Took delivery of my M140i yesterday afternoon and can already say it's fantastic. Quiet and refined when you want and fun when the road allows, can't wait to get a few miles on it and properly run in!
It seems to be very hard to nitpick and put those feelings in words and actually explain in understandable plain english. I never stop being impressed by your videos, so detailed and so much character! Keep it up!
Nice review, love the blur on the speedometer at the end!!! Your videos are making it easier to wait for the delivery of mine in less than a month. Can't wait actually. Cheers from France.
Cheers man! Oh thats great to hear, looking at all these comments (within an hour) there are a fair few M140's getting collected over the next couple months :-)
Good reviews Joe and they are getting better and better ever time I watch a new video keep it up.👍 Ps I am a big fan of BMW and I think they do make great cars.
Thanks for another well done video Joe. I've had my M240i since 10 Sep and just got through the break-in. I really love this car. It just does it all and lots of fun. I actually look forward to what is generally a crummy commute, but now I just enjoy my time in the car. Thanks again.
Love your videos Joe - Helped me decide on the M240i a few weeks ago - couldn't be happier with it!! On a side note you must live very nearby. I recognise a lot of Amersham and Penn in your videos and used to live in the cottage attached to Slades Garage in Penn!
+jcbferrari Thank you very much! Glad you got one, very glad to hear you like it haha. Yeah I'm down the road from GX. Next door to Slades hey, bet that kept you entertained. Cheers man
Just bought an '66' M140i 5 Dr ( after seeing lots of your vids) after driving an '15' M3 for the past yr & even compared to this, I'm massively impressed & more low key which I really like. Really enjoy your posts. PS a few 140i's when been dyno'd have produced 350-360 bhp; might explain a lot !!!
Great vid again Joe - finally got my M140i Auto yesterday so really looking forward to getting some proper miles on it. Trip to Wales coming soon after the running in period :)
i currently have a mb e350 coupe loaded....I have been debating between the m240i and the m2. I think i will go for the M2 i love the sound. Might even go pick it up in Germany. thanks for the reviews....This middle aged woman loves fast sporty cars and bikes.
Love these vids Joe! I went from a crappy little diesel to a 135i after watching a lot of your videos. So glad i went RWD instead of AWD impreza, certainly the most fun i have ever had in a car. Have you considered reviewing one that has had the LSD upgraded? Would be an interesting watch, no idea where you would get hold of one though.
All - do we know when the new M240i replacement may be arriving. I am tempted to pick one of these up, but only if it is current for at least a couple of years
When you were saying how over 5,000 Rpm it loses the classic screaming 6 cylinder of the previous models, and showing us the sound, sounded like it started choking almost after 5,000 like it didn't like going that high. Meanwhile the previous models sounded like they wanted to keep going up and up. Just my thought, Love seeing a notification that you made a video, keep it up! Thanks for the reviews, looking forward to the next.
It's not choking, simply is hitting a constant. The B58/m250i hits peak power earlier than the n55/235i but holds on to that (slightly higher) power over a 1K range, whereas the power in the n55 comes at slight higher up the rev band and drops off as soon as peak is hit. If your preference is for revving cars out, you're probably going to prefer the n55.
Haha Cheers man! I know the feeling, prior to picking up my first M135 in 2013 I must have spent 100 hours on the net watching videos about that car...
Joe, I'll be honest, I love your channel and your personality (no homo puns intended). You basically talked me into BMW lately. A .40i is pretty costly regarding insurance here in germany. So, I'm interested in buying a new F31 320i, oder 330i. I love Tourings but I'n not too sure about the engine. Both cars have the same engine. One with 184HP , the other one 252HP. I would go for the 8 Spd Sport Auto. Have you ever driven one of the LCI 4-Cylinder Petrol engines? Do you have any footage, or what would you recommend? Cheers, Mo
Hi Joe interesting to hear your views on the M240i both vs M140i and the previous 35i models. I have owned a M235i and loved it. Agree with your comments re rear wheels looking small - one of the few things I didn't like looks wise. Your comments re the B58 are almost exactly what I suspected by looking at the technical specs for this and the N55. The B58 is a much longer stroke engine and therefore creates more torque sure, but the downside is a less responsive engine at the top end. Look at any racing engine and it will be short stroke or even 'over square'. This makes for a more responsive unit as the pistons don't have to travel so far inside the cylinders before returning and starting the next combustion cycle. At the risk of sounding like an old guy (polite version!) I do wonder if BMW are in danger of losing a little of their edge at the expense of chasing better emissions and fuel consumption. Don't get me wrong, I think their engineers are amongst the best in the business, but maybe even they are reaching the limits of whats possible with the internal combustion engine. That said, while there's a six cylinder or more in the range, all credit to them and let's keep buying them otherwise they will be no more. There's definitely no substitute for more cylinders if you are a petrol head! Good vids by the way and honest reviews. Cheers man!
+Andrew Moorhouse Hey Andrew, I wrote you a lengthy reply earlier and it didn't seem to post 🙈 It basically praised your technical knowledge, what you say makes total sense, I will relay this knowledge at some point in future vids. As you also say long live many cylinders, at least BMW haven't gone down the Boxster/Cayman route!!! Cheers for the kind words man 🤘
N55 m2 for me. B58 is interesting engine BUT when I asked my service advisor about wrenching on this car. He said the engine needs to come out for basic work. I will pass.. get the highest warranty on it and dump her before it goes away.
Hi, great video, I love it. I'M GETTING A m240I, do you think it is necessary to get xdrive (AWD) in the m240i, I see that you were driving in snowy roads in Vienna/Germany in a RWD version. I live in the Northeast USA Philadelpha, PA. I think most of the time it is not needed (AWD) in a sport car like this one, just snow tires.
Hi, I havent driven a M235 but thats the car that I can afford right now vs. a M240.... is the difference between them that huge? I drove the M240 for an extended time and i absolutely fell in love with it. Just cant afford it yet. I might need to wait a couple years for the M240 prices to drop on the used market lol. Interesteing that ur from across the pond but I *think* I heard you pronounce it "koop" instead of "koopay"
Could you say more about the steering feel between the 240i and the M2? I drove a 340i and hated the steering. The M2 was much better. The 240i seemed somewhere in between and I'm not sure I'd be happy with it in the long run. I'm not convinced I want the noise and stiffer ride of the M2 but crappy steering would ruin the 240 for me. I still like my e46 best. :-/
Great vids Joe - very informative and detailed reviews! Just one question I was 50/50 on whether I would pick M240i or the M2 purely on the suspension. I wanted to know if the M2 was too stiff for our beautiful London roads, in other words will you be battered and shaken around feeling every particle on the road or is it not that bad? The last thing I want to concentrate on when driving is looking out for potholes and manhole covers - which doesn't make driving 'enjoyable'. Because on the last vid you mentioned the sport plus mode on the M240i was even more comfortable/less stiff on the M2 comfort setting....that's when I had a question mark about getting an M2..
mike soler Thank you! A 240i with adaptive suspension is a much more comfortable everyday ride, the extra mid range torque and fuel consumption from the B58 motor also makes it a better daily. The M2 is another level when you start pushing on though... Hard decision. Cheers
Hi Joe Just sold my 2013 Elise S, owned various Lotus SC, Exige S, R, 11R as well as a 911 C2 & a Cayman S anyway seriously looking at a M240i due to lack of availability on the M2. I know there's a few 2nd hand car's for sale on PH's however I'm looking for a new car due to PCP deal etc. Hand on heart do you think I'd get bored with just the 240i as opposed to the M2 ? aka Boggy on PH & Seloc so you know I'm not talking crap !
Great review again! On the sports dials, when you press sports/S+ you just click the idrive and they are selected. But besides that the idrive itself is confusing! I've just gotten used to mine. Sound wise, everyone is saying the symposium is turn down from 4/5 in the 135i to 1/5 when they looked through the ECU, I'd like to turn mine back up and see what it's like 🤔
+Matthew Kobylarz Cheers man! Ohhh I see, I'm sure once you've had/used the new I drive for a while everything makes good sense, and obviously the tech is improved all round. Very interesting re the sound... Cheers
Joe.. I pulled up this old video because I wanted to see your take on this car also have you heard any news about the 2021 M240i coming out next year and your thoughts on the digital dash that Bmw is going with now on it’s cars I like the old analog dash better . Thx 😊
Going from an m135i to an m140i myself in my opinion the new car is a massive improvement, before I had the m135i I had a focus RS MK2 and okay two completely different cars and on a daily driving basis the BMW wins with the luxurys over the ford with out a problem but I missed the focus badly the m135i lacked character from a driving perspective it felt too sensible, it was rewarding when driven hard and using the full rev band though and as joe says at the top end it was a scream with the engine noise but I think that's about as far as it got and also the back end is defo more planted on the later model the non face lift car felt floaty and unpredictable. With the m140 it has been given some well deserved character , with the exhaust sounds on over run and going through the gears etc you don't have to drive it hard to feel like your in something fast you can have it in sport take it easy and still get all that noise from the exhaust and intake which in a way takes me back to focus , you didn't have to drive it hard to get a smile on your face you could just spike the boost let off and pop and bang away so the similarity from a driving perspective are there. And you can exploit the power much easier in the b58, it's not often you could find somewhere to ring the neck out the n55 in a rewarding and safe manner.
I went from MK2 RS to M135i too. I found that M Performance exhaust, Birds ARB's and springs, and a Quaife LSD has made such a huge difference to how I can push on and enjoy the car. I do miss being able to lob the car into the corner as much as I did with the RS though!
angi733 the ford came pretty much sorted with diff I thought , I looked at the birds package but for the price I just couldn't justify it from A personal point of view but I bet that's transformed the cars ability
Thanks ! Great Review. Just test drove a M240i Xdrive this morning. Loved it. Too bad no dealers where I live in Canada stocks the manual RWD model because of winter. I'd like to compare it to the X-Drive model to make up my mind. Keep on doing these great vids sir. :-)
Great reviews... great insight to the BMW 1&2 series - from someone coming from a Golf R with hardly any experience on BMW's... I'm now looking forward to the delivery of my M140i 😋
I currently have a manual Golf 7R and I am very interested in a BMW M240i. Both myself and my wife will be driving this car. Is this car likely to be a bit of a handful in the wet whilst driving normally? And, would you advocate the Auto or Manual.
Joe i'm going to look at this and a 140i next week, when you said this wasn't as good for practicality do you just mean in terms of it being a coupe compared to a hatchback or are there other reasons for it?
+Peter Francis Cheers Peter! The best range I've ever got from a 35i is around 370 miles, guessing the 40i's might crack the magic 400. Remember these 1s and 2s only have 52 litre tanks
Joe, I agree they do sound diffrent! I think it's because in the 140 the sound resonates around more due to it being a hatch over a coupe. I think the 140 sounds better like more raspy and probably better than the m135i at the top end
Just thinking about your point on the m140i having he same rear end as this, but the m135i and m235i did not share rear ends. Could it be because on release they wanted the m235i to be a step up from the 1. And therefore planned to make the 1 inferior? But now they have released the M2, there is a step up over both the 1 and 2 for the hardcore enthusiast, so BMW no longer has a reason for the 40i's to be different?? I've known manufacturers do that in the past.
What are the driving and handling differences between this and the m140i? Heard and read that the 240i feels more planted compared to the 140i. Anything else?
I had previously watched this video a few years ago and now watching it a second time I believe a correction is due as the b58 engine ended up being a jewel of an engine way better than te n55 ever was.
Which only goes to show what I've suspected for some time now. That N55 block just has much more BMW-ness than the S55 bi-turbo which still sounds - irrespective of any BMW tweak or aftermarket exhaust - like an Evo VI with a hole in its exhaust. With the advent of the B58 the N55 is still one of those surprise, stand-out engines despite (as well as because of) BMW's acoustic trickery. Engines still have their own character and maybe, just maybe, a trend will now start where we can accept engines whose sound is the natural (and honest) result of its technical design.... and NOT the artificial contrivance by a man with a PhD in Acoustics and a laptop.....
Hate to say it but I much prefer the N55 engine. I took a couple of hour test drive in the m240i and for me it was a joyless car. I love revving the nuts off my m235i, it's really is a stunning engine. It performs more like a v8 than a turbo car. This new one is the opposite though, I feels torque spikey at 3000 revs, like a bad remap. It doesn't put the power down as well, and where has the sound gone? I'm gutted that they've done this because it might indicate the direction bmw is heading in. I'm surprised that you think this is an improvement.
Hey Joe, love the videos. When you say that with the discounts it'd be just over £30k - what are these discounts and how do you get them? Not had much experience with dealers, but those I've spoken to haven't volunteered information on discounts!
Do your research and find a dealer that will play ball! You can get a typical M140i with options giving a list price of £37k. Discount is just under 24% making it £28.5k, delivery January. Peanuts for this performance.
+McBenjieuk Hey buddy, thanks for the kind words! Go onto baby bmw forum, you will find everything on there, I'm guessing M240s have around 15% + off at the moment 🖒
+Mark Davies I'm all about subtlety, that's why I love the M135/M140s looks over all of them. The M2 has wider tracks so you couldn't just switch the shells over, either way the M2 is in another league when it comes to turn in and overall handling. Personally I think the M235/M240 is too "pretty" for its own good. Hope this kinda makes sense
+Rob Lombardi I would love to, Ford are impossible to get a car out of like many manufacturers 😐 Amazing when someone like Rolls Royce will give me cars anytime! Hopefully one day soon as it looks awesome
Read somewhere that the M240i has same power as the 1M Coupe, which is impressive in anyone's book. OK it's not an M2 but for those of us who do not have £44k this is a real option, also as proven in the other film where it keeps pace with the M2 so can't be bad, can it?
+Elton Shlong not sure how you figure it is considerably quicker than 1M in a straight line. 1/4 mile times pretty close from what I can see, with 1M slightly quicker than RWD 240. Not that 1M is really about straight line speed
Elton Shlong a 1m does a standing 1/4 mile in 13 seconds and an m2 does it in 12.7 (manual) an m4 dct does it in 12 flat, there is no chance of a 2 second gap, even with a zf auto
Elton Shlong auto express have a video on here of a 1m coupe and timed it at 0-100 11.1 and I'm sure I've seen more videos with lesser times than 11.1 so still your 2 second theory is still wrong so eat my pipe 😊
Elton Shlong keyboard warrior 😂😂😂 i don't have to show you , look for yourself , the video is there, I've told you were it is , you've still be proven wrong at the end of the day so deal with it. If you don't want to look because you'll get even more stressed that your wrong then it's fine don't worry about sure someone will be there to support you through this stressful and traumatic time for you 😊
Fast but a bit bland especially as an auto for what is a sports coupe. I'd go a 140 for the practicality or find the extra $ for an m2 if I wanted a coupe. Great review and insight Joe.
+Wade Beaumont Yeah me too mate, 140 makes sense in every way now that it drives as well. But I get that some people don't like the hatches look, I personally love it haha. Cheers man 👊
Hey,exact the fact,does breethe quite well,but not exhale so easy.too much common on stock cat and muffler,too much dailydrive ,City ,Family ,Theater ...., orientated, soundwise , exspec inside.this shoud be easy to fit by aftermarket-stuff after a while.good vid exact the Point thanks!
+Lewis Cannon Same brilliant driving position too! If you're after cabin quality you're spot on with Audi, I prefer to focus on the driving dynamics. TTRS is over £50k and in a totally different price bracket
But I didn't say how Fucking excellent the rest of the car looks & in blue aswell . All the Bmw 240i needs is classy recaro's & up to date Dash. & you've got around perfection.
Great job Joe. I'm definitely left wanting more noise in my 240. That's even with an MPE. However, BMW mistakenly fitted the 340i MPE (!) so maybe things will improve when they eventually swap it for the official part. I find that the windows have to be permanently down to put a smile on my face, the cabin insulation is just too effective! Taking matters into my own hands, I tweaked the Active Sound module from level 2 to the maximum level 5 and things have noticeably improved. It might be the case that the Active Sound level on the 235 is set higher than the 240.
+Dominic Kelly Cheers man! I can't believe BMW sold you and fitted the wrong exhaust, doh! Yeah they sound awesome from the outside, sounds like you have found a semi fix 👌
Great video as always. I've been tempted by the 235i but then I saw an M2 in the flesh. Forgetting about price difference and driving dynamics, the M2 just looks so more aggressive, the wide track & rear wheel arches, the larger wheels just make the 235/240 look very plain. What would be interesting to see, is what you think of the 440i. I know you have said in another video that would like to spec more tech. Does the bigger 4 series dull the engine and become less fun. And then there's the M4.....
Cheers man! Yeah its a difficult one! The M2 really does make the M235/M240 look very normal, ive briefly driven the older 435i and that does feel notably slower than a 135/235, more weight and slightly less power. Saying that a 440 will still do a sub 5 second to 60 which is fast enough haha. With the big M4 discounts it does bring that model into question hmmmmm....
Yeah normally they would come run in but this one didn't. Agreed they get better/faster with miles under belt, not that this one needed anymore straight line pace haha
So I tried one in automatic the other day and found the kickdown to have a lag of nearly one second... I forgot to use the S-mode of the gearbox though. Was that the problem maybe?
+spolo123 sports mode would spped that up slightly, sports would also mean you're already in a lower gear, therefore less cogs to swap. You can't expect any gearbox to be super quick with lockdown, if you're cruising in 6th, 7th or 8th and you kickdown hoping for 2nd or 3rd, the box can't physically change 3, 4, 5 gears in milliseconds. You will find that even dual clutch boxes like Audis DSG and Porsches PDK struggle too... Cheers
Joe Achilles thanks mate! I should maybe stick to manual if I prefer to use the torque instead of relying on downshifts and high revs... I currently drive a torquey manual and fear I could miss that now I've driven the 140 automatic...
you say you dont like the sound of the new engine in the m240! yet when you were racing it in your m2 you said to your mate how f**k**g good does that thing sound?
Yeah they used to, think it was 2006 when they changed that with the first 335i that had a 3 litre. Now 50% of their model names have no connection with engine size unfortunately
Really liking your videos Joe - ordered an M240i for delivery end of March '17. Thanks for helping me choose and making my decision easier!
Took delivery of my M140i yesterday afternoon and can already say it's fantastic. Quiet and refined when you want and fun when the road allows, can't wait to get a few miles on it and properly run in!
+simon Gibbs Nice one, congrats on the new motor 👌
Joe, seriously. I don't think you have a clue just how good a vlogger you are.
Jay Kells Thanks buddy appreciate the kind words 👌
It seems to be very hard to nitpick and put those feelings in words and actually explain in understandable plain english. I never stop being impressed by your videos, so detailed and so much character! Keep it up!
+Asmir Sut man that is so nice to hear! I regularly watch my video back and sometimes think... What am I talking about haha Cheers man appreciate it 🤘
Nice review, love the blur on the speedometer at the end!!!
Your videos are making it easier to wait for the delivery of mine in less than a month. Can't wait actually. Cheers from France.
I have an f80 m3, saw a 240i today and saw how quickly these things shoot off the line. Definitely have some poke
Great review as ever, take delivery of our shiny new M140i man next week, can't wait!
I love listening to an enthusiast's honest opinion. Nice comparo, very detailed! Yeah, I agree, the wheels do need some help.
Excellent review, thank you! I just changed my M235i for an M3 I really enjoyed the M235i though really nice ride.
Came across you 140i review when researching them for my Dad, great reviews man, keep it up!!
Scott Harker hey. I'm doing exactly the same thing lol :D
wich one would you recomend me Scott? M140i or M240i? thanx in advance!
Pick my M240i Convertible on Saturday, cant wait!
Congrats buddy! Perfect weather for it lately :-)
Another great video Joe. Please keep them coming. Thanks to you I have only 5-6 weeks until my M140i arrives!
Cheers man! Oh thats great to hear, looking at all these comments (within an hour) there are a fair few M140's getting collected over the next couple months :-)
+Joe Achilles and I can probably almost guarantee that each potential owner has watched your videos over and over!
Good reviews Joe and they are getting better and better ever time I watch a new video keep it up.👍
Ps I am a big fan of BMW and I think they do make great cars.
love your videos Joe! you inspired me to buy a m240i convertible which I've had for two weeks and I love it!! what a engine 👌
Awesome as always chap! Did have to chuckle at the GT4 vid :) The external audio at the end sounded great!
+Adam Richards haha Glad you liked it mate. Yeah that GT4 has spoilt me, I actually miss it like a girlfriend 🙈
Thanks for another well done video Joe. I've had my M240i since 10 Sep and just got through the break-in. I really love this car. It just does it all and lots of fun. I actually look forward to what is generally a crummy commute, but now I just enjoy my time in the car. Thanks again.
+Mario Mifsud Pleasure mate! Great to hear you have one and she's run in ready for some winter sideways action haha. Have fun man
Great review Joe, just ordered an M240i and have to wait 12 weeks for delivery......gonna be a long wait after watching your videos....
Love your videos Joe - Helped me decide on the M240i a few weeks ago - couldn't be happier with it!!
On a side note you must live very nearby. I recognise a lot of Amersham and Penn in your videos and used to live in the cottage attached to Slades Garage in Penn!
+jcbferrari Thank you very much! Glad you got one, very glad to hear you like it haha. Yeah I'm down the road from GX. Next door to Slades hey, bet that kept you entertained. Cheers man
jcbferrari would you say that’s better than the m235i ? I’m buying one but I’m so indecisive right now
Just bought an '66' M140i 5 Dr ( after seeing lots of your vids) after driving an '15' M3 for the past yr & even compared to this, I'm massively impressed & more low key which I really like. Really enjoy your posts. PS a few 140i's when been dyno'd have produced 350-360 bhp; might explain a lot !!!
The only thing missing is some sideways action, and then you are in a top level video :)
Great vid again Joe - finally got my M140i Auto yesterday so really looking forward to getting some proper miles on it. Trip to Wales coming soon after the running in period :)
+Will Legge Cheers man and great to hear! Lots of sideways winter action to come haha. Enjoy 👌
nice!
Joe, you are the man!
Great fun reviews; keep 'em coming joe
i currently have a mb e350 coupe loaded....I have been debating between the m240i and the m2. I think i will go for the M2 i love the sound. Might even go pick it up in Germany. thanks for the reviews....This middle aged woman loves fast sporty cars and bikes.
Love these vids Joe! I went from a crappy little diesel to a 135i after watching a lot of your videos. So glad i went RWD instead of AWD impreza, certainly the most fun i have ever had in a car. Have you considered reviewing one that has had the LSD upgraded? Would be an interesting watch, no idea where you would get hold of one though.
+Andrew Green Great to hear man! Glad you like the new wheels 😊 I'm hopefully trying a JB4 equipped LSD car soon 👌
Joe, I love your reviews. Do you ever consider reviewing other car makes and models?
All - do we know when the new M240i replacement may be arriving. I am tempted to pick one of these up, but only if it is current for at least a couple of years
Brilliant review! Very, very informative. Keep them coming.
When you get used to the new idrive system you will love it. But you are right I was confused too in the first days when I got my M140i.
+Philipp BMW Yeah I'm sure, I was just being a grumpy old man haha. The mapping alone was very very impressive 👌
When you were saying how over 5,000 Rpm it loses the classic screaming 6 cylinder of the previous models,
and showing us the sound, sounded like it started choking almost after 5,000 like it didn't like going that high.
Meanwhile the previous models sounded like they wanted to keep going up and up.
Just my thought, Love seeing a notification that you made a video, keep it up!
Thanks for the reviews, looking forward to the next.
+Mr Bmw Yeah absolutely, been in my M135 since and it definitely likes to rev more and rewards. Cheers for the kind words
It's not choking, simply is hitting a constant. The B58/m250i hits peak power earlier than the n55/235i but holds on to that (slightly higher) power over a 1K range, whereas the power in the n55 comes at slight higher up the rev band and drops off as soon as peak is hit. If your preference is for revving cars out, you're probably going to prefer the n55.
Joe Achilles Do you think it would improve once the engine was run in? Cool vids by the Way!
Amazing video as always Joe ;) Perfect timing too, getting my M140i next wednesday!
This has me pumped up even more :)
Cheers
Haha Cheers man! I know the feeling, prior to picking up my first M135 in 2013 I must have spent 100 hours on the net watching videos about that car...
Joe, I'll be honest, I love your channel and your personality (no homo puns intended). You basically talked me into BMW lately. A .40i is pretty costly regarding insurance here in germany. So, I'm interested in buying a new F31 320i, oder 330i. I love Tourings but I'n not too sure about the engine. Both cars have the same engine. One with 184HP , the other one 252HP. I would go for the 8 Spd Sport Auto. Have you ever driven one of the LCI 4-Cylinder Petrol engines? Do you have any footage, or what would you recommend? Cheers, Mo
Thanks for another great video. Last few minutes of the exhaust sound was a nice feature!
Pleasure man, glad you enjoyed it! :-)
Hi Joe interesting to hear your views on the M240i both vs M140i and the previous 35i models. I have owned a M235i and loved it. Agree with your comments re rear wheels looking small - one of the few things I didn't like looks wise. Your comments re the B58 are almost exactly what I suspected by looking at the technical specs for this and the N55. The B58 is a much longer stroke engine and therefore creates more torque sure, but the downside is a less responsive engine at the top end. Look at any racing engine and it will be short stroke or even 'over square'. This makes for a more responsive unit as the pistons don't have to travel so far inside the cylinders before returning and starting the next combustion cycle. At the risk of sounding like an old guy (polite version!) I do wonder if BMW are in danger of losing a little of their edge at the expense of chasing better emissions and fuel consumption. Don't get me wrong, I think their engineers are amongst the best in the business, but maybe even they are reaching the limits of whats possible with the internal combustion engine. That said, while there's a six cylinder or more in the range, all credit to them and let's keep buying them otherwise they will be no more. There's definitely no substitute for more cylinders if you are a petrol head! Good vids by the way and honest reviews. Cheers man!
+Andrew Moorhouse Hey Andrew, I wrote you a lengthy reply earlier and it didn't seem to post 🙈 It basically praised your technical knowledge, what you say makes total sense, I will relay this knowledge at some point in future vids. As you also say long live many cylinders, at least BMW haven't gone down the Boxster/Cayman route!!! Cheers for the kind words man 🤘
N55 m2 for me. B58 is interesting engine BUT when I asked my service advisor about wrenching on this car. He said the engine needs to come out for basic work. I will pass.. get the highest warranty on it and dump her before it goes away.
Hi, great video, I love it. I'M GETTING A m240I, do you think it is necessary to get xdrive (AWD) in the m240i, I see that you were driving in snowy roads in Vienna/Germany in a RWD version. I live in the Northeast USA Philadelpha, PA. I think most of the time it is not needed (AWD) in a sport car like this one, just snow tires.
Hi, I havent driven a M235 but thats the car that I can afford right now vs. a M240.... is the difference between them that huge? I drove the M240 for an extended time and i absolutely fell in love with it. Just cant afford it yet. I might need to wait a couple years for the M240 prices to drop on the used market lol. Interesteing that ur from across the pond but I *think* I heard you pronounce it "koop" instead of "koopay"
Could you say more about the steering feel between the 240i and the M2? I drove a 340i and hated the steering. The M2 was much better. The 240i seemed somewhere in between and I'm not sure I'd be happy with it in the long run. I'm not convinced I want the noise and stiffer ride of the M2 but crappy steering would ruin the 240 for me. I still like my e46 best. :-/
Great vids Joe - very informative and detailed reviews! Just one question I was 50/50 on whether I would pick M240i or the M2 purely on the suspension. I wanted to know if the M2 was too stiff for our beautiful London roads, in other words will you be battered and shaken around feeling every particle on the road or is it not that bad? The last thing I want to concentrate on when driving is looking out for potholes and manhole covers - which doesn't make driving 'enjoyable'.
Because on the last vid you mentioned the sport plus mode on the M240i was even more comfortable/less stiff on the M2 comfort setting....that's when I had a question mark about getting an M2..
mike soler Thank you! A 240i with adaptive suspension is a much more comfortable everyday ride, the extra mid range torque and fuel consumption from the B58 motor also makes it a better daily. The M2 is another level when you start pushing on though... Hard decision. Cheers
Thanks Joe! I guess it will ultimately depend on a test drive but I'm more inclined towards an M240i - guess I'm getting too old these days :P
Hi Joe
Just sold my 2013 Elise S, owned various Lotus SC, Exige S, R, 11R as well as a 911 C2 & a Cayman S anyway seriously looking at a M240i due to lack of availability on the M2. I know there's a few 2nd hand car's for sale on PH's however I'm looking for a new car due to PCP deal etc.
Hand on heart do you think I'd get bored with just the 240i as opposed to the M2 ?
aka Boggy on PH & Seloc so you know I'm not talking crap !
Fantastic review well done 💯🤘🏼
Loving the videos Joe! Been thinking of changing in my 130i for a 140i, might just be the right time!
+Niall Murphy Cheers man! Ohhh the 130, I had one in 06 and absolutely loved it! Some cracking deals on the 140 right now 🖒
Great review again! On the sports dials, when you press sports/S+ you just click the idrive and they are selected. But besides that the idrive itself is confusing! I've just gotten used to mine.
Sound wise, everyone is saying the symposium is turn down from 4/5 in the 135i to 1/5 when they looked through the ECU, I'd like to turn mine back up and see what it's like 🤔
+Matthew Kobylarz Cheers man! Ohhh I see, I'm sure once you've had/used the new I drive for a while everything makes good sense, and obviously the tech is improved all round. Very interesting re the sound... Cheers
thinking of getting one around £24k.. nothing better for that money is there?
Joe.. I pulled up this old video because I wanted to see your take on this car also have you heard any news about the 2021 M240i coming out next year and your thoughts on the digital dash that Bmw is going with now on it’s cars I like the old analog dash better . Thx 😊
Going from an m135i to an m140i myself in my opinion the new car is a massive improvement, before I had the m135i I had a focus RS MK2 and okay two completely different cars and on a daily driving basis the BMW wins with the luxurys over the ford with out a problem but I missed the focus badly the m135i lacked character from a driving perspective it felt too sensible, it was rewarding when driven hard and using the full rev band though and as joe says at the top end it was a scream with the engine noise but I think that's about as far as it got and also the back end is defo more planted on the later model the non face lift car felt floaty and unpredictable.
With the m140 it has been given some well deserved character , with the exhaust sounds on over run and going through the gears etc you don't have to drive it hard to feel like your in something fast you can have it in sport take it easy and still get all that noise from the exhaust and intake which in a way takes me back to focus , you didn't have to drive it hard to get a smile on your face you could just spike the boost let off and pop and bang away so the similarity from a driving perspective are there.
And you can exploit the power much easier in the b58, it's not often you could find somewhere to ring the neck out the n55 in a rewarding and safe manner.
I went from MK2 RS to M135i too. I found that M Performance exhaust, Birds ARB's and springs, and a Quaife LSD has made such a huge difference to how I can push on and enjoy the car. I do miss being able to lob the car into the corner as much as I did with the RS though!
angi733 the ford came pretty much sorted with diff I thought , I looked at the birds package but for the price I just couldn't justify it from A personal point of view but I bet that's transformed the cars ability
Awesome vid I agree about the sound of the engine it does seem more muted over 135i
Thanks ! Great Review. Just test drove a M240i Xdrive this morning. Loved it. Too bad no dealers where I live in Canada stocks the manual RWD model because of winter. I'd like to compare it to the X-Drive model to make up my mind. Keep on doing these great vids sir. :-)
another great review joe
+phantom2k10 Thanks man 🖒
Great reviews... great insight to the BMW 1&2 series - from someone coming from a Golf R with hardly any experience on BMW's... I'm now looking forward to the delivery of my M140i 😋
+Robert Sant Great to hear man! Been keen to hear your thoughts jumping from the excellent Golf R 👌
Joe Achilles I shall let you know 👍🏼 estimated delivery just before Xmas!
Robert Sant How did you get on fella? Comparisons with the R?
I currently have a manual Golf 7R and I am very interested in a BMW M240i. Both myself and my wife will be driving this car. Is this car likely to be a bit of a handful in the wet whilst driving normally? And, would you advocate the Auto or Manual.
Awesome vid.. Loved it!
Joe i'm going to look at this and a 140i next week, when you said this wasn't as good for practicality do you just mean in terms of it being a coupe compared to a hatchback or are there other reasons for it?
Great video Joe, pick mine up next weekend!
+henry carling Cheers man, bet you can't wait!
Great, informative vid as always. just out of curiosity what is the tank range on the slightly more thirsty m235i.
+Peter Francis Cheers Peter! The best range I've ever got from a 35i is around 370 miles, guessing the 40i's might crack the magic 400. Remember these 1s and 2s only have 52 litre tanks
Pick a 240 up in June, great video.
He may have exceeded the speed limit in the last few minutes but WOW!
Awesome video Joe! I have chosen the new Audi S3 over the M140i purely because of the 4WD aspect but it was a tough choice
Joe Hammerton blasphemy!!
Cheers Joe! Yeah I get that man, its a real pity BMW cant package the X drive version of the M140/M240's for RHD markets. S3 is such a hot car!
Joe, I agree they do sound diffrent! I think it's because in the 140 the sound resonates around more due to it being a hatch over a coupe. I think the 140 sounds better like more raspy and probably better than the m135i at the top end
+KFC This is true, removing the parcel shelf and boot floor further enhances the sound in the hatches too. Cheers
Yeah you could also turn the active sound out to make it louder and more enhanced
Just thinking about your point on the m140i having he same rear end as this, but the m135i and m235i did not share rear ends.
Could it be because on release they wanted the m235i to be a step up from the 1. And therefore planned to make the 1 inferior?
But now they have released the M2, there is a step up over both the 1 and 2 for the hardcore enthusiast, so BMW no longer has a reason for the 40i's to be different??
I've known manufacturers do that in the past.
In Canada, waiting for my M240i x-drive to arrive. We don't get 140's but I'm ok with that. Great vid Joe, helps with the wait. :)
+bob starr nice one man! Well we don't get x drive unfortunately, would love to try one at some point, what's your address 😂😂😂
Great job. Thank you.
Try the M-performance pipe on the M240i, sounds much better
Great vid man but which Oakley frames are those? = )
What are the driving and handling differences between this and the m140i? Heard and read that the 240i feels more planted compared to the 140i. Anything else?
I had previously watched this video a few years ago and now watching it a second time I believe a correction is due as the b58 engine ended up being a jewel of an engine way better than te n55 ever was.
Getting mine this weekend 👍
Which only goes to show what I've suspected for some time now. That N55 block just has much more BMW-ness than the S55 bi-turbo which still sounds - irrespective of any BMW tweak or aftermarket exhaust - like an Evo VI with a hole in its exhaust. With the advent of the B58 the N55 is still one of those surprise, stand-out engines despite (as well as because of) BMW's acoustic trickery. Engines still have their own character and maybe, just maybe, a trend will now start where we can accept engines whose sound is the natural (and honest) result of its technical design.... and NOT the artificial contrivance by a man with a PhD in Acoustics and a laptop.....
Nice review but speed down those lanes isn't too clever I'm afraid. It all seems controllable...until it isn't.
Awesome video! Absolutely love BMW
+AbdulMuizz Roomaney Cheers 😊
Great video again mate
Cheers buddy!
M240i has the strut brace as standard- the 5 door M140i doesn't
since 06/2016 new regulations in germany. exhaust loudness is measured no longer only with closed valve. might be the reason its quiter?
bratzelhutzel i
Hate to say it but I much prefer the N55 engine. I took a couple of hour test drive in the m240i and for me it was a joyless car. I love revving the nuts off my m235i, it's really is a stunning engine. It performs more like a v8 than a turbo car. This new one is the opposite though, I feels torque spikey at 3000 revs, like a bad remap. It doesn't put the power down as well, and where has the sound gone? I'm gutted that they've done this because it might indicate the direction bmw is heading in. I'm surprised that you think this is an improvement.
Just the opposite experience I had a 235i replaced it with 240i, and I find it much quicker, and more enjoyable to drive by far!
@@germanengineering204 lol can't believe this comment is 4 years old. Still have happy memories of my 235i 👍🏻
Hey Joe, love the videos. When you say that with the discounts it'd be just over £30k - what are these discounts and how do you get them? Not had much experience with dealers, but those I've spoken to haven't volunteered information on discounts!
www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=82618
Do your research and find a dealer that will play ball! You can get a typical M140i with options giving a list price of £37k. Discount is just under 24% making it £28.5k, delivery January. Peanuts for this performance.
+McBenjieuk Hey buddy, thanks for the kind words! Go onto baby bmw forum, you will find everything on there, I'm guessing M240s have around 15% + off at the moment 🖒
Thanks guys, appreciated.
I think the 2 series looks better than the 140i- not as chav and as long as you don't need 5 doors for family, an easy choice.
Very interesting, took notes
+Samuel Van Oyen Haha cheers man
A great car...wants such one..
Joe you need to a comparison on m135i and the new m140i
+Andrew Hardicker Yeah it's on my ever growing list 🖒
good man can't wait.
I am not an "exhausty" person, however, if anyone finds the sound unsatisfactory, won't a different exhaust fix it?
All what you said Jo spot on. Do yo fancy working for B M. on the design side I do?
If the body style of the M2 and 240i were swapped, and the better car looked less appealing, which car would you buy?
+Mark Davies I'm all about subtlety, that's why I love the M135/M140s looks over all of them. The M2 has wider tracks so you couldn't just switch the shells over, either way the M2 is in another league when it comes to turn in and overall handling. Personally I think the M235/M240 is too "pretty" for its own good. Hope this kinda makes sense
What MPG was you hitting on the M240i while you had it?
Joe, will you do a review of the Focus RS and compare it to your M2?
+Rob Lombardi I would love to, Ford are impossible to get a car out of like many manufacturers 😐 Amazing when someone like Rolls Royce will give me cars anytime! Hopefully one day soon as it looks awesome
Another good informative review.......I'm going to go for the M140i instead......
Read somewhere that the M240i has same power as the 1M Coupe, which is impressive in anyone's book. OK it's not an M2 but for those of us who do not have £44k this is a real option, also as proven in the other film where it keeps pace with the M2 so can't be bad, can it?
+Elton Shlong not sure how you figure it is considerably quicker than 1M in a straight line. 1/4 mile times pretty close from what I can see, with 1M slightly quicker than RWD 240. Not that 1M is really about straight line speed
How you think the Auto box would leave this trailing i don't know, you are clearly deluded
Elton Shlong a 1m does a standing 1/4 mile in 13 seconds and an m2 does it in 12.7 (manual) an m4 dct does it in 12 flat, there is no chance of a 2 second gap, even with a zf auto
Elton Shlong auto express have a video on here of a 1m coupe and timed it at 0-100 11.1 and I'm sure I've seen more videos with lesser times than 11.1 so still your 2 second theory is still wrong so eat my pipe 😊
Elton Shlong keyboard warrior 😂😂😂 i don't have to show you , look for yourself , the video is there, I've told you were it is , you've still be proven wrong at the end of the day so deal with it.
If you don't want to look because you'll get even more stressed that your wrong then it's fine don't worry about sure someone will be there to support you through this stressful and traumatic time for you 😊
Fast but a bit bland especially as an auto for what is a sports coupe. I'd go a 140 for the practicality or find the extra $ for an m2 if I wanted a coupe. Great review and insight Joe.
+Wade Beaumont Yeah me too mate, 140 makes sense in every way now that it drives as well. But I get that some people don't like the hatches look, I personally love it haha. Cheers man 👊
Hey,exact the fact,does breethe quite well,but not exhale so easy.too much common on stock cat and muffler,too much dailydrive ,City ,Family ,Theater ...., orientated, soundwise , exspec inside.this shoud be easy to fit by aftermarket-stuff after a while.good vid exact the Point thanks!
I've got an 07 1 series coupe & the cabin is exactly the same as the 16-17 model jus looks so old & cheap . Audi TT /RS 400 ps next for me;)
+Lewis Cannon Same brilliant driving position too! If you're after cabin quality you're spot on with Audi, I prefer to focus on the driving dynamics. TTRS is over £50k and in a totally different price bracket
But I didn't say how Fucking excellent the rest of the car looks & in blue aswell . All the Bmw 240i needs is classy recaro's & up to date Dash.
& you've got around perfection.
Awesome vid
That thing does sound good, lenses need a polish at the end ;)
Cheers buddy!
Great job Joe. I'm definitely left wanting more noise in my 240. That's even with an MPE. However, BMW mistakenly fitted the 340i MPE (!) so maybe things will improve when they eventually swap it for the official part.
I find that the windows have to be permanently down to put a smile on my face, the cabin insulation is just too effective! Taking matters into my own hands, I tweaked the Active Sound module from level 2 to the maximum level 5 and things have noticeably improved. It might be the case that the Active Sound level on the 235 is set higher than the 240.
+Dominic Kelly Cheers man! I can't believe BMW sold you and fitted the wrong exhaust, doh! Yeah they sound awesome from the outside, sounds like you have found a semi fix 👌
Great video as always. I've been tempted by the 235i but then I saw an M2 in the flesh. Forgetting about price difference and driving dynamics, the M2 just looks so more aggressive, the wide track & rear wheel arches, the larger wheels just make the 235/240 look very plain. What would be interesting to see, is what you think of the 440i. I know you have said in another video that would like to spec more tech. Does the bigger 4 series dull the engine and become less fun. And then there's the M4.....
Cheers man! Yeah its a difficult one! The M2 really does make the M235/M240 look very normal, ive briefly driven the older 435i and that does feel notably slower than a 135/235, more weight and slightly less power. Saying that a 440 will still do a sub 5 second to 60 which is fast enough haha. With the big M4 discounts it does bring that model into question hmmmmm....
Which is better the ZF or the DCT?
Nice review.... but only 280 miles and already heavy on the throttle?? :(
+Rody Bongaarts Press car, had it for 2 days no choice in the matter.
Understand that, but i feel sorry for the car.... can't someone propperly run in the car for 1500 miles? Also better performance if it loosened up...
Yeah normally they would come run in but this one didn't. Agreed they get better/faster with miles under belt, not that this one needed anymore straight line pace haha
So I tried one in automatic the other day and found the kickdown to have a lag of nearly one second... I forgot to use the S-mode of the gearbox though. Was that the problem maybe?
+spolo123 sports mode would spped that up slightly, sports would also mean you're already in a lower gear, therefore less cogs to swap. You can't expect any gearbox to be super quick with lockdown, if you're cruising in 6th, 7th or 8th and you kickdown hoping for 2nd or 3rd, the box can't physically change 3, 4, 5 gears in milliseconds. You will find that even dual clutch boxes like Audis DSG and Porsches PDK struggle too... Cheers
Joe Achilles thanks mate! I should maybe stick to manual if I prefer to use the torque instead of relying on downshifts and high revs... I currently drive a torquey manual and fear I could miss that now I've driven the 140 automatic...
Which should I buy.... M240i or the audi s3?
If you want a stunning interior buy the S3, if you want a fun car buy the 240 👌
Joe…legend 😂
Sorry if this has already been asked but can someone just clarify which BMW colour option this is please?
stoatythesecond888 it's estoril blue. We have it on our 2 series and it's a beautiful colour.
Love it!
you say you dont like the sound of the new engine in the m240! yet when you were racing it in your m2 you said to your mate how f**k**g good does that thing sound?
+Ian Jones Sounds great from the outside, not so incredible from the drivers seat.
Get a Convertible:-)
BMW used to have last two numbers denoting engine size, why not now????
Yeah they used to, think it was 2006 when they changed that with the first 335i that had a 3 litre. Now 50% of their model names have no connection with engine size unfortunately