THE LARGEST BMW 2-SERIES FORUM ON THE PLANET
2Addicts
2Addicts
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum Technical Topics Tracking / Autocrossing How reliable is m235 xdrive in occasional tracking?

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      06-29-2017, 02:40 PM   #1
opposer
New Member
10
Rep
25
Posts

Drives: Subaru STI EDM 2005
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Moscow, Russia

iTrader: (0)

How reliable is m235 xdrive in occasional tracking?

Hi.

I plan to buy m235 or m135 xdrive and gonna use it on track rarely (4-5 sessions a month).
Here is the question. How reliable is stock (with semi-race brake pads) bimmer on track? I won't use any jb4 or something like it, 326hp is more than enough for me.

N54 was very unreliable on track, especially with automatic gearbox. What about n55 and 8AT? What about awd?
Appreciate 0
      06-30-2017, 02:25 PM   #2
rich8566
Major
rich8566's Avatar
United_States
609
Rep
1,124
Posts

Drives: M2 + Z-4
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: FL

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2014 BMW M235i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by opposer View Post
Hi.

I plan to buy m235 or m135 xdrive and gonna use it on track rarely (4-5 sessions a month).
Here is the question. How reliable is stock (with semi-race brake pads) bimmer on track? I won't use any jb4 or something like it, 326hp is more than enough for me.

N54 was very unreliable on track, especially with automatic gearbox. What about n55 and 8AT? What about awd?
235i is very reliable. Why do you need the X version. Get snow tires instead.
__________________
Current: 2017 ///M2 manual 2004 E85 Z-4 manual
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2017, 05:53 AM   #3
opposer
New Member
10
Rep
25
Posts

Drives: Subaru STI EDM 2005
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Moscow, Russia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by rich8566 View Post
235i is very reliable. Why do you need the X version. Get snow tires instead.
i live in Moscow, Russia, and roads are frozen/wet 10 months in a year. We got many snow racing events also and i want to participate (this moment i owe STI 2005)
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2017, 01:23 PM   #4
Questofthetune
Captain
Questofthetune's Avatar
446
Rep
780
Posts

Drives: 13 GT50014 AW M235i(sold)
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: SFL

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2014 BMW 235i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by opposer View Post
i live in Moscow, Russia, and roads are frozen/wet 10 months in a year. We got many snow racing events also and i want to participate (this moment i owe STI 2005)
Best reason I have seen so far!
Appreciate 0
      07-05-2017, 06:39 PM   #5
five3three
Major
163
Rep
1,053
Posts

Drives: m2c
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: VA

iTrader: (3)

30 track days over 3 years (and 45000 miles) and not a single problem with my 235, on or off the track. after coming from an n54 with tons of problems, i expected the same from n55. however, i was pleasantly surprised.
Appreciate 2
bryan_G011164.50
      07-15-2017, 08:31 PM   #6
xantdieselx
Kingslayer
xantdieselx's Avatar
No_Country
411
Rep
1,479
Posts

Drives: 23' M3 Base
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SWFL

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by five3three View Post
30 track days over 3 years (and 45000 miles) and not a single problem with my 235, on or off the track. after coming from an n54 with tons of problems, i expected the same from n55. however, i was pleasantly surprised.
What sold me on the M235i was flogging it at BMW PDC. Got the opportunity to go in 2014 (had an F30 328i at the time) it was an 87 degree day in July and we ran a group of M235i's hard all day.

It was the first time that I had the experience of driving a car so hard that brakes went to the floor - quite a puckering experience. The brakes came right back after a short cool down and I was blown away with how the car handled and put the power down.

I asked the instructors what was done to the cars to take the track abuse. The answer I got was "nothing". I think that's a testament to how the M235i is built.
__________________

Previous Cars: 2008' 135i, 2010' 328i, 2013' 328i, 2016' M235i, 2017' X1, 2019' M240i
Current Cars: 2019' X3, 2021' M3 Comp
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2017, 06:10 AM   #7
opposer
New Member
10
Rep
25
Posts

Drives: Subaru STI EDM 2005
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Moscow, Russia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by xantdieselx View Post
What sold me on the M235i was flogging it at BMW PDC. Got the opportunity to go in 2014 (had an F30 328i at the time) it was an 87 degree day in July and we ran a group of M235i's hard all day.

It was the first time that I had the experience of driving a car so hard that brakes went to the floor - quite a puckering experience. The brakes came right back after a short cool down and I was blown away with how the car handled and put the power down.

I asked the instructors what was done to the cars to take the track abuse. The answer I got was "nothing". I think that's a testament to how the M235i is built.
was it AT version or manual?

How does ZF handle track abuse?
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2017, 06:15 AM   #8
Joe240
Major
Joe240's Avatar
United_States
2924
Rep
1,303
Posts

Drives: 2021 C8 Corvette 1LT
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Pensacola

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by opposer View Post
was it AT version or manual?

How does ZF handle track abuse?
My 240xi zf8 has been phenomenal. Twisty roads of Germany and pushing 370-400awhp and not even a hiccup. The zf8 in these cars is by far the best auto I have ever driven (with that said, I've never driven the PDK Porsche trans which I hear is the same if not better than the zf8).
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2017, 08:09 AM   #9
opposer
New Member
10
Rep
25
Posts

Drives: Subaru STI EDM 2005
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Moscow, Russia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by five3three View Post
30 track days over 3 years (and 45000 miles) and not a single problem with my 235, on or off the track. after coming from an n54 with tons of problems, i expected the same from n55. however, i was pleasantly surprised.
is your 235 mt or at?
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2017, 02:25 PM   #10
bryan_G01
Lieutenant Colonel
bryan_G01's Avatar
1165
Rep
1,931
Posts

Drives: like i stole it...
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

the auto tranny can handle up to 550 whp without issue.

it can handle heavy abuse. the x-drive can take track abuse very well, if your advanced, run in dsc off mode for more of a rwd feel.

the mpss tires are complete shit, so invest in a separate set of wheels and track tires.

ebc yellow stuffs are great street and light track pads, but will dust heavily.

PFC 08 or Pagids race pads work wonders for a full track pad temed with cross drilled bmw rotors (oem part) and stainless steel lines and motul fluid.
__________________
www.nybmwcca.org
Current Cars:
1995 M3 Coupe Manual Alpine White
1997 M3 Sedan Auto Cosmo Black Metallic
2018 x3 m40 Auto Grey Metallic
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2017, 04:23 PM   #11
xantdieselx
Kingslayer
xantdieselx's Avatar
No_Country
411
Rep
1,479
Posts

Drives: 23' M3 Base
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SWFL

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by opposer View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by xantdieselx View Post
What sold me on the M235i was flogging it at BMW PDC. Got the opportunity to go in 2014 (had an F30 328i at the time) it was an 87 degree day in July and we ran a group of M235i's hard all day.

It was the first time that I had the experience of driving a car so hard that brakes went to the floor - quite a puckering experience. The brakes came right back after a short cool down and I was blown away with how the car handled and put the power down.

I asked the instructors what was done to the cars to take the track abuse. The answer I got was "nothing". I think that's a testament to how the M235i is built.
was it AT version or manual?

How does ZF handle track abuse?
They were all AT 8spd ZF. No issues whatsoever trans wise. Here's a couple pics from the day.
Attached Images
  
__________________

Previous Cars: 2008' 135i, 2010' 328i, 2013' 328i, 2016' M235i, 2017' X1, 2019' M240i
Current Cars: 2019' X3, 2021' M3 Comp
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2017, 06:44 PM   #12
zipphreak
Captain
No_Country
452
Rep
986
Posts

Drives: m235xi
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: b00ty

iTrader: (2)

My 2015 m235xi with 45k miles, does awesome at the track. Just came back from Palmer Motorsports in MA. Great challenging tracing with massive elevations. I get some extra traction in spots where front/rear wheel only drive cars just don't. Paddle shifting in Sport+ w/ Manual mode. It's the closest you can get to a full manual without the extra work I just need some longer fingers or longer paddles, i moved my hands down to 9/3 to use them. I'm usually up much higher at 10/2.
Appreciate 0
      07-26-2017, 02:06 PM   #13
opposer
New Member
10
Rep
25
Posts

Drives: Subaru STI EDM 2005
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Moscow, Russia

iTrader: (0)

I heard that N55 is very "hot" engine (high water and oil temp), much hotter than s54 and other m engines.

What is its average mileage before rebuild?
Appreciate 0
      07-26-2017, 02:19 PM   #14
zipphreak
Captain
No_Country
452
Rep
986
Posts

Drives: m235xi
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: b00ty

iTrader: (2)

really?!? they are still pretty new lol I doubt you are going to find many rebuilds.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:06 PM.




2addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST