What happens when BMW puts the 4 Series on a boil wash? Premium quality and driver rewards
A baby 4 Series, or a big 1 Series? Whichever way you view the first-generation BMW 2 Series, it is good to drive, good to sit in and good to look at, and it went straight to the top of the class when it was launched in 2014.
Indeed, the chic successor to the BMW 1 Series coupé has aged well, and while this rear-driven two-door was priced from around £25,000 when new, you can snag a fairly tidy high-miler for no more than £3500 today.
The F22-generation 2 Series has a lot going for it, including size. At 4432mm, it is 72mm longer than the 1 Series coupé, instantly making it a more commodious proposition than its forebear.
So the cabin is far more habitable, with greater head room and generous levels of leg room in the rear. Sure, taller passengers might find the roofline to be less accommodating, but there’s ample room for shorter trips.
As you would expect of a BMW built in the mid-2010s, the fit and finish inside is excellent, with high-quality materials deployed throughout.
Even entry-level SE trim feels upmarket and refined. And while that may be the most basic version of the 2 Series, its kit roster is strong and its smaller, 17in wheels and comfort-biased suspension make it a solid choice.
You will find more desirable features in Sport, Luxury and M Sport variants, but be aware that M Sport is the sterner-riding coupé because of its M suspension tune and larger alloy wheels.
Much like the 3 and 4 Series, BMW’s compact coupé is available with a broad range of petrol and diesel units, which means it can be a potent Mercedes A45 AMG slayer or a sedate oil-burning cruiser. The choice is yours.
Among the petrols, the 1.5-litre three-pot in the 218i is characterful and frugal, with close to 40mpg achievable on longer stints. The 181bhp four-cylinder 220i offers a little more flexibility.
And if you want one of the smaller petrol lumps with a bit more zeal, the 242bhp 228i and the 249bhp 230i are punchy, but you’ll spend more time (and money) filling them up.
The diesel range is punctuated by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder 218d, 220d and 225d. The mid-rung 184bhp 220d is the best of these: it pulls well, has more than enough grunt for overtaking and won’t drop below 45mpg.
On the motorway it will do closer to 60mpg, but make sure you opt for a post-2015 car, because the earlier models with the ‘N47’ four-pot can suffer timing chain problems.
Whether you plump for petrol or diesel, the 2 Series is effortlessly agile and willing to be driven hard through a sequence of sweeps. But if you want to get the most out of the 2 Series’ chassis, you’ll want a six-cylinder one: the M235i or M240i.
“There isn’t a compact coupé that provides the same blend of handling agility and driver engagement as this,” we wrote of the M235i when we first drove it more than 10 years ago.
It corners flat and hard, and rides competently too, particularly with adaptive suspension fitted.
The ‘N55’ straight six in the M235i has a few mechanical niggles, so we would fork out the extra £3000-£4000 for the M240i that superseded it in 2017.
Faster, punchier and fabulous to drive, the M240i is the more polished of the two, and gets the sweeter 335bhp ‘B58’ six-cylinder engine, which is more reliable and fuel efficient.
What to look for
Engine: ‘N47’ diesel is known for timing chain woes. A lack of performance or a rattling from cold suggests that it’s on its way out. It can cost between £1000 and £2500 to replace, depending on labour rates.
Valve-cover oil leaks and high-pressure fuel pump failure are common with the ‘N55’ engine in the M235i. Variable valve timing can also fail and cause carbon to build up in the inlet manifold but walnut blasting will cure it. The plastic turbo inlet pipe on the M235i is poor quality and can degrade over time. Replace it with an aluminium or silicone pipe. Overheating, coolant leaks under the engine and an unusual high-pitched whine are all signs of a failing water pump. It’s best to replace it at around 80k miles. A faulty coolant tank cap can also cause leaks.
Gearbox: ZF transmission is generally reliable but watch for jerky or delayed shifts. Ensure the auto ‘box fluids are changed every 50k-60k miles. Software glitches can also cause jerky shifts but updating the transmission control unit can cure it.
Body: On the cabriolet version a leaking or overheating hydraulic pump can stop the roof mechanism from opening and closing. So check the roof operates normally because the hydraulic pump is expensive to replace.
Infotainment: BMW iDrive is generally robust but can suffer software glitches. Turning the car off and on again can resolve it. Worst case, it will need an update from a dealer.
Also worth knowing
BMW made a convertible version, which arrived in early 2015. Today, they sell for roughly 20% more than their coupé equivalents.
BMW fettler Birds Auto offers various upgrades for the M235i/ M240i performance models to enhance the car’s ride and driver engagement. Popular mods include a Quaife limited-slip differential, Eibach springs, Bilstein dampers, a short-shifter kit and engine remap.
An owner’s view
Adam McNamara: “I purchased my M235i in January 2022. My original plan was to buy an M135i but the looks and spec of the car available at the time were too tempting to ignore. The 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine gave it so much character and worked beautifully with the automatic transmission. I averaged around 25mpg and clocked up 10,000 miles. It ran faultlessly in my 15-month ownership, during which I spent £500 on a main dealer service. I did also chew through a set of rear tyres, but that was to be expected.”
How much to spend
£3500-£7999: High-mileage 218d and 220d diesels dominate. M Sport and Sport models available too, with good levels of standard kit.
£8000-£12,999: Plenty of diesel models to choose from and a widening availability of petrol offerings such as the 218i. A few leggy M235is and M240is, but tread carefully.
£13,000-£16,999: Broad mix of engines and trims. Mileage varies but more facelifted examples to choose from. It’s easier to find a tidy six-cylinder car at this price point.
£17,000-£19,999: Petrol power is more common here. Lots of very tidy cars with a low number of previous owners and a full service history.
£20,000-£25,000: Pristine, low-mileage M240is. Dealer cars only.
