[psuibmw]

That idea floating around about Hyundai is just a dull one

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by ASAP

Hell, I'll lease an M340i for $599... I sure as hell know its not even remotely an M car, but for a daily driver; it's still an awesome car... Your other choices are an ugly C43 or an S4...

And also; I actually doubt it will be $599; which is the real reason why it won't sell... BMW killed lease incentives.

It's gonna be more like $700-750 a month.

What a joke

[440xiGCMSport2]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

Electric cars are not ready for prime time and they don't meet the needs of the vast majority of the population.

And claims about the death of the sedan are greatly exaggerated...

I think you got it all wrong. In the next 5 years auto manufacturers are going to be putting out a tonne of electric cars.
if you think the death of sedan in fuel cars are overrated than you better check car to SUV sales and car sales in this chart.

[ssabripo]

Originally Posted by 10"

Get ready for the BIG decline of the 3-series.

At this point; it's NOT the sales leader at BMW. It's reputation was the world's best sedan is long gone; died years ago with the death of the E90. It's now just a charmless exercise of marketing. It used to be a car that didn't even need heavy marketing now it's all it really has...

20 years ago people may have embraced a high priced M340i. Times have changed. Society has changed. Cars have changed. The 3-series is trying every marketing trick in the book to stay relevant; but it's clearly struggling to do so.

These close to $60k sedans will still get leased to aspiring professionals for $599 a month; who will happily gloat about the cheesy and cheerful M badges. The admiration, however, of cars like this has already faded considerably and will continue to fade.

well said! you stole my thoughts

As a BMW driver for almost 2 decades, I've gone from an e36 M3, to a e46 330zcp, to an e90 M3, to an F80 M3, and now I'm driving a 2018 S4 Audi as a stop gap.

My idea was to wait and get into a G80 M3 in a couple of years, but I agree 10000% with you, and I'm starting to lean away from BMW and their idiotic pricing structure (high prices, convoluted options packages, anemic financing deals, and most importantly, the erosion of their driving dynamics soul).

Thus, my next move will likely be a CPO 991.2 Porsche, or if I can somehow get into a slightly used 992 Porsche in 3 years.

[bjcarls]

This car fits in the product lineup, albeit for a small fraction of enthusiasts.

I find value in what a M340i is and how much better it is than other brands. I won't debate that last $5,000 of MSRP is only worth $1,000 but guess what? It's not a big deal to the actual buyer of this car. Not everyone wants a stripped RWD M3 or 530i.

My wife loves her '17 340i and we'll buy a replacement M340i or M550i when she hits four year or 50,000 miles, or who knows, maybe an iNext evolution, maybe a RR sport, thats a good chick car. I'd never buy her an M car because she won't appreciate it, but if I ever have to drive her car I like it to be sporty and great looking. I'm trying a Trackhawk now (2,500 miles) and when I do drive her car, I miss a lot of things about BMW.

If Infiniti is asking $52k MSRP for a Q50 Red Sport I'd say BMW/Audi/Mercedes are in the ballpark on pricing.

[Fugly M3]

Does BMW realize this car, once optioned, is well within Tesla M3P price range? There's a great thread on the F80 board about M3P vs. M3/M4. The M3P was the competition to the M4 in my search. I ultimately decided to get at least one last gas car. Honestly, though, this M340 vs. the M3P...I wouldn't bat an eye at getting the Tesla. In the big cities, where the vast majority of these cars are sold, I'd think most cross-shoppers would do the same.

[Bahn360Photo]

Originally Posted by ThatKrazyPolak

Wow what a joke, they just shot themselves in the foot. Whats stopping somebody from buying an M3 at that price point, especially with some of the additional features you'd want added? There goes that plan for me. This is really stupid I'm actually pissed.

Old m3 that's not produced anymore, imagine price hike for new m3

With current lease rates bmw will be at a ridiculous price point like Audi has been for few years now

[Teutonic]

Originally Posted by ASAP

Hell, I'll lease an M340i for $599... I sure as hell know its not even remotely an M car, but for a daily driver; it's still an awesome car... Your other choices are an ugly C43 or an S4...

Actually, I was playing with the idea of an S5. Great looking car.

Now, after this new 3 series design , plus the pricing, it seems that S5 is an excellent choice. At least it looks very nice.
I am tired of "Oh, is not so bad". If that defines late BMW design then screw it, they can keep it. I need to love the car and this 3 Series is very far from a nice design.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Tracus

Actually, I was playing with the idea of an S5. Great looking car.

Now, after this new 3 series design , plus the pricing, it seems that S5 is an excellent choice. At least it looks very nice.
I am tired of "Oh, is not so bad". If that defines late BMW design then screw it, they can keep it. I need to love the car and this 3 Series is very far from a nice design.

I get what you are saying but it's not like Audi makes the most boner-inducing cars either. Their interiors, while well built, are very teutonic in design and their driving experience is no different. Fast but totally devoid of any feel or soul.

Aside from BMW only the Alfa Giulia and Porsches appeal to me.

[RowanBuds]

Originally Posted by MacklinUSOB

hopefully they reshape the base pricing prior to G80 release as to not hurt sales for one or the other.

hopefully they reshape the headlights and bumper prior to G80 release as to not hurt sales

FTFY

[guarnibl]

Originally Posted by FRAU GRAU

Does BMW realize this car, once optioned, is well within Tesla M3P price range? There's a great thread on the F80 board about M3P vs. M3/M4. The M3P was the competition to the M4 in my search. I ultimately decided to get at least one last gas car. Honestly, though, this M340 vs. the M3P...I wouldn't bat an eye at getting the Tesla. In the big cities, where the vast majority of these cars are sold, I'd think most cross-shoppers would do the same.

That's a great point. No brainer, would go with the Tesla. I am hoping though that the i4 is out by the time I go to lease, otherwise yeah... probably Model 3 will be the wife's next car. We don't take it for long trips anyway, have the RR for that.

[hellrotm]

Hmm, the S4 starts $6k less than the M340 xdrive. The Audi gets a lot of standard equipment. BMW seem confident their car is that much better.

[Teutonic]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I get what you are saying but it's not like Audi makes the most boner-inducing cars either. Their interiors, while well built, are very teutonic in design and their driving experience is no different. Fast but totally devoid of any feel or soul.

Aside from BMW only the Alfa Giulia and Porsches appeal to me.

Most of my family in Europe drives S5. They love them.
Porsche yes.
But Alfa? The plastic is terrible.

And as an ex Alfa owner, I will never own one anymore. The mechanic drove that car more than I did...

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Tracus

Most of my family in Europe drives S5. They love them.
Porsche yes.
But Alfa? The plastic is terrible.

And as an ex Alfa owner, I will never own one anymore. The mechanic drove that car more than I did...

Yes I don't disagree. The Giulia is a mediocre car but I hear it's the best to drive in its segment. In 3 years time I'll likely be looking for my next car and will have to consider it for the driving dynamics alone. I really hope the G20 feels like a BMW should behind the wheel, I hear the reviews are around the corner...

[Slickz]

When the X7 was revealed as coming standard with sensatec what would you expect with the 3 series

It's sad day when M stands for Marketing and no longer for Motorsport.

[stvding]

My goodness, convert to Canadian dollars and loaded almost 85k msrp. The 540i loaded is 90K msrp, come on.... who is going to buy 340 the at this price point? Even with a so-called M performance tune?

[praxis218]

Originally Posted by stvding

My goodness, convert to Canadian dollars and loaded almost 85k msrp. The 540i loaded is 90K msrp, come on.... who is going to buy 340 the at this price point? Even with a so-called M performance tune?

Bigger means worse for me, so even if they cost the same I would never buy a 5-series, 8-series, etc. I would rather downsize to a Z4 M40i.

[stvding]

Originally Posted by praxis218

Bigger means worse for me, so even if they cost the same I would never buy a 5-series, 8-series, etc. I would rather downsize to a Z4 M40i.

I am not talking about just u or enthusiasts but the mass market

[firedown31]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

You get what you pay for with the Koreans. Don't believe for a minute that they are
giving you a car built to BMW standards for a bargain price. Corners have been cut somewhere, trust me. There is no free lunch

BMW standards? You think those haven't been cut to extremes too? My M3 gets rocks stuck in the brake heat shields and sounds like it's dragging a metal trash can full of bricks down the street. Also when I hit bumps at <10 mph the car sounds like grandma's rocking chair with the creaks from the door seals rubbing on the roof. What a joke for a $75k car.

[WestCoast76]

Originally Posted by eau_rouge

I guess its around 63-65k €. Similar to C43. And the M Performance models are pretty good specced for a BMW.

Originally Posted by michal12

Could also be around €68k, because X3 M40i is priced around that.

C43 and indeed the new X3 M40i are good references for the estimation of price.

I will be in Geneva in March to see in person the car and its touring version

[Ristau]

Originally Posted by praxis218

I don't know, 382hp and and LSD aren't pseudo-performance.

The new Z4 M40i had a 6 second lower Nurburgring lap time than the N55 M2. Is the M2 more of a pseudo-performance car then?

And this was with a Euro-spec Z4 with less HP than the M340i.

https://carbuzz.com/news/bmw-z4-m40i...nd-nurburgring

Supposedly the driving review embargo lifts this week (today?) so we shall see very soon.

No doubt. All I meant by that was “baby” versions of the true performance models (M340 vs M3, C43 AMG cs C63 AMG, S4/5 vS RS4/5).

[G80indy]

Not bad for a 5 series

Choke
I mean.... 3 series :