[cbr1100xx]

First was a very low mi '18 230i. Had like zero options but power seat. Nothing else. Luckily the only thing I like is the power seat although a sunroof could be nice too at night but i don't mind the weight savings. Looks nice but kinda incognito in white. Anyway, I was friggin' impressed. What an awesome 8spd auto! That car was super responsive and pretty damn quick. Not explosive like the A10 Mustang GT I tested about a month ago but still impressive. I liked the size, handling, comfort. Even the sound was decent for a 4 banger when it growled. BMW build quality was felt as well.


Next was a very low mi M240i manual. It was good. Comfortable. But I think I'm kinda over manual. Shift throws kinda long. Shifter a little rubbery. Yeah it was fast but sorta after I let it rev out a bit. It didn't seem that much quicker than the 230 even though I know it was.

I'm sure I'd love a 235i/240i auto for sure but the 230i with7800 mi, clean 1 owner carfax for $27,995 asking price to me is a steal for this car (I'm trying to keep it at $30K or less). And it feels like it still has plenty of power to get me in trouble. And gas mileage is probably decent.

Anyway, really impressed w/the 230i. There's also a '16 M235i auto w/14k mi for $4K more that I haven't checked out yet.

[cwilsong]

You can’t go wrong with either I am 6 weeks into a 2019 230i and love it. Yes the 240 has more power and sounds a little cooler but I have found the balance and feel of the 230 is exactly what I wanted. But hay it’s your car just get the one that puts the biggest smile on your face!

Oh as someone else pointed out put it in sport or sport+ and move the shifter to the left but leave it right there, it will still be in automatic mode but will shift more aggressively.

[bryan_G01]

while they are figuring out my issues, i have a 330...

put that thing in sport +, and if you know how to drive, this car is fun as hell.

I had ppl in at a light say to me, Hey I didnt know the 330 is fast!

I mean it all depends how you drive, but id be lying if it didn't feel like a e36 m3.
It has plenty of power for mostly anyone. If i didnt have this need to tune and break everything i own, id get one and leave it stock.

Very fun car, impressed with how quick these entry level cars are.

[USA-RET]

Lots of people (me included) get wrapped up in published performance numbers. Yes M240i is a very quick car, 230i 0-60 5.5 sec is damn quick for a 4cyl car. My experience, any car that can do 0-60 in 6 seconds or less is a quick car. Likely more power than you'll routinely use in any driving situation. Just a blast to drive and more manageable that higher powered cars that can get a person into trouble very quickly.

For the 230i's performance numbers, the MPG's, the quality of vehicle and the JD Power repair reports, the 230i is a great choice.

There are also plenty of options available should you want to add a tune or other performance mods to the car (not that it really needs any)

[Shovelman]

People with M240 complain that the gas tank is too small. My 230i goes over 500 hi way miles on a tank, almost 400 city.

Turbo lag is annoying with a stick shift. Good to hear that the auto is so much more competent than I appear to be. (practice practice practice)

[Unicorn123]

Great thread...

Interestingly, after I purchased my M235i xDrive, I told my son that if I really wanted to replace my 2001 B5S4 Audi, I should have considered a 228/230 instead as the performance, etc. was more in line with my Audi (unmodified in both cases).

He was upset since he thought I had "changed my mind" or had "buyers remorse" and he is in love with the M235. I definitely did / do not but the 230 is an excellent value as others have pointed out. We have an abundance of riches here...

[ScottAndrew]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

People with M240 complain that the gas tank is too small. My 230i goes over 500 hi way miles on a tank, almost 400 city.

Turbo lag is annoying with a stick shift. Good to hear that the auto is so much more competent than I appear to be. (practice practice practice)

Yep. 44.something mpg on a long road trip with frequent stop-start traffic. That's a touring range of nearly 500 mi. Even in town only, it's 320-350. 400 would be optimistic, as the gridlock starts at the end of my street .

[kz1000]

I have a 230i like you test drove. Zero options. Great car! My 1st automatic @ age 50 due to left knee replacement. Paddles are fun, but I miss the clutch pedal. Next one will be a stick again once my knee heals.

[Mr Carrots]

As someone who had a 240i and now have a whipple stage 2 GT on order, I couldn't imagine the 230i not getting boring very quickly but if fuel economy is your primary concern it would be good little car

[Poochie]

I would consider a 230/330i as a daily driver, as they are extremely comfortable, even in NYC pothole ridden streets but when you start optioning them out, the price creeps up to an unreasonable amount of money.. 48k for my build.

And want's the point of buying any BMW base.. For that money, you maybe as well get a fully equipped Maxima or Accord and still save like 10k in the process..

[mcompact]

My motto is; "Buy what makes you smile." Accordingly, the 230i can be a very compelling choice. That said, I was coming from a car that ran 0-60 in the low fives(a lightly modded Mazdaspeed 3- my only deviation from the Munich fold in three decades of BMW ownership) and I wanted something faster- hence the M235i.
I recently drove a 230i xDrive M Sport loaner while my Club Sport was being serviced, and I really enjoyed it- although I would have liked it even more had it been RWD. In any case I don't think that you can go wrong with any iteration of the F22; it just comes down to personal preference.

[3rdcoast228i]

I love my 228i Msport

It's not a raw power beast, but dang it's fun. I love that it's so light up front and has good balance. Getting the revs up and not ending up in jail or in a ditch is nice too.

240+ hp and 0-60 in 5.5 isn't bad for the price. You can spend just as much on some fwd car with a lesser engine and not nearly as fun to drive.

That said, if I didn't need to get a truck I would probably be getting an M2C even though its overkill for fun factor street driving.

[ScottAndrew]

Originally Posted by Mr Carrots

As someone who had a 240i and now have a whipple stage 2 GT on order, I couldn't imagine the 230i not getting boring very quickly but if fuel economy is your primary concern it would be good little car

I think you can try a bit harder than that .

[230iZTR]

I wound up with the 230i with only the track handling package because it’s basically an m240i in terms of handling, braking, steering, and transmission, but the extra 2 cylinders on the m240i was just not worth the ~$8,000 (US) premium to me. After a year of ownership, it still puts a grin on my face and makes me look back over my shoulder every single time. Plus it’s not like it’s slow...to put a ~5.5s 0-60 and ~14s quarter mile into perspective, that’s about what the old M1 supercar could do.

[hwntime]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

People with M240 complain that the gas tank is too small. My 230i goes over 500 hi way miles on a tank, almost 400 city.

Turbo lag is annoying with a stick shift. Good to hear that the auto is so much more competent than I appear to be. (practice practice practice)

Get a throttle controller for the lag! Read this: https://www.2addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1565116 Best $200 I've spent on my car.

[Luftwaffe1O1]

Heh 500+ highway miles or 320+ city?

Damn guys i been averaging like 250/260 city in my car...

[hwntime]

Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1

Heh 500+ highway miles or 320+ city?

Damn guys i been averaging like 250/260 city in my car...

That's me if I'm lucky! I get around 20-21mpg combined with 70/30 city/highway driving.

[Luftwaffe1O1]

Originally Posted by hwntime

That's me if I'm lucky! I get around 20-21mpg combined with 70/30 city/highway driving.

For one week i drove like a grandpa averaged around 30mpg mixed city highway. I needed to prove to myself i had some self control... then i went back to normal driving, and averaging less than 19mpg haha.

[snaketh]

I agree the M230 has a great motor. I got the 235 for the smoother delivery, sound, and mostly because soon enough 6 cylinders won't be mass market as emissions get tighter.

[Shovelman]

Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1

Heh 500+ highway miles or 320+ city?

Damn guys i been averaging like 250/260 city in my car...

You just HAD to get those extra cylinders!

[Shovelman]

Originally Posted by Mr Carrots

As someone who had a 240i and now have a whipple stage 2 GT on order, I couldn't imagine the 230i not getting boring very quickly but if fuel economy is your primary concern it would be good little car

That GT will be fun for stoplight drags for a few weeks but soon you'll outgrow your teens and then it will just be embarrassing.

[harma24]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

People with M240 complain that the gas tank is too small. My 230i goes over 500 hi way miles on a tank, almost 400 city.

Damn! I had to fill up twice today! Okay, I did drive >300 miles between those two fill-ups, but still... I did not have enough range left to comfortably make my commute to work tomorrow (probably could have eked it out if I wanted to, but no need to run the fuel pump in a nearly empty tank).

Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1

Damn guys i been averaging like 250/260 city in my car...

I find I'm similar range as you in my daily commute in Boston traffic.

Originally Posted by Shovelman

You just HAD to get those extra cylinders!

Yes. Yes I did!