2018 & 2019 M240i Steering/Handling

Westway · 02-25-2019, 11:46 AM

I currently drive a MY2016 M235i but looking into a new m240. Reading and watching video reviews of the MY18-19 m240i, there seems to be an ongoing theme of the steering feel being bad. Apparently you cant really tell what the front end is doing. But none of these criticisms provide any context to a comparison.

For those who have driven a m235 and a newer m240, is steering/handling the same? Worse? Better?

DistantTea · 02-25-2019, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westway

I currently drive a MY2016 M235i but looking into a new m240. Reading and watching video reviews of the MY18-19 m240i, there seems to be an ongoing theme of the steering feel being bad. Apparently you cant really tell what the front end is doing. But none of these criticisms provide any context to a comparison.

For those who have driven a m235 and a newer m240, is steering/handling the same? Worse? Better?

Felt the same to me. The complaint is mostly due to sport mode when they artificially make the steering heavier. It really numbs everything down, IMO. Literally nobody wants heavier steering unless it's because you shoehorned 265s onto your front wheels.

CAMOETO · 02-25-2019, 01:04 PM

I like sport mode steering compared to comfort mode. The steering in both modes feels somewhat artificial with not as much feedback as I would like, but for me the heftier steering in sport mode makes for a more engaging feeling. YMMV...

bimmerfile · 02-25-2019, 01:45 PM

Went from a 2016 M235xi Cabrio to a 2018 M240xi Cabrio approx six months ago. Steering feel in Comfort Mode on the M240xi is identical to steering feel in Comfort Mode on my former M235xi. In Sport and Sport+ the steering on the M240xi does feel a bit heavier - more like what I had on my 2008 1-series - but that's not a bad thing.
The only diff I have found between the 2 (M235 & M240) is that the B58 feels stronger and so quick that there's rarely a need for me to take her out of comfort mode.

If you like the M235, then you'll like the M240 even more - guaranteed.

xantdieselx · 02-25-2019, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westway

I currently drive a MY2016 M235i but looking into a new m240. Reading and watching video reviews of the MY18-19 m240i, there seems to be an ongoing theme of the steering feel being bad. Apparently you cant really tell what the front end is doing. But none of these criticisms provide any context to a comparison.

For those who have driven a m235 and a newer m240, is steering/handling the same? Worse? Better?

Just picked up a 19' M240i xDrive on Saturday after turning in my 16' M235i xDrive. It's not a fair comparison bc the M235i had the Pirelli RFT's and my M240i has the staggered Michelin Pilot Sports. Steering is still numb. A little heavier in Comfort and quite a bit heavier in Sport +.

The M240i turns in quicker and steering seems a bit more precise. Again, a lot of it could be the tires. All in all it has a similar feel to the M235i but as others have mentioned that's where the similarities end. The B58 is a beast and the 8AT is even sharper. You can drive in Sport + on the highway as the trans will now automatically shift into 8th gear.

The interior is a welcome improvement. Love the new gauges and the HK actually sounds good this time around. If you're on the fence just go for it. I was worried that I would miss the M235i but actually feel bad that I don't.

xantdieselx · 02-25-2019, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westway

I currently drive a MY2016 M235i but looking into a new m240. Reading and watching video reviews of the MY18-19 m240i, there seems to be an ongoing theme of the steering feel being bad. Apparently you cant really tell what the front end is doing. But none of these criticisms provide any context to a comparison.

For those who have driven a m235 and a newer m240, is steering/handling the same? Worse? Better?

Just picked up a 19' M240i xDrive on Saturday after turning in my 16' M235i xDrive. It's not a fair comparison bc the M235i had the Pirelli RFT's and my M240i has the staggered Michelin Pilot Sports. Steering is still numb. A little heavier in Comfort and quite a bit heavier in Sport +.

The M240i turns in quicker and steering seems a bit more precise. Again, a lot of it could be the tires. All in all it has a similar feel to the M235i but as others have mentioned that's where the similarities end. The B58 is a beast and the 8AT is even sharper. You can drive in Sport + on the highway as the trans will now automatically shift into 8th gear.

The interior is a welcome improvement. Love the new gauges and the HK actually sounds good this time around. If you're on the fence just go for it. I was worried that I would miss the M235i but actually feel bad that I don't.

MarkDemma · 02-25-2019, 10:46 PM

I've yet to drive a modern BMW with electric steering that has as much feel as my old hydraulic E46. But it did seem that the larger BMWs feel even more disconnected. Main reason I went with a 2 instead of a 4. Well, that and $10,000.

RvR · 02-26-2019, 02:18 PM

Back in the E46 era, I test drove a brand new pair of 330i coupes, one with sport suspension, one without. That's been so long ago I don't remember specifics beyond they were very smooth, but I knew I preferred the sport suspension. Had I ordered one, it would have been a ZHP.

I test drove a 2014 M235i for about 15 miles before ordering my M240i (2018). The test drive I did in Sport mode and it seemed okay. Now our Rust Belt roads are so bad, I may not have gotten a complete picture of the steering, being too busy going up and down potholes. I hoped the LCI M240i would have better steering feel, that's one of the reasons I waited.

Jump cut to ED in Germany, no, the steering feel, even in sport, pretty much completely lacked any feedback, nor even what I'd call "convincing weighting" -- a mix of on-center feel with how it loads up off-center.

A Mk V VW GTI, for example (also has Electronically Power-Assisted Steering), has pretty much zero contact patch information through the wheel, but the weighting is pretty convincing, on dry pavement. When it gets wet, icy, or snowy, however, then you realize you have to judge things by the seat-of-your-pants, not what the wheel feels like, which is pretty much nothing.

In Germany, the roads are excellent, so driving in Sport mode all the time works quite well. However, even in Sport mode, the M240i lack of steering feel bothered me. Adding extra "weighting" isn't the answer, you need the contact patch information to come up through the steering wheel. It's the one thing that really bothers me about the M240i.

Most EPAS systems are widely criticized for lack of steering feel, and rightly so. The only manufacturer I know of that's gotten it so EPAS is a non-issue is Porsche -- I haven't driven everything mind you.

I wasn't able to test drive an M2 before ordering my car, and given what I'd use the car for, I thought the better fit was the M240i -- I was looking for a modern 330Ci ZHP, really. So while I really like my M240i, I won't say I love it, and that's because of the mute steering. Not numb, but mute. Note that the various full M cars (as well as other mfrs.) also get criticized for uncommunicative EPAS.

A few months ago I my dealer had an event where they had test drives, including an M2 (no comp pack.) I took the M2 out and though it had notably better "convincing weighting" than my M240i. No more feedback thorough the wheel, mind you, but the weighting was better than my car, and better than my Mk V GTI, but nowhere near as good as Porsche EPAS. (As an aside, I thought the press reports of the M2 ride harshness were exaggerated, it was not nearly as bad as they made it out to be, and I deliberately took the car over crap pavement.)

If BMW ever releases an M Performance steering feel EPAS coding upgrade, I'd be first in line for it.

So I'm not sure if this helps, but it's my experience. All I can say is to do a goodly amount of test driving in the various models and decide for yourself.

RvR

Lucky1 · 02-27-2019, 06:24 AM

Drove a first year M4 non-comp and FWIW I found the steering feel to be no less good than my Z4 MR. Now that car isn't known to have the best steering feel BMW has offered but at least it makes me believe there are some cars where BMW hasn't totally blown it when it comes to EPS with good feel when they want to. Drove both M235i and M240i; both lacked the feel of the hydraulic rack in my 128i.

02-25-2019, 11:46 AM	#1
Westway New Member 6 Rep 26 Posts Drives: M2C Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Westcoast iTrader: (0)	2018 & 2019 M240i Steering/Handling I currently drive a MY2016 M235i but looking into a new m240. Reading and watching video reviews of the MY18-19 m240i, there seems to be an ongoing theme of the steering feel being bad. Apparently you cant really tell what the front end is doing. But none of these criticisms provide any context to a comparison. For those who have driven a m235 and a newer m240, is steering/handling the same? Worse? Better?
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02-25-2019, 01:04 PM	#3
CAMOETO First Lieutenant 140 Rep 381 Posts Drives: 2017 m240i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: SE MI iTrader: (2)	I like sport mode steering compared to comfort mode. The steering in both modes feels somewhat artificial with not as much feedback as I would like, but for me the heftier steering in sport mode makes for a more engaging feeling. YMMV... __________________ Current: 2019 640i GT, 2019 MX-5 GT-S, 2015 X1 xDrive35i Gone, but not forgotten: 2017 m240i, 2016 GTI PP, 2013 Camaro SS, 2009 G8 GXP, 2008 G8 GT, 2007 335i, 2003 530i
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02-25-2019, 01:45 PM	#4
bimmerfile Colonel 622 Rep 2,067 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X2 F39 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: GTA, Canada iTrader: (0)	Went from a 2016 M235xi Cabrio to a 2018 M240xi Cabrio approx six months ago. Steering feel in Comfort Mode on the M240xi is identical to steering feel in Comfort Mode on my former M235xi. In Sport and Sport+ the steering on the M240xi does feel a bit heavier - more like what I had on my 2008 1-series - but that's not a bad thing. The only diff I have found between the 2 (M235 & M240) is that the B58 feels stronger and so quick that there's rarely a need for me to take her out of comfort mode. If you like the M235, then you'll like the M240 even more - guaranteed. __________________ 2019 X2
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02-25-2019, 10:46 PM	#7
MarkDemma Lieutenant 520 Rep 503 Posts Drives: F22 M240i / E46 330Ci ZHP Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M240i [0.00] 2004 BMW 300Ci ZHP [0.00]	I've yet to drive a modern BMW with electric steering that has as much feel as my old hydraulic E46. But it did seem that the larger BMWs feel even more disconnected. Main reason I went with a 2 instead of a 4. Well, that and $10,000.
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02-26-2019, 02:18 PM	#8
RvR Private 65 Rep 86 Posts Drives: M240i Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: U.S.A. iTrader: (0)	F22 steering Back in the E46 era, I test drove a brand new pair of 330i coupes, one with sport suspension, one without. That's been so long ago I don't remember specifics beyond they were very smooth, but I knew I preferred the sport suspension. Had I ordered one, it would have been a ZHP. I test drove a 2014 M235i for about 15 miles before ordering my M240i (2018). The test drive I did in Sport mode and it seemed okay. Now our Rust Belt roads are so bad, I may not have gotten a complete picture of the steering, being too busy going up and down potholes. I hoped the LCI M240i would have better steering feel, that's one of the reasons I waited. Jump cut to ED in Germany, no, the steering feel, even in sport, pretty much completely lacked any feedback, nor even what I'd call "convincing weighting" -- a mix of on-center feel with how it loads up off-center. A Mk V VW GTI, for example (also has Electronically Power-Assisted Steering), has pretty much zero contact patch information through the wheel, but the weighting is pretty convincing, on dry pavement. When it gets wet, icy, or snowy, however, then you realize you have to judge things by the seat-of-your-pants, not what the wheel feels like, which is pretty much nothing. In Germany, the roads are excellent, so driving in Sport mode all the time works quite well. However, even in Sport mode, the M240i lack of steering feel bothered me. Adding extra "weighting" isn't the answer, you need the contact patch information to come up through the steering wheel. It's the one thing that really bothers me about the M240i. Most EPAS systems are widely criticized for lack of steering feel, and rightly so. The only manufacturer I know of that's gotten it so EPAS is a non-issue is Porsche -- I haven't driven everything mind you. I wasn't able to test drive an M2 before ordering my car, and given what I'd use the car for, I thought the better fit was the M240i -- I was looking for a modern 330Ci ZHP, really. So while I really like my M240i, I won't say I love it, and that's because of the mute steering. Not numb, but mute. Note that the various full M cars (as well as other mfrs.) also get criticized for uncommunicative EPAS. A few months ago I my dealer had an event where they had test drives, including an M2 (no comp pack.) I took the M2 out and though it had notably better "convincing weighting" than my M240i. No more feedback thorough the wheel, mind you, but the weighting was better than my car, and better than my Mk V GTI, but nowhere near as good as Porsche EPAS. (As an aside, I thought the press reports of the M2 ride harshness were exaggerated, it was not nearly as bad as they made it out to be, and I deliberately took the car over crap pavement.) If BMW ever releases an M Performance steering feel EPAS coding upgrade, I'd be first in line for it. So I'm not sure if this helps, but it's my experience. All I can say is to do a goodly amount of test driving in the various models and decide for yourself. RvR
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02-27-2019, 06:24 AM	#9
Lucky1 Colonel 650 Rep 2,055 Posts Drives: '08 128i Coupe SGM 6MT Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Porsche 911 Ca ... [0.00] 2008 128i Coupe [0.00] 2006 Z4 M Roadster [0.00]	Drove a first year M4 non-comp and FWIW I found the steering feel to be no less good than my Z4 MR. Now that car isn't known to have the best steering feel BMW has offered but at least it makes me believe there are some cars where BMW hasn't totally blown it when it comes to EPS with good feel when they want to. Drove both M235i and M240i; both lacked the feel of the hydraulic rack in my 128i.
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