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      12-20-2016, 02:49 PM   #1
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BMW M2 vs M240i POV Test Drive by AutoTopNL

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      12-22-2016, 05:09 PM   #2
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      12-24-2016, 01:19 AM   #3
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As far as I can see they're both on wintersetups. M2 has 640M with less wheeldiameter(255/35 18? vs 265/35 19) so it should accellerate faster than stock. Which it does according to the speedo(vs the other AuTop.nl tests)

The M2 is a bit faster than the 240. Just a bit...

I'm going to test this out as well on the Autobahn first week of january heading for CH and my 640M wintersetup. Though the Alpins are only V coded(240kmh max)...which you're at in a blink of an eye....

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      01-03-2017, 10:27 AM   #4
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In the real world meaning driving on local roads and highways it will all come down to driver response time, transmission choice, tires and weather. The difference in straight line performance is very small but with all things equal giving the win to the M2.

On a track it's a similar story. It will come down to driver talent, tires, response time, weather and transmission giving the advantage to the M2.

All that being said, in my opinion the M240i is the best bang for your buck in terms of performance currently sold by BMW and a great choice as a daily that you can have some fun at the track.
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      01-03-2017, 11:04 AM   #5
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You are totally right with what you are saying about the M240i beeing the best bang for the buck, but in the sound and emotional department the M2 wins all the time. So for me the M2 has the better value because every time I start it up with the MPE I get so happy in the morning that this for me is easily worth the more money. If you do not have such feelings, then the M240i is a winner.

So again it comes to the driver who sees this emotional value as a value worth spending money for. I see it every day...
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      01-03-2017, 11:19 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf View Post
In the real world meaning driving on local roads and highways it will all come down to driver response time, transmission choice, tires and weather. The difference in straight line performance is very small but with all things equal giving the win to the M2.

On a track it's a similar story. It will come down to driver talent, tires, response time, weather and transmission giving the advantage to the M2.

All that being said, in my opinion the M240i is the best bang for your buck in terms of performance currently sold by BMW and a great choice as a daily that you can have some fun at the track.
A very respectable opinion indeed. Pound for pound, dollars and cents, pounds and pence, I would have to agree. Both cars are great fun, and I might say that the 240 makes a bit more sense as a DD.

Ultimately I chose the M2. I wish my M2 had more options like the 240, but when I'm driving the vehicle I don't notice or miss them one bit.

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Originally Posted by itf joegun View Post
PhoenixWolf

You are totally right with what you are saying about the M240i being the best bang for the buck, but in the sound and emotional department the M2 wins all the time. So for me the M2 has the better value because every time I start it up with the MPE I get so happy in the morning that this for me is easily worth the more money. If you do not have such feelings, then the M240i is a winner.

So again it comes to the driver who sees this emotional value as a value worth spending money for. I see it every day...
You're absolutely right. There's just something about that smile I get when I start up my M2 in the morning that just does it for me.

Last year, I managed to get ahold of an m235i for a week and fell in love with it. It's actually what influenced me to pick the M2, and I couldn't be more happy with the decision. The last time I remember being emotional about a vehicle was the first time I test-drove an e46 M3, and the M2 has been the ONLY car that has given me that feeling in 15 years, every day I sit in the driver's seat.
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      01-03-2017, 11:22 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin_NL View Post
As far as I can see they're both on wintersetups. M2 has 640M with less wheeldiameter(255/35 18? vs 265/35 19) so it should accellerate faster than stock. Which it does according to the speedo(vs the other AuTop.nl tests)

The M2 is a bit faster than the 240. Just a bit...

I'm going to test this out as well on the Autobahn first week of january heading for CH and my 640M wintersetup. Though the Alpins are only V coded(240kmh max)...which you're at in a blink of an eye....

Cheers
Robin
Yeah, I don't understand why BMW put a 255/35 winter tire on the rear 18" 640M winter wheels. A 255/40 is a much closer match in diameter. Only thought that comes to mind is it could be for snow clearance, but that's just a guess.
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      01-03-2017, 12:07 PM   #8
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If I wanted a Daily driver I'd have the 240 with four wheel drive. But I wasn't in the market for a daily driver
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      01-03-2017, 01:46 PM   #9
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What am I missing here? Isn't an M2 just a few thousand more than a similarly equipped M240i? (~$52k vs $49k)

I've only test driven an M2 and an M235i with a bunch of Dinan upgrades. But, the M2 blew the M235i away in terms of chassis feel and power.

I personally wouldn't go the M240i route in any case, unless it is that much better than the M235i I drove.
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      01-03-2017, 02:11 PM   #10
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My 228 could pass M3s at the track. PhoenixWolf is right, performance numbers are meaningless as it comes down to driver talent in the real world, not car capability.

But itf joegun is also right, emotion is why someone would buy a M2, because it's fun. Because it makes them happy. However you want to try to quantify it.
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      01-03-2017, 02:24 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by justinco View Post
What am I missing here? Isn't an M2 just a few thousand more than a similarly equipped M240i? (~$52k vs $49k)

I've only test driven an M2 and an M235i with a bunch of Dinan upgrades. But, the M2 blew the M235i away in terms of chassis feel and power.

I personally wouldn't go the M240i route in any case, unless it is that much better than the M235i I drove.
In the US the M2 MSRP is $52,695 with dest but getting it at MSRP is not easy or close to impossible. Most dealers have a $5,000 markup which brings the a base build to $57,695. I suppose some might get at MSRP but most people don't buy a base M2.

The M240i is $45,445 with destination. Add HK, Leather, and Nav and its $49,720. Deals are available to easily get a conservative 7% off. Many people get much more off. Brings price to $46,239

That's $11,456 difference give or take.
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      01-03-2017, 02:45 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkstarZero View Post
My 228 could pass M3s at the track. PhoenixWolf is right, performance numbers are meaningless as it comes down to driver talent in the real world, not car capability.

But itf joegun is also right, emotion is why someone would buy a M2, because it's fun. Because it makes them happy. However you want to try to quantify it.
An amateur driver is faster in an M2 than a M240i as well. It's all relative to the person behind the wheel.
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      01-03-2017, 02:46 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf View Post
In the US the M2 MSRP is $52,695 with dest but getting it at MSRP is not easy or close to impossible. Most dealers have a $5,000 markup which brings the a base build to $57,695. I suppose some might get at MSRP but most people don't buy a base M2.

The M240i is $45,445 with destination. Add HK, Leather, and Nav and its $49,720. Deals are available to easily get a conservative 7% off. Many people get much more off. Brings price to $46,239

That's $11,456 difference give or take.
Plenty of people got their cars at MSRP, some even below. You can say an M240i is more easily attainable, but please don't arbitrarily add a $5k markup and make it an apples to apples comparison. Otherwise by that logic one could also make the argument that an M240i similarly equipped (i.e. w/leather, NAV, limited slip diff, 19" wheels etc.) costs more than an M2.
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      01-03-2017, 02:54 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tag View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf View Post
In the US the M2 MSRP is $52,695 with dest but getting it at MSRP is not easy or close to impossible. Most dealers have a $5,000 markup which brings the a base build to $57,695. I suppose some might get at MSRP but most people don't buy a base M2.

The M240i is $45,445 with destination. Add HK, Leather, and Nav and its $49,720. Deals are available to easily get a conservative 7% off. Many people get much more off. Brings price to $46,239

That's $11,456 difference give or take.
Plenty of people got their cars at MSRP, some even below. You can say an M240i is more easily attainable, but please don't arbitrarily add a $5k markup and make it an apples to apples comparison. Otherwise by that logic one could also make the argument that an M240i similarly equipped (i.e. w/leather, NAV, limited slip diff, 19" wheels etc.) costs more than an M2.
I was answering Justin's question about the M2 only being a few thousands of dollars more expensive than the M240i with a valid scenario. I also said some got the M2 at MSRP. Don't make this a pissing match please.
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      01-03-2017, 02:55 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by justinco View Post
What am I missing here? Isn't an M2 just a few thousand more than a similarly equipped M240i? (~$52k vs $49k)

I've only test driven an M2 and an M235i with a bunch of Dinan upgrades. But, the M2 blew the M235i away in terms of chassis feel and power.

I personally wouldn't go the M240i route in any case, unless it is that much better than the M235i I drove.
You are missing the fact that although the MSRP may indicate a $3k spread the actual price difference off the lot is closer to $8k as the M2 sells at full MSRP while the M240i sells at about invoice.

The driving feel/handling of the M240i will be about, if not identical to the m235i, it's the same car with a different engine, so only difference will be in power department. For many drivers, the M240i will provide the better balance of power, ride quality and price. That doesn't make it the better car for all, but many will choose to save $8k and get most of the performance of a similar car and may want AWD, may like the suspension switching options, may like the additional tuning upside of the newer engine, and may not test the limits of either vehicle which would be where the M2 shines.
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      01-03-2017, 03:03 PM   #16
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The M4 suspension and track width is worth the few extra thousands alone.
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      01-03-2017, 03:13 PM   #17
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I debated which car to get for a long time. Good arguments can be made for each. In the end I was swayed by the emotion of the M2, it's chassis, sound and looks. The M240 is a better value but I was not shopping dollar and cents value.
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      01-03-2017, 03:53 PM   #18
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Just going to wait until the M2 gets the S55 or B58 engine & in Sakhir Orange, Valencia Orange, Melbourne Red, or some color of red-orange
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      01-03-2017, 05:45 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf View Post
Most dealers have a $5,000 markup.
Maybe 30% of dealers who are getting M2's are doing a markup in the US anyway. Most of these are out west.
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      01-03-2017, 06:43 PM   #20
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I built a 240i with all the things M2 already had - leather, nav, heated seats, LSD, 19" wheels, Hk sound etc. and it was 3k more than the M2.
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      01-03-2017, 07:08 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf View Post
All that being said, in my opinion the M240i is the best bang for your buck in terms of performance currently sold by BMW and a great choice as a daily that you can have some fun at the track.
It truly is.
I get in my M235i every day and smile. My MPE gives me some of that audible satisfaction that an M2 owner gets. But after driving an M2 a few week's ago, I think if I were to replace my M235i, it would be with the M240i. They just got so much correct with that car. It's a shade slower but vastly more liveable.

The M2 is by far the better equipped track car on paper, but introduce a wife, some potholes and the occasional road trip and the adjustable suspension, softer ride and general civility of the M240i is the winner when it comes to less bruising. The M2, while fantastic on the edge, is a tad harsh for a daily driver on anything but perfect roads.

The 235/240 is one of the best cars I've ever been in that exhibit a true Jekyll/Hyde personality. Smooth enough to drive comfortably for hours, but switch to sport+ and it's devilish enough to bust all over a snooty Mustang or Corvette driver when called upon.

It sits squarely in the middle of a very sweet spot.
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      01-03-2017, 09:01 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by comacow02 View Post
If I wanted a Daily driver I'd have the 240 with four wheel drive. But I wasn't in the market for a daily driver
Why four wheel drive? just slap on a set of Hakkas in the winter.
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