With the exception of Track work, I believe the 135/235/140/240 is the better car for almost any occasion. It's as quick, arguably more comfortable, more practical and can be tuned to improve. Having said that, the M2 wins in the looks and bragging rights department. Have owned 3 x M2, 1x M4, 1 x M135i Highly modded and a track spec E46 M3, so have a decent understanding of the cars capability on and off track.
As an M140i owner for the past 5 years, this is interesting. Great video. Almost every video like this, makes a point that it's not a true M car and never will be, but it can get close. All you have to do is tune it a bit, fit a limited slip diff, M3 bottom arms to get the camber, better brakes, better dampers & springs, wider wheels so wider tyres can be fitted, polybush the entire chassis/suspension, fit underbody and under bonnet bracing, and a few other bits. The thing is, once you have done that, you are approaching the same amount of money as it would have cost you to buy a used M2 in the first place. AND, the whole point of an M140i is then lost. The point being, they cost half as much, sometimes less, than the real M car equivalent to purchase, they cost less than half as much to run, and in most cases they are more comfortable, practical, and make much better daily drivers. I think this is lost on almost every reviewer I see. Yes an M2C is a fantastic car, but if I had the choice to drive one or an M 140i to work and back every day, I know which would be the cheapest by far, the most comfortable by far, and the most practical. If you are not middle class or above and can only afford one car, an M140i gets you 90% of the performance of an M car, for about 40% of the cost, yet is much better in many other ways.
Perfect summary. I agree. However you forgot about one exception. Petrolheads like me. I know my M2 is less comfortable, more expensive to buy, more expensive to run and yet, for the pleasure of driving it on some B roads, I don’t care. But for 95% of people, m140i would be a better car.
@@MDrives Thank you. That works for you, because you can afford one. If I could afford one, I would also own one, if I could have a cheap daily driver to get me to work & back. The M2C would be my 'pleasure' driver, weekends and evenings. I still go out 'just for a drive' every Sunday, I love driving, and luckily I live in a large county with lost of deserted country road (with not many speed camera's !). Thanks for the reply, I love both cars in different ways. A retired guy on my street has an M2 (OG model), and it's his pride & joy. It's a great car but he drives it like miss daisy, such a waste of all that performance, oh well, each to their own.
@@AmsterdamSam Yes, that was the whole point of my post. The channel owner understood what I meant, it seems you didn't 🙂 My comment said if you do all of that work, you would be spending close to what an M2C costs. Wooosh .....
That’s a very good comparison of two excellent cars. In the last two years I’ve owned a ZF 8 M140i and then upgraded to a manual OG M2. After 5 months with the M2, I went back to another M140i as I didn’t think the M2 was really any much better or quicker. 6 months ago I sold my M140i and then got a DCT M2 Competition which is a massive step up from the OG M2. Based on my experiences with these cars, I’d still say the M140i is my favourite car as it pretty much does everything on a daily basis.
Thank you for this great feedback. It all depends what you’re after. Those wanting more power will be disappointed with OG especially moving from auto to manual.
I driven a M140i for two years and changed it for a OG M2 with DKG Total different animal! Stiffer chassis, charper steering, looks better, sounds better, DKG is faster and more direckt, tires are bigger, better brakes, limited slip is standard on the car, the only thing the M2 not have is the tuning potential of the B58 the B58 have a better hpfp, and it reach easy 450/460hp with stage2 the N55 max 420/430hp with oem hpfp.
Surprised the m140i owner didn’t get the lsd upgrade! Would transform it! That’s one of the big things that’s amazing with the m2 that and the rawness of the dct box
at that point you should just buy a real m car with the lsd. adaptive dampers. confuses me when people say the 140s are cheaper then chuck 10k at them and still only have a 1 series. then can only sell them for 1 series money lol
@@MDrives typical car reviewer “get the m2”. Thanks to your video I’ll be keeping my m140i. I have done underbody brace, milltek exhaust, slotted brakes. I’ve never modded a car before. I guess have to keep modding!! ? Does the LSD make a big difference? Eg your m2 vs the 140i?
@@gee5889 LSD is not something you will notice driving your car as a daily especially in dry but as soon as you start playing with it on roundabouts or simple start driving fast especially in corners, LSD makes a big difference. If you ever increase power, even more then.
The M2 is a better car out of the box it's a proper///M car set up to go fast and handle well 👍 the M140 s , M135 s etc are a great car at a cheaper price point that have great potential for modifications lots of fun owning and moding I still have my Lci M135i after 7 years it's a fun car I use on weekends with a few choice mods 😉
Totally agree. I also have a 2015 m135i lci and I still love it, the amount of people that ask me do I have an aftermarket exhaust and I have to say no just the bog standard one is crazy. The amount of exhaust restrictions today makes my car sound like a monster in comparison 😂
I had a question on the sound mod on that 140i. It's the BCS DDE mid pipe it has a small box to defeat the drone I've found out. This car doesn't have have a downpipe installed, I guess.. but what I want to know is what was modified on that muffler, is it just the valve is permantly open or something else? Thanks in advance!
@MDrives ah I get it now, no its actually what a lot of people did on the e9x cars back in the day they weld (some) of the perforated tubes shut in the tubing inside the box. Thanks for getting back to me Marek👌 BCS actually states with the mid pipe with DDE to use the MPE exhaust. I had that on my car (3 series 340i touring) but got a bit sick of the drone it gave probably because of the giant open space in the back. So this was very useful info!
Great comparison video, the m140i seems to pinch above its weight and it is interesting to see it pitched so close to a full m car. Can you tell me what modification was done to the rear backbox and is it a standard one? Thanks
Have you tried any of the F40 series? Ive a 128ti and love it, better if it had a manual but its great fun and at the same time the wife can drive it as a daily.
Thanks. They are amazing cars. In many ways better than M cars. I said that from day one, M2 is amazing but it’s full of compromises and if you are willing to live with them, then go with M as it feels amazing on a road when you are having a blast.
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With the exception of Track work, I believe the 135/235/140/240 is the better car for almost any occasion. It's as quick, arguably more comfortable, more practical and can be tuned to improve.
Having said that, the M2 wins in the looks and bragging rights department.
Have owned 3 x M2, 1x M4, 1 x M135i Highly modded and a track spec E46 M3, so have a decent understanding of the cars capability on and off track.
I agree. Mlites win in a daily use.
As an M140i owner for the past 5 years, this is interesting. Great video.
Almost every video like this, makes a point that it's not a true M car and never will be, but it can get close. All you have to do is tune it a bit, fit a limited slip diff, M3 bottom arms to get the camber, better brakes, better dampers & springs, wider wheels so wider tyres can be fitted, polybush the entire chassis/suspension, fit underbody and under bonnet bracing, and a few other bits.
The thing is, once you have done that, you are approaching the same amount of money as it would have cost you to buy a used M2 in the first place.
AND, the whole point of an M140i is then lost.
The point being, they cost half as much, sometimes less, than the real M car equivalent to purchase, they cost less than half as much to run, and in most cases they are more comfortable, practical, and make much better daily drivers.
I think this is lost on almost every reviewer I see. Yes an M2C is a fantastic car, but if I had the choice to drive one or an M 140i to work and back every day, I know which would be the cheapest by far, the most comfortable by far, and the most practical. If you are not middle class or above and can only afford one car, an M140i gets you 90% of the performance of an M car, for about 40% of the cost, yet is much better in many other ways.
Perfect summary. I agree. However you forgot about one exception. Petrolheads like me. I know my M2 is less comfortable, more expensive to buy, more expensive to run and yet, for the pleasure of driving it on some B roads, I don’t care. But for 95% of people, m140i would be a better car.
@@MDrives Thank you.
That works for you, because you can afford one. If I could afford one, I would also own one, if I could have a cheap daily driver to get me to work & back.
The M2C would be my 'pleasure' driver, weekends and evenings.
I still go out 'just for a drive' every Sunday, I love driving, and luckily I live in a large county with lost of deserted country road (with not many speed camera's !).
Thanks for the reply, I love both cars in different ways.
A retired guy on my street has an M2 (OG model), and it's his pride & joy. It's a great car but he drives it like miss daisy, such a waste of all that performance, oh well, each to their own.
@@DjNikGnashers I had M135i before and I equally enjoyed it.
'all you have to do' sums up a 10k+ list XD
@@AmsterdamSam Yes, that was the whole point of my post.
The channel owner understood what I meant, it seems you didn't 🙂
My comment said if you do all of that work, you would be spending close to what an M2C costs.
Wooosh .....
That’s a very good comparison of two excellent cars. In the last two years I’ve owned a ZF 8 M140i and then upgraded to a manual OG M2. After 5 months with the M2, I went back to another M140i as I didn’t think the M2 was really any much better or quicker. 6 months ago I sold my M140i and then got a DCT M2 Competition which is a massive step up from the OG M2.
Based on my experiences with these cars, I’d still say the M140i is my favourite car as it pretty much does everything on a daily basis.
Thank you for this great feedback. It all depends what you’re after. Those wanting more power will be disappointed with OG especially moving from auto to manual.
I driven a M140i for two years and changed it for a OG M2 with DKG
Total different animal!
Stiffer chassis, charper steering, looks better, sounds better, DKG is faster and more direckt, tires are bigger, better brakes, limited slip is standard on the car, the only thing the M2 not have is the tuning potential of the B58 the B58 have a better hpfp, and it reach easy 450/460hp with stage2 the N55 max 420/430hp with oem hpfp.
All it needs downpipe, intercooler and pure stage 2 you can get 500bhp+ about 450whp on stock hpfp and upgraded hpfp about 600bhp+ 520-550whp
M-Front arms on M140 will help the front axle with grip and also feel a bit
The comparison I've been waiting for! Fantastic video
Surprised the m140i owner didn’t get the lsd upgrade! Would transform it! That’s one of the big things that’s amazing with the m2 that and the rawness of the dct box
He doesn’t feel the need. It’s a great upgrade but I would also struggle to justify £2k for a mod.
at that point you should just buy a real m car with the lsd. adaptive dampers. confuses me when people say the 140s are cheaper then chuck 10k at them and still only have a 1 series. then can only sell them for 1 series money lol
If BMW had put the B58 in the M2 it would have been the best M Car BMW ever made 😢
B58 have Diesel Charakter and have the Same Diesel Block b57. It dont have m car Charakter
TimChump glad to see someone that agrees with me 😎!
Are you on drugs?
What an AWESOME and GENUINE review. THANK YOU!!
🙏 thank you!
@@MDrives typical car reviewer “get the m2”. Thanks to your video I’ll be keeping my m140i. I have done underbody brace, milltek exhaust, slotted brakes. I’ve never modded a car before. I guess have to keep modding!! ? Does the LSD make a big difference? Eg your m2 vs the 140i?
@@gee5889 LSD is not something you will notice driving your car as a daily especially in dry but as soon as you start playing with it on roundabouts or simple start driving fast especially in corners, LSD makes a big difference. If you ever increase power, even more then.
Great local roads, will have to keep on eye out for you guys 👍
Sweet Marek! Thanks for sharing. Yes the F20 it's pretty quick for a 1445kg car (stock). Mine with approximately 420hp speaks by himself. 😎
It’s more like 1500-1600kg
The M2 is a better car out of the box it's a proper///M car set up to go fast and handle well 👍 the M140 s , M135 s etc are a great car at a cheaper price point that have great potential for modifications lots of fun owning and moding I still have my Lci M135i after 7 years it's a fun car I use on weekends with a few choice mods 😉
Totally agree. They are fantastic fun especially with few mods.
Totally agree. I also have a 2015 m135i lci and I still love it, the amount of people that ask me do I have an aftermarket exhaust and I have to say no just the bog standard one is crazy. The amount of exhaust restrictions today makes my car sound like a monster in comparison 😂
Sherburn in Elmet, recognised it straight away
Correct
Just what I need to see...Both on list of next cars later this year (plus a wildcard 981 Cayman)
I like your wild card option. Really depends on how much you drive it everyday etc…
On mine I've got M3 front arms, lowering springs, LSD. Its as close to an M-car till ever get without being one!
Rear subframe inserts missing ;)
I had a question on the sound mod on that 140i. It's the BCS DDE mid pipe it has a small box to defeat the drone I've found out. This car doesn't have have a downpipe installed, I guess.. but what I want to know is what was modified on that muffler, is it just the valve is permantly open or something else? Thanks in advance!
Hi. It had rear box mod, they open it and weld some perforation inside. It’s don’t by a few companies like mod stock.
@MDrives ah I get it now, no its actually what a lot of people did on the e9x cars back in the day they weld (some) of the perforated tubes shut in the tubing inside the box. Thanks for getting back to me Marek👌
BCS actually states with the mid pipe with DDE to use the MPE exhaust. I had that on my car (3 series 340i touring) but got a bit sick of the
drone it gave probably because of the giant open space in the back. So this was very useful info!
Actually prefer n55 exhaust note more than b58.
I think you’re in majority
Great comparison video, the m140i seems to pinch above its weight and it is interesting to see it pitched so close to a full m car. Can you tell me what modification was done to the rear backbox and is it a standard one? Thanks
Standard box which was I think welded inside. Not sure exactly how.
@@MDrives OK thanks, for me that exhaust note was perfect, loud enough on power yet quiet when needed. 🤙
Nice roads mate what routes did you use? Thanks
Roads between Lotherton and Sherburn in Elmet
Do you think I need an LSD if I have the 240i xdrive model still?
Hi. I never experienced xdrive in 240 so hard to say. Probably not unless you tuned it and you run high power.
@MDrives I'm still stock! Thanks for the reply!
I can't really understand the point of the M140/240i compared to the M2. The M2 has the badge, the look, better performance for nearly the same price.
Nearly same price? If you compare cars of same age and mileage the M car is about 25-30% more expensive?
@@MDrives US? In Europe it’s not more than 10-15%
No mate. In UK. Cheapest M140i is £16k vs £22.5k for M. That’s circa 40% difference
the flat fenders/wheel arches, I just can't on the m240i, looks silly
I love my 1 M
Have you tried any of the F40 series? Ive a 128ti and love it, better if it had a manual but its great fun and at the same time the wife can drive it as a daily.
No. I didn’t have a chance to experience it yet. I bet they are great cars. Just a completely different animal with fwd.
These are all my local driving roads. Are you local?
Harrogate mate.
Are these remapped?
Hi. No.
Why didn’t you compare a M240i to the M2 ?
Simply because I don’t know any M240i owners.
The M2 (or 2 series) just looks better! Bmw coupes are the best 👌
Agree
Great video as usual. Kinda makes me feel good about my M240i ☺ No mods other than cosmetics but thankfully one of the very last pre - OPF models.
Thanks. They are amazing cars. In many ways better than M cars. I said that from day one, M2 is amazing but it’s full of compromises and if you are willing to live with them, then go with M as it feels amazing on a road when you are having a blast.