BMW and M Power Owners
- Thread starter panthro
- Start date
I test drove a M235i on friday, had it for the day. Amazing car, happy cruising along and returning an impressive 38mpg on my work run on cruise/eco (yes I can do that every day, my drive into work is really best done on cruise in the mid 60's), the moment you put it in sport and plant it the thing comes alive, very intoxicating. I couldn't quite believe how differently the car could behave and sound dependant on which mode its in but that suits my life to a tee as it can be a cruiser during the work run and when out with the family but when the time comes for fun its there in spades to be had.
The 235i is a lovely looking car imho, but inside the differences between it and my 120d from a drivers seat are visually very few, only really the Lci stuff which almost has to be pointed out. That engine though.
My only problem with it is that its a 2+2, ie no middle rear seat which I do occasionally use for short runs with two teenagers and a younger in the middle. Its not a deal breaker as we could use the other halfs car but its pain! I can't quite work out if the M135 is the same.
I'm not actually sure what I will do at the moment, need to clarify the 2+3 situation on the 1/2 35i and then consider if i'm really happy to drop that seat for the engine, then I also need to carefully consider where i'm going car wise right now. I have the money to trade up from the logical choice of a 120d that returns 50mpg all day long and is still very fun to drive to something thats not really as practical but is a league above it performance wise.
I don't really like the 3 series, its just a little too large and the price jumps to get a decent level of performance out of one
Heart and head situation, I can work the man maths in the right direction to make this work if I want.
The 235i is a lovely looking car imho, but inside the differences between it and my 120d from a drivers seat are visually very few, only really the Lci stuff which almost has to be pointed out. That engine though.
My only problem with it is that its a 2+2, ie no middle rear seat which I do occasionally use for short runs with two teenagers and a younger in the middle. Its not a deal breaker as we could use the other halfs car but its pain! I can't quite work out if the M135 is the same.
I'm not actually sure what I will do at the moment, need to clarify the 2+3 situation on the 1/2 35i and then consider if i'm really happy to drop that seat for the engine, then I also need to carefully consider where i'm going car wise right now. I have the money to trade up from the logical choice of a 120d that returns 50mpg all day long and is still very fun to drive to something thats not really as practical but is a league above it performance wise.
I don't really like the 3 series, its just a little too large and the price jumps to get a decent level of performance out of one
Heart and head situation, I can work the man maths in the right direction to make this work if I want.
Had a quick look on Broadspeed to see what the differences are. The 340i M-Sport is around £1k cheaper than the M235i, or a couple k more than a M135i. So there is no jump in money really when considering your 2 series. The 4 series is a decent jump though. There may well be a difference in list prices, but with the healthy discounts on the 3 series, it's cheaper than the 2 series (with equivalent performance).
The 3 series also isn't REALLY a big car. I found mine smaller than my A4. But if you don't like them, you don't like them. I get that.
BMW's configurer shows the M135i to only have two seat belts in the back, searching seems to show that it was only two but changed to three at some point.
I'm trying to clarify at the moment.
Having tested both, the M135i and 335i (haven't tried the 340i) are quite different in character, there is a distinction between a standard 'M Sport' and the 'M Performance' with the 1 feeling more go kart like and the 3 being refined and smoother. You also notice the performance in the 135i more than the 335i, although to be honest if getting 3 in the back is a factor at all I would go with the 3 every time. It'll be worth more when you come to sell as well.
The more I think about it the less 3 in the back is a factor, it doesn't happen often at all and there is no way I'm buying a large cruiser just for times it does happen.
I just don't like the styling of the current 3, it gets better with the right options but it doesn't appeal like the 2 does for me, the 4 is nicer but the cost rolls on and on.
I take the point about the price on the 3 series, I'm aware there are good discounts on them. I think I just like 2 door versions better.
I keep coming back to the fact that i really liked the M235 for both the drive and the looks.
I just don't like the styling of the current 3, it gets better with the right options but it doesn't appeal like the 2 does for me, the 4 is nicer but the cost rolls on and on.
I take the point about the price on the 3 series, I'm aware there are good discounts on them. I think I just like 2 door versions better.
I keep coming back to the fact that i really liked the M235 for both the drive and the looks.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Get the one you want! But bear in mind the M240i is probably coming out later this year if you can hold on a few months.
It just didn't feel special at all.
The performance was great, but the noise wasn't all that good and it just didn't really make me smile.
Or it could be front wheel drive
I'm not fussed on whats round the corner, M240 if its to be will be at a premium for a while and my car buy trigger is itchy now
It'll be almost no different if it does.
What is the general consensus on the 330e?
Most of my journeys are short, I have my own driveway so I can charge and while I don't do that many miles (int he last two years I have done 14k and that includes a huge Europe road trip) it would be possible to do most on electric only apart from when I need to go from London to Brackley.
A quick Q - does the battery charge while you drive or brake or is it plug only?
Most of my journeys are short, I have my own driveway so I can charge and while I don't do that many miles (int he last two years I have done 14k and that includes a huge Europe road trip) it would be possible to do most on electric only apart from when I need to go from London to Brackley.
A quick Q - does the battery charge while you drive or brake or is it plug only?
[TW]Fox;29069458 said:GF's Mini is in for a service, apparently it needs a new aux belt.
At 3.5 years old and 30k miles
I got 100k out of one on the E39!?
Only 100k? 156k here, no battery yet, no alternator yet, no aux anything yet. Crappy E60....
They don't exist yet in the UK so there isn't going to be a general consensus
Thought they were out March/April? OCUK usually has an opinion FAR earlier!
How can anyone have tried one yet?
Soldato
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- 17 Aug 2007
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Hi all,
After advice. Been away for a month. Returned yesterday and drove to refill for fuel. took a 10 mile drive. No errors shown when driving. This morning drove the M2 to London on the way to work 20 minutes into journey the low pressure tyre warning light came on (red) Pulled into the petrol station and checked tyre pressures. All 4 pressures good and set at recommended PSI. Added a small amount of equal air to each tyre just to make sure.
The low tyre pressure warning light is still indicating on the dash. Stopped at petrol station in central london and rechecked all tyres. All PSI is equal and there doe not appear to be any PSI lost in either tyre, checked tyres no apparant objects in tyres to indicate a punture.
Do I need to reset the low presurre tyre warning light? slow punture? Advice most welcome.
Thanks
After advice. Been away for a month. Returned yesterday and drove to refill for fuel. took a 10 mile drive. No errors shown when driving. This morning drove the M2 to London on the way to work 20 minutes into journey the low pressure tyre warning light came on (red) Pulled into the petrol station and checked tyre pressures. All 4 pressures good and set at recommended PSI. Added a small amount of equal air to each tyre just to make sure.
The low tyre pressure warning light is still indicating on the dash. Stopped at petrol station in central london and rechecked all tyres. All PSI is equal and there doe not appear to be any PSI lost in either tyre, checked tyres no apparant objects in tyres to indicate a punture.
Do I need to reset the low presurre tyre warning light? slow punture? Advice most welcome.
Thanks
I really love the tech in these plugin's, but Mercedes are also releasing (have released?) a C350E, which imho seems like a loads nicer car with a very similar concept in terms of drivetrain.
I dont know the prices for either but IMHO the 3-Series is not good enough to be spending real money on these days, BMW heavily downgraded it since the good old E46 days
Forgive me if you are a 3-series fan, but i dont know if you have seen a new one, they are not great.