[mmmmm235i]

Hey Everybody,

So I brought my car into the dealership last saturday to see what I could get for it on a m235 lease. As you can probably guess I was driving a 2009 328xi blk/blk with just cold weather package. The car had 95k miles and needed a considerable amount of work/maintenance to keep it running. This included rear pads and rotors, headlight washer and cover, replaced valve/cover, and at the time of the trade the service engine light was on along with the reduced engine power light. The dealership offered me 6500 for the car which was shockingly low, but I knew it would cost almost half that to get back to running condition. So I decided it was time to part with the 328 and wanted to upgrade.

I have always wanted to drive a M car and was worried that my expectations wouldn't be met by another 35i car with a ton of M badging. I have driven a couple M3s and there is nothing like the thickness of the steering wheel, smoothness of the engine, and stability of the suspension. The reviews of the M235i were all praising the 235 in almost every category, so I was hopeful. As soon as I started the M235 my worries went away. The exhaust is just ridiculous makes you want to just get on the car at all times. I think the salesman was getting scared at one point haha. I really have not had a chance to push the car to far at this point as I am still getting used to it and need to get really comfortable before anything like that, but this car is as stable and nimble as can be and it seems as though there is nothing this car can't do. All I want to do is drive now and it gets pretty good gas mileage too. I'll post some more pics when I have a chance to take them in better lighting. Feel free to post up any mod suggestions. I'm gonna have the car in Florida so I definitely need to tint the windows, but I find to find something with high heat resistance that is not very dark.
The car is black on black with the premium package

[DanG]

Congratulations. After having mine for over two months, it is by far my favorite BMW so far. And I have had BMWs since 1971 including an E46 M3.

[mmmmm235i]

That says a lot, this car deserves the M badge and continues to impress me

[///M235i]

MmmmmmmmToo35

[dt20011]

Nice, congrats!

[bimmerbuff]

Looks good! Congrats.

If you're looking for a clear film with good solar resistance, I've heard good things about 3M's Crystalline film.

[jeremicium]

Congrats. You make it sound like your 328 was a heap. Most of the problems you mentioned are routine maintenance items. CEL and reduced power symbol can happen for so many reasons, many of which are minor and easy to fix. You have to keep up on maintenance on these cars, or the small problems will add up and become unmanageable.

It sounds like a lease is right for you, no worries about having to take care of the car after the free BMW service expires.

[mmmmm235i]

Originally Posted by bimmerbuff

Looks good! Congrats.

If you're looking for a clear film with good solar resistance, I've heard good things about 3M's Crystalline film.

Thanks I'll check that out.

I loved the 328 and it was by no means a heap, I took care of that car right until the very end. The 328 is also a great car, but I had spent over $1500 in routine maintenance this month and when they offerred me such a low number on a trade in I knew it was now or never to get into a nice new car with a decent number of payments covered by the trade in. When your "routine maintenance" is costing half the value of the car (I needed 3k in work, so it was not minor) it is only worth it if you plan to keep the car for a long time. So I got as much as I could for the car and got a good deal on the 235i and I couldn't be happier.

[crawfordbay]

Congratulations. Black looks awesome!