ZHP to M235

[jsfbmw]

This is an interesting thread on 2addicts. A ZHP now-former-owner shares thoughts on getting an M235 after 10 years of ZHP ownership. He's probably a member here; I also recognized signature lines of other ZHPMafia members.

I had fun reading and thought others might too.

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1027305

[Vas]

Very interesting discussion sprinkled with some hate.

[alexandre]

Very interesting discussion. I enjoyed iDrive in a 135 I test drove last year, as long as the car is fun to drive! Once my ZHP hits 500,000 km I'll probably be able to afford one of these. :rofl

[az3579]

Very interesting discussion. I enjoyed iDrive in a 135 I test drove last year, as long as the car is fun to drive! Once my ZHP hits 500,000 km I'll probably be able to afford one of these. :rofl

Well then, drive faster and more so you can afford one sooner. :biggrin

[zhpnsnv]

It's difficult to drive a car like the M235i and ignore all it brings to the driving experience, that's for sure. I fell for the E82 pretty hard, and mine had essentially the same N55 (+ppk) as the 2. Interesting points in the thread.

[slater]

i'd love to drive an M235i, as i find myself stopping and looking at them every time i'm at the dealer (only twice in the last 4 months :) ).

i'm definitely one of those "i don't like electronic crap'" guys so the ZHP is a perfect blend of easy-to-work-on, basic creature comforts kind of car. i changed out a broken window switch in 5 minutes at my lunch break today. how cool is that?

plus, two other things; it's only a 2-door (i need 4), and i can't see spending that much money on a car.

peter

[ELCID86]

I saw my first on yesterday. Dark gray. Looked very nice.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

[derbo]

Honestly the dimensions, the specs all look great. However I'm not 100% on loving the back end. In pictures it look great but when I saw it out in the wild, I did not immediately go OMG thats a good looking car. In anyhoo, its hilarious the way he badmouths runflats.

[SoCalZman]

I think they show a lot of respect to the ZHP in that thread. I think its a testament to our cars that they can be compared to the M235i today.

Anyway, I have only driven a 228i. On the autocross track at the recent BMW driving event. It was a ton of fun. The car is great. it feels a lot like our ZHPs. and BECAUSE of that, when I was done and got back into my car to drive home, I thought about it nice and hard and decided I did not feel like I was missing anything.

My ZHP was just as if not more comfortable, just as quiet, the steering felt better, the suspension felt much more "controlled," had that delicious I6 to listen to, and I like the interior of our car better. When the time comes a M235i will be a fine replacement for our ZHPs (except no 4 door!!!!!) and we should all be thankful it exists for us to move on to. Until then, I don't think anyone should feel like we are missing something by keeping our ZHPs for another 4-5 years.

[TWong1200]

Yep, it's amazing that they're comparing a 10+ year old car to a brand spankin' new 2014. Says A LOT about our cars.

I've never driven a new 2-series and really have no desire to. It's not a bad looking car from the front. A neighbor of mine has a dark grey one and the front of the car looks really nice.

Sill, though, it's missing two doors that I don't think I can go without.

Till then, I absolutely love my ZHP whenever I get a chance to drive it. Working from home, I drive it only to run errands and look forward to it whenever errands arise!

[NoVAphotog]

Yep, it's amazing that they're comparing a 10+ year old car to a brand spankin' new 2014. Says A LOT about our cars.


I drove a bunch of newer cars at the local BMW dealer a couple weeks ago...they were the 4 series so a little bigger, but I was still very much underwhelmed, especially for the pricetags. I got back in my ZHP after driving the 435i and the smile reappeared on my face after a quick pull out into traffic. The 435 was fun, no doubt, but there just wasn't that connection that I feel with the ZHP.

the 235 is on my list of cars to check out, but I'm very much against ever buying a "new" car...they just don't build them like they used to and the prices are inflated astronomically for what you get. They really are geared toward the lease and move on type of people...

[derbo]

http://i.imgur.com/QXOjcPn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CRKyMxR.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/nFEIs1Y.jpg

sure looks pretty when its modified... :X I'm not sure I like the back that much though.

[webster]

I hate those silver mirrors. Audi called, they want their design back

[derbo]

I hate those silver mirrors. Audi called, they want their design back

LOL been saying this since the "is" brands started.

[az3579]

LOL been saying this since the "is" brands started.

"Is" models have black mirrors...


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[derbo]

"Is" models have black mirrors...


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Yea but the whole two tone thing is stupid. :)

[Hermes]

Black mirrors used to be the sign of a base car... interesting that it is now the opposite

[az3579]

Yea but the whole two tone thing is stupid. :)

I wholly disagree.


Black mirrors used to be the sign of a base car... interesting that it is now the opposite

Black unpainted mirrors used to be base. These are painted black.


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[zhpnsnv]

I believe someone above mentioned the new tech/equipment you have to get on the newer cars. Depending on your level of car OCD (mine is high), this is either a good or a bad thing. I will go as long as possible without having a screen on my dash. My E82 had basically nothing on it, but it still had annoying things like hill assist (which activated the e-brake when parked on hills then left it on when you tried to drive away), the dumbass rain sensing wipers (how did we ever sense rain before this feature?!), and the window buttons on the door instead of the center console, which is just silly.

The ZHP has a real presence to it, both in sedan and coupe form. Annoyingly to me, it was always mistaken for an M3. That was one thing I didn't like about the ZHP -- it had the looks and the presence but no balls under the hood to match. It was plenty powerful for me, but relatively, I guess this is why people do tunes, headers, superchargers, etc...

When I've seen the M235i, I'm just eh. The wheels look cheap and stuck on. It doesn't look well thought out. It's like they got together in a board room and said, "We've made some ugly ass cars, but we know we can make some lovely ones, so let's take them both and shove them together."

They've returned to the proportioning that looks good to an E46 aficionado's eye, but look at all that's going on with each surface, and by contrast, how simple each surface is on the E46. The people who designed the E46 knew what was right and did it. The people who designed this 2 are trying to please everyone.

And the people who designed the E82 were high (but I love it!).

[stephenkirsh]

I think the m235 looks great. You can compare it's looks to cars from 10 years ago because they're being sold today. Everything else today looks busy and over designed. That's just how they are. Which is why there's very few cars that truly look good to me.

[johnrando]

Looks pretty good in those pics Derek, thanks for posting those. I'll check out the thread but I agree, comparing a 10 y.o. car to new? That DOES say a lot.

[Simmsled]

BUT... still nothing with 4 doors.
M235i Grand Coupe? Lol

[webster]

Why four doors? Kids are small.

[Simmsled]

I have twins that sit in rear facing car seats.
Coupe would be much harder to secure them both properly in short time each morning.
Won't always be rear facing, but a new 2 series doesn't have as much room as a 4d e46.

[stephenkirsh]

And Audi and merc both make small "hot" 4 door cars. BMW needs to get it together!

[az3579]

Why four doors? Kids are small.

Because you drive a coupe. You wouldn't understand. :biggrin

[SoCalZman]

some of us like having our cake and eating it too. I enjoyed my time with my 2 seater, 2 door Z, but I was delighted that I could have a 4 door sedan with no performance compromises. The E46 sedan and coupe have the exact same capabilities. No compromises! We want BMW to offer the same on the 2 series (dont count on it though).

[stephenkirsh]

some of us like having our cake and eating it too. I enjoyed my time with my 2 seater, 2 door Z, but I was delighted that I could have a 4 door sedan with no performance compromises. The E46 sedan and coupe have the exact same capabilities. No compromises! We want BMW to offer the same on the 2 series (dont count on it though).

+100

And I think the sedan looks a lot better than the coupe :)

[SoCalZman]

I spoke too soon. a 4 door small BMW is coming, but itll be front wheel drive. :( http://bmwblog.kinja.com/bmw-1-series-sedan-spotted-for-the-first-time-1630570802/+pgeorge

[johnrando]

+100

And I think the sedan looks a lot better than the coupe :)

Oh boy, let's not start THAT again. :)

[derbo]

Oh boy, let's not start THAT again. :)

We should make a thread sedan vs coupe. LOL

[johnrando]

Well you can but verts are far superior so why bother arguing which is 2nd place? :biggrin

[derbo]

Well you can but verts are far superior so why bother arguing which is 2nd place? :biggrin

:facepalm

[stephenkirsh]

Oh boy, let's not start THAT again. :)

My bad? :( lol

[stephenkirsh]

I spoke too soon. a 4 door small BMW is coming, but itll be front wheel drive. :( http://bmwblog.kinja.com/bmw-1-series-sedan-spotted-for-the-first-time-1630570802/+pgeorge

I'm not counting that in any way!

[Vas]

Coupe vs sedan vs vert is on the same level as the discussion about the BMW Performance strut bar.

[NoVAphotog]

Coupe vs sedan vs vert is on the same level as the discussion about the BMW Performance strut bar.

+1

Boiled down to...Personal preference.

[johnrando]

Exactly.

[Openair]

Agreed johnrando!

[Simmsled]

I don't know what it would take to get rid of my ZHP.
The M235i is faster and is a driver's car... but the point of the ZHP (initially) was to be the not-quite M3, 4 door high performance 3 Series.
I'm a sucker for the sedan.
The convertible always reminds me of a chick I dated that had an E46 vert.
She later became a stripper... and since then, I always think of strippers when I see E46 verts.

[johnrando]

oh really? :) lol

[Pip]

oh really? :) lol

No poles for JR, but he will take his top off...lol

[OtterEffect]

No poles for JR, but he will take his top off...lol

:rofl

[johnrando]

Lol. Yup, top off all the time! :biggrin

[Simmsled]

:spit
Nice.

[94jedi]

I might be crazy but how is a e46 M3 too harsh for DD duties? IMO, the ZHP is nearly perfect...only thing better would be to up the "performance factor" by a notch or two. I guess that's a very subjective thing though.

[stephenkirsh]

So I finally got around to reading the original linked post and have a question.

Do cars that come with run flats really have their suspension set up differently?

[KevinC]

Do cars that come with run flats really have their suspension set up differently?

The M235i comes with Pilot Super Sports, non-runflat variety. Hallelujah.

As for the runflats and their "designed for runflats" suspension - softer bushings and other countermeasures to try to minimize the cranium-jarring ride that the rock-hard RFT's provide. Great, throw in a compromise to try to minimize another compromise. Yecccch.

[stephenkirsh]

Gotcha. That's pretty bad.

Is this all to lose 40 pounds out of the trunk for better fuel mileage?

[pilotnick1203]

I represent coupes... I like the sedan too. Vert doesn't speak to me, less rigid chassis and the e46 vert seems off dimensions wise. However, neat if you live in a nice enough climate!


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[pilotnick1203]

I don't know what it would take to get rid of my ZHP.
The M235i is faster and is a driver's car... but the point of the ZHP (initially) was to be the not-quite M3, 4 door high performance 3 Series.
I'm a sucker for the sedan.
The convertible always reminds me of a chick I dated that had an E46 vert.
She later became a stripper... and since then, I always think of strippers when I see E46 verts.

ROFL


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[madwolfa]

She later became a stripper... and since then, I always think of strippers when I see E46 verts.

Seeing the amount of verts for sale it looks like many of them strippers have retired lately. LOL.

[cakM3]

I'm waiting to test drive an M235i......

[Simmsled]

Seeing the amount of verts for sale it looks like many of them strippers have retired lately. LOL.

Strippers... strippers EVERYWHERE.

Yeah. Mass exodus from E46 vert ownership for whatever reason.

[cakM3]

Yep, it's amazing that they're comparing a 10+ year old car to a brand spankin' new 2014. Says A LOT about our cars.

I've never driven a new 2-series and really have no desire to. It's not a bad looking car from the front. A neighbor of mine has a dark grey one and the front of the car looks really nice.

Sill, though, it's missing two doors that I don't think I can go without.

Till then, I absolutely love my ZHP whenever I get a chance to drive it. Working from home, I drive it only to run errands and look forward to it whenever errands arise!

Tony, maybe BMW will make a 2-series Grand Coupe which will then come with 4-doors... ;) I myself, would love to hear more about the M2 that will be coming out.....

[TWong1200]

Tony, maybe BMW will make a 2-series Grand Coupe which will then come with 4-doors... ;) I myself, would love to hear more about the M2 that will be coming out.....
Still wouldn't be interested, Charlie. 6-series Grand Coupe however makes me drool!