About the BMW 2 Series
CarLover bought this 2022 BMW 2 Series for $57,700 (including all on-road costs). CarLover would buy this car again because: “It has great styling that harkens back to an era when BMWs had a restrained, elegant design that focused on the right proportions. Given the performance on offer.” Still, it’s good value for money with excellent driving dynamics, and with the automotive industry moving to electric vehicles, the smooth engine and transmission combination is a fitting send-off for those looking to buy their last ICE performance car. want to buy.”
How reliable has your car been? Let us know about any issues.
The vehicle has been mechanically reliable in the three months I have owned it. Like other modern BMWs, the M240i has a Condition Based Servicing (CBS) system. It allows the car to monitor the quality and level of various components such as brake pads, as well as fluids such as engine oil, and then provides an estimate of when (and in how many kilometers) they will be needed. be changed.
The CBS system also means getting your hands dirty by manually opening the bonnet and using a dipstick to check the engine oil level is a thing of the past. The driver can tell the vehicle to measure the engine oil through the infotainment system, and the convenience of doing so can be a form of preventive maintenance to further improve long-term reliability.
However, two software issues are worth noting.
The iDrive 6 infotainment system has advanced Spotify integration, with an inbuilt ‘app’ appearing when an iPhone is connected to the system via Bluetooth or USB. This connection can be tricky, and a recent update to the iOS Spotify app introduced a bug that removed the connection entirely. This was fixed in a later version of the Spotify app.
I also updated the local maps from the 2018 version that came with the car to the latest 2022 maps. Unfortunately, this introduces a GPS problem where the car gets confused about its location, often thinking it’s on the road to the left of its original position. Reinstalling the maps did not fix the problem, and an appointment with the BMW specialists at my local dealership may be necessary.
Both of these issues can be avoided by updating the infotainment system to use wireless Apple CarPlay (available via a paid software update), though the iDrive-based Spotify app and local GPS functionality remain improved. .
For example, the iDrive Spotify app allows the driver to search for a specific song, a feature not available through CarPlay. Meanwhile, the local GPS device is capable of displaying navigation direction and lane information within the cluster.
What about the ownership experience with your car?
Apart from the above software niggles, the rest of the ownership experience has been fantastic.
The previous owner purchased a BMW service inclusive package that is valid until 2028, and ensures that basic maintenance such as oil changes and general vehicle checks are covered for the foreseeable future.
Are you happy with the price and features of your car?
Given the great performance and style on offer, I’m happy with the money I paid and the M240i’s features.
Being the top of the regular 2 Series range, the M240i has most of the equipment that is optional on other variants as standard. It includes excellent hexagonal adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beam, a good 12-speaker Harmon Kardon stereo, heated seats and an 8.8-inch widescreen infotainment system that sports BMW’s intuitive iDrive 6 infotainment system.
If safety is an important consideration, the M240i (and the F22 2 Series in general) is a nuisance in terms of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) on offer. There’s only a basic camera-based AEB system that doesn’t work at highway speeds, and blind spot monitoring isn’t available, even as an option.
Adaptive cruise control, which would make the car ideal for long highway cruises, was an option on the M240i, but a suitably equipped example is hard to find.
What do you think about your car’s performance and economy?
The B58 has earned a near-certain status as one of the best BMW six-cylinder engines to date, and it’s easy to see why, with quick acceleration, minimal turbo lag and an excellent exhaust note.
Inline-six-cylinder powertrains have traditionally been more refined and balanced than their three- and four-cylinder siblings, and the B58 is no exception, offering excellent refinement, with the engine never unnecessary in the cabin. Does not send vibrations or feel stiff or tense.
Just as impressive is the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. With 500Nm of torque from the engine to drive, the transmission is never caught flat-footed, and is always capable of staying in the correct gear. Gearshifts are unintuitive, and while the M240i is equipped with paddle shifters, they aren’t necessary given the quality of the transmission.
Fuel economy is acceptable given this performance envelope. City fuel economy averaged 9.5L/100km during my time with the car, while highway fuel economy can easily drop below 7.5L/100km with cruise control enabled.
What about the technology in your car?
The technology on offer is surprisingly good considering the car’s age.
The iDrive 6 infotainment software may be two versions behind the latest OS 8.0 infotainment found in the latest BMWs such as the iX, but it’s easy to use and looks great on the crisp, high-resolution 8.8-inch widescreen display.
One feature I found very useful is the car’s connectivity with the MyBMW app. The app allows you to send navigation locations directly to the car (sharing via Apple or Google Maps is also possible), and lets you remotely lock the car, flash the headlights, sound the horn or turn on the fan. The car also allows ventilation, making it ideal for hot summer days.
The app shows the car’s odometer readouts and when the next service is due, as well as showing you the car’s fuel level – perfect for helping you decide when it’s time to fill up!
The car has an ideal combination of touch and physical controls which help a lot with ergonomics. All air conditioning and other HVAC functions can be manipulated via buttons, and the rotary iDrive control knob is an ergonomic way to control the infotainment system.
Unfortunately, the car doesn’t include a digital instrument cluster, but I appreciate the elegant, classic twin-dial look of the analog gauges that aren’t bulky, don’t strain the eyes, and more importantly, No distractions from driving. Car. A mid-life facelift for the F22 2 Series Coupé introduced a backlit version for a cleaner, ‘semi-digital’ appearance with navigation directions and a digital speedo concealed in a seamless, illuminated panel.
BMW was one of the first manufacturers to offer wireless CarPlay in its vehicles, but it did a lot of good by offering it as a subscription service before changing the tech and making it permanently available through a software update. Lost power.
How about your ride comfort and handling of your car?
The M240i features an adaptive suspension setup that allows the car to strike the perfect balance between ride comfort and handling.
Suspension and other performance parameters can be changed through various driving modes, including Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. In Eco Pro and Comfort modes, bumps and cracks in the road are noticeable, but never uncomfortable and don’t disturb the ride at speed.
As expected, the Sport and Sport Plus modes stiffen the suspension for a firmer ride that isn’t ideal for the typical pockmarked and pothole-ridden Australian road, and the ride in these modes can be uncomfortable at times. can
Regardless of the suspension setting, the car never feels loose and understeers in corners.
I’ve owned an R56 Mini Cooper before, and the M240i isn’t quite as nimble or playful as that car, but it has excellent, GT-car handling characteristics that are ideal for long, sweeping turns and flowing roads.
A key contributor to handling is the variable sports steering system that the M240i is equipped with.
It changes steering weight based on speed and driving mode, with more steering weight in Sport mode and at higher speeds, giving the driver extra confidence. At low speeds, the steering becomes light enough to aid in parking and maneuvering.
In all situations, the M240i maintains an overall feeling of confidence and solidity without the hyperactive or arcade-style steering that can plague other cars.
Do you have any additional comments about your car?
In many ways, the M240i is in a class of its own.
No other manufacturer offers a compact, rear-wheel-drive sports car that’s practical enough to comfortably fit adults in the back seat, has a large boot, and still maintains a desirable two-door coupe silhouette. .
Cars like the M240i won’t last long, so if you’re in the market for one, now’s a good time to buy. The M240i is the spiritual successor to cars such as the ‘Neue Klasse’ BMW 1600 and 2002, and is the epitome of BMW’s traditional best – a maker of compact sporting coupes.