The BMW M235i is the right size for a sports coupe. And that's very important. But with (a conservative) 300+ HP, RWD, and a limited slip differential, it's quite the potent machine.
I just LOVED this review. Fantastic to have the front facing view and be able to hear the sound of the car and Matt's commentary all at the same time! More like this Matt!!
Awesome video Matt, I currently own a 2008 e92 335i, and have been thinking about getting an M4, but after seeing all these videos praising the M235i I might change my mind. I'm definately going in for a test drive!
dude I loved your review. Well done. I loved that you mentioned car sizes and their practicability. 3 series became ridiculously big at no gain in practicability. Up to E90 was tolerable, but it just becomes bigger and bigger. Huh
A car that feels the right size to you is very important. The confidence gained is way more valuable than the actual size diff between it and the other cars. Even if the size diff is not much, if it matters to you then it is a huge deal. Just look at how you were really tossing that car around even on the low grip tires. Like a boss Matt, like a boss.
Not only does it make a lot of sense to user-test a new car you haven't tried before, but this also seems like a really well-spec'd car...BMWs really seem to be made or broken by their spec. This M235i with the manual transmission and performance exhaust is a set of non-run flats away from factory-warrantied perfection!
Thanks Matt and Sam: This video was one one of the reasons why I ordered up an M235i for myself. FYI it's a stripper with the only options of metallic white paint and manual transmission. BTW, for anyone considering this car, just listen to that engine/exhaust! I've had it for a week, and I love it! I'll be up in on the Snake soon!
I enjoy this video very much. I like it because I can actually compare it with what my mom has. She has a Dinan 135i Stage 2 with a DCT (obviously that is different).
I swapped in my 370z for one of these, active dampers and m performance body kit along with a few other (minimal) options. I love the car, it sounds great, it's quicker than the 370z and the finish is better. I was looking at the new Nismo which I personally think is a better looking car (it looks pretty damn bad ass these days) but I couldn't bring myself to pay the extra money for essentially the same car as I already had. It's great to have the back seats and the better boot space and the car is so so easy to drive, it's so eager and the engine is lovely. I had the use of a 435i for about 5 days while my car was in getting the body kit painted etc and I have to say the 4 series feels stupidly big in comparison, crappy turning circle (car park in work was a challenge) and it felt no where near as ready to go as this car. Yes I agree (and so does my bank statement) it is a little expensive considering it's not a "real" M car but really the only other cars in this sort of performance range in the UK are the 370 Nismo (not practical enough and already had a normal 370), a Cayman S (too expensive with a few options and again not practical) or a hot hatch (take your pick from the many that have appeared), which I didn't really fancy and well I'm not 18 anymore haha. I could have gone down the used car route, was looking at a last gen M3 for example but I've done that (used car route not M3) and tbh I don't have the patience to look after a used car anymore haha! Plus they are old technology man, you don't realise until you get into something built from the ground up within the last year or two. Before anyone down cries this car I suggest you go and get your bottom in it, I randomly test drove one, had no intention of selling my car for at least another year or so and immediately I was won over by it. Stupidly so in fact, the decision was practically made there n then! If you've driven the car and still have issues with it then fair enough but if your opinion is purely based on "stats", online reviews or something you've read then you have absolutely no idea what your talking about. Go waste a dealerships time and you will see why people are praising it :)
Wow, only a thousand miles? That young man is brave to hand over a car to be reviewed by Matt. I wouldn't let my brother drive it until it's broken in properly. No disrespect matt, love your channel. 😀
Yo what's up Matt! I also live in the valley I have a f30 335i I want you to take for a spin I have jb4 tune intake downpipes meth kit, Chargepipes, always running e85 ethanol. I wipe the floor with m5's. Lmk if your interested man I think this car is definitely worth being on the show !
I wonder what the owner was thinking when Matt tore balls out of the parking lot, to start. LoL I haven't seen him drive a car this hard on this series yet! I like how nice that mtx seemed to shift and engage.
This is the only new BMW I would consider buying. Ever other BMW is too big and heavy. This is the perfect size and weight, and looks good and has good power.
I owned one for a while, 6 speed. Oil consumption on 02/03 Maximas with 3.5L is absolutely terrible. I was burning about a quart of Mobil 1 synthetic every 500-600 miles and my car was not abused. I did drive it hard and it was an amazing car. Other then the oil consumption issue I never had any other problems.
Senor Pistolero Apparently a problem with the 02 4cyl as well. My dad's went through way too much oil. Always had to have an extra jug of it in the car at all times.
Nissan quality control around 3.5 Engine has been pretty terrible. Hard to believe since the 3.0 engine in 95-02 Maximas has been bullet proof. A lot of people on Maxima forums had their 3.5 engines replaced even in 2009-2013 cars.. With that said, I recently purchased a 2011 Maxima with 50K for an absolute steal with CVT for family duties. So far no oil burn issues but I religiously check oil level every time I get gas. 2009 and later Maximas and not my favorite car by far but it is absolute joy on the highway and open road and plenty of room in the back for my 2yo.
these are at such a great value right now...it doesn't hold value like the M2. found this exact spec for $25,000 and only 42,000 miles. I love the red too i think this is my next car
I loved your comment at 4:16 - I'm tossing up between a M235i or 228i M Sport. I'm super attracted to the lightness people praise the 228i for. I appreciated the comment that you made about the M235i also having that same lightness.
@@MK-bm8yn I got the m235i in the end. Had it since November last year. It's been so much fun. I never test drvoe the 228. Can't compare. But the m235i feels light and fast compared to the e90 m3 I used to have.
@@simeontaylor1235 I almost had a m235i but slipped away and every other one had 70k+ miles so I got a 228i with 38k. It’s a small light car. I’ve gotten it tuned and it feels like a rocket ship but I still yearn for the m235i at times
Ace Campano Drive gently. Don't bring the engine up over 3000 - 3500 rpm for at least the first 500 miles. Don't exceed these levels by much more than this for up to 2000 miles. --That's from AutoBytel
dragkid185 nice article. All you have to do is read the first line, "This is a very controversial topic !!" Clearly we will never agree. Interesting point of view though. Most manufacturers recommend not to do that, though.
I saw your review on the Lotus Evora. I have roughly enough for a good used M235i, 370z, TT TSFI mk3, 435i or Cayman 987 (around £23,000). However, I am considering saving hard for a year and going for the cheapest Lotus Evora I can find or a Porsche 981 Cayman (£33,000) roughly. I want excitement, fun and thrills, tons of feel with a good looks and a nice interior that gives me confidence and I feel like I can throw it around a bit and really push it. I don't want something too big, heavy that feels disconnected. I'd like to hear your thoughts. Thanks
Love these videos... I swear when you look at the owners face... there's a fair bit of.... "oh crap, I didn't know Matt was going lean so hard on my baby...!" .... or is it... "So this how you drive a car hard.... Yikes, where's that Jesus bar...I want my Mummy...!" I think Sam might be thinking... "Note to self... never let professional car review guy drive my new performance car ever again..." LoL... Nice vid Matt... this has put me in the mood to go take my Fiesta ST for a spin... Ciao for now...
I think that the take away point here is not how great of a car the BMW is, but how Abarth kept up with it on the twisty roads. Last year, a local dealership was selling brand new Abarths for $16K USD before taxes.
Dear Matt, Road & Track panned the 235i when they did a street and racetrack shootout against the 228i with the m sport/track options. They said the 235i pushed into and then snapped out of turns with uncommunicative feedback, and the 228i was more balanced, readable at the limit, and just more of a true BMW DNA car. They said the 235i was a fast Buick and the 228i was a real BMW. What's your opinion when comparing the two?
He loves those Michelin supersports tires. Talks about them in every video lol because of that I'm buying a set in a couple weeks. And did it seem that dude was a little sketched out with matt driving his car the way he was ha!
i used to run pilot super sports on my w203 benz and yes theyre grippy as hell but they ware out after 10k miles. its ridiculous. now i run pilot sport ps2s. still very grippy but they last longer.
I have to say the One Take series is one of your best ideas. Matt, TheSmokingTire
I agree; I'm really enjoying these and what is fun about it, you can kinda compare all the cars in a kinda "neutral" way
im sure the editing guy thinks so too
FvD714 yeah, especially since it's me - MF
Love seeing the variety of tuner cars driven by enthusiasts. Very cool
The owner obviously does NOT drive his car fast.
kid is terrified!!!
He's not even driving it that hard. Not much tyre (tire) squeal
thing has less than 1k miles. idc who's driving, seeing someone throttle down a canyon is gonna have you on edge lol
The owners face is pricless!
lol, Matt's driving was out of his league for sure.
Poor Sam ^^
That was the first time I felt my car as a passenger and I was overwhelmed! Not to mention that Matt is a very experienced driver
samchoochiu 2:39 were you popping your eardrums, lol? dat hard descent
***** idk I think so lol
I totally agree with the size issue. The 2 series is what the 3's used to be. Love the sound too.
I just LOVED this review. Fantastic to have the front facing view and be able to hear the sound of the car and Matt's commentary all at the same time! More like this Matt!!
I love this series of videos, especially watching the owners' faces as Matt goes flying around the corners, calmly talking.
I like how he says "Nice Triumph!" When he passes the TR3 but doesn't say a word when the Audi R8 convertible goes by at 1:40
Matt borrowed Psy's car. Gangnam Style.
Might be the best all-rounder for under fifty grand.
It's the only BMW I really love with the E92 M3.
^well said
Depends on what country you live in. It's about $52k in Canada. And that was before the Canadian dollar fell, because they rip Canadians off.
Bryan Doherty Well then I must've been referring to U.S. currency, mustn't I?
I would buy an E39 M5 and keep the change - talk about an all-rounder!
The sound is amazing! Probably one of my favorite cars on the market right now.
I enjoyed that, thank you. One of your best canyon runs.
Awesome video Matt, I currently own a 2008 e92 335i, and have been thinking about getting an M4, but after seeing all these videos praising the M235i I might change my mind.
I'm definately going in for a test drive!
I watched this when it came out, but I came back to say that this is probably my favorite TH-cam series. Keep it up, Matt!
Thank you for the "one take" series, Matt! You are definitely one of the better reviewers out there, the best one from America for sure...)
2:23 did Matt just offer to buy the guy Pilot Super Sports?
I've had my m235i for 6 days and love it to pieces. Had 650i for 9 years before trading it in. Love this one even more than my 650i.😃
Thanks Matt! I'm liking these a lot more now!
Ive driven both the new s3 and this, and all i have to say is ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE. So much fun
Great video, just like your other ones. Also love the compliments you give to the guy's cars
dude I loved your review. Well done. I loved that you mentioned car sizes and their practicability. 3 series became ridiculously big at no gain in practicability. Up to E90 was tolerable, but it just becomes bigger and bigger. Huh
hope these keep on coming really enjoying them, and that little bmw is sweet
A car that feels the right size to you is very important. The confidence gained is way more valuable than the actual size diff between it and the other cars. Even if the size diff is not much, if it matters to you then it is a huge deal.
Just look at how you were really tossing that car around even on the low grip tires. Like a boss Matt, like a boss.
Evan Moon I didn't used to think so, but I really do think cars are getting too big at the medium and high end, and roads are the same width.
TheSmokingTire Hey man Wheres your foxbody mustang?
M235i/240i and M2 are the coolest of the current BMW's. They got the old school end 80's/early 90's BMW feeling down pat with these.
I've been waiting for you to take the m235i for a spin. I've got one myself and it is simply a blast to drive.
Loved these vids! This was a really good idea to drive cars like this. Interesting.
Great vid. Loved the R8 Spyder drive by at 1:42.
amazing series keep it up
That was gold when matt took off and the owners face just about peeled off with the tired
Great idea on these one take reviews, Matt. Must be quick to film, and they're really entertaining to watch.
Lot of cool cars on that road!
This is a True BMW. In fact it is my favorite BMW. Small, fast, sounds good and pure fun!
Looks really smooth
Not only does it make a lot of sense to user-test a new car you haven't tried before, but this also seems like a really well-spec'd car...BMWs really seem to be made or broken by their spec. This M235i with the manual transmission and performance exhaust is a set of non-run flats away from factory-warrantied perfection!
I feel like driving my 1996 Tercel from FL to CA just so Matt can laugh at it, totally worth it if you ask me LOL
Ah this looks like such an awesome road to drive on, I'm sad I don't have any nice roads like this near me.
Nice ride! I like the M235i, it's a joy to drive for sure. Really looking forward to the M2.
Thanks Matt and Sam: This video was one one of the reasons why I ordered up an M235i for myself. FYI it's a stripper with the only options of metallic white paint and manual transmission. BTW, for anyone considering this car, just listen to that engine/exhaust! I've had it for a week, and I love it! I'll be up in on the Snake soon!
BH Joo Congrats! Message me if you want to hit up the canyons together
My full bolt on 135i is going to be reviewed on by Matt in May!
Crazy the Gangnam Style guy let you drive his car
Damn I cannot wait until the M2!
Great car!
These are great cars, much better than the 1 series I've had alot of time in.
"You have done very well sir" - Matt Farrah in every one take video, and 3x in this clip....
good review
I enjoy this video very much. I like it because I can actually compare it with what my mom has. She has a Dinan 135i Stage 2 with a DCT (obviously that is different).
really like this car. a pure bmw
Totally wish I lived in SoCal. Would love to have Matt review my slow car
I swapped in my 370z for one of these, active dampers and m performance body kit along with a few other (minimal) options. I love the car, it sounds great, it's quicker than the 370z and the finish is better. I was looking at the new Nismo which I personally think is a better looking car (it looks pretty damn bad ass these days) but I couldn't bring myself to pay the extra money for essentially the same car as I already had. It's great to have the back seats and the better boot space and the car is so so easy to drive, it's so eager and the engine is lovely. I had the use of a 435i for about 5 days while my car was in getting the body kit painted etc and I have to say the 4 series feels stupidly big in comparison, crappy turning circle (car park in work was a challenge) and it felt no where near as ready to go as this car. Yes I agree (and so does my bank statement) it is a little expensive considering it's not a "real" M car but really the only other cars in this sort of performance range in the UK are the 370 Nismo (not practical enough and already had a normal 370), a Cayman S (too expensive with a few options and again not practical) or a hot hatch (take your pick from the many that have appeared), which I didn't really fancy and well I'm not 18 anymore haha. I could have gone down the used car route, was looking at a last gen M3 for example but I've done that (used car route not M3) and tbh I don't have the patience to look after a used car anymore haha! Plus they are old technology man, you don't realise until you get into something built from the ground up within the last year or two.
Before anyone down cries this car I suggest you go and get your bottom in it, I randomly test drove one, had no intention of selling my car for at least another year or so and immediately I was won over by it. Stupidly so in fact, the decision was practically made there n then! If you've driven the car and still have issues with it then fair enough but if your opinion is purely based on "stats", online reviews or something you've read then you have absolutely no idea what your talking about. Go waste a dealerships time and you will see why people are praising it :)
What, no sunroof? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!
Also, that Abarth behind you probably sounded really good!
Anyway, awesome video. I like this series.
great value for the car. Very good review as always.
didn't see it yet. I like seeing Matt having fun. I believe it's a very good feedback together with the giggle.
well compared to some other car journalists (fuck you lieberman) he's really good
Matt, I think you made the owner very nervous with your driving ;) Great car and video.
Wow, only a thousand miles? That young man is brave to hand over a car to be reviewed by Matt. I wouldn't let my brother drive it until it's broken in properly. No disrespect matt, love your channel. 😀
that R8 went completely unnoticed by Matt, damn
id like to see you take a previa down one of those roads
Yo what's up Matt! I also live in the valley I have a f30 335i I want you to take for a spin I have jb4 tune intake downpipes meth kit, Chargepipes, always running e85 ethanol. I wipe the floor with m5's. Lmk if your interested man I think this car is definitely worth being on the show !
He is in New Zeeland! Hit him up on Facebook.
Message him on FaceBook, I'de also like to see him review that! :D
A FBO N55 won't beat a M5. An E39, probably, but not a E60 or F10. But a N54 FBO on the other hand...
Bryan Kendall My FBO beats e60 M5s all day, so idk what your talking about
Ricardo Saca No you don't. A FBO N55 E85 + Meth dynos 380hp on a really good day. The turbo is way too small to make big power.
Man, I wish I didn't have a mortgage.
Man, I wish my fucking rent didn't go up every year.
@@aluisious then buy and stop renting
I wonder what the owner was thinking when Matt tore balls out of the parking lot, to start. LoL I haven't seen him drive a car this hard on this series yet! I like how nice that mtx seemed to shift and engage.
This is the only new BMW I would consider buying. Ever other BMW is too big and heavy. This is the perfect size and weight, and looks good and has good power.
I have an e46 330ci. I think this car could be the best replacement for it. Looks great, sounds great, damn.. just take my money.
This is my favourite channel on TH-cam. Keep up the great work Matt. Also can I have your opinion on the 2003 Nissan Maxima?
Manual 03 SE is an interesting car, he needs to drive it.
I owned one for a while, 6 speed. Oil consumption on 02/03 Maximas with 3.5L is absolutely terrible.
I was burning about a quart of Mobil 1 synthetic every 500-600 miles and my car was not abused. I did drive it hard and it was an amazing car. Other then the oil consumption issue I never had any other problems.
Senor Pistolero Yeah mine doesn't but my brother has had some serious oil consumption issues. Pretty quick car for what it is.
Senor Pistolero
Apparently a problem with the 02 4cyl as well. My dad's went through way too much oil. Always had to have an extra jug of it in the car at all times.
Nissan quality control around 3.5 Engine has been pretty terrible. Hard to believe since the 3.0 engine in 95-02 Maximas has been bullet proof. A lot of people on Maxima forums had their 3.5 engines replaced even in 2009-2013 cars..
With that said, I recently purchased a 2011 Maxima with 50K for an absolute steal with CVT for family duties. So far no oil burn issues but I religiously check oil level every time I get gas. 2009 and later Maximas and not my favorite car by far but it is absolute joy on the highway and open road and plenty of room in the back for my 2yo.
PLEASE DO a one take of one of these on the pss,they bloody sweet.
A very nice video, looks like there is so many German cars in the canyons!
Very good review Matt. Do the US 235i come standard with the lsd?
I have an M sport 2 series and I have the exact same pirelli lanyard on my keys, this man is my long lost brother
Yo matt, how did you get Mr. chow to bring his car??
these are at such a great value right now...it doesn't hold value like the M2. found this exact spec for $25,000 and only 42,000 miles. I love the red too i think this is my next car
Oh was that a focus ST standing ready for you? Im curious to see what you like about that one!
Sam you have done well here!.... With your stock car.
BRO! Gold is best Bro!
TheSmokingTire How would you rate the M135i against the Z4 35i you drove? How do the chassis compare?
Hey Matt I really enjoy those videos! Are you driving some cars on the Snake again soon?
But how does it stack up to the fiesta st? Btw just bought a molten orange fiesta st.
I loved your comment at 4:16 - I'm tossing up between a M235i or 228i M Sport. I'm super attracted to the lightness people praise the 228i for. I appreciated the comment that you made about the M235i also having that same lightness.
what did you end up getting?
@@MK-bm8yn I got the m235i in the end. Had it since November last year. It's been so much fun. I never test drvoe the 228. Can't compare. But the m235i feels light and fast compared to the e90 m3 I used to have.
@@simeontaylor1235 I almost had a m235i but slipped away and every other one had 70k+ miles so I got a 228i with 38k. It’s a small light car. I’ve gotten it tuned and it feels like a rocket ship but I still yearn for the m235i at times
This video makes me want a BMW M235i... Really seems like a legit driver's car! Wish it was down at, say at least $42k though...
I love that guys gangman style song!!!
would u rather have this or an e92 M3?
Matt, thanks for the great vid, as always. How did this compare to the 1 Series M?
schlumee Much nicer interior on this new car.
Haha, so much for a proper break-in...
That is a proper break-in. Rings don't expand by having low pressure on them.
Retards think break in means drive it like like a grandma.... Going through the rev range and breaking in.
Ace Campano Drive gently. Don't bring the engine up over 3000 - 3500 rpm for at least the first 500 miles. Don't exceed these levels by much more than this for up to 2000 miles.
--That's from AutoBytel
328iiii You're supposed to use the entire rev range.
dragkid185 nice article. All you have to do is read the first line, "This is a very controversial topic !!" Clearly we will never agree. Interesting point of view though. Most manufacturers recommend not to do that, though.
Matt, how did this compare to the 2 n54's you've recorded on your One Take's?
One Take is the best.
First good car ! Nice :-)
I saw your review on the Lotus Evora. I have roughly enough for a good used M235i, 370z, TT TSFI mk3, 435i or Cayman 987 (around £23,000). However, I am considering saving hard for a year and going for the cheapest Lotus Evora I can find or a Porsche 981 Cayman (£33,000) roughly. I want excitement, fun and thrills, tons of feel with a good looks and a nice interior that gives me confidence and I feel like I can throw it around a bit and really push it. I don't want something too big, heavy that feels disconnected. I'd like to hear your thoughts. Thanks
Ayy watch it Matt let's not get too crazy, firmly believe my e46 m3 dinan package (exhaust, intake, tune) would keep up with this if not outshine it.
He owns one
It would keep up everywhere quite easily
amy gal A standard E36 M3 Evo from 95' would keep with the M235i around track too
Comparing a tuned car to stock... why?
Elementi515 The standard one would be enough most places, most of the time
Love these videos... I swear when you look at the owners face... there's a fair bit of.... "oh crap, I didn't know Matt was going lean so hard on my baby...!" .... or is it... "So this how you drive a car hard.... Yikes, where's that Jesus bar...I want my Mummy...!"
I think Sam might be thinking... "Note to self... never let professional car review guy drive my new performance car ever again..." LoL...
Nice vid Matt... this has put me in the mood to go take my Fiesta ST for a spin... Ciao for now...
I think that the take away point here is not how great of a car the BMW is, but how Abarth kept up with it on the twisty roads. Last year, a local dealership was selling brand new Abarths for $16K USD before taxes.
Bro, gold is best!
Dear Matt,
Road & Track panned the 235i when they did a street and racetrack shootout against the 228i with the m sport/track options. They said the 235i pushed into and then snapped out of turns with uncommunicative feedback, and the 228i was more balanced, readable at the limit, and just more of a true BMW DNA car. They said the 235i was a fast Buick and the 228i was a real BMW. What's your opinion when comparing the two?
Honestly would you prefer this to the cheaper and more power-full 335i you also drove ???
the same day you drove that yellow focus?
Is there a picture of the steering wheel?
No mention of Fiesta here!
Hey Matt or others , What would rather have bmw 135i with dinan package or new bmw 235i ???
Matt, do you think the M2 BMW is working on will be better than this one? Because they may make it so powerful you can't put the power on the ground.
Hey thats my homie Sam!
Where is this place? The roads are amazing!
Would you buy this or a focus st?
He loves those Michelin supersports tires. Talks about them in every video lol because of that I'm buying a set in a couple weeks. And did it seem that dude was a little sketched out with matt driving his car the way he was ha!
omg i want that car!
Are you guys still doing the podcast?
i used to run pilot super sports on my w203 benz and yes theyre grippy as hell but they ware out after 10k miles. its ridiculous. now i run pilot sport ps2s. still very grippy but they last longer.