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      07-01-2019, 02:18 AM   #1
Glassy
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My New Black Sapphire Metallic M340i - Write-Up & Photos!

Hey guys,

Took delivery of my M340i a few weeks back and I'm absolutely loving this car. My very first ride was an E36. From there I had an E46, E90, E92 and F32 so basically every generation since the E36. And I have no hesitation saying that this G20 is the absolute best generation I've owned thus far.

Everything about the car just feels very well-built. I appreciate how BMW has maintained that 3 Series essence throughout, while still evolving the line. The interior is very clean and not overdone. And the car hauls some serious ass. I haven't played around with Sport+ yet but on Sport, it's very responsive and feels planted to the ground. The shifts are lightening quick and the exhaust note is far more defined than my previous 435i coupe. The live cockpit has a brilliant display and the idrive system is very customizable.

The car isn't perfect though. There are still some minor setbacks for me, the price being the biggest one. Overall the car has set me back about $70,000, which I feel is excessive for a 3 Series, even if it's M inspired. Not a fan of how the Auto Start/Stop Engine must be disengaged everytime you start-up the car. The RPM's going counter clock wise took some getting use to being that they've gone in the other direction for all my other cars. The auto dimming of both my displays during the daytime because of my tinted windows, is also a drag. More on that can be found here, https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...9#post24961969. I also wish the trunk flooring lifted up for more storage like it did in my 435i. I need to secure bags with bungee cords otherwise everything slides around.

I don't have many plans for upgrades/modifications but I did replace all of the Cerium Gray accents. I went with high gloss black for the grill and air ducts and CF for the side mirrors. A very special shout out to Britney and Greg of BMWPARTSPRO in Camarillo, CA who took really good care of me! I wish I lived closer to their dealership! Also have those WeissLicht License Plate LED's coming soon from Bimmian.

I have plenty more to say about this car so if you guys have any questions at all, just let me know! Happy to help.
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Last edited by Glassy; 09-23-2019 at 02:09 PM..
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      07-01-2019, 07:20 AM   #2
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Beautiful!! What was the part number for the lower vent pieces you ordered in black, and where did you order them from?

Thanx!!
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      07-01-2019, 09:35 AM   #3
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Congratulations, beautiful car. I hope you get things sorted out with your car. I test drove one last weekend and am waiting on next year to see if some of the first year bugs are sorted out and other options available for the US market.
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      07-01-2019, 10:53 AM   #4
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Absolutely stunning!

Thank you for choosing PARTS@STBMW, was a pleasure to meet you.

-Britney
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      07-01-2019, 11:06 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cabby View Post
Beautiful!! What was the part number for the lower vent pieces you ordered in black, and where did you order them from?

Thanx!!
Hello!

Part numbers for the front High Gloss Black Trims are 51-11-8-093-301 and 51-11-8-093-302.

https://www.bmwpartspros.com/partloc...egoryID=244836


-Britney
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      07-01-2019, 12:26 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PARTS@STBMW View Post
Hello!

Part numbers for the front High Gloss Black Trims are 51-11-8-093-301 and 51-11-8-093-302.

https://www.bmwpartspros.com/partloc...egoryID=244836


-Britney
I actually found it after you replied the first time

Do you include painting body pieces before you send them out as a service?
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      07-01-2019, 12:48 PM   #7
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Quote:
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I actually found it after you replied the first time

Do you include painting body pieces before you send them out as a service?
Hello,

Yes we do for small pieces.

-Britney
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      07-01-2019, 01:55 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PARTS@STBMW View Post
Hello,

Yes we do for small pieces.

-Britney
I'll DM you
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      07-05-2019, 01:23 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Glassy View Post
Hey guys,

Took delivery of my M340i a few weeks back and I'm absolutely loving this car. My very first ride was an E36. From there I had an E46, E90, E92 and F32 so basically every generation since the E36. And I have no hesitation saying that this G20 is the absolute best generation I've owned thus far.

Everything about the car just feels very well-built. I appreciate how BMW has maintained that 3 Series essence throughout, while still evolving the line. The interior is very clean and not overdone. And the car hauls some serious ass. I haven't played around with Sport+ yet but on Sport, it's very responsive and feels planted to the ground. The shifts are lightening quick and the exhaust note is far more defined than my previous 435i coupe. The live cockpit has a brilliant display and the idrive system is very customizable.

The car isn't perfect though. There are still some minor setbacks for me, the price being the biggest one. Overall the car has set me back about $70,000, which I feel is excessive for a 3 Series, even if it's M inspired. Not a fan of how the Auto Start/Stop Engine must be disengaged everytime you start-up the car. The RPM's going counter clock wise took some getting use to being that they've gone in the other direction for all my other cars. The auto dimming of both my displays during the daytime because of my tinted windows, is also a drag. More on that can be found here, https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...9#post24961969. I also wish the trunk flooring lifted up for more storage like it did in my 435i. I need to secure bags with bungee cords otherwise everything slides around.

I don't have many plans for upgrades/modifications but I did replace all of the Cerium Gray accents. I went with high gloss black for the grill and air ducts and CF for the side mirrors. A very special shout out to Britney and Greg of BMWPARTSPRO in Camarillo, CA who took really good care of me! I wish I lived closer to their dealership! Also have those WeissLicht License Plate LED's coming soon from Bimmian.

I have plenty more to say about this car so if you guys have any questions at all, just let me know! Happy to help.
great looking car!!!
what percentage is your tint?
most likely I'll be getting a 3 series next year unless the 4 series comes out around this time next year... by the way I'm driving M340i as a loaner all this week and I agree with your write up 100%. car feels great.
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      07-05-2019, 06:59 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beto_L.A. View Post
great looking car!!!
what percentage is your tint?
most likely I'll be getting a 3 series next year unless the 4 series comes out around this time next year... by the way I'm driving M340i as a loaner all this week and I agree with your write up 100%. car feels great.
It's 15% all around, but I'm thinking of having it lightened up to 30%-35% because it's effecting my displays: https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...5#post24994725

Wow, nice loaner car! Enjoy!
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      07-06-2019, 01:04 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Glassy View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by beto_L.A. View Post
great looking car!!!
what percentage is your tint?
most likely I'll be getting a 3 series next year unless the 4 series comes out around this time next year... by the way I'm driving M340i as a loaner all this week and I agree with your write up 100%. car feels great.
It's 15% all around, but I'm thinking of having it lightened up to 30%-35% because it's effecting my displays: https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...5#post24994725

Wow, nice loaner car! Enjoy!
Great to hear that lighter shades will not cause the display to dim. I always use 30% or 35%.
I was hopping that the new 4x GC would be out by next year but I just read that it might not be out until sometime in 2021. So the G20 most likely be my next car.
The loaner is great, I'm surprised that the dealer I go to has a few as loaners. I was asked if I wanted a regular 330i or the M340i?
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      07-11-2019, 04:02 PM   #12
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Beautiful! Whoa whoa auto start stop don't stay off? That is awful
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      07-11-2019, 04:28 PM   #13
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Beautiful! Whoa whoa auto start stop don't stay off? That is awful
Sometimes it stays off and sometimes it comes on, I'm still trying to figure out the pattern.

I think when you turn it off, it'll stay off for a small period of time even after you turn the car on and off. But after you let the car sit for awhile, then I think it'll return to default which is auto start/stop on.
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      07-11-2019, 05:01 PM   #14
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Here are some comparison shots against my previous car.
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      07-12-2019, 10:15 PM   #15
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How hard was it change out the grill, mirror and lower vent pieces? Did you get a factory rear spoiler?

Looks great!
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      07-12-2019, 10:21 PM   #16
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I cheated. Because I ordered them from BMWPartsPro in Camarillo, when I went to pick them up I just had them swap out the pieces. I'm told the mirrors are the hardest item to swap out. The grill sounded fairly straight forward, just gotta make sure you get the correct one (depending on whether or not you have PDC) and the bumper vents sounded easy too, you just have to turn the wheel and remove the bolts in the wheel well to access them.

Didn't get any spoiler, the mini one came with it stock.
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      07-13-2019, 04:25 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Serottab1kr View Post
How hard was it change out the grill, mirror and lower vent pieces? Did you get a factory rear spoiler?

Looks great!
The grill is a bit tricky because of all of the tabs you have to unsnap before pulling it out. Then replacing it with the new grill is the same getting everything lined up to snap on place. Lower bent pieces can be swapped using a plastic/molding trim tool however be careful as the tabs on the lower front pieces may snap when removed. Tabs on both sides ended up snapping when I removed them. Still glad I did it myself as quotes to swap them out were kinda ridiculous.
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      07-13-2019, 04:26 AM   #18
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Great looking car OP. What kinda tint did you get? I went with ceramic huper optik 30% on my dravit grey and the lighter tint seems to complement the car well! I'm sure 30-35% would look really good on black as well. No issues with auto-dimming either.
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      07-13-2019, 08:56 AM   #19
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Nice job with the car looks great. Mine comes in about a month. So far I have the cf. mirror caps done at port have black grill purchased. I will likely do more but I want to wait till I have the car to see it person
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      07-13-2019, 09:52 PM   #20
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Did u had to remove the bumper to replace the front bumper trim?
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      07-14-2019, 02:26 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by evo2335 View Post
Great looking car OP. What kinda tint did you get? I went with ceramic huper optik 30% on my dravit grey and the lighter tint seems to complement the car well! I'm sure 30-35% would look really good on black as well. No issues with auto-dimming either.
I have Formula One, ceramic. 15% in rear and 35% in the front.

Your choice for the dravit grey sounds great. Post some photos!
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      07-14-2019, 02:27 PM   #22
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Quote:
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Nice job with the car looks great. Mine comes in about a month. So far I have the cf. mirror caps done at port have black grill purchased. I will likely do more but I want to wait till I have the car to see it person
Nice, excited for you! Post photos when you get it!
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