CAR WARS! Sibling Rivalry: BMW 228i vs. BMW M235i vs. BMW M2 — WHICH 2'er Takes The Cake?

If you were to ask me what form factor BMW does best, I would tell you without a moment's hesitation that its coupes are the company's best products. From the little 2-Series to the mighty M6, the Bavarians know how to make a two-door car bring you to your knees.

Let's say, theoretically of course, that you had a nice chunk of change in your wallet and instead of running out and snapping up an M2 you decided to measure all of the 2-Series coupes on offer now. Rather than wait for the 2017 model year refresh you want to know what's the one to have today.

That would leave you with the 228i, the M235i and the all-new M2.

Turns out one of the buff books wanted to take all three out, in addition to the E30 M3 and 1M, and see who is the best of the best. To me this sounds like an excellent idea.

Over the years the cars from the blue and white have changed drastically and given the variety here I needed to read and see what the reviewers thought. The result may surprise you — I still can't grasp their reasoning — but it is what it is.


..."Why don't you finish the drive," I reply, just as he'd hoped. With a brief spin of the tires on the shoulder, we're on the way back down. Smith's face is impassive behind his Ray-Bans, but we've raced together a few times, and from watching his hands, I can tell what he's thinking, because I'm thinking it as well: The 228i is our unanimous favorite. It's not really a modern E30 M3, but it captures that car's accessibility and agile spirit. Yes, the new M2 is brilliant, and the M235i is competent, but the 228i is special on both road and track. And though Smith's capitulation to this truth won't come without caveats, I know that he sees things my way. I knew he would even before we started that final drive up the mountain. After all, you can't lie to the mountain—and it can't lie to you...

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TomM - 7/3/2016 7:51:16 AM

+3 Boost

Essentially 3 cars that are going after the same customer - when was BMW bought out by the Koreans?

freeagent - 7/3/2016 8:01:19 AM

+3 Boost

Interesting how the M235 is said to have poor steering, making the 228 preferable. I do no remember ever reading that before. Previous reviews of the M235 were consistently very positive

MDarringer - 7/3/2016 12:45:59 PM

-1 Boost

If you're going to settle for a 2 Series, you may as well mitigate the downsides by getting the M2.

mini22 - 7/3/2016 1:26:06 PM

+3 Boost

I would still save up for an M2.

carloslassiter - 7/3/2016 5:15:17 PM

+3 Boost

I'm shocked that MDarringer chose the highest horsepower option.

MDarringer - 7/4/2016 10:49:57 AM

0 Boost

It's the only antidote to making a deficient car palatable. It's the cure the Miata, GT86, and S2000 all need/needed.

focal - 7/4/2016 1:23:24 PM

+2 Boost

200lbs savings up front is a huge difference when it comes to handling. We can all debate about numbers and stats, but the feel in driving is quite different when you account for weight savings.

I find bare stripper cars and full loaded cars the most appealing. That leaves the M235 a bit of an orphan now that the M2 is released.