[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by Robert

What did BMW pack in this thing so it's only less 200lb away from a Tesla model 3 perf with 4 seats?

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by meko

... the lack of steering feedback is simply not acceptable unless that's just what they think customers want.

I always understood that it's a hell of a job to construct a steering rack providing feedback when it's electrical assisted.

It's not something they deliberately engineered to behave like that, more collateral degradation. At least in a sporty set-up.

On the other hand, for a none sportive car, the excessive assistance and total lack of feel is often interpreted as "luxury".

[KoenG]

Just love this thing. Provides me the same feeling as the e30 325i, +30yrs back. It was obviously engineered for fun, unlike the majority of other cars. This M240i still holds this unique positioning in 2022.

[mfarrzhp]

Man, those are impressive numbers. Same 1/4 mile time as my old Viper GTS that was raw as hell and one of the fastest things on the street 20 years ago.

I wouldn't be too concerned with the rear seats as I only put the kids in the back, and maybe could put an adult in for a really short trip in the M2.

It's a shame on the auto gearbox only, though. The weight also, yes they can make it perform like a lighter car, but does it feel lighter? I'll have to test drive one to see.

[Al Bundy's Dodge]

Nice write up, and always happy to see when BMW puts out a car geared for driving fun.

Looking forward to test driving one!

[BimmerMat135]

It should be available with a 6 speed manual and rwd. This should be the purest bmw that bmw is actually building but it seem like all the money is moving toward EV development.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by KoenG

I always understood that it's a hell of a job to construct a steering rack providing feedback when it's electrical assisted.

It's not something they deliberately engineered to behave like that, more collateral degradation. At least in a sporty set-up.

On the other hand, for a none sportive car, the excessive assistance and total lack of feel is often interpreted as "luxury".

Well Porsche, Alfa Romeo, and GM's performance division have figured out how to make EPS quite respectable. BMW always had the best steering in the industry, the only logical explanation [and the one that BMW opens admits to] is that they don't want their steering to be very stiff or feel-some any longer. They can do it if they want to, as I hear the CS models steer wonderfully.

[danallxt]

Originally Posted by jkap27

0-60 is 3.6 seconds and the rolling start is 5.0? what a huge disparity has launch control really gotten that much better than just stepping on the gas?

yes

[Al Bundy's Dodge]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Well Porsche, Alfa Romeo, and GM's performance division have figured out how to make EPS quite respectable. BMW always had the best steering in the industry, the only logical explanation [and the one that BMW opens admits to] is that they don't want their steering to be very stiff or feel-some any longer. They can do it if they want to, as I hear the CS models steer wonderfully.

Exactly.

This isn't to say BMW only caters to American drivers, but As I posted in another thread, most Americans can't be bothered with steering because it gets in the way of texting, tweeting, and constant iPhone use in the car.

BMW knows they want the ability to steer with only a pinky or left knee. So they give them what they want.

The anger over shitty steering is misdirected at BMW when it should be directed at lazy drivers that have zero interest in, well, driving.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy's Dodge

Exactly.

The anger over shitty steering is misdirected at BMW when it should be directed at lazy drivers that have zero interest in, well, driving.

Nah it should still be directed at BMW. They didn't have to go so far off the deep end. Even some Mercs tend to have weightier steering than comparable BMWs.

Plus Alfa's steering is a little on the lighter end and is no way tiring to operate, yet it's still regarded as the gold standard of its segment. Then you have the Macan and Cayenne which sell in droves to moms despite their reasonably stiff steering with good road feel.

[NSX2M4]

Kudos for it actually looking like a BMW. It could use less triangles though.

[02M3ForMe]

Destroys the old F22 M235i/240i.

Weight is a number on a spec sheet; CLAR cars are known for masking the subjective feeling of weight while delivering superior real-world measurable performance. CLAR cars punch above their weight class (or is it below?).

Yes, the old car's lighter - it's also nearly decade-old chassis tech. I bet you could've told some people after a test drive that the G42 is lighter than the F22 and they'd easily believe it.

F-generation cars were not known for excellent steering feel by any means. The steering on this car is noticeably sharper than the F22's.

Everyone who drives a G42 immediately compares it to the M2 Comp; this car overdelivers for its price point and positioning in the product lineup.

The only thing stopping this car from being a universal instant classic is the lack of manual transmission option. Even with that knock against it, this is still going to end up an enthusiast favorite. It's just a fantastic package all around.

The 230i will also surprise some people. I drove an M-Sport a few weeks ago and loved it, surprising level of fun factor. RWD + less weight + CLAR = two thumbs up.

[Mako]

Crazy how close these are

M3 comp xdrive is only 100 lbs heavier than M240 xdrive
M5 CS is only 100 lbs heavier than M3 comp xdrive

each is 7 inches longer than the next

7" = 100 lbs (all with xdrive), not apples to apples but still!

[Montaver]

Why do BMW NA force sunroofs on all their m240/m340i, really dents their sporting cred

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by 02M3ForMe

Destroys the old F22 M235i/240i.

Weight is a number on a spec sheet; CLAR cars are known for masking the subjective feeling of weight while delivering superior real-world measurable performance. CLAR cars punch above their weight class (or is it below?).

Yes, the old car's lighter - it's also nearly decade-old chassis tech. I bet you could've told some people after a test drive that the G42 is lighter than the F22 and they'd easily believe it.

F-generation cars were not known for excellent steering feel by any means. The steering on this car is noticeably sharper than the F22's.

Everyone who drives a G42 immediately compares it to the M2 Comp; this car overdelivers for its price point and positioning in the product lineup.

The only thing stopping this car from being a universal instant classic is the lack of manual transmission option. Even with that knock against it, this is still going to end up an enthusiast favorite. It's just a fantastic package all around.

The 230i will also surprise some people. I drove an M-Sport a few weeks ago and loved it, surprising level of fun factor. RWD + less weight + CLAR = two thumbs up.

Nevertheless, still totally confused how everybody is seeing MT as pre-condition for a real engaging drivers car. We never had such a good, smart, smooth and fast ZF8 transmission which rendered our own 6MT shifts totally void and irrelevant. And still, everybody is craving for a MT?? I'am totally confused, really.

[PLF69]

Originally Posted by Montaver

Why do BMW NA force sunroofs on all their m240/m340i, really dents their sporting cred

At least now you can order the M340i with a carbon roof (Wich I find very reasonable at 1900$cad). And the M240i is available without on the base model (at least here in Canada).

[therealm3]

Originally Posted by ScullyD

It does feel like BMW chassis engineers are honing their craft on these cars to get ready for making the weight disappear on electric cars. But they are succeeding at that. Just would be better if they could also make the weight disappear literally.

I guess the question is, how will buyers react if the next M2 is slower than the M240i, especially if the M2 is more about being a "driver's car" then straight line speed.

Wouldn't be the first time. An e30 325is was faster in a straight line than an e30 m3.

I'll let you guess which one I owned for 13 years. :-D

I really wish the m240 came with a manual. It's a plenty fast for me for a fun car that won't see the track.

[DSTR]

Originally Posted by KoenG

Nevertheless, still totally confused how everybody is seeing MT as pre-condition for a real engaging drivers car. We never had such a good, smart, smooth and fast ZF8 transmission which rendered our own 6MT shifts totally void and irrelevant. And still, everybody is craving for a MT?? I'am totally confused, really.

My DCT 17 M2 was superb. Dont miss the mess and slow actuation of the manual. Time to move on. Its not a true manual as you have a servo. Get an Alfa Boat-tail spider for true manual.

ZF8 is super in manual actuation. Not sure why the distinct minority are so upset. We have new sports coupe and its not perfect - manual or not. A manual does not make a car perfect. It just is a car with a manual lol.

Drive the PDK - superb gearbox. Who needs a manual........if so call BMW and ask why. No one owes us a manual. They build and it sells without manual. Time to move on. For utilizing the power manual is not optimal ever now.

[therealm3]

Originally Posted by DSTR

My DCT 17 M2 was superb. Dont miss the mess and slow actuation of the manual. Time to move on. Its not a true manual as you have a servo. Get an Alfa Boat-tail spider for true manual.

ZF8 is super in manual actuation. Not sure why the distinct minority are so upset. We have new sports coupe and its not perfect - manual or not. A manual does not make a car perfect. It just is a car with a manual lol.

Drive the PDK - superb gearbox. Who needs a manual........if so call BMW and ask why. No one owes us a manual. They build and it sells without manual. Time to move on. For utilizing the power manual is not optimal ever now.

It's driver engagement and nostalgia. Just like vinyl records. Each to their own.

[tahoebimmer]

I drove my friends 911 GT3 with MT and understood immediately the lure of the manual. It's an effort - in, satisfaction out type of equation. There is tremendous feeling when you get it right. It feels like you are driving a race car. It's light and stripped down with very little tech to get in the way. It's also pretty exhausting to drive for very long.

My M240i is really a very different beast. Lots of tech and incredible engineering yields an effortlessly fast car that just goes fast without trying hard. Having it with a MT doesn't seem like a good fit to me.

[ScullyD]

Originally Posted by DSTR

My DCT 17 M2 was superb. Dont miss the mess and slow actuation of the manual. Time to move on. Its not a true manual as you have a servo. Get an Alfa Boat-tail spider for true manual.

ZF8 is super in manual actuation. Not sure why the distinct minority are so upset. We have new sports coupe and its not perfect - manual or not. A manual does not make a car perfect. It just is a car with a manual lol.

Drive the PDK - superb gearbox. Who needs a manual........if so call BMW and ask why. No one owes us a manual. They build and it sells without manual. Time to move on. For utilizing the power manual is not optimal ever now.

The M2 DCT was not perfect. In the highest speeds it could dump shift and unsettle the car, and if you turned off all the drivers aids, it made the car unpredictable if the road was bad. It was lightning quick on upshifts of course, that was what it did best and made for a visceral experience.

I think if the ZF8 can be tuned well (as I've read it was in a Jaguar Project 8, new M3 and M5 CS) it's better all around as it's smoother and won't upset the cars chassis. It's definitely improved in BMWs over the years.

But a good manual transmission car is still the best for people that like driving manual and aren't setting lap times. Just makes driving a much more engaging experience. With auto rev matching now, it's as easy as it's ever been.

[xmanpro]

The new m2 is gonna rip.