E46 superior to a M235xi? An interesting read.

[brettbimmer]

A good friend sent this article over to me today, and I figured that the family would enjoy it as well. It is a comparo on the latest M235xi vs. the author's love of his older BMWs which he has enjoyed in the past.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/04/review-2015-bmw-m235xi/

[NoVAphotog]

"Fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money, even in the post-QE world. If you have that much to burn or borrow, do yourself a favor and get the car that delivers M3-level power and 135i-level driver involvement. It’s called the Ford Mustang GT and you can use the ten grand you’ll have left over to get a nice winter beater. No, the Ford is not the Ultimate Driving Machine — but neither is this."

Damn!

No surprises in this review. It's what a lot of people have been saying and what I felt personally driving the M235i...yes they are "nice" cars, yes, you feel cool driving it, yes, you see/can use the luxury features and creature comforts of a $50k sports coupe, yes, you have a warranty (not much of one) but NO do you get the same feel, driver involvement and sounds of an E46.

[slater]

he doesn't really talk about the E46 much - just that he liked it.

it definitely is interesting though, and one reason why i suspect some folks are here (zhpmafia), driving these cars. they are the 'last of the analog BMWs', so to speak. mine is very cohesive; i just want to fine-tune some quirks (like dead shocks and paint issues, LOL) and keep enjoying it for a fraction of what a new BMW (or any other new car) would cost.

but, yeah, preaching to the choir here. :)

peter

[quikryptonite]

Interesting. We seem to be getting some different viewpoints and perspectives about this car. One review I read said it (manual 6 speed) was almost like driving a new, albeit much heavier, E46 M3 off the showroom floor. I'd love to take one for a spin and see what it was like to drive.

C&D M235i (http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-bmw-m235i-2-series-coupe-first-drive-review)

[stephenkirsh]

I haven't read many articles, but this is the first one I've read that really hated the m235.

[Vas]

All wheel drive and no manual? I would not even consider it.

[Just_George]

I agree with Peter - our 'analog' E46's are, to me, definitely preferable to BMWs current electronically-laden cars. Interestingly, the 2 series cars are nearly identical dimensionally to the E46, yet are heavier! Yet another reason I see the E46 as the zenith of BMW designs - everything newer is bigger, heavier, more complex, far more difficult to maintain, and by most accounts far less involving to drive.

This is the first substantially critical review I've read of the M235, but I've seen, heard, and read a LOT of griping about BMW not having "it" as far as driving feel. Makes me glad I found a nice ZHP while I could!

[stephenkirsh]

So how do other new cars compare to the 235? Cuz that's all that matters to bmw. They're not competing with e46s, they're competing with audi and merc.

So, honest question, how does the m235 compare to... An S3? And a CLA250?

[slater]

I agree with Peter - our 'analog' E46's are, to me, definitely preferable to BMWs current electronically-laden cars. Interestingly, the 2 series cars are nearly identical dimensionally to the E46, yet are heavier! Yet another reason I see the E46 as the zenith of BMW designs - everything newer is bigger, heavier, more complex, far more difficult to maintain, and by most accounts far less involving to drive.

This is the first substantially critical review I've read of the M235, but I've seen, heard, and read a LOT of griping about BMW not having "it" as far as driving feel. Makes me glad I found a nice ZHP while I could!

yeah, finding a good one now is a wise choice if you ask me - i wish i was more patient when finding mine... but aside from paint issues, i have been very fortunate - no maintenance history but everything worked 100% when i bought it (aside from a bent wheel, warped rotors and burnt reflector bowls :) ). it has been a big year of maintenance, and an even bigger one on the horizon (preventative stuff), but it's a good car.

personally, i think the only thing i could move on to would be an E90 M3 sedan or an F30 M3 (sedan). the underpinnings of the new F30 M-cars are astoundingly good, with lots of beefed-up components and solid mountings. i think that is one area they are superior to the E46, for sure.

but all that electronic complexity? no thanks.

peter

[BMWCurves]

As some have pointed out, the author was reviewing a M235xi which adds significant weight over the RWD M235i. Personally, I prefer reduced weight and an acceptable decrease in engine output over using an engine to compensate for added weight. I drove a 435xi with some performance package during a BMW event and although it had serious power, of which only about 50-70% is actually accessible on the street, it felt quite heavy. Seriously heavy in fact, and that took a lot of the fun out of it for e. I'd prefer to putter around corners at a reduced speed if the car is light and nimble. Again, just personal preferences.

I think the other difficulty comparing the two is the steering. E46 is hydraulic, the M235xi is electronic. I've only driven a handful of cars with electric steering. While they are getting better they don't feel as good as our E46's in terms of communication. I'm sure the M235xi is a very good car, but for what I enjoy it just doesn't tick the right boxes for me.