[PARTS@STBMW]

Sickkkk!!

[PLF69]

Originally Posted by SoCali E36

I wonder why an LCI is doing track testing

Why wouldn't it

[Quadruple VANOS]

Originally Posted by SoCali E36

I wonder why an LCI is doing track testing

Maybe the M340i will move from its existing xDrive system to the M version of xDrive the M5 uses?

Maybe there's a new performance hybrid system?

Good question.

[Portimao Blues]

Originally Posted by Mani59

The video:

Thank you for sharing this video! After watching it, I have one observation - the M340 needs wider tires! I'd like to point out that I had a 2014 335i xDrive M-Sport and 7 years later, my 2021 M340i xDrive has the same width tires! Can anyone shed light on why?

[EXE46]

Let's hope BMW fixes this with the refresh and put 245's on the front and 265's on the rear.

[Jimjamz]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

I'm surprised for once that they've actually reduced the number of lines and creases. That being said, I don't see an improvement. I actually liked the notched headlights. What really is interesting to me is the middle of the grill seems to have a cut out, possibly for the adaptive cruise radar?

The notches were cool. Must have realised they looked good so the Audi spies in the BMW design team had to get them removed

[3RDSECTOR]

Originally Posted by Portimao Blues

Thank you for sharing this video! After watching it, I have one observation - the M340 needs wider tires! I'd like to point out that I had a 2014 335i xDrive M-Sport and 7 years later, my 2021 M340i xDrive has the same width tires! Can anyone shed light on why?

Fuel economy is one guess.

[3RDSECTOR]

Originally Posted by Ramos

Believe it or not, he's not wrong.
While you and I feel that the G20 is a very different car from the F30, the "average" person does not see that.
My wife could not tell that I had a loaner G20 for days while it was sitting in the garage in the place of my F30 (same color)

Former F30 owner here. My friends who care nothing about cars at all and who drive basic appliances knew my G20 (same color) was a new car right away.

[Ramos]

Originally Posted by 3RDSECTOR

Former F30 owner here. My friends who care nothing about cars at all and who drive basic appliances knew my G20 (same color) was a new car right away.

I'm not disagreeing, I'm just saying non car enthusiasts including my wife don't really "look" at cars like we do.

[DavidXJ]

Originally Posted by buckybadger

As a M2C owner I'm not complaining but just saying that the specialness of the M brand is fading away. To me, personally I would pick the M340i LCI over the outgoing M3C. It's easily $30K cheaper and for daily practicability it's a better ride, especially now that it has some more M cosmetic elements. Will be interesting to see the chassis and steering improvements.

Does anyone know if there's an option to order with dynamic dampers? And if yes do you recommend this option over the static fixed suspension?

Adaptive suspension is indispensable for this generation 3. I've really appreciated it and the modulating dampers genuinely make a palpable difference to the ride quality when you're in Comfort (turning the 40i in a genuine cruiser when you want it to behave that way). To be sure, I enjoy the firmness of Sport and it can bring out more of the character of the chassis on a spirited run (a chassis which is excellent, btw: EVO mag recently characterised it on the M340i and M440i as 'sparklingly with encouragement'). But suspension in the firmer setting can be too restless on uneven or potholed roads. Adaptive suspension comes as standard in Europe but I gather that folks in the US have to spec it as additional option.

[anselansel]

Originally Posted by Ramos

I'm not disagreeing, I'm just saying non car enthusiasts including my wife don't really "look" at cars like we do.

yep, thats my point, to a nonbmw person the new 3 looks pretty much like the old 3. Thats a problem because in 5 years you will have had a 3 that doesnt look substantially different for 14 years....

[Casone238]

I agree the M340 should get a wider tire set up. It does have more power then the E90 M3 yet slimmer tires

[Spectremotorsports]

Originally Posted by Encanto

The M Sport seats have been optionally available in the G2x since 05/20 production, but for some mysterious reason not offered in the USA or Canada.

Originally Posted by Encanto

The M Sport seats have been optionally available in the G2x since 05/20 production, but for some mysterious reason not offered in the USA or Canada.

This has been something that has consistently confused and infuriated me as I really like the m sport seats. Especially on the X3 M40i. They literally make it here and are still like "nah you can't have this"

[Aero7000]

Woo Hoo...we dodged a bullet

Report incorrectly says no six-cylinder engines in BMW 3 Series Facelift

https://www.bmwblog.com/2021/09/14/r...ries-facelift/

[MadBimmeRad]

I'm not here to support, nor am I here to knock anyone.

My personal experience is that my first BMW was a M235i - I now have a M2 CS and am contemplating BMW # 4.

In my experience, if it wasn't because of the 'watered down' version of the F87 M2, I would have never considered buying the 'real' M.

Before buying the M2 CS, I tried the M2C. I wasn't as impressed as I hoped to have been so I bought a 420 M Sport with a subsequent stage one upgrade.

I've driven the M340i and think it's a very capable car, and had I had the need for a car that was 70% as good as the M, I'd have bought one in a heartbeat.

I think in most instances people buy a car because they like what it offers and how it satisfies their needs, be it a sporty coupe, or a family wagon.

As far as BMW is concerned, they turned me into a M owner from a bit-of-an-M-car. That's one extra M sale they would have scored ordinarily.

That's a win-win-win in my book; I win, M wins, BMW wins.

[DeeKay]

Originally Posted by 3RDSECTOR

Former F30 owner here. My friends who care nothing about cars at all and who drive basic appliances knew my G20 (same color) was a new car right away.

I haven't heard a single person not being able to spot the difference instantly - not even close

[werdn]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

According to head of design, yes. The Hofmeister Kink is an old design that doesn't really fit BMW's moving forward.

Didn't know something that wasn't really noticed needed to be changed…only to continue to go unnoticed and use that as an excuse for "change".

LOL

I mean if you ask a random person on the street what the hofmeister kink is, they probably wont know. Only BMW enthusiasts know, i doubt most mbworld people know it too

[werdn]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

What do you drive now?

He must drive a miata wagon with a 6 speed manual, brown exterior paint, stripped out interior

[thaalrasha]

Originally Posted by 3RDSECTOR

Fuel economy is one guess.

Exactely that, they need to hit emissions target, hence the mild hybrid tech and narrow tires ... if this gets the same 30k € penalty emission price increase in some countries it's hard to justify the product at all vs the M cars...

[buckybadger]

Originally Posted by MadBimmeRad

I'm not here to support, nor am I here to knock anyone.

My personal experience is that my first BMW was a M235i - I now have a M2 CS and am contemplating BMW # 4.

In my experience, if it wasn't because of the 'watered down' version of the F87 M2, I would have never considered buying the 'real' M.

Before buying the M2 CS, I tried the M2C. I wasn't as impressed as I hoped to have been so I bought a 420 M Sport with a subsequent stage one upgrade.

I've driven the M340i and think it's a very capable car, and had I had the need for a car that was 70% as good as the M, I'd have bought one in a heartbeat.

I think in most instances people buy a car because they like what it offers and how it satisfies their needs, be it a sporty coupe, or a family wagon.

As far as BMW is concerned, they turned me into a M owner from a bit-of-an-M-car. That's one extra M sale they would have scored ordinarily.

That's a win-win-win in my book; I win, M wins, BMW wins.

Do you track your CS?
Almost all the reviews say that there minimum difference between the M2C and CS on normal street roads. I don't track my car and the M2C is great for having fun St street legal speeds.

If you add the Cup2 to M2C the gap between the CS and C gets even narrower.

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by Quadruple VANOS

Maybe the M340i will move from its existing xDrive system to the M version of xDrive the M5 uses?

Maybe there's a new performance hybrid system?

Good question.

Probably just testing the cooling for the new front end. BMW only offers that xdrive system in true M's. It will probably be the same 48V hybrid, as we are seeing that still in the new 4 series.

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by buckybadger

Do you track your CS?
Almost all the reviews say that there minimum difference between the M2C and CS on normal street roads. I don't track my car and the M2C is great for having fun St street legal speeds.

If you add the Cup2 to M2C the gap between the CS and C gets even narrower.

Spirited drives around the hills is all I get to do. Having said that, I value the opinion of those who have owned both M2C and M2CS - Davil - Jimjamz - and I think Alpine* would be good candidates.

My personal experience: the two cars are both great but there is a huge deal of difference in the poise and spirit of these cars that is hard to imagine unless you've owned a CS and driven it for a while