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      11-09-2021, 03:43 PM   #1
ihbase
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G42 M240i Test Drive Impressions From M2 Owner

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I drove a G42 this morning. As an M2C owner, I hate to admit it but, the G42 is stunningly good. Wet rainy day and this thing just puts the power down without drama or fuss. I do not love digital clusters, but the interior is extraordinary. With the short time I spent with it, I left with the impression that this is a great platform for next generation M2.

It feels like a stable, solid, well-engineered, and well-assembled piece of equipment.

Bonus, like a 928 or a Panamera, it looks better in-person than in photos.

-Michael
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      11-09-2021, 03:48 PM   #2
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That's great to hear. This is essentially the build for my car except I have the black wheels instead of bi-color.
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      11-09-2021, 04:23 PM   #3
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Great to hear Michael.. great drivers car and nice interior. My build order I selected M797 bi-color wheels with Performance tires. Can't wait to receive this fast 2 series. Funny note on ur vehicle, do NOT move
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      11-09-2021, 04:26 PM   #4
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I think you made a solid choice. It feels like a much better platform than the f-series. Everything about the car I drove was nicely designed, engineered, and executed.

I feel like BMW has made a number of very questionable decisions with their product lineup lately. But the G42 is a reminder that the company has the design talent, engineering expertise, and quality manufacturing resources to deliver a nicely designed solid piece of equipment that is not a cynical and confused piece of marketing rubbish.

-Michael

edit to add: Also, credit to Portland BMW for being a great dealer. No games, no BS, just great service. Negotiating and closing leases and sales with them via email has been really efficient in my experience. Plus, the Service Manager really knows the product.

Last edited by ihbase; 11-10-2021 at 04:55 PM..
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      11-09-2021, 05:34 PM   #5
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I am so glad to read your brief review of the G42 M240i, it makes me even more anxious to get my car in ~2 weeks. It sounds like I won't miss my F30 340i and its 6MT quite as much as I thought I would. I have to say that the black is really growing on me, I almost wish I would've got black now, almost.
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      11-09-2021, 06:10 PM   #6
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Thanks for sharing!
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      11-09-2021, 06:18 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lightngsvt View Post
I am so glad to read your brief review of the G42 M240i, it makes me even more anxious to get my car in ~2 weeks. It sounds like I won't miss my F30 340i and its 6MT quite as much as I thought I would. I have to say that the black is really growing on me, I almost wish I would've got black now, almost.
Congratulations! I use an f31 as a work car. The G20 dealer loaner over the last few days and the G42 this morning both felt like a much more solid platform. Everything from the width of and the way the front of the unibody structure turns-in to meet front cross section to the diminished tire noise from the rear suspension gave me the impression of a much better engineered chassis.

Like you, I prefer manual transmissions, but I admit that the ZF was impressive this morning. The shifts are crisp and the shift map in the most aggressive mode never made a bad choice - no matter what I tried. Also- I noticed that at 80 MPH, when I pushed it into 8th with the paddle shifter, the car was just idling at something below 2k RPMs. If I observed correctly, I'd expect that to make it a great car for distance and, admittedly, easier to live with than the final drive ratio in the 6 sp. manual trans.

I was skeptical- but left really impressed after a brief shakedown drive. Bonus, the interior feels special in a way that none of the f-generation interiors felt - although the door panel design is a bit busy. I'd guess the interior space is wider than the f-generation platform. I do not have any data, but it felt that way. I'm sure someone here knows whether that is true or not.

-Michael

edit- photos of g20 front unibody structure and f30 unibody structure added below.
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      11-09-2021, 06:46 PM   #8
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OP, have you driven M340i? The new G42 should be virtually the same experience but curious if you are able to compare.
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      11-09-2021, 07:05 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Transfer View Post
OP, have you driven M340i? The new G42 should be virtually the same experience but curious if you are able to compare.
I have. I had a loaner with a 6 sp. manual trans. for one day while considering various lease options in July 2017 (M340 f30 versus 328d f31).

I think that it has been too long for me to be objective to compare. I put a lot of miles on the M340 loaner- and I remember that it was a lot of fun. But I do not remember it feeling as sharp as the G42 today.

My hunch is that the GXX platform has really evolved over the FXX platform.

-Michael
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      11-09-2021, 08:20 PM   #10
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I've really enjoyed my F30 340i M-Sport over the past 3 years. The car has been fun to drive, sounds great with the M-Sport exhaust, and has been very comfortable. The tech was good for its age and the car felt well built overall. The handling wasn't "scalpal-like" and it was hard to tell exactly where the limits of the car were, but my other car is a Boxster so apples and oranges I guess. I feel the F30 has a classic, elegant look compared to the Gxx cars, but they do look more aggressive.
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      11-10-2021, 12:30 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ihbase View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Transfer View Post
OP, have you driven M340i? The new G42 should be virtually the same experience but curious if you are able to compare.
I have. I had a loaner with a 6 sp. manual trans. for one day while considering various lease options in July 2017 (M340 f30 versus 328d f31).

I think that it has been too long for me to be objective to compare. I put a lot of miles on the M340 loaner- and I remember that it was a lot of fun. But I do not remember it feeling as sharp as the G42 today.

My hunch is that the GXX platform has really evolved over the FXX platform.

-Michael
No no. Do not confuse an F30 340i M-sport with a 2020+ G20 M340i. Huge difference that you probably just experienced in that G42. I'll be curious if the G42 M240i is as good or better than G20 M340i because other than size and door count, they should be nearly identical.
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      11-10-2021, 12:44 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lightngsvt View Post
... I feel the F30 has a classic, elegant look compared to the Gxx cars, but they do look more aggressive.
I agree.

-Michael
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      11-10-2021, 12:53 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Transfer View Post
No no. Do not confuse an F30 340i M-sport with a 2020+ G20 M340i. Huge difference that you probably just experienced in that G42. I'll be curious if the G42 M240i is as good or better than G20 M340i because other than size and door count, they should be nearly identical.
You are exactly correct. My mistake. I have NOT driven the G20 M340i. I have driven the poverty-spec G20 330i quite often. And it is based on a comparison of that architecture with the f30/31 generation that I shared my impressions about the evolution of the platform.

But you are right- I have no basis to compare a g20 M340 with the g42 M240i. Considering the shared mechanicals, I'm sure your car is great.

Regarding the impact of wheelbase on the character of the car- that is tough. I mean, the M2C feels a lot more different than the g80/82 M3/4 than it should considering the specifications.

So I don't know. Perhaps we exaggerate the differences because that is what we read from reviews- or perhaps the shorter car just rotates much better.

-Michael
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      11-10-2021, 12:59 AM   #14
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Love to hear it. The car looks amazing in black.
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      11-10-2021, 01:48 AM   #15
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Thanks for your honest review, great to hear.
Also it's refreshing to get good positivity for a change rather than the usual negative people tearing the car apart.

Can't wait till March for mine.
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      11-10-2021, 02:37 PM   #16
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Reading the title of this thread on the main page, I expected a full-on glowing page-long review and all I got were three very vague sentences.

Calm down, Bimmerpost mods.
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      11-10-2021, 02:40 PM   #17
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All that's missing is the DCT. ZF8 will make it boring in comparison. 6MT will be the better choice
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      11-10-2021, 02:44 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swagon View Post
Reading the title of this thread on the main page, I expected a full-on glowing page-long review and all I got were three very vague sentences.

Calm down, Bimmerpost mods.
There is a pretty strict embargo by BMW corporate on driving reviews until after the official launch date (11/16 or 11/20?).
Three vague lines was still pretty surprising and welcome this early!
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      11-10-2021, 02:56 PM   #19
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Thanks for sharing your perspective, OP.

I'd be all over this car if it had a 6MT. We'll see what the new M2 offers. if it's something I like less than my F87, I may just end up in a G42 after all.
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      11-10-2021, 03:46 PM   #20
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OP is that leather seats or sensatec? looks really nice with the perforations.
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      11-10-2021, 04:59 PM   #21
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Quote:
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OP is that leather seats or sensatec? looks really nice with the perforations.
Sensa will have the perforations. Feels better than leather in my opinion.
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      11-10-2021, 05:03 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swagon View Post
Reading the title of this thread on the main page, I expected a full-on glowing page-long review and all I got were three very vague sentences.

Calm down, Bimmerpost mods.
swagon: I disclosed the fact that my impressions were based upon a brief test drive. I'd be happy to share a more in-depth analysis of the g42 when I have an entire day to spend with one. But by that time, I'm sure everyone else will have had ample opportunity to form their own impressions.

-Michael
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