Always been an admirer of the 2 series since when it was first announced, reminds me of the E46 coupe, and having driven a lot of bmw’s the 135 and 140 are pretty quick and understated cars, so in Jan this year i started looking for a 235 but it had to be manual, i know the new ZF8 is a very good gearbox but living in the country and very rarely going into a town i have no need for an auto, i could not believe how few manuals there are out there,it’s about 15% manual and 85% auto, but i waited and up popped this example, a manual melbourne red with quite a good options list including adaptive xenon headlamps As you can see i have added some minor changes, got rid of the audi esq ferric grey mirror covers, why? (pet hate) i painted them black but not sure if i should have gone red? Also added performance grills and black lower grilles that now make the lower bumper look visually bigger Loving the sound of the engine and the pops and burbles on the overrun, only downside is the fuel usuage but that’s my right foot. Looking in the future to a slight drop in ride height
Yeyyy, another 2 series owner I changed my mirrors and grills the same as you did, but I had mine wrapped. Looks lovely in red How are you going to lower it, springs/coilovers/air?
Reminds me of when my wife and I went to view a 335i a few years ago. The salesman stated the engine and the exhaust sounded really good. But my wife looked straight at the salesman an said, "The exhaust's gone!!". I almost fell over laughing. I really like your 235i, I think the colour really suits the shape of this car.
Thanks for the comments Madmoggy, i am only going to use springs probably H & R, not going to go full air, bit to old for that
I'd be interested to hear what you think of the handling once you've done it. I was thinking about a little drop but dont want to screw the road-holding up
A lovely looking car - nice colour. I'm glad you eventually found what you were seeking. Interesting comments on autos - but it's no surprise to me that the split manual/auto is 15% / 85% as these days autos are faster and more economical. As an ex-rally driver I was a late convert to autos having had negative experience of them back in the days of three-speeders. With the latest 8-speed ZFs I have much more control of the change up and down points than ever I could have with a manual - mostly done with foot pressure on the accelerator - I rarely need to use the paddle shifts - it's superb on twisty country roads in Aberdeenshire for example. And it's linked to the sat-nav and anticipates bends, junctions etc. Very few (if any) of the top marque sports cars (Ferrari, Porsche etc.) come with a manual option these days. But each to his own and I'm glad that you are happy.
Looks good, mirrors are loads better, why do they but those silver caps on - its not an Audi! If your doing a few mods, wrap the roof ! ( I know - broken record - but look at my old 640 in the 6 section ) With your black trim and performance it will suit it. IMHO
Me as well. I've always had cars with a manual transmission, considering it to be the enthusiastic driver's choice. This F30 is the first time I've ever chosen an automatic, but the ZF-8 speed is just so good, I would never go back. If you want to drive a manual then put the gear selector into Sport mode and use the paddles. But as Bob says - each to his own. But then a Lotus Seven or Ariel Atom would not seem right with an automatic box (if such a thing was actually available). Nice colour on the 235i.
There are good autos and bad autos. Just like there are good manuals and bad manuals. It's up to the driver to use them in such as way as to control them and get the optimum performance out of them. The left brain and the right foot should know what to do. The worst auto I've ever been lumbered with (for 3 years) was fitted to an E36. It was such a rubbish box that at times I actually wished it was a manual.
