BMW m235i

Thanks guys, the red looks really good in pics, but I'm not sure i'm sold on the colour when I see it in person. This is the colour the dealer has available right now at a reasonable spec. I'm really after Mineral Grey or Black right now, they are trying to source me one before price increase. Non-neg extras that I have asked for are;

Sports auto transmission
Glass sun roof
Xenons
PDC rear (really needed for resale)

At the moment it looks like if I want to land this spec, I am going to have to take ConnectDrive + Nav (33k worth of extras).

I am currently in a 2010 Cayman S, so I know the change is going to be bitter sweet. Slightly quicker off the line, but handling and brakes aren't going to be anywhere near the same. I think I've made peace with this, but if I can't deal, will trade on an M2 when one hits the market.
 
phiber said:
Thanks guys, the red looks really good in pics, but I'm not sure i'm sold on the colour when I see it in person. This is the colour the dealer has available right now at a reasonable spec. I'm really after Mineral Grey or Black right now, they are trying to source me one before price increase. Non-neg extras that I have asked for are;

Sports auto transmission
Glass sun roof
Xenons
PDC rear (really needed for resale)

At the moment it looks like if I want to land this spec, I am going to have to take ConnectDrive + Nav (33k worth of extras).

I am currently in a 2010 Cayman S, so I know the change is going to be bitter sweet. Slightly quicker off the line, but handling and brakes aren't going to be anywhere near the same. I think I've made peace with this, but if I can't deal, will trade on an M2 when one hits the market.
Click to expand...

Are you trading the Cayman, selling directly or keeping it?
 
phiber said:
Thanks guys, the red looks really good in pics, but I'm not sure i'm sold on the colour when I see it in person. This is the colour the dealer has available right now at a reasonable spec. I'm really after Mineral Grey or Black right now, they are trying to source me one before price increase. Non-neg extras that I have asked for are;

Sports auto transmission
Glass sun roof
Xenons
PDC rear (really needed for resale)

At the moment it looks like if I want to land this spec, I am going to have to take ConnectDrive + Nav (33k worth of extras).

I am currently in a 2010 Cayman S, so I know the change is going to be bitter sweet. Slightly quicker off the line, but handling and brakes aren't going to be anywhere near the same. I think I've made peace with this, but if I can't deal, will trade on an M2 when one hits the market.
Click to expand...


I negotiated my cars price down because I said I didn't want it. Plus a couple of other options pre-loaded on the car. You might try the same. It's a buyers market out there.

Personally, I would never go for a red car in SA. Always seems to fade badly.

Couple of questions though - what do you mean by "sports auto transmission"? As far as I know, the auto is the auto in this car (the 8 speed ZF) - and a superb piece of engineering it is. Not sure what else you would want?

What do you mean by the rear PDC really being needed for resale value? Personally always thought this was a complete gimmick - or needed by folks who really have no experience in driving a car. Come on - you can't look out of your rear-view mirror?

Edit - the nav is a complete waste of time. It's not bad or anything, but your phone can do the same job. Plus you can't get "points of interest" loaded on it like locations of speed camera's.... :whistle:
 
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Splinter said:
Edit - the nav is a complete waste of time. It's not bad or anything, but your phone can do the same job. Plus you can't get "points of interest" loaded on it like locations of speed camera's.... :whistle:

I negotiated my cars price down because I said I didn't want it. Plus a couple of other options pre-loaded on the car. You might try the same. It's a buyers market out there.

Personally, I would never go for a red car in SA. Always seems to fade badly.

Couple of questions though - what do you mean by "sports auto transmission"? As far as I know, the auto is the auto in this car (the 8 speed ZF) - and a superb piece of engineering it is. Not sure what else you would want?

What do you mean by the rear PDC really being needed for resale value? Personally always thought this was a complete gimmick - or needed by folks who really have no experience in driving a car. Come on - you can't look out of your rear-view mirror?
Click to expand...

I also don't think PDC is needed (don't have it currently), but I do see a lot people request/require it when buying cars these days. Sports auto is the 8 speed (its not a DCT/PDK though).

I am not in need of Nav, but if I want to spec a car I have to wait 4 months - I don't have the patience.

I have negotiated, and they are happy at the price v options but are trying to track down something in stock. I am being fussy on colours, Red, Estoril Blue and Mineral White are no-go's for me. Pretty much leaves Alpine white, Black and Mineral grey. Consider I currently have White with black interior and my previous car was a 3 series, Alpine White and black interior, I'd really like something different.
 
rorz0r said:
I don't have an M235i but a 335i. I sometimes regret not getting the connected drive package but that's because I just like cool toys etc and I figured another 30k on top of that price was a bit over the top. I think a sound upgrade is a must. Performance exhaust also an awesome option. Xenons are like a given, should be included in the base price. Surely it comes standard with the sports transmission? I know the 335i had the electric memory seats, sports transmission and reverse camera as standard over the 328i.
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Are you referring to the akrapovic exhaust? I think its something BMW will fit later, will check with them, not something I think i need right now...

Sports transmission isn't standard, 21k extra. If this wasn't a day to day, I'd get a manual, but I plan on using this daily.
 
d6b626120825091054f4543b9cfeefb0.jpg

Pic without the M Performance splitter
dfb99d603fdc4ce20f0ddb8272f19d66.jpg

Pic with it on
3eea64c6b27a6722d615ec6c3eb1a879.jpg

The kit also includes the bottom side decals and the carbon boot spoiler.

The Factory extras on mine:
Front and rear PDC
Xenons and Led
Sunroof
Harman Kardon sound system
M Performance kit
M Performance exhaust

The stuff I've added aftermarket:
JB4 performance chip
Upgraded downpipe
Afe Intake
H&R 15mm lowering springs.
 
Splinter said:
Na - the BMW M2 and RS3 compete with each other.

People do tend to think the m235i is massively more expensive than the Golf R and the S3, but that's not quite the case. When I got mine, comparing standard auto vs auto, the BMW was only 40k or so more expensive than the Golf R, and not much more than the S3. Also, the BMW had a 5 year maintenance plan standard whereas one had to buy a (3 years only?) plan at extra cost with the golf.

The last I saw in pricing the golf was R550k vs R580 list price if I remember correctly.

I test drove the same vehicles as the OP (also the Merc A45 AMG), and came to the same (and correct :) ) decision in going for the m235i....
Click to expand...

I reckon if you wait a bit, you can get some bargains. I got my m135 with 6k on the clock, HK sound, sunroof, auto box, pdc front and rear and NAV for 415k. The S3's and Golf R's were quite a bit more with a lot less

Nivz said:
The Factory extras on mine:
Front and rear PDC
Xenons and Led
Sunroof
Harman Kardon sound system
M Performance kit
M Performance exhaust

The stuff I've added aftermarket:
JB4 performance chip
Upgraded downpipe
Afe Intake
H&R 15mm lowering springs.
Click to expand...

Im tempted on the JB4 and downpipe, but I wonder if its really needed. The cars are pretty fast as is and I really dont want to mess with my warranty.

I would say the HK sound system is a must upgrade for anyone getting these cars. The standard sound is awful!
 
Nivz said:
Harman Kardon sound system
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Eish. Should have had an aftermarket place do your audio system. High end stuff from JL Audio, Audison, Focal etc. would obliterate those stock Harmon Kardon setups.

syntax said:
I would say the HK sound system is a must upgrade for anyone getting these cars. The standard sound is awful!
Click to expand...

If you're spending this sort of money on a car, Harmon Kardon is a crying shame for an audio system. I've heard the BMW HK system several times and it's nothing special. Even the entry level Burmester system in my step-dad's Range Rover Sport isn't all that amazing, and the R80k Burmester system I listened to at Land Rover was awful in the low range (I'm no bass head, but I appreciate accurate sound).

Too many people just don't understand how good car audio can be if you get sorted at an aftermarket place. Whatever a car manufacturer charges for an audio option, you can be sure it's worth a maximum of half that in an aftermarket environment.
 
phiber said:
Sports transmission isn't standard, 21k extra. If this wasn't a day to day, I'd get a manual, but I plan on using this daily.
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You would be rather silly not to get the auto. How many times must I say that it is head and shoulders above the competition!
 
phiber said:
Sports transmission isn't standard, 21k extra. If this wasn't a day to day, I'd get a manual, but I plan on using this daily.
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You would be rather silly not to get the auto. How many times must I say that it is head and shoulders above the competition!
 
Bryn said:
Eish. Should have had an aftermarket place do your audio system. High end stuff from JL Audio, Audison, Focal etc. would obliterate those stock Harmon Kardon setups.



If you're spending this sort of money on a car, Harmon Kardon is a crying shame for an audio system. I've heard the BMW HK system several times and it's nothing special. Even the entry level Burmester system in my step-dad's Range Rover Sport isn't all that amazing, and the R80k Burmester system I listened to at Land Rover was awful in the low range (I'm no bass head, but I appreciate accurate sound).

Too many people just don't understand how good car audio can be if you get sorted at an aftermarket place. Whatever a car manufacturer charges for an audio option, you can be sure it's worth a maximum of half that in an aftermarket environment.
Click to expand...

Dude, with all due respect, do you actually drive a car daily? We are not talking about little bass-head competitions when the car is standing still. This is all about when you are driving and the daily hazards you might meet while still needing to hear what's going on around you. Like hooting, sirens, idiots with blaring music....

Just today I had 3 metro cop cars going blaring across a robot in front of me. But yes - we need to spend more money on systems so we cannot hear what is going on around us...
 
Splinter said:
Dude, with all due respect, do you actually drive a car daily? We are not talking about little bass-head competitions when the car is standing still. This is all about when you are driving and the daily hazards you might meet while still needing to hear what's going on around you. Like hooting, sirens, idiots with blaring music....

Just today I had 3 metro cop cars going blaring across a robot in front of me. But yes - we need to spend more money on systems so we cannot hear what is going on around us...
Click to expand...

It's got nothing to do with overemphasising bass response or excessive volume levels. It's about improving the quality of your audio.
 
Bryn said:
Whatever a car manufacturer charges for an audio option, you can be sure it's worth a maximum of half that in an aftermarket environment.
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Not really. Aftermarket is worth more considering that you risk loosing your maintenance plan on the car once you go aftermarket.
 
With the integration nowadays, I'd much rather get upgraded OEM.

Yes, I do overpay ... yes, the quality isn't as great as aftermarket ... but far better than the aftermarket guys cutting up the car, gaining possible rattles and trying integrate equipment
 
phiber said:
How do you guys drive? i get 15-18k on my current tires, so 12 months. And the current tires get a lot of wear.
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Notice I said Track. 135i tyres usually last a year so you are correct there.
Go to track and see your tyres evaporate :p
 
Dolby said:
With the integration nowadays, I'd much rather get upgraded OEM.

Yes, I do overpay ... yes, the quality isn't as great as aftermarket ... but far better than the aftermarket guys cutting up the car, gaining possible rattles and trying integrate equipment
Click to expand...

I'll only install aftermarket if they've got adapters. I refuse to cut anything.
 
Got a really good offer on a mineral grey, metallic with a ton of extras.

Nav, Sports Auto, Sunroof, PDC, Connect Drive, HK sound. Might just go for it.

A bit worried about M240, I have asked about GFV, but they are a bit nervous due to 1 year request on buyback. They are getting back to me.
 
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