[newmanjr]

Does anyone agree/disagree with the following Statement from the below Review of M330i VS M340i as I am possibly planning on switching my M330i to M340i?

“Unless you’re planning on hitting the autocross or race track every couple weekends, it’s hard to see any reason to fork over an extra $10,000 or more for the M340i. That’s not a slight against the M Sport model; it’s more a credit to how solid the basic 330i is.”

https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/a636...-versus-m340i/

[Montaver]

Didn’t read the review, but I have owned a base 330i and an LCI m340i cars. A lot of what’s good is present in both cars - tech, comfort, refinement, chassis. The base 330i has a slow steering rack and the suspension is a bit wallowy. M340i has a quicker (but still non linear) rack and much more tightly composed suspension. Engine wise the 330i is plenty to get going, never feels slow or underpowered. The m340i feels much quicker once you get above about 3.5-4k revs. It has the big power effortlessness that isn’t quite present in the 330i. The 330i is plenty for cruising around, I did 25k trouble free miles in mine.

[newmanjr]

OK - thanks so sounds like you disagree with the Review’s below statement?

“Unless you’re planning on hitting the autocross or race track every couple weekends, it’s hard to see any reason to fork over an extra $10,000 or more for the M340i. That’s not a slight against the M Sport model; it’s more a credit to how solid the basic 330i is.”

[peelerec]

I also came from a base 330i and drove it for 2 years. Clocked about 40k miles in those two years. Loved every minute of it and as mentioned above, is plenty fine for daily driving and spirited driving. The M340i is just a tad bit more engaging and to me fulfilled the dynamic driving I was seeking for the next step up. For simply daily driving, both accomplish the task well. At the track, personally, the M340i is better in the things the 330i lacked.

[hgill13]

I don’t agree with that statement. I had a 2020 330i with a dinan exhaust for about 3 years. Love the car however I just picked up a 2024 LCI M340i and it’s a beast. So much more engaging. I’m not planing to track or auto cross but it makes daily driving just that much better.

[Rawhide]

I'm never taking mine to a track, but of course there are other reasons to get a M340i instead of a 330i. If there wasn't none of us would have gotten one.

[diablo2112]

Has the reviewer ever actually been competitive in autocross? The best autocross cars were never just high-horsepower beasts. They were light. There's a reason the Miata dominated for years. The Dodge Neon was another autocross superstar, as was the Toyota MR2. Not only this, but the SCCA puts cars into classes, and the M340 is in a class with far better autocross cars (F street). No serious autocross competitor would pick the M340i. That's silly, and including this comment in the review detracts strongly from the reviewers expertise.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by hgill13

…M340i and it’s a beast. So much more engaging. I’m not planing to track or auto cross but it makes daily driving just that much better.

This!!

Sorry, I have to pick a little nit. You do not have an M330i. There is no such car. I presume you have a 330i with the M Sport pkg. That M in front of the M340i means something having the M Sport pkg on a 330i doesn’t. The M340i is more than just the larger, much more powerful inline six motor. Having said that, the inline six is worth every extra penny over the four banger. The design and operation of the inline six motor is without compare.

[Tim 4723]

I agree with the review. Yes the M340i is awesome and if you can easily afford it I doubt anyone would regret purchasing it but I couldn't justify the much higher price because the 330i is such a well rounded, well specced car.

I really tried to talk myself into reasons to spend the extra money but ultimately I couldn't convince myself, let alone bother trying to convince my wife.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

That M in front of the M340i means something having the M Sport pkg on a 330i doesn’t.

To be specific, BMW classifies M340i as a Performance M model to separate it from High-Performance M models(e.g. M3, M5).

The 330i with M sport package is not a Performance M model.

In F30 series, the in-line 4 vs. in-line 6 is around $3k difference if comparably equipped for extra 50+HP. $3k extra is not bad for the in-line 6 smoothness and the 50+HP(and associated beefed up parts).

In G20, that difference of of in-line 4 vs. in-line 6 grows to $6k to $7k, for extra 100+HP. That is a significant price bump to be a Performance M.

[Davg31]

I made the mistake of selling my 540 to switch to a 430, I kept it for 3 months, and took over an M340, this engine is so melodious, but be careful, I like nervous and sporty driving, if you drive normally, without looking for sensations, the 430/330 is excellent, brilliant.

[toddwalton]

The 330i is a rocket, it’s got M3 levels of power from years ago, it’s no slouch at all. The 340i just takes it up another level, that’s all, and most of us don’t need it. Don’t feel like the 330i is some let down. It’s a beast.

[NHung513]

Originally Posted by toddwalton

The 330i is a rocket, it’s got M3 levels of power from years ago, it’s no slouch at all. The 340i just takes it up another level, that’s all, and most of us don’t need it. Don’t feel like the 330i is some let down. It’s a beast.

Is this satire?

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by NHung513

Is this satire?

2023 330i has 255 horsepower, 295 pound-feet of torque and does 0-60 in 5.4 seconds.

1999 M3 had 240 horsepower, 236 pound feet of torque and a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds.

Not satire at all. The E36 M3 is a legendary BMW. And a modern 330i is faster. And at the same time, larger and more comfortable.

[CSBM5]

As a sort of an aside comment that might have relevance to someone in the future viewing this thread, having discussed this subject extensively with my wife the past 12 months or so as we looked at a new daily driver for her, we very much did consider a 330i with M-sport pkg *and* Dynamic Handling pkg (amongst other options) versus the M340i. As I looked into the details, I discovered that for 2023+ model years, BMW eliminated the M-LSD differential from the Dynamic Handling pkg from the 330i models (430i still has it with the dynamic pkg). So there is no choice except having an open differential (and one tire fire with DSC off or a ton more DSC intervention if it's on, etc). This one fact eliminated any further our consideration of the 330i. Of course there were many draws to the B58 and other aspects of the M340i, but the loss of the LSD diff wasn't going to happen, so the consideration of a 330i was out. (yes, I know we're the fringe of BMW owners since 99% of G20 330i's out there have open diffs -- another aside: finding a used 2021-2022 330i with the dynamic handling pkg is near impossible; through all of 2023 only one showed up in nationwide searching of blue and red examples).

The M340i we ordered is on the boat at the moment. If BMW had allowed us to order a 330i with the M-LSD, 6MT and slicktop, it's highly likely that would be on the boat instead (assuming we couldn't get the 6MT and slicktop in an M340i).

[Montaver]

Originally Posted by toddwalton

2023 330i has 255 horsepower, 295 pound-feet of torque and does 0-60 in 5.4 seconds.

1999 M3 had 240 horsepower, 236 pound feet of torque and a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds.

Not satire at all. The E36 M3 is a legendary BMW. And a modern 330i is faster. And at the same time, larger and more comfortable.

Bit of a stretch to compare it to the US spec E36 M3, it had a significantly inferior engine compared to the rest of the world.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by toddwalton

2023 330i has 255 horsepower, 295 pound-feet of torque and does 0-60 in 5.4 seconds.

1999 M3 had 240 horsepower, 236 pound feet of torque and a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds.

Not satire at all. The E36 M3 is a legendary BMW. And a modern 330i is faster. And at the same time, larger and more comfortable.

The US spec E36 M3 with S50B30US also is 3100lb, that is light weight at the corners compared to G20 330i.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by toddwalton

2023 330i has 255 horsepower, 295 pound-feet of torque and does 0-60 in 5.4 seconds.

1999 M3 had 240 horsepower, 236 pound feet of torque and a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds.

Not satire at all. The E36 M3 is a legendary BMW. And a modern 330i is faster. And at the same time, larger and more comfortable.

Can't say I've ever seen someone compare their car to something from 24 years ago to justify labeling it a beast

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Can't say I've ever seen someone compare their car to something from 24 years ago to justify labeling it a beast

Some of the most powerful and revered cars ever made were built 50+ years ago. 24 years is hardly ancient.

And I lived through the E36 era, did you? No one was calling the M3 underpowered, trust me, the thing was indeed a beast, it was adored.

The point is that today’s 330i has performance superior to M3’s of the past and no one should be overlooking that.

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by Montaver

Bit of a stretch to compare it to the US spec E36 M3, it had a significantly inferior engine compared to the rest of the world.

Well, I’m in America and I remember the accolades that car got for its performance.

No one should sleep on or disrespect the 330i as something substandard when it exceeds standards BMW enthusiasts were thrilled with years ago. I don’t think that’s an unfair statement.

[phileaglesbmw]

I disagree with the statement as the M340/M440i is not just an engine upgrade. But the inline 6 is a dream engine, 400+ HP (rumored at the crank) and torque and similar mileage to the 4cyl. It even passes the wife test for comfort when cruising. All from 245255 40-19 tires. 100hp is a big jump with no penalty for efficiency.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by phileaglesbmw

I disagree with the statement as the M340/M440i is not just an engine upgrade. But the inline 6 is a dream engine, 400+ HP (rumored at the crank) and torque and similar mileage to the 4cyl. It even passes the wife test for comfort when cruising. All from 245255 40-19 tires. 100hp is a big jump with no penalty for efficiency.

What mpg does your M440i on highways?

My 330i routinely get above 40mpg on highways(say, 50-100 miles 1-way on sea-level terrains with 300 ft up/down), the best is around 43mpg going 65-80mph.

I think M340i's fuel efficiency benefits from mild-hybrid, it would be interesting to see 330i's mpg when it gets mild-hybrid too.