BMW 2 Series coupe review (2014-2021): owner reviews
“The BMW 2 Series Coupe is stylish and great to drive, yet its running costs are also quite reasonable”
Carbuyer Rating
3.3 out of 5
Owners Rating
4.2 out of 5
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Reviews
Owner Reviews
- 5 out of 5
- 4 out of 5
- 3 out of 5
- 2 out of 5
- 1 out of 5
73%of people would recommend this car to a friendCommon Problems
- Suspension (1 case)
- Electrics, Engine, Gearbox / clutch, Other (1 case)
- Engine, Other (1 case)
- Gearbox / clutch (1 case)
Review 1 of 15
3 out of 5
Car Details
Model
M235i
Year
2014
Avg annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
28
Tell us what you think about your car?
This car would be great ... apart from the loose rear end. On a car with more than 320 bhp, it is disconcerting to for the rear to feel so uncontrolled. The lack of a limited slip diff is obvious.. they have remedied this in the M2, but the M235i has put me off.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
No 
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
218i Coupe Luxury
Year
2015
Avg annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
38
Tell us what you think about your car?
Very satisfying to drive but interior not as luxurious as it should be in a 'Luxury' version and the MPG figures claimed are just ludicrous. Overall 38mpg is about right. The run-flat tyres make for a fairly hard ride on the UK's potholed roads. But, it feels good every time I sit in it and it goes superbly.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
220d
Year
2014
Avg annual mileage
More than 20,000
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
39
Tell us what you think about your car?
Great car. Very fun to drive. The iDrive is very easy to use and it looks very nice.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
1 out of 5
Car Details
Model
220d M-Sport Coupe
Year
2015
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
43
Tell us what you think about your car?
Absolutely the worst car we have ever bought, this car is horrendously unreliable. In two years ours has had three replacement flywheels and clutches due to the guide tube bending, countless electrical and air conditioning faults and now the turbo has blown up. The dealerships are very good and very helpful but they have admitted that the 2 series is a very poor replacement for the older model 1 Series coupe.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
No
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
M235i
Year
2014
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
26
Tell us what you think about your car?
By far the best car I've ever owned. Build quality and styling (subjective, i know) are second to none and the performance of the 3.0L straight 6 never gets old.
It is very sedate and relaxed in eco pro mode, the throttle response is numbed right down which makes it perfectly pleasant in heavy/stop and go traffic and the (optional) adaptive dampers make it ride very well over bumps in comfort setting. Sport mode is crazy and you're in licence-losing territory before you know it, so setting a speed warning chime is a must. It truly is a rocket ship, and the exhaust sounds great despite being partially artificial, with some really nice crackles possible on the downshift when it blips the throttle.
The standard michelin pilot super sport tyres (225 front and 245 rear) are amazingly grippy in warm weather and even in the wet the limits are extremely high. Wouldn't recommend turning off dsc especially in the wet as the way it intervenes to cut power if things get out of hand really does make sure you avoid any trouble. Winter tyres are also a must for low temps (below 7C) as the dedicated summer tyres really do start to struggle for grip if they can't get any heat into them. Traction control lights up far more in these conditions if you floor the throttle and things can get a bit squirrelly.
If you don't do regular track days i don't know why an M3/4 would even appeal as a daily driver, as on the road the 326hp is still far too much and usable interior space, particularly in the M4, isn't much more and you get to save £20k. Despite not being an M car, the 235i certainly isn't useless on a circuit and probably won't be fully exploitable by 99% of the people who buy it. BMW are also known for underrating their engine output figures slightly too with reports of around 300hp being produced at the rear wheels floating about. This probably isn't far off: driven back to back on the road It feels every bit as quick as the 3.4L 991 carrera in a straight line which itself is rated at 350hp and has much larger rear section tyres.
I was fortunate enough to get hold of an ex-demo model so the pluses are it came with basically every option box ticked. The only things it's lacking are the park assist automated park function, lane departure warning and radar controlled cruise control. Things I've never had so won't miss. The main benefits are the ZF 8 speed sport auto transmission (better than manual in my opinion) adaptive suspension, professional sat nav and the Harmon Kardon hi-fi. These would be the four options to get on any M235i.
Fuel economy was never going to be great, and i didn't enter into ownership expecting great things. For the performance and some quite spirited mixed driving, 26mpg real world is pretty fantastic. This is achieved mainly in comfort and sport modes. With eco pro 30mpg is possible but it comes at the price of immense boredom for a maximum of 4-5 mpg more. It's only worth driving in this mode in heavy traffic and when doing prolonged cruises of 60-70mph, and this is mainly to take advantage of reducing exhaust drone as it'll still rocket up to redline under kick down after a brief pause to think.
The 52-litre fuel tank is a bit small for the engine but i suppose its to counter the "sticker shock" phenomenon at the pumps. Expect no more than 300 miles out of a tank and frequent fills with high millage are to be expected. For the performance and the price the M235i has very few competitors and it is definitely one of the stars in the current BMW line up if you're after something that punches you in the back when accelerating and can go around corners with immense composure.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
2 out of 5
Car Details
Model
1.5
Year
2016
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
38
Tell us what you think about your car?
My son bought a 2016 2 series coupe 1.5 3 cylinder, 5 months ago with 16600 miles on the clock. Oncollection from 'Ford's of Windsford', the driver's side window regulator had packed up, so my son had to have a courtesy car. Since then he has done 3800 putting the car on 20400 miles. The car has been in the garage now for 2 and half weeks looking like the timing chain has stretched, so not good. My son has said he will never buy another BMW.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
No
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
220i Sport auto
Year
2014
Avg annual mileage
15,000 – 19,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
40
Tell us what you think about your car?
A wonderful car, really well finished. Went to Coventry recently over 320 miles, almost all motorway average speed on way down was 58.7mph consumption 48.4mpg on the way back it was 63.9mph and 48.8mpg. I use cruise control a lot as it stops me speeding and the results are self evident. Looking forward to a trip to the South of France soon. The auto box is really good always in the correct gear, the performance on country road is excellent. It accelerates, brakes, cruises copes with heavy traffic all in its stride. Stop start works really well too.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
M240i
Year
2017
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
27
Tell us what you think about your car?
Blistering performance from the 335BHP, 6 cylinder, 3 litre, twin-turbo engine! Wonderfully balanced handling and ride! Beautiful styling and luxurious interior. The car is completely addictive to drive and I've had a smile on my face ever since negotiating a very reasonable purchase price. Drive it carefully and you'll get a reasonable low 30's in terms of MPG. But with 335BHP on tap, why would you do something so dull? I love it!
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
220d M Sport
Year
2015
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
51
Tell us what you think about your car?
Replaced a 116d with the 220d - far better place to sit and there is no doubting it is a far better looking car. My only slight complaint would be the slightly rough engine noise - but only really noticeable at low speeds - calm and assured on the motorway and pleased with the MPG
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
220D M Sport
Year
2014
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
40
Tell us what you think about your car?
The 220d is the perfect drivers car it suits me for driving to work and thrashing it about on country lanes. It has an amazing throttle response that you wouldn't expect from a diesel and still returns 40-45 MPG around town and 60-70 MPG on the motorway, even if my lead foot takes over. The 8-speed auto is also very responsive and is always in the right gear at the right time, flappy paddles are also good but not as quick as a VW DSG, but you don't really notice it I'm talking milliseconds slower. The M Sport body styling also offers an elegant sporty look that scares of boy racers to even think about trying to race, but is subtle enough to pass as a luxury cruiser.
The interior is elegant and ergonomic, everything is where it should be and the iDrive system is fluid and so easy to navigate that you don't have to look at your hand to see what button you're pressing. The alcantara seats are soft to touch and and pleasing to the eye, I prefer these to leather as they keep cool. The sports seats are comfortable and reassuring weather you're cruising or throwing it around the bends. There is enough storage and boot space for the person who has to carry everything at once and well placed that it's always within reach.
There are four driving modes to choose from Eco-Pro, comfort, sport and sport plus.
Eco pro, good for commuting and saving that little extra fuel. You do loose a bit of throttle response as it hardens the pedal so you don't over accelerate.
Comfort, this is my favourite as you get the best of both worlds, the feeling of being in a more expensive luxury car as you serge forward and hardly feel any bumps or potholes.
Sport, good for those "come and try me" roads and smooth straights, paired with the 8 speed flappy paddles and you'll be doing a u-turn to go back on your favourite stretch of road. The acceleration can be brutal when the turbo is at full boost, but it adds to the excitement and you forget your driving a diesel but love it when your MPG stays above the 35 MPG.
Sport Plus, same as sport but as tail happy as puppy at dinner time.
All in all I would say this has to be the best car I've driven in terms of a day to day commuter and a weekend sports car.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
M240i
Year
2017
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
Used
Tell us what you think about your car?
This is my first premium car. And what a car! The car feels really well built, interior material feels luxurious yet, simple and well positioned. On the outside, this car doesn't grab the attention like a Porsche, Mustang, etc, but is easily faster than any of those (I rather like a low profile car on the streets). Performance is the best thing about this car. Just push a button to Sport mode and prepare to be thrilled.
All in all, this is the best car I ever had
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
220i Petrol
Year
2017
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
30
Tell us what you think about your car?
Great car. Beautifully balanced. Superb value as it shares driving feel with much more expensive BMW's and I reckon is more attractive than any of them.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
220d
Year
2014
Avg annual mileage
15,000 – 19,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
48
Tell us what you think about your car?
The 220d was pitched against the likes of the Mercedes CLA and the Audi A3 Sedan - both of which I looked at before choosing the 2 Series. Basically, when we shopped around and our conclusion against the other two were that the CLA just didn't even pretend to be at all practical and the styling felt slightly off. The A3 Sedan needed speccing up so much that by the end you could have bought a TT!
The positive points of the 2 Series are pretty lengthy. Yes it's responsive and the rear wheel drive makes it very very fun to drive. It flies on the motorway and the M Sport styling makes the Diesel version still feel cool and not too 'sensible.' I think it looks more aggressive and younger than other models competing against it. The boot space isn't as impractical as you would think either. I'm a bit of an IKEA addict and can still get most stuff home.
We also found that the 2 Series was fantastic value when compared to other cars in the sector. The negative points must be taken in context of a brilliant all round car - just worth noting as the very few things that have 'bugged' me.
1. You might read that the manual gear stick vibrates a bit too much. We found this and it was really annoying, but as the car has worn in it has all but stopped - so I wouldn't worry about that.
2. It's really annoying that on a car of this price you don't get a few basic options like folding wing mirrors and cruise control included.
3. We opted for the Harman Kardon speakers and to be honest, they're a bit underwhelming for the Aux input. They sound great with CDs but the connection isn't great for you iPod and I'm not sure how much additional value you really get.
4. Somehow the overall interior plastics and trim doesn't feel quite as special as the Mercedes or Audi. But the seats are awesome and that makes up for it.
Best options to opt for:
If you're getting the MSport styling, bear in mind that your roof and interior will be black. We got the sun roof and it is by far the best option we got. Transforms the car's interior into a really nice place to be.
Go for the pearly white paint option if you want white - don't skimp and get the cheap white! The difference is massive.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
2 out of 5
Car Details
Model
220i m sport
Year
2014
Avg annual mileage
0 – 4,999
Owned
2 - 3 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
23
Tell us what you think about your car?
loved the car.quick and agile,only me and the wife so backseat not used.clutch a bit juddery between 1st and 2nd and then the fault that BMW can,t fix developed.Clutch overheat msg kept appearing.Only do 100 ,yes 100 miles a month,don,t ride the clutch.took it back to dealer.They tried to blame me.took for test dive put it on diagnostics,nothing found.Msg more frequent now.Back to dealer.Another test drive.Yes there is a fault.A bent clutch release guide tube.They (under warranty)replaced the clutch,the release bearing and the release guide tube.Drives like a different car.For a week.The msg is back.Be warned.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
No
5 out of 5
Car Details
Model
218d Sport
Year
2014
Avg annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
54
Tell us what you think about your car?
The 218d Sport replaced a 520d SE that was also purchased from new at a BMW main dealer. With the 5-Series nearly six years old, and not needing a car of that size (due to all the kids having left home), we waited for the new 2-Series to appear before deciding on what should replace the 5.
With all those years of fault free motoring, it was sad to see the 520d go, and even up to ordering the 218d we remained unsure if we were making the right decision. We had to wait nearly three months for the car to be built, wanting the same spec as the 5, with full leather, cruise control, reversing sensors, and so on.
Apart from moving from five seats to four, and less boot space, the 218d has so far been a match for the 520d, with little to choose between them on performance. The 218d returns an average of 54mpg around town, but as been as high as 70mpg on a gentle run from Doncaster to Lincoln and back. It is road-holding though where the 218d nails the 520d, and I thought the latter was good. Turn-in is sharp and precise and offers a lot of satisfaction on minor roads.
Early days yet, but the 218d is impressive... and I would recommend to anyone.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?
Yes
