Next Daily - M240

H

HGoward

Member
 Loughborough
So I test drove a 19 plate M240 on the weekend, due to wanting something a bit more modern to drive everyday whilst still having the performance to enjoy when I need it, I will be looking with my budget for a 16-17 plate M240. So will be looking to sell the Z4 Coupe once I have sorted some things in a month or so.

I have to say I had high expectations going into it. However I came off the test drive feeling underwhelmed and disappointed with the feel of the car. Yes it was fast, very fast; but when I was pushing it on some back roads, it was just so floaty over bumps and I wasn't too sure what the car was doing, and the exhaust note sounded so muted in comparison to the N52 in my coupe. Now I'm stuck for what to do, in the price bracket of around £20,000 I could look at a E92 M3 however then that comes with the costs of ownership and maintenance. Other than something like that I am probably going to struggle to find something with modern tech where I can daily drive it, as well as have the wow factor and the capability to push it.

In one way I have probably been quite spoilt in my Z4 as it has already had the suspension overhauled to the Bilstein shocks and eibach springs, plus the Eisenmann exhaust. The Z4 just always feels so capable when pushing it on back roads and I know that I will run out of skill before the car. The Z4 was only my second car having started driving in a 1 litre fiesta.
 
I've driven the M235i, and I think it makes a great daily. Plenty of modern stuff and comfort, but also nice and fast. However, not interesting enough to replace something like the Z entirely :thumbsup:
 
Have you considered going for the M240i and modifying it? I think there are M Performance brakes, suspension, exhaust and LSD available, which may solve your disappointment.
 
tiglon said:
Have you considered going for the M240i and modifying it? I think there are M Performance brakes, suspension, exhaust and LSD available, which may solve your disappointment.
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I have considered it. If i was to get one I would want the adaptive suspension and M performance exhaust. Sadly a LSD would have to be retrofitted since they are so hard to find a car with one from factory. But even then I'm not sure how it would drive compared the the Z4 as at the end of the day it is just on a normal 2 series chassis, compared to the Z4 which was always designed as a sports car.
 
Probocop said:
I've driven the M235i, and I think it makes a great daily. Plenty of modern stuff and comfort, but also nice and fast. However, not interesting enough to replace something like the Z entirely :thumbsup:
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Some of my mates have suggested a M235 as the N55 sounds nicer than the B58, and then save some budget to do some upgrades on suspension, exhaust and LSD, but I like the idea of the B58 with its potential to tune if I fancy in the future.
 
HGoward said:
tiglon said:
Have you considered going for the M240i and modifying it? I think there are M Performance brakes, suspension, exhaust and LSD available, which may solve your disappointment.
Click to expand...
I have considered it. If i was to get one I would want the adaptive suspension and M performance exhaust. Sadly a LSD would have to be retrofitted since they are so hard to find a car with one from factory. But even then I'm not sure how it would drive compared the the Z4 as at the end of the day it is just on a normal 2 series chassis, compared to the Z4 which was always designed as a sports car.
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The Z4 chassis isn't a bespoke sports car chassis, it's all bits from other BMW's, as I understand it anyway. I think the biggest drawback for you will be the weight of the 2 series compared to your Z, but that will be the same with pretty much any more modern car you look at.
 
Alternatively... instead of getting a 235/240 and upgrading it... lump all the money into an M2 :evil:
 
Probocop said:
Alternatively... instead of getting a 235/240 and upgrading it... lump all the money into an M2 :evil:
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That would solve a couple of my problems, with the car not feeling special enough to drive. However I was looking to buy the car outright, and unless I was to finance a M2 I wouldn't be able to afford it currently.
 
i dont think any standard car will compete with a car thats had suspension and exhaust upgrades. do those things to the new car and it'll feel nicer. You'd also want to remap it - a turbocharged car will never have the soundtrack, throttle response and linear power delivery of a naturally aspirated engine, but a remap will mean the turbos come in earlier, and remain boosting higher in the rev range.

i used to have a 335i and it was so much nicer to drive after a remap.
 
Yeah your probably right. Maybe if I find a car that's already had a few things done, it could save me some money then. say stage 1 with suspension and maybe some exhaust work. I don't really want to be jumping straight to stage 2 though.
 
Hi
I have an M240 as a daily, as such, i feel it more than meets my needs. It’s an auto, so easy to commute in and very fast! Agree, it is a bit floaty...
 
I had an M135i (2016, so one of the last) for five years. It had the adaptive suspension. My issue with it was that it didn't feel fun at responsible speeds so it was hard to enjoy on the road. I swapped it for an F56 JCW. I find that more enjoyable and rarely miss the power that I lost. I do miss RWD, but hey-ho, I can just drive the zed :D
 
Have you thought about getting something slower but more engaging (than the M240i) then modifying it to add performance? A Toyota GT86 springs to mind.
 
M1k3yC said:
Have you thought about getting something slower but more engaging (than the M240i) then modifying it to add performance? A Toyota GT86 springs to mind.
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I did have a friend with a gt86 suggest this, but I I prefer the styling on the 2 series sadly.
 
What tech are you missing you cant get by using your phone?

Ive had multiple full spec cars thinking I needed it all then never use any of it because the apps on the phone are newer and work better.
 
tomscott said:
What tech are you missing you cant get by using your phone?

Ive had multiple full spec cars thinking I needed it all then never use any of it because the apps on the phone are newer and work better.
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I was mainly wanting to have to stop using my phone since every time I get in the car I have to set it up. I'm wanting DAB in the car without having to stream through my phone to get a better signal than FM.
 
HGoward said:
tomscott said:
What tech are you missing you cant get by using your phone?

Ive had multiple full spec cars thinking I needed it all then never use any of it because the apps on the phone are newer and work better.
Click to expand...
I was mainly wanting to have to stop using my phone since every time I get in the car I have to set it up. I'm wanting DAB in the car without having to stream through my phone to get a better signal than FM.
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Tech I think is overated in cars. Its a key selling point instead of what but used to be which was build quality. I much prefer the old school feel of the Z. The 240 has been hailed by journalists as a fabulous car because it is, in the current crop of cars but not compared to the feel of older cars. The M2 is just the same faster and slightly more engaging but no different really. Its how it feels, you sit up high, its quick but its not that engaging like a Z4M is but its a nicer car to drive distance because its more comfy which is mad when your comparing sports cars as a quality.

Bottom line imo unless its car play or android auto, any built in media system is going to be sub par vs a phone. Maps are constantly updated, they have built in traffic information that is calculated by other users around you and the apps are integrated together so music and maps. Its also good from an upgrade point of view because you just replace the phone not the car.

DAB is old and on its way out. Ive had it in all my cars for the last 10 years except the Z4M and its not been great in any of them. Internet radio is far better and you can use it through Apple Music, download the specific app etc. I like XS Manchester for example but the the DAB signal gets lost about a 5 miles radius around Manchester. With internet radio you never loose signal. Im from cumbria but live in Manc but up all the time so signal in and around the fells is rubbish but internet radio streams. Even if you loose signal you usually have enough stream until you get back into signal so is seamless and the bit rate is higher so the quality is better all the time. Plus 3G is pretty much everywhere 99% UK coverage which is all thats needed for internet radio.

There's not a lot of difference to setting it up through the iDrive vs on your phone and personally I think its faster on your phone. I have a bluetooth adapter in the Z4M, sound quality it excellent and through the phone works great as for example Apple Music is built into google maps and Wazs now so reduces in volume, if you get a call etc its all integrated.

In built systems are overated imo they are expensive and even in a 2019 2 series will be out of date and you have to update the maps etc as long as you can have some sort of integration I find the phone works a treat.

Anyway just my opinion but a good bluetooth adapter and some you can get the steering wheel integrated too, swap tracks etc and a modern phone makes all these old cars a joy from a driving perspective and enough tech to make them useable. It wouldn't make me want to buy a new car for.... there are plenty of solutions to big integrated systems.
 
If the options are a 235 or 240, it has to be the 240 any day of the week.

The B58 engine is a peach and in the 6 years it has been around, has virtually no inherent problems. That cannot be said for the N55, it has nearly as many issues as the N54 before it.
All 3 litre turbo BMWs are quick, but the B58 does quick better. It also does slow well too! It is also very economical on fuel if you want it to be.

You may glean that I am a B58 fan! :D

As far as tech, a post-facelift (2017 I think) gives you the later I-drive which is much better than the previous.
 
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