 240.

[jpnh]

The 8spd automatic in the M235 is not a DCT

Its quite nice and very quick but its not a DCT

Personally I would keep the car and get the 240 assuming you can afford it

I suspect both cars are going to be classics but they may suffer short term on resale value