[Tyresian]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

I have not compared to the base steel suspension, but when the MAdaptive suspension in the Track Handling Package is set to the Comfort setting, I believe it is not stiffer and may be even more comfortable. It turns the 2 from my preferred Sport experience to the setting my wife finds acceptable.

Maybe stiffer was a bad way to phrase it. It was more jarring and uncomfortable for me in a M240 x-drive than the 230 x-drive. With the M240, in comfort the ride was too bouncy on the highways here, and if I put it into sport suspension then it was really harshly stiff. My wife would have hated it, but it could be what some people prefer. I actually think the 230 x-drive suspension is pretty good. Much better than the 335 x-drive was from a sport feel, maybe not as floaty as the 335 but I think the 230 hits more of a sweet spot for me personally.

[morphomeman]

The British gallon is 25% larger than the American, so that the MPG is always higher.

[DJRobNM]

I went from a 2015 228 xdrive conv to a 2019 m240 xdrive conv.

The 228 felt lighter in front, more tossable, and the speed was adequate as I was flooring it at every stop.

The m240 feels heavier, more buttoned down, and if I floored it at every stop I would be arrested.

I have no idea what I'm going to get next but a chipped 230 sounds like a happy medium.

[happyjack]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

Turbo lag

This is my first turbocharged car so the lag is really noticeable.

Example: In comfort mode (usual for a DD) in 6th gear at 2000 rpm (watch the torque dial on the sport display) pedal to the metal, 2 to 3 seconds for torque to rise and stabilize. With a normally aspirated engine this takes about .1 second.

Of course with an automatic tranny this lag is masked by the furious downshifting that will happen. And with a little upgrade in driving skill this lag can be accommodated with a stick shift. And with a little experience you don't notice it so much.

two quick taps on my left hand paddle shifter usually solves that dilemma pretty quickly

love my 228i x 8AT as a daily driver. i'm probably pulling the trigger on a mild piggyback tune just to help spice up my commute, but otherwise i really have no complaints with the car...er well, the rattletrap OEM exhaust...but an active autowerke axleback fixed that pretty easily.

[dradernh]

My motivation was to get a car that could be prepped for the track and still be comfortable on the street, and either would have been fine. It needed to have a 6-speed, no sunroof, and RWD. Ideally, it would have been white.

However, it was between production cycles when it was time to pull the trigger in June, 2018. Not wanting to wait, I searched all over the country for 228s, 230s, M235s, and M240s - new or used, it didn't matter. A 228 in SD would have worked, but it was snapped-up before it could be bought.

Then a member here pointed to a new M240 in Baton Rouge that matched the criteria exactly, except for color. The car was a 2017 model and was marked at $10K off MSRP. By that time, I was primed and jumped right on that baby!

The car has been great. It needed a fair amount of basic modifications to prepare it for the track, but that was already known. One reason for not going with an M2 was it would have required a number of the same mods that the M240i needed, and the value trade-off really wasn't there. Plus, driving an M-car on the street isn't something I want. In that regard, the ~60% street / ~40% track build has worked out well - full credit to TC Kline Racing for knowing what to do to make that happen.

As far as the power differential goes, that was never a concern. I'd trade 100 HP for 500# in a minute, but the days of 3,000# cars that have decent power and can handle are behind us. Porsches are an option; however, they're too expensive when the cost of ownership is taken into account, plus a Cayman won't hold all the gear that I take to the track.

I look at the M240i as the closest thing BMW now offers to the gray-market (Euro) E24 M635CSi I bought in early 1985. That makes it a very special car to me.

[EstorilM240]

If you like performance coupes enough, and specifically the 2 series enough, to be posting on a 2 series forum, I'd argue the M240i's power and default suspension is worth the 20-25% difference. 335hp is still well within the very usable range.

However, there is a strong argument for "slow car fast" and more balanced purism, as pointed out in these articles. (228i vs. M235i)

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...mparison-test/
https://jalopnik.com/the-bmw-228i-is...buy-1662847106

Originally Posted by babaikram

In fact I get 42mpg in m240i in EcoPro mode when driving long distances on motorways.

Jibes decently well with the reports of 35mpg from other members, if that's 42mpg Imperial.

I'm getting much closer to EPA numbers (28mpg hwy) with the 6 speed, generally no cruise control. If I set it to 60MPH with cruise I'd see in the low to mid 30s on flat ground. I wonder if ECO PRO helps if cruise control is on, I'd doubt it since it only seems to mute throttle response.

I think the main reason for the short 6th gear when they could easily put a taller one in with all the 369lb-ft @ 1600rpm, is that BMW only has a certain number of manual gearboxes, and this particular one has the same ratios as the M2 and M4. (4.11 / 2.32 / 1.54 / 1.18 / 1.00 / 0.85). The M2 and M4 have a high enough top speed that you need to grab 6th to get it (174mph with the package). The CAFE MPG hit they'd take is miniscule if only 5% of drivers chose the M240i manual. You could easily put a 6th gear at 0.81 or 0.79 but it would feel more awkward and possibly hurt top speed in the M2/M4 (but really, is anyone keeping track?)

For those complaining about turbo lag, keep in mind an N/A I-6 or V-6 making 335hp would have about a LOT less torque than at 1600rpm than 369 lb-ft. The only case where'd you'd get tons of grunt down low are with the American V-8 muscle cars, and those are generally geared pretty tall as well.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by EstorilM240

I think the main reason for the short 6th gear when they could easily put a taller one in...

I'm always a bit surprised when owners think of 6th as being short. Maybe turning 2660 RPM at 75 MPH is considered high when compared to other cars? It's geared for a top speed of 183 MPH, so no worries there.

My car has averaged 30.7 MPG since new (mostly highway miles), which is quite a bit better than expected. That's on the stock, staggered MPSS using the manufacturer's recommended tire pressures.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by dradernh

I'm always a bit surprised when owners think of 6th as being short. Maybe turning 2660 RPM at 75 MPH is considered high when compared to other cars?

I see you are from Ohio, so I'm surprised you're surprised!

Have you driven the flat, straight, width of Ohio on the Turnpike? I'd love to have a longer 6th for those hours with little to do beyond stay awake!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

I see you are from Ohio, so I'm surprised you're surprised!

Have you driven the flat, straight, width of Ohio on the Turnpike? I'd love to have a longer 6th for those hours with little to do beyond stay awake!

Cincinnati to I-90 at the PA line west of Erie is my route across the state. I've driven it enough times that it no longer feels like it takes very long.

Other than slightly better mileage, I don't see what difference a taller 6th gear would make to me. What difference would it make for you - e.g., would it make the car quieter in some way?

FWIW, you can get diffs with 2.81 and 2.56 ratios. At 75 MPH, the 2.81 drops the revs by 235 RPM and the 2.56 by a further 215 RPM.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Cincinnati to I-90 at the PA line west of Erie is my route across the state. I've driven it enough times that it no longer feels like it takes very long.

Other than slightly better mileage, I don't see what difference a taller 6th gear would make to me. What difference would it make for you - e.g., would it make the car quieter in some way?

FWIW, you can get diffs with 2.81 and 2.56 ratios. At 75 MPH, the 2.81 drops the revs by 235 RPM and the 2.56 by a further 215 RPM.

For me, it's 1) noise and 2) mpg. Don't want to change the diff and affect all the gears. Just would have wanted an overdrive 6th. Don't mind at all downshifting to pass.

[230iZTR]

This topic has been beaten to death already. They're both excellent choices, and the key question is "how comfortable are you spending marginally more money for marginally more power?" For me, an extra 80hp and a bodykit wasn't worth adding $10k to the car's MSRP. For others, it's a no-brainer.

I'm happy with my decision to go with the 230i. It's a fun, great handling, RWD, turbo coupe. That's the core of the modern BMW experience to me, and this car checks all those boxes no matter which engine you configure it with.

[MassNerd]

Originally Posted by 230iZTR

For me, an extra 80hp and a bodykit wasn't worth adding $10k to the car's MSRP.

To get the 230i close the M240i's specs, you need to add the M Sport package and Track package. Then it is not a $10K difference anymore.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by MassNerd

To get the 230i close the M240i's specs, you need to add the M Sport package and Track package. Then it is not a $10K difference anymore.

With Track Handling Package, MSport is superfluous...just cosmetic with a tiny deck lid spoiler (or was when I spec’d out mine). Better to just get MPerformance aftermarket spoiler if cosmetics are important.

[happyjack]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

With Track Handling Package, MSport is superfluous...just cosmetic with a tiny deck lid spoiler (or was when I spec’d our mine). Better to just get MPerformance aftermarket spoiler if cosmetics are important.

and spend the difference on a dinan stage 1!

[StealYourFace]

I am seriously concidering a 2014-15 228i m sport to replace my tired 330i. With the savings, If I wanted Incould sell my 97 m3 and get a c5 zo6 or 987 cayman s.....

But back to the 228i... I haven’t driven a 2 or 3 series with a stick and the 4 cyl yet... I have sold a ton of F30 328s and x1 28s, that wngine sound is so loveless. my n52 and e36m3 sound so good. The 228s have come down so much at 17 grand for one with decent miles it seems like a no brainer.

Any feedback from a former n52 1 or 3 series ow we i to a 228i with a stick? Anything else to look for?

[PeanuKeeyes]

Originally Posted by StealYourFace

I am seriously concidering a 2014-15 228i m sport to replace my tired 330i.
[...]
Any feedback from a former n52 1 or 3 series ow we i to a 228i with a stick? Anything else to look for?

— I did a lot of research on the 228i before buying mine and ran into a couple of major potential issues. The N20 engine on the 2014-2015 models has a defective timing chain housing that can result in needing a new engine if it goes on you. — I believe there is a dealer recall available to have this sorted out but I’m not 100% sure what the status on that is. Also, the oil pump had reported issues. All the kinks were worked out by late 2015 early 2016 N20 models. So if you’re looking for a 228i, I would recommend looking at 2016 or newer.

— I love my 228i 6spd manual! I lucked out as I found one CPO where previous owner had modified the exterior to look like an M235i and had upgraded the intake and M performance exhaust. — I can’t speak to transitioning from a n52 as my previous car was a M50 i6 525i (1995)! So as far as I’m concerned, this 2 series is a rocket.

Other than that, car feels fantastic and is a real joy in the corners. May not be as fast in a straight as some others, but the suspension and weight ratio, etc esp with track handling package is fantastic.

[rodmeister]

I test drove the 230 before purchasing my 240. Money wasn't an issue with me, neither was the difference in HP and 0-60 times; but which was more satisfying to drive daily. The deciding factor for me was the smoothness and secondarily the sound of the inline 6. The subjective, emotionally satisfying experience of the inline 6 was the deciding factor -I knew I'd regret buying the 4 cylinder every time I drove it. Unless money is an important factor, get the 240.

[sethwas]

Originally Posted by 230iZTR

This topic has been beaten to death already. They're both excellent choices, and the key question is "how comfortable are you spending marginally more money for marginally more power?" For me, an extra 80hp and a bodykit wasn't worth adding $10k to the car's MSRP. For others, it's a no-brainer.

I'm happy with my decision to go with the 230i. It's a fun, great handling, RWD, turbo coupe. That's the core of the modern BMW experience to me, and this car checks all those boxes no matter which engine you configure it with.

It's interesting you say that - because I would say the key question is "how important is a comfortable ride" in your $50k car.

To me the performance benefits are nil in the big engine because I'll never see them. This is my daily commuter car so extra power just means worse gas mileage and more expensive insurance. 5s 0-60 is plenty.

The lighter car handles better for my purposes and objectively has better balance, and has a decidedly noticeable difference in ride quality. Any of the M cars and anything with 18 or 19" rims (with the outer diameter staying the same) are just non starters.

It all depends on what's important to you.

Seth

[rainfall]

That's a tough one. I love the 230i. At the time I was looking for a new car, a 230i with the specs I would buy wouldn't be that much cheaper than a 235i/240i, so I just went with the 235i.

I think the 230i has an awesome power to weight ratio, is very agile and has good fuel economy. If you do get the 230i, make sure you get it in REAR WHEEL DRIVE, otherwise it will be considerably heavier.

If you're going AWD, then I'd say get the 240i as it as more power to handle the extra weight.

[morphomeman]

The weight difference is 141 lb., not what most would call considerable.
I don't know how it affects the balance, though again it is probably minimal, certainly less than the difference in weight between the 4 and the 6, though even that is not huge, about 180 lb.
Once you add them up, a 230 RWD is about 300 lb. heavier than a 240 AWD, and that is getting up to a 10% difference in weight and a considerable shift in F/R balance.
So the former should be much more Miata-like in its handling than the latter, with other configurations ranged in between.
People should really look at the numbers, which are readily available.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

Once you add them up, a 230 RWD is about 300 lb. heavier than a 240 AWD,

Did you intend "lighter"?

The addition of either or both of the 6 cylinder and AWD place the weight over the front wheels, so while even individually minimal, location is sub-optimal and can be felt in the steering.

[morphomeman]

Yes, lighter, my bad, and yes, the weight is all added in front, which contributes to the change in handling for the worse.