10-03-2018, 04:54 PM | #23 |
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It's the perfect daily driver. I get 20-21 mpg in my commute mix of city streets and expressway and 30 mpg on straight interstate highway driving. As far as I know the M235 / M240 has Adaptive Suspension as a standard feature on all US versions, where as it was an available option in the Track Handling Package on the 228 / 230. If you are daily driving, the Adaptive Suspension is perfect, but I could see where someone "tracking" their car might want to upgrade to something else. We can all describe our ownership experiences (mine has been outstanding) but only you will know if it's right for you when you drive it.
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oregondonor87.50 |
10-03-2018, 04:55 PM | #24 |
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I drove an E46 for many years as a commute car and it did everything perfectly. Never went wrong despite the words of gloom from British-based internet people, who swore blind its ratty engine would explode and cause WWIII at every left turn. Ran for 16 years without a single hitch, suckers - I must be just better at looking after my shit than any of you!
I now have a 2er and it’s great for me now I’m semi retired and need something to punt around in and do short journeys. Here, the 230i isn’t the base model for poormen, it’s the most expensive non-M car and sits above SIX other engine types available. (We’re a universe away in that regard.) Yet, while I’ve done two long journeys in it, despite everything - faster, more economical, better equipped, sharper looking, quieter even - it’s not as comfortable and not the same all rounder that the E46 was. The 230i here is a premium vehicle, only available in M “trim” and highly equipped; if I needed a do-anything car I’d have another 3. But circumstances are obviously very different! |
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10-03-2018, 04:58 PM | #25 |
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Mineral White is gorgeous, IMO, and so easy to keep it looking clean. The interior color is beautiful, too. What's not to like?
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10-03-2018, 07:45 PM | #26 | |
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10-03-2018, 07:54 PM | #27 | |
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You could do just springs but I know of a few cases where the struts will start leaking after switching springs and newly replaced struts will start leaking again shortly after.... I think there are a few aftermarket options that are compatible with EDC... You could also just go with non-adaptive coilovers and code out the adaptive suspension. But for me the adaptive suspension is fantastic... could it be firmer in sport ? sure but for what it is it gives you kind of the best of both worlds... but it's not like the M3/M4 where you have multiple levels for steering weight...it's only soft or hard..... also you can't configure suspension independent of steering, it's both or none.. |
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oregondonor87.50 |
10-03-2018, 08:15 PM | #29 |
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I agree with stevenvillatoro, but I’m biased, because that car for sale at BMW Salem is the exact color combo I have for my 235i. Most of these cars have the black interior, which I’m not personally a fan of, and the brown looks way better in person. As for the rest of the car, it’s awesome and can’t say much more than the praise everyone else has provided other than the driving position is pretty much perfect. Been driving mine every day for over a year to go to work and back, which is about 20 miles each way almost all highway. Definitely take it for a test drive.
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oregondonor87.50 |
10-03-2018, 08:40 PM | #30 | |
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I am to the point to ask my dealership if I can take an extended test drive. It's easy to get a 4xx as they have tons of those in inventory. High end cars are a different story. I would really like to experience the M235i on my daily drive for several days. How much can you really get from a 20 minute test drive?
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10-03-2018, 08:44 PM | #31 | ||
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And to have an idea I'm able to fit 2 car seats in the back too, it's tight but doable |
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10-03-2018, 10:24 PM | #32 |
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Agreed; I daily a 2014 M235i. You can drive in Comfort and relax or select Sport or Sport+ if you want to amp things up a bit. The only car I'd consider as a replacement is an M2 Competition...
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MichaelL41.50 |
10-04-2018, 01:39 AM | #33 | |
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However in gridlock I will put it in ECO mode just to save in gas or coast. |
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10-04-2018, 06:47 AM | #34 | ||
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The M235i is a great car as well. It depends on what you will use it for. I have tracked my car at HPDE's and it's crazy fun. I just didn't need that much car. My 228i is faster that the E46 M3 and it's within inches of the same size without being tiny inside. The comfort and tech of this generation of BMW is great and way past you E9x. There are plenty of CPO 228i's for around $20k.
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10-04-2018, 08:28 AM | #35 |
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I have a fully modified m235i, and I daily it for a week at a time, and then switch over to my other daily (13 Acura TL AWD) to keep miles off them both.
My M235i has Dinan springs, 19" wheels/tires, full bolt ons, and Stage2 BM3 tune. Just turned 20k and have not had any issues related to the modifications, it turns heads, is plenty fast for a daily (probably approaching 400whp in the cooler fall weather), and most importantly - SUPER FUN. I start work early, so my morning commute has no traffic, my evening traffic sucks, so that's really the only reason I wouldn't drive it every day. I feel like I'm wasting the car sitting in traffic. Now on the other hand, I've added some sound deadening, some better audio upgrades, and honestly with the 19" MP4S tires, the car rides/drives/sounds/handles better than factory. I love it. I'll be doing a 400 mile road trip with it this weekend into the mountains of North Carolina and couldn't be more excited.
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10-04-2018, 09:27 AM | #37 |
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I bought my M235i to be my practical car while my daughter drove my E-wagon. When I bought it I thought it would be a good car but the numb steering and weight would make me wish for more performance. Drive by drive this car has thoroughly won me over. I can't give a better complement than it is 90% as comfortable as the MB and gives 90% of the performance of the 911, all in one car. I can steer with the engine! Best DD I've ever had.
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10-04-2018, 09:37 AM | #38 | |
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10-04-2018, 09:54 AM | #39 | |
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- Suspension is very compliant in comfort mode as long as the road is not in the roughest of shapes. Much smoother ride than my E84 for example (or my old E90 and E39, but those had the Sport and M-Sport packages on them). Even in sport mode it's very tolerable. - Not jittery at all, which was my number one complaint with the e82 135i on multiple test drives, and the reason why I never bought one. - Surprisingly very stable in cross wind and wind gusts. - Sound insulation is excellent for this type of car. Very little road noise or engine noise makes it into the cabin when cruising at any speed. Much better than the other Bimmers I have owned. This is with the M-Performance exhaust and optional stock summer only MPSS tires.
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10-04-2018, 10:17 AM | #40 | |
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I'm thinking even an 230i would give you plenty of enjoyment too. The new 2ers are pretty bullet-proof based on all surveys and reports. |
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10-04-2018, 01:21 PM | #41 | |
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LSD is the biggy and makes it worth it!
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10-04-2018, 02:17 PM | #42 |
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I don't see any M Performance bit of on it. How do you know it has the LSD?
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10-04-2018, 02:40 PM | #43 | |
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What M-performance bits are on it? I don't see anything as far as the cosmetic stuff is concerned. Does it perhaps have the MPE exhaust? Assuming that it really does have the MP LSD, that costs ~$2300. The MPE is ~$1k. You can't really calculate it that way though if the parts were installed when the car was new. They also have 39k miles on them and depreciate with the rest of the car. If you are set on that specific example, you should get it by all means but try to negotiate a more reasonable price.
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10-04-2018, 03:33 PM | #44 |
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Hopefully not too much duplication, but I traded in my Outback for a M240i Xdrive. Been through one winter so far, and no problem. The only practical drawback is that it can't carry very much - good that wife's car is an SUV. Other than than, I haven't enjoyed just driving as much in quite a while....and, FWIW it gets over 30MPG on the hiway....GL.
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