BMW M140i vs M240i: Hot Hatch or Hot Coupe?
M140i and M240i share the same drivetrain: B58 single-turbo straight-six (340 bhp), rear-wheel drive, manual or 8-speed auto. The cars diverge on body: M140i is the 5-door hatchback (F20), M240i is the 2-door coupe (F22). Same character, different trade-off: practicality vs styling. Both are appreciating because the F40 1 Series successor went FWD-only and the G42 2 Series lost the M240i badge to M240i xDrive (no manual, AWD only).
Quick verdict
M140i if you need 5 doors and want maximum hot-hatch shock value; M240i if you want the coupe look and slightly calmer image. Same engine, same gearbox options, same fundamental driving feel. M240i commands a £2,000-£4,000 premium for the coupe body. Manual gearboxes on either body are appreciating cult buys; auto cars are the practical everyday pick. Both ULEZ-compliant; both very reliable B58 long-term.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | M140i | M240i | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body style | 5-door hatchback (also F21 3-door, rare) | 2-door coupe (also F23 convertible, rarer) | Single biggest practical difference. |
| Engine | B58 single-turbo I6 | B58 single-turbo I6 | Identical; 340 bhp on both LCI; 320 bhp on M135i pre-LCI N55. |
| 0 to 60 mph | 4.6 seconds (auto) | 4.6 seconds (auto) | Identical pace. |
| Real-world UK MPG | 26 to 32 mpg combined | 26 to 32 mpg combined | Same engine, same gearbox; same fuel cost. |
| Boot space | 360 litres seats up | 390 litres seats up | Coupe wins by a hair; hatch wins on practical access (5 doors, folding rear seats). |
| Rear-seat practicality | Adequate (5-door access) | Compromised (2-door access, lower roof) | Hatch wins for kids, dogs, anyone who needs the back seats. |
| Manual gearbox availability | Yes (~30% of UK builds) | Yes (~25% of UK builds) | Manual commands strong premium on both bodies. |
| Used pricing parity (2026 UK, auto) | M140i auto £19,000 to £24,000 | M240i auto £22,000 to £28,000 | M240i is around £2,000-£4,000 more. |
| Used pricing (manual premium) | M140i manual £22,000 to £28,000 | M240i manual £26,000 to £32,000 | Manual adds ~£3,000-£4,000 on either. |
| ULEZ compliance | Yes (Euro 6 from launch) | Yes (Euro 6 from launch) | No ULEZ concern on either. |
M140i: deeper look
M140i (LCI F20, 2016-2019, B58 340 bhp) is the practical hot hatch: 5-door hatchback body with the same drivetrain as M240i. RWD only (xDrive optional on Continental builds but UK was mostly RWD). Manual or 8-speed ZF auto. The pre-LCI M135i (N55, 320 bhp) is the cheaper alternative. 4.6-second 0-60. The last RWD 1 Series ever; F40 successor went FWD-only. Manual M140i in particular is appreciating; £22,000-£28,000 for clean examples in 2026.
M240i: deeper look
M240i (LCI F22, 2016-2021, B58 340 bhp) is the practical hot coupe: 2-door body with the same drivetrain as M140i. RWD only (LCI F22 had xDrive option in some markets; UK was mostly RWD). Manual or 8-speed ZF auto. The pre-LCI M235i (N55, 326 bhp) is the cheaper alternative. 4.6-second 0-60. The G42 successor moved to M240i xDrive (AWD only, no manual), which made the F22 M240i the last manual RWD 2-Series. Manual M240i is appreciating fast; £26,000-£32,000 for clean examples in 2026.
Decision logic
Two filters decide M140i vs M240i. First: do you need 5 doors? M140i wins (kids, dogs, regular rear-seat use). Second: which body do you want to look at every day? M240i coupe vs M140i hatch is genuinely a taste decision. Mechanically these are the same car. M240i commands a £2,000-£4,000 used premium for the coupe body. Both are excellent used buys, both are appreciating (the FWD successors are different cars), both share the B58 long-term reliability story.
UK 2026 pricing comparison
| Scenario | M140i | M240i | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 M140i, 60,000 miles, auto | £19,000 to £23,000 | £21,500 to £26,000 (M240i auto equivalent) | M240i coupe premium. |
| 2018 M140i, 50,000 miles, manual | £22,000 to £26,000 | £26,000 to £30,000 (M240i manual equivalent) | Manual on either body commands strong premium. |
| 2019 M140i Shadow Edition, 40,000 miles | £24,000 to £28,000 | £28,000 to £33,000 (M240i Shadow LCI equivalent) | Final F20 / F22 builds; cleanest used buys. |
| 2020 M240i LCI, 35,000 miles, manual | n/a (F20 ended 2019) | £30,000 to £35,000 | M240i continued to 2021; M140i ended at F40 launch in 2019. |
Recommendation by scenario
| Scenario | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Family second car / daily driver | M140i | 5-door hatchback practicality. The M240i coupe's 2-door access is a daily annoyance with kids or regular rear-seat use. |
| Enthusiast / wants the coupe look | M240i | Coupe styling, slightly lower roofline, more 'sports car' visual. £2,000-£4,000 more for the look. |
| Manual gearbox priority | Either, whichever you can find | Manual is rare on both; the supply is the binding constraint, not the body preference. Whichever clean manual you find at fair money is the right buy. |
| Investment / hold for appreciation | M240i (manual, LCI) | Lower production volume than M140i; F22 coupe styling is timeless; manual variants are now collectible. M240i Shadow Edition or final-year LCI examples are the picks. |
| Tight budget (sub-£20,000) | M135i pre-LCI (N55) or M235i pre-LCI (N55) | N55 engine instead of B58; 320-326 bhp instead of 340; £14,000-£18,000 manual; £12,000-£16,000 auto. Same body choice (hatch vs coupe) at lower money. |
| Want the most modern variant | M240i (LCI 2019-2021) | LCI updates; iDrive 6; latest B58 calibration. M140i ended in 2019 with F40 launch; M240i continued to 2021. |
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Frequently asked questions
Is the M140i the same car as the M240i?
Same drivetrain, different body. B58 single-turbo I6 340 bhp, RWD, manual or 8-speed ZF auto on both. M140i is the 5-door F20 hatchback; M240i is the 2-door F22 coupe. Mechanically they drive the same; visually and practically they're different cars.
Is the M140i / M240i ULEZ-compliant?
Yes, both are Euro 6 from launch and ULEZ-compliant. No ULEZ concern. Pre-LCI M135i (N55) and M235i (N55) are also Euro 6 ULEZ-compliant.
How much faster is the B58 over the N55?
Around 20 bhp more (340 vs 320 on M140i; 340 vs 326 on M240i) and slightly more refined power delivery. Pre-LCI M135i / M235i with N55 are appreciating because of the rarity but B58 is the safer used buy for daily driving. The B58 is one of BMW's best modern engines (Wards 10 Best 4 years running).
Why are the M140i and M240i appreciating?
F40 1 Series (M140i successor) went FWD-only and is mechanically unrelated. G42 2 Series (M240i successor) kept RWD but introduced AWD-only M240i xDrive with no manual option. So the F20 M140i and F22 M240i are the LAST manual RWD hot hatches / coupes BMW will ever make. That scarcity-of-character is driving the appreciation. Manual cars are appreciating fastest.
Manual or auto?
Auto (8-speed ZF) for everyday use; manual for character and appreciation upside. Auto cars are around £3,000-£4,000 cheaper for equivalent year and mileage. ZF 8-speed is one of the best autos ever made; you don't lose much driving pleasure. Manual is for buyers who specifically value the involvement and the collectible angle.
What's the M140i / M240i fuel economy like?
26 to 32 mpg combined; 35 to 42 mpg on a long motorway run; 18 to 22 mpg if driven hard. Same on both bodies (same engine, gearbox, similar kerb weight). B58 is more efficient than N55 it replaced by around 2-3 mpg.
How reliable is the M140i / M240i?
Excellent. B58 is one of BMW's most reliable modern engines. Single-turbo simplicity, port and direct injection (post-LCI B58TU has port injection which mitigates intake valve carbon). Standard modular B-engine items apply: aluminium charge pipe upgrade is the standard preventative (OEM plastic charge pipe is the universal weak point). Verify charge pipe before buying. Oil filter housing gasket weep at 60-100k is the second concern.
Is the M240i a 'proper M car'?
No. M Performance variant (M240i, M340i, M440i etc) is BMW's middle tier between regular models and full M cars (M2, M3, M4). M Performance gets engine and chassis upgrades but lacks the bespoke M-engine components (S55, S58 in the M2/M3/M4). M240i is sold as a 'hot version' of 2 Series, not as a full M car. The full M2 (F87 with N55 then S55) is the proper M version of the 2 Series.
Should I buy M140i / M240i or wait for the F87 M2?
If budget allows, M2 is the proper M car (S55 twin-turbo, 365-410 bhp, M-spec chassis). F87 M2 used £24,000-£35,000; F87 M2 Competition £32,000-£45,000. Roughly £3,000-£8,000 more than M140i / M240i for equivalent year. M2 is meaningfully more focused but also stiffer ride; M140i / M240i are the daily-driver picks; M2 is the weekend pick.
How much does M140i / M240i cost to run in the UK?
BMW dealer servicing: £350 to £500 for an inter-mediate service. Independent specialists: £250 to £380. Plus aluminium charge pipe upgrade (£150 to £350 once), tyres (around £600 to £900 per pair for the M Performance 18 or 19 inch wheels), and brake disc/pad replacement around 25-40k miles. Realistic annual running cost: £900 to £1,400 plus fuel and tax.