BMW introduced the 230i nameplate for the 2017 model year as part of the U.S.-market update to the 2 Series Coupe and Convertible, replacing the earlier 228i designation. At launch, the 230i appeared in both coupe and convertible body styles, and it marked BMW’s move to a revised 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in the entry 2 Series lineup. In BMW’s naming logic, the new badge fit the brand’s broader shift from 28i to 30i model names for updated four-cylinder cars. The 230i remained the mainstream rear-wheel-drive 2 Series variant and has continued as part of BMW’s compact coupe lineup.
The nameplate entered a second era with the all-new 2 Series Coupe generation that arrived for 2022, when BMW carried the 230i badge forward onto the redesigned coupe. That later car kept the model positioned as the more accessible, everyday-oriented companion to the higher-output M240i, while preserving the 2 Series’ traditional small-coupe formula and enthusiast appeal. BMW currently offers the 230i as part of the 2 Series Coupe range, with the nameplate still in production today.