I agree with the sweet spot theory. I'd rather have a 225d over a 220d so I'd imagine 220i vs 230i is the same story. Seems a small difference on paper but in the real world makes a big difference. Great video Joe.

I'd be quite happy with that. 184bhp is not bad and that torque. I daily 140bhp insignia and its good power just lacks torque down low.

Joe, any chance you could do a 'drivers guide' for BMW cars please? Given your experience with both track and normal road driving across practically every BMW, your tips and insight would be really helpful as I always feel like there's more to extract from the car than I'm actually getting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for a 'how to drift' video or encouraging breaking speed limits/dangers driving etc, just general tips/guides that could really help people to better understand and use their BMW's rear wheel drive mechanics. Thanks

love it how you go through the specs/options in configurator and real life - very useful!

It’s always good to see reviews on the base model. Thanks

Great vid as ever, Joe. I think this model is great value. Inspired by your passion for the brand, I have an M240i on order for later this year. It looks far better in the metal than in photos and is a wonderful thing to drive. Looking forward to hearing all about your long-termer!

The modern BMW conundrum "Ugly face or weird arse?" I miss the 90's

Good to see the base car featured, look forward to the full review.

So, is it still 'Harry's Corner', or are we calliing the 'Metcalfe Achilles Chicane'?? ;) £35k seems steep for a near entry level, near base model vehicle from BMW, no?

I really like the look of the new 2 Series. They've done something very right with it.

I've got a manual old 230i and the rear can come into play in non-slippery conditions if you are aggressive with foot to the floor upwards of 4k rpm.

Thanks Joe for this video. Really informative and has helped me to make a decision on my next BMW 😊👍

This thing looks amazing, I love what BMW did with the new 2 series and M3, M4.

Never a fan of the first gen BMW 2 series but this one, on the BMW 3 series platform looks really good!

That’s a lovely looking car that. Nice work Joe !

I think that looks superb in red! I love it

Great video Joe. I really like that. It sounds better than my wife's 520i. It's a great looking car, I think BMW have got the proportions just right on this new one. Quick question though, you being a tall guy, how do you feel in the cabin, plenty of room?

Great video, many thanks. Really refreshing to hear your comments about the 230 v M240. Clearly a terrific car (prick of the range…??) - just needs a couple of design tweaks.

The quality of these videos are amazing these days

Joe revisit the M2 vs M240i you did a few years back, on the back of that I bought a m240i and never regretted it! One of the best vids you ever did imo!

Wow. It actually sounds good. Shocking!

I see this car as being good for students in college and paradoxically, good for older folks like myself who want to cruise out their golden years in something that retains a hint of sportiness.

The B48 is a great engine. Have it in my F30. Would deffo go to the 330 sweet spot next time. The 320i is nifty coming out of a 1L focus and I still enjoy putting my foot down in it but with a few years of use, I'm more drawn to the 330 being the best all rounder sub 300hp

Thanks! I've been waiting for the 220i review. 17:51 actually it's not only remap, the 220i engine doesn't have the piston head cooling of the 230i, also the compression ratio is different. Best!

Good to see you had matching red JOE

I suspect the difference between the B48 outputs in the 220 vs 230 is not just down to a state of tune. At least the pistons looked different when i looked at a few stripped down B48's from a F30 320i and 330i. The 330i looked like it had lower compression pistons to run more boost. Granted those were F30's from 2018 but it still did have B48's

Great review, thanks 👍🏻

With the anti diesel sentiment at the moment. Do you think people would choose this over bmw's 2.0 diesel? Maybe do a hyper mile video to see if it can get anywhere near the diesels economy 🤔

Love the colour matching shoes! 😉

I have mine on order, for June delivery. This video showed it sounded quite nice. Can you cover the exhaust sound more in next video, and do you know if anyone will develop an exhaust for it ?

Phew! I was worried that when the 1 and 2 series front wheel drive platform was introduced we will loose these driver focused RWD variants. Thank goodness they are still available. The car looks good, we dont all need a gazillion horsepower in our sports coupes. The only thing I'm not sure of is the rather high rear. Some would call it a big ar**!

Props for matching your threads to the car.

I have just ordered my 220i in Brooklyn grey. I just added the M sport performance pack. I have had a Audi S3 then moved to a A class with all the kit on which I didn’t use to be honest. I think the 220i will be something in between the models I have had before also costs will be done compared the those other models I had.

Joe, can you take a look at the Vorsteiner grille/splitters/spoiler for the M3/M4? I think it would suit your M3 especially with the colours matching

We want more videos about your new M3 Competition Xdrive

What a great car, what is the M2 comp going to be like

I really love the new 2 series design. Of course the M240i is amazing but I really like this base model. Probably quick enough and lots cheaper than the 240. But it’s very close to a 3 series when it comes to pricing… it’s not on the cheap/affordable side. But at least it’s proper RWD. Also I think they’ll do a 218i or so to lower the price (maybe even non M sport)

A friend of mine has the 220d, the old version. the new one looks nicer. Thanks for the review!

I would love an M340i Touring (need the space and practicality) but the added price over 330i Touring Sport is ridiculous here in DK. Close to double. So here the 30i is really the sweet spot between price and performance.

regarding the Head-Up-Display: press cars have different internal restrictions in their available options

Like that a lot. Colour scheme works.

The way the car was adjusting its height before launch 🔥

Great video! I just came back to BMW after 12 year hiatus...tempted by 2 dr rwd coupe with dimensions similar to my old e46 330ci. As a daily i went for the 230i...seems ample for a city dwelling car and wont break the bank.

Cool to see a „entry“ level 2 series. Personally I am very interested in those because for me they are like an old 1 series replacement. Low powered rwd cars for daily usage

Great video Joe

They look great in person tbh. I like the new design.

Looks great in red. Very tempted by the 240i though. There’s a lot of tasty stuff in the £50-60k ish ballpark. Of recent vids, as a great petrol one car garage, M240i, RS3 or Alpine?

I‘d love to hear your take on an B48 30i engine Joe. As you point out, could be the sweet spot for many in the range. Went from an M2 Comp to an 330i xdrive earlier in March because i need the space and wanted something more fuel efficient. Could not be any more happier to be honest, just the right power and torque for the daily commute!

Great to see you reviewing the 220i was worried we’d just get M240i overkill. I’ve got a 230i with these same options on the way. And I was getting some M240i FOMO due to the heavy attention it’s getting. Super happy to see the entry level models are good too!

…pressed send by mistake! The other factor was economy. I have had the pleasure of owning M2 Comp, M3s and M4, plus Audi RS. But the car that gave me the thrills largely within the parameters I lists was a manual golf R32…. Anyway, please compare the m240 to the m4 for rolling acceleration, braking and some tight corner “when does the limit bite and how does it bite” action. Great stuff, thank you

Great video as usual Joe! I was waiting for that because I am thinking of buying a 220i exactly like the one that you drove but in Black Sapphire. Considering the fact that the M240i does the 0-96 in 3.86 instead of 4.3, which is the real 0-96 for this one? Thanks in advance!

Hi Joe many thanks for this video. On the strength of this video I pick my 220i up today! Can I ask if you were to tune this car to get it to 230i performance, what tuning company would you recommend?

You have a front radar (in the lower grille) which I thought was for adaptive cruise control, yet your steering wheel doesn't have the ACC buttons.

Great video, good insight into a “lower” level model. Real world driving, what would you suggest is the best driver’s car at the moment. By that, I mean NOT zooming around tracks but feeling the driver is making the car work, and those instructions give feedback WITHIN the realms of speed limits, road surfaces and (dare I say) economy.

I really enjoy the look of this car in red with the normal face. My gripe is that the prestige line is far too large and that it eats into the rear seats. If they extended the roof forward and had a more up right windscreen it would be a bit more usable.

Great video 👍

Hi Joe, enjoyed the video and this 2 series really has now caught my eye...was looking at getting the new 3 series lci with idrive 8. After checking prices this comes in £8000 les for the same spec as the new 3 lci. This now also has received the idrive 8.

Definitely leaves space in the range for a circa 250bhp one in the future. Have to say I like the red too. Could I get my road bike in the back like I can in my M2?

My suggestion as someone close to being the type of buyer for this car and as someone who likes slow-car-fast and handling>power type of motoring, and as someone who does a 50 mile rural B road commute: do a 20-30 mile blast along your favourite B roads to see what fun (if any) you can have, and describe what the car is like doing this. Then turn round and head back (or repeat the loop) in eco pro mode, driving sedately at ordinary traffic speeds, avoiding higher rpms and anticipating so you don't have to brake that much - report on the mpg for that second bit and also if it was enjoyable or at all engaging driving in that relaxed way. Might I suggest Oxford Wheatley services to Stow on the wold or can extend another 10 miles further west on b4077 to Teddington Hands Roundabout north of Cheltenham.

Be good to see what it gets on a long drive, diesel vs petrol i don't think the gaps what it used to be, I know I made the wrong choice for my daily.

There’s a lot to be said for a motor that you can wring out on the public road. This is a great motor. I do like my M340 xdrive though….;)

Would love to see a 230is or something like that or a m240is with a rwd drivetrain

The small rear Lights, makes it looks wider

Hi Joe, great video...I love watching your reviews. I'm from South Africa...I'm considering getting a new car, however I'm stuck between the Golf 8 GTI and the 220i bmw...I know it isn't two cars that you can compare but in your honest opinion, which would you consider? thanks!

Would it be safe to remap a 220i to stage 1, gaining around 76 HP and 120 NM of torque? Thank you.

The new celica looks nice

Maybe a back to back comparison to a 420i? If you can get a hold of one

How is the steering feel compared to the M240i given this car is RWD?

What do you think about the seats? Do the M in m240i hold much better in turns?

Sounds good this B48

I have a b48 in my 1 series and with a simple bootmod3 tune you can add 100hp to it making it properly quick. Official 0-60 time is 7.1s but my car does it in 5s dead on my dragy. The b58 is a stonking engine, but you can get the 2l for pretty good money and it's amazing just how much power they hide behind a tune from the factory.

The 220i with a remap becomes really good fun. My old 220i n20 stage 1 runs about 260bhp and 430nm of torque.

Looks like Harry's roads. Nice car. I like this version a lot.

I drive a 2018 125i with 225/240bhp (b48 same engine) and it feels quick enough for every day driving. Also when it's a wet or damp road the car will lose grip very easily in sports.

230i will be the sweet spot, probably (unless, of course, you get a 220i stage 1 tuned to 230i power or beyond)

Great looking car Joe with a stunning colour

I know they are two very different cars but if you had to choose between a Golf 8 GTI vs a 220i which would you choose?

Good looking car

I believe that adaptive susp. Is only for the 240i :/ at least here in CZ.

What are the PCP deals looking like with Tony for 1 of these Joe any examples of a deposit/monthly payment plan? Many thanks.

I really like the lights on the new 2 series... Maybe I have problems 🤔

What about the 230i?? Such a special car with even more power and a light front end.

Great as always Joe, would love to see a drag race between a few m lights such as m135i, m240i the full fat M cars just to see the difference in straight line performance

Hi Joe. Thanks for the videos. I plan on getting a 220i coupe next year. What would be the must have regarding the options? Greetings from France

Hi Joe, I've just been watching Harry's Garage do you live near him as the road he drives def looks like the one you go down.

Honestly I love the new 2 series

I've got them in my M2, the seat belts only add 10hp not 20hp as stated

Joe, I think you are going to get your long termed before I get the one I ordered in January!

Is it just me or Joe's voice goes lower when reviewing lower spec cars?

Hey Joe - about 4 years ago you slated a 430i - the purple one- for not having the grunt of a 440. Now you reckon the 4 pot 30i engine is the sweet spot !

The size of the lights are ok, they just should have been placed a bit higher and maybe a little more towards the middle of the car.

Perfect car!!!

Brilliant car 😍😍🔥🔥🔥

Great car and all, I just cannot get over that rear end...

the headlights, the taillights, the triangular shaped inserts in front grill... What would you recommend I can wash my eyes with?

Stage 1 tune and it’s the perfect car for me. Great review👌

I have had a BMW M135i on order since summer time last year cant remember what month its on lease and I got the tech pack amongst other options but BMW have told the lease company it will not come with the wireless charging & enhanced bluetooth! That been said the M135i F40 is the flagship version of the 1 series and this 220i you have here isn't the flagship model but it comes with wireless charging? How can it be missing on the M135i but not on this 220i?

would be interesting to know what difference between the 220i b48 and the 230i or M135i is. Whether it is only an ECU remap which you can easily tune safely by yourself or if there are some weaker component's in the 220i which wouldn't be able to keep up with about 300hp. Currently driving a F21 120i with the b48 engine and running 300hp via MG Flasher. Does anybody think this is too risky? Because so far it seems to hold up extremely well! Temperatures are not getting to hot and everything is running completely fine.

Would really like to see a 0 to 60 time and a Dino run to see the actual power 👍🏻

For the price of this 184 hp 3,400 lb coupe you could get an Audi S3, Golf R, AMG 35 or M135i. They’re all fwd based awd but will absolutely smoke the 220i on road or track. RWD is great but with only 184 hp and chunky curb weight you won’t be steering with the throttle… ever.