[P_Chris]

I had a 230 loaner and honestly there is no comparison to the m240i

[BimmerBenzorBentley]

OP has some very good points about this comparison. I tend to agree.

[rabbitsmell]

I want to see how the 230i is a better performance car than the g87.


Op I see your points, but there is really only a 200lb difference

[Prince Thundernight]

Originally Posted by MPR

I remember another guy a while ago trying to justify that the 230 was the better car. Maybe it’s him or another guy with buyers remorse trying to cope. I’ve been there and it sucks.

Sounds like the same guy

[mvd_rsti]

Originally Posted by sikotic

And you can lose weight in the M240i by weight reduction, just like anyone does on any car

Yes and no. Although weight can be taken off, the majority of the ~200lbs of weight difference sits forward of the front axle of the M240i as part of the engine and cooling systems. As far as I can tell, with most of the weight reduction I've seen people have done, you'd be moving further away from that coveted ideal 50-50 weight distribution and affecting handling, yada yada. For reference, the 230i has an ~51-49 weight distribution and the M240i has an ~43-47 split.

So what does all this mean? Realistically, to most owners: nothing. I agree that in 98% of scenarios and circumstances the M240i is better than the 230i. That said, in the matter of balance right out of the box the 230i ever so slightly edges out the M240i and there's bound to be a person or 2 out there who may make use of that in a track with limited and very short straight aways or on very winding roads.

[boomie33]

Weight from US press releases:

	2022	2025
230i	3,519	3,446
230i xDrive	?	3,594
M240i	?	3,748
M240i xDrive	3,871	3,871

RWD 230i gets 73 pounds lighter in 2025 (for some reason)

[Nick_K]

Before I ordered my F22 230i with MSport and manual in 2021 I drove an M240xi with auto. Mine has Michelin PSS non-runflats and the M240xi had Continental AS runflats. The M240i was brutally fast but also felt like a much heavier car. Mine felt nimbler and better balanced, and I think more fun on a twisty PA back road. The curb wt of a 2021 230i manual is listed as 3252 lbs The feel of the car is more important to me than acceleration between stop lights. And, for what it's worth, both taken as stock mine has a 25 mph top end advantage. R&T tested both to a different spec along with an M2 and found themselves liking the lowliest offering tbe most.

The G42 is a very different car but perhaps similar applies?

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by Nick_K

And, for what it's worth, both taken as stock mine has a 25 mph top end advantage.

25mph faster. lol. Have you been smoking something?

I can’t believe this drivel is still going on.

[WilcoJunoHotel]

I love these posts where folks post random numbers from random places to justify an argument. The weight of a 2021 230i is closer to 3400 pounds. The weight of a 2022+ 230i is over 3500 pounds. As it was said before I think, the extra weight of the six cylinder engine in the 2022+ 240i is what makes it approx. 170 pounds heavier than a 2022+ 230i.

The 2021 2 series is a completely different car from the 2022+ 2 series and personally speaking, you could not give me a 2021 2 series after riding in the 2022+ car.

Lastly, who says that a lighter car is a better car for all around driving? Has anyone looked at the weight of a Porsche 911 lately? How about a Panamera? A Panamera weighs as much as my Honda Ridgeline truck but my buddy who owns a Panamera goes just as fast in the twisties with that car as he does with his 3000 pound 1999 911 Carrera. Unless you are tracking or dragging a car, weight is mostly a non-factor for everyday street driving. Don't believe everything the car magazines and youtubers say about cars. You must drive them and decide for yourself. Arguing numbers like weight and HP is fruitless.

[Dinosoar]

As is usual with this debate, many guys feel power is the only standard of performance, and the numbers power yields, including 0-60 and lap times. Sure, the M240 will reign supreme.

My argument is that handling, apex speed, quick turn in, and related stability is key too. If this is less of a priority, then debate is moot. My argument is that if you can tune a B48, maintain chassis stability and dynamics that a B48 over the front axle gives you, then the 230 becomes a potent platform.

If the debate includes tuning this and tuning that, then it becomes a harder discussion, especially tire set ups. Put 265 Cup 2s on all four corners and you have an amazing car, no matter your engine. But again, just measure the result of power and it's a moot debate, IMO.

The short point, they're BOTH awesome cars...long live the RWD sport coupe! Not a lot left anymore.

[CatDaddyJones]

I was once broke and bought base models too. Its nothing to be upset about. Keep working hard and you too will be able to afford the nice cars with options.

[Dinosoar]

Originally Posted by CatDaddyJones

I was once broke and bought base models too. Its nothing to be upset about. Keep working hard and you too will be able to afford the nice cars with options.

Not cool, bro. I ain't broke, nor are ALL other 230 buyers. I am not upset and I love my 230...and I thought we were having a debate over chassis design set up and engine power. Leave it to a BMW forum with guys like you who resolve it all to someone's financial status.

[bungleaio]

Originally Posted by Dinosoar

Not cool, bro. I ain't broke, nor are ALL other 230 buyers. I am not upset and I love my 230...and I thought we were having a debate over chassis design set up and engine power. Leave it to a BMW forum with guys like you who resolve it all to someone's financial status.

Absolutely, I actively chose the 230 over the 240.

[CatDaddyJones]

Wasnt trying to hurt butts with my comments. I was being honest. Hate you guys took it the wrong way. Why buy a sports car if you dont want speed and max power? A Prius is a great car that gets great MPG and handles well.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by CatDaddyJones

Wasnt trying to hurt butts with my comments. I was being honest. Hate you guys took it the wrong way. Why buy a sports car if you dont want speed and max power? A Prius is a great car that gets great MPG and handles well.

It was as stupid a comment as suggesting that 230i is a better performance car than an M240i.

And that coming from me underlines how stupid it was.

[Ricochet48]

Originally Posted by CatDaddyJones

Wasnt trying to hurt butts with my comments. I was being honest. Hate you guys took it the wrong way. Why buy a sports car if you dont want speed and max power? A Prius is a great car that gets great MPG and handles well.

The M240i is better 97% of the time. It costs more because it performs better overall. We need to stop beating this horse

One can buy a sporty car with less power and drive the hell out of it though. My 2800lb 6MT RSX-S is an example of that... handles very well, revs to nearly 9K, etc. and is nothing less a Prius. The same can be said for a Miata, S2K, GR86, etc. that don't have a lot of power stock, but have great handling and potential for cheaper tracking.

[bungleaio]

Originally Posted by CatDaddyJones

Wasnt trying to hurt butts with my comments. I was being honest. Hate you guys took it the wrong way. Why buy a sports car if you dont want speed and max power? A Prius is a great car that gets great MPG and handles well.

Because I use mine on a daily basis often covering a couple of hundred of miles a day. When sitting on a motorway at 70mph there’s no need for having maximum power available, adequate power will do.

A Prius may well do the job well but I don’t want one of those. The cost savings of not buying or running a 240 help justify the other toys in the garage. I have a decent job and could have had a 240, I could run a 240 but to me the costs aren’t worth it.

If I was considering a 240 I’d just go to the top of the tree and get an M2 but they look awful.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by bungleaio

If I was considering a 240 I’d just go to the top of the tree and get an M2 but they look awful.

… and less comfortable, and slower in the real world, and more expensive to run….

[BobHen]

I owned a 2019 BMW 330i xdrive for a couple of years. It has the same engine as the 230. The 330 xdrive was very peppy and was fun to drive, as I'm sure the 230 is. However, there is no comparison with the mighty B58 in the 240.

The 230 might be a fun, sporty car but the 240 is more than just fun, it's truly a wicked machine.

Bob

[CatDaddyJones]

Originally Posted by Pentland

… and less comfortable, and slower in the real world, and more expensive to run….

Well said!

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by CatDaddyJones

Wasnt trying to hurt butts with my comments. I was being honest. Hate you guys took it the wrong way. Why buy a sports car if you dont want speed and max power? A Prius is a great car that gets great MPG and handles well.

Had absolutely no problem with your comment. Clearly it was in jest.

But there are very good reasons that BMW makes three different 2-series coupe options.

In my case, if I was still tracking my car on regular basis I probably would have sprung for the M240 or even an M2.

However in today's world I was looking for a sporty car that my wife would actually enjoy riding in and driving (she hated riding in my 86). I found the 230i with 18" wheels to be the most comfortable version of the 2-series. As for power, coming from a Toyota GT86 driven at over 5000 feet above sea level (thus 15%+ power loss) the B48 has plenty of power. Additionally, when my wife test drove the car she was slightly scared by how much power the 230i has. She would shit her pants in the M240 and I would have had to drive it so carefully that I would have hated driving while she was in the car. I have to be careful enough as it is in the 230i!

All of this when I could easily afford an M2/M3/M4/M5, let alone the M240.

Quite simply people buy cars for their own reasons

[Prince Thundernight]

I had a plastic pedal car when I was a kid. It had plastic wheels though, and when I braked hard, I'd flatten the bottoms. Got to be that after a while the ride became pretty uncomfortable. It was pretty quick though, stock. I always felt that the addition of a downward hill would enhance the performance, but this tended to degrade the plastic tires more quickly as I had to brake harder. Some CF aero helped somewhat, as well as a cold air intake. Brake dust was always a problem.

Now, for the love of some made-up cosmic deity, will an admin please lock this asinine thread?!