[535i MSport]

Originally Posted by Roma_335i

Because most people don't go on a track. And most of them race on the streets or at the drag strip. Me personally, I care more about straight line races.

Well then, you are missing a big point. Having driven both of these cars, the differentiating factor is how they feel to drive. That's something you get to experience every time you drive and the M3 feels more engaging, special and fun, than the M340i.

That's not to say the M340i is bad, it isn't. I may even end up buying a touring version, at some point.

[535i MSport]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

Ive owned THREE M3's the last being a '17 competition package car. I can honestly say this M340 is better in all the ways that matter. It is smoother, faster, more comfortable and much better to live with on a day to day basis.

If you are going to the track, get the M. If you are dropping the kids at school and then continuing on to the office, get the M340.

It might be "easier" to live with as a daily, but it doesn't feel as special. The M3 front end turn in as you negotiate a roundabout, for example, will make you smile in a way that the M340i won't, but of course it will depend on the roads that you normally drive on, so what works for you, may not work for the next man.

[535i MSport]

Originally Posted by BLU135i

You are partly correct as it is not a shoe.

But it does have an Arse.....🤣

[WAHF80M3]

Originally Posted by drF80

How different would it be 0-60?

.3 of a second difference.

So 4 flat to 100kmh.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Roma_335i

Because most people don't go on a track. And most of them race on the streets or at the drag strip. Me personally, I care more about straight line races.

Nothing wrong with drag racing on the track, but if that's all you care about, you're missing out on decades of engineering, ingenuity, blood, sweat, and tears put into these cars in an effort to make it perform like it does when the driver simply turns the steering wheel.

[SabineBimmer]

Originally Posted by ghaffari46

Agreed
Actually the most fun car I have ever driven is a 2011 1 m which is probably slower than many regular bimmers these days

This. Oh, and again, this.

[jpan08]

Originally Posted by ra2289

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your meaning but the G8X M3/4 will also have an AWD option. So will be easy to compare AWD vs AWD.

Oh shoot I didn't see that. Thanks for the info. Can't believe the m3 will be awd

[MightyOF80]

Don't really share my opinions much but here goes:

The performance of the M340xi is impressive, but I would still take my F80 any day of the week.

Here's why:

1) My love for the M3 dates back to when I was a kid (around 4-5 years old) and had one of those little tracks with an E30 and a 911 on it. The 911 was always faster, but I would switch the controls because I favored the M3, thus making it 'win'. (Don't get me wrong, I love Porsche's, too but this was 4 yr old me back in the 80's)

2) Around the same time as the above, my dads best friend bought a brand new E30 Evo and I got to take a ride in it (has that same Evo today that I'm trying to get my hands on because it's just sitting now).

3) My uncle's E36 years later added to my desire to own one in the future.

4) During college and I did valet parking and drove plenty of E46's and E92's, as well as exotics from Enzos, GT3RSs, Shelby Cobras, etc. (The E46 is still my favorite M car)

I'm not rich by any means, but there are plenty of sub $100K cars that I could have chosen from. I bought my F80 knowing it wasn't the fastest thing on the road at that price range. I could've bought a Vette, Hellcat, or an STI and tuned it and had more power or a faster 0-60 time. If I was only looking for speed, I would've went for the DCT like the one I test drove. But every day I get to drive my manual F80 I'm happy that I didn't go that route.

So many people want to be the 'expert' and say that that the F80 isn't a 'drivers car' or it doesn't have 'steering feel' or some other crap they want to come up with to seem relevant. Where are those that just appreciate a nice car? If I want a smooth daily driver I would honestly pick my wife's Lexus IS over the M340xi. Smoother, quieter, better seats, not better infotainment, etc., but just saying. If I was ripping down the autobahn like I was 3 years ago when I bought my F80 in Germany, I would take my manual F80, over the M340 or the M235i I was loaned for 3 months while I awaited my build, any day. No, it doesn't have a 'great' sounding exhaust note and I actually had a real distaste for it when I heard one for the first time, especially compared to the E92. But, as much as people love the E46 (including me), does that really have a 'great' exhaust note? Really?

And don't get me wrong, the DCT on the M3 is a blast to drive and I'm not knocking anyone who owns one. I almost went that route until my wife reminded me that I always wanted a manual M3, and I haven't regretted my decision at all.

So, after all this, my point is: where are the people that just appreciate great cars, flaws and all? The people who would love to have Jay Leno's garage?

[deeldoo]

Originally Posted by 535i MSport

It might be "easier" to live with as a daily, but it doesn't feel as special. The M3 front end turn in as you negotiate a roundabout, for example, will make you smile in a way that the M340i won't, but of course it will depend on the roads that you normally drive on, so what works for you, may not work for the next man.

Literally this.

I had an M340i tail me recently until we hit a roundabout high way on ramp, posted speed limit 30km/h.

I came in at around 85 and pushed into doing 102 before my exit, little M340i got lost.

Ya these M340i's can do some decent acceleration below 60mph but the M cars play in the 100mph leagues and their handling and cornering abilities are not comparable and neither is the confidence it inspires.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Roma_335i

Because most people don't go on a track. And most of them race on the streets or at the drag strip. Me personally, I care more about straight line races.

And that is why YOU don't need an ///M

[DenHaag3er]

I wonder how their Nurburgring times compare...

[Ilyam5]

Originally Posted by DenHaag3er

I wonder how their Nurburgring times compare...

They would be pretty close. M340 is that good.
the gap between M and M performance is pretty small now


Nurburgring: 7.52 min for f80 M3 - street tires - ceramic brakes ( i think competition was 7:50)

M340 7.55

on street tires - Michelin pilot sport

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

They would be pretty close. M340 is that good.
the gap between M and M performance is pretty small now


Nurburgring: 7.52 min for f80 M3 - street tires - ceramic brakes ( i think competition was 7:50)

M340 7.55

on street tires - Michelin pilot sport

M3 CS actually did it in 7:38 since we are comparing the best 3 series to one of the best M cars. GTS did it in 7:28

[Calvin36]

Progression is a beautiful thing. Wouldn't mind taking a middle ground and getting the M340i though even though I'd always want a M3

[blockdoc]

Originally Posted by jmg

Nothing wrong with drag racing on the track, but if that's all you care about, you're missing out on decades of engineering, ingenuity, blood, sweat, and tears put into these cars in an effort to make it perform like it does when the driver simply turns the steering wheel.

Agreed. Straight line "racing" is lame. Minimal driver skill required and with AWD just means mashing a pedal. So I can buy a faster car than the next guy. If I didn't build it myself, how is there any pride in my "win".

Track is a different story. I'm not a particularly good driver. But as has been said, a professional driver in a Miata with 1/2 the HP of a faster car will run laps around an unskilled driver. THAT win means something.

And let's be honest, the vast majority of us on this forum (myself included) are average drivers at best regardless of what we drive

[deeldoo]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

They would be pretty close. M340 is that good.
the gap between M and M performance is pretty small now


Nurburgring: 7.52 min for f80 M3 - street tires - ceramic brakes ( i think competition was 7:50)

M340 7.55

on street tires - Michelin pilot sport

Nurburg is a fast track, favors cars good in long spurts and acceleration, aka awd friendly track. Put that M340i on a twisty 2 minute track. You will see the 2-4 second gap there.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by deeldoo

Nurburg is a fast track, favors cars good in long spurts and acceleration, aka awd friendly track. Put that M340i on a twisty 2 minute track. You will see the 2-4 second gap there.

So basically we've narrowed it down to one small track edge case (and 95% of people don't track) where the M340 might do slightly worse? ///M RULZ! haHA!

[535i MSport]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

They would be pretty close. M340 is that good.
the gap between M and M performance is pretty small now


Nurburgring: 7.52 min for f80 M3 - street tires - ceramic brakes ( i think competition was 7:50)

M340 7.55

on street tires - Michelin pilot sport

Where did you get the M340i time from?

[itsglen]

objective fact: after six pages of responses the vast majority of people posting are M3/M4 owners sharing why in some regard their vehicle(s) is/are better than the M340 - I'm at a loss why anyone cares and why these people give a poop or feel compelled to explain (but I don't need your answer so please don't quote me)

Mind you I am neutral on the matter and find it silly - however there are waaaaaay more M3/4 owners trying to tell others what they don't have vs M340 owners telling others what they do have.

This is just what I have gathered over the last six pages and has nothing to do with my own personal opinion which I am not going to share because it doesn't matter.

The OP was simply sharing a 0-60 result and the fact is (according to this post) the M340 is quicker vs what it was up against in this test

[deeldoo]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

So basically we've narrowed down to one small track edge case (and 95% of people don't track) where the M340 might do slightly worse? ///M RULZ! haHA!

Okay let's put some things in perspective here.

First off many tracks are very technical, road courses are technical, tons of slow tracks, in fact my neighbourhood roads, highway roundabout ramps, canyon roads, and many other roads require a fair bit of cornering capability. To be honest only regular roads and highways are the only straights.

Let's also put into perspective the only shot the M340i has to be faster than an f80x from a dig and that at best is a shot. Any 20, 30, 40, 50 roll etc. it is getting gapped due to it's weight and power disadvantage.

Let's further consider that in any highway roll situation that M340i is getting significantly gapped to it's 1.6+ disadvantage in the 100-200. Also on the Nurburgring this supposed M340i is still slower.

This leaves us with 1 area where the M340i can have a speed advantage and that is in the stop light dig race to about 80mph. I tend to think I spend probably 95% of my driving not at a redlight as the first car lined up against an M340i.

Also to further put some exclamation in this supposed matchup where the m340i is superior is that this video shows a very garbage 4.3 second pull from a dig, i have consitently got my car in the 3.7-4.0 second. Even from a dig an equipped F8x with average wear tires would still put a gap on the M340i.

Let's just call it what it is, the M340i is in a tier below the F8x gen cars and it will be in a way diff tier than the G gen cars.

The M340i is neither quicker, nor faster, nor agile, nor special than an F8x in the right hands and rightfully so as they had different price points and belong in a different market.

Also to everyone asking why M owners need to justify anything, well if you want the smoke and you spew incorrect information, I will always be here to shut it down. Don't show up and then act all innocent.

Rant over, M RULZZ

[mcjohnsonsg]

Originally Posted by deeldoo

Okay let's put some things in perspective here.

First off many tracks are very technical, road courses are technical, tons of slow tracks, in fact my neighbourhood roads, highway roundabout ramps, canyon roads, and many other roads require a fair bit of cornering capability. To be honest only regular roads and highways are the only straights.

Let's also put into perspective the only shot the M340i has to be faster than an f80x from a dig and that at best is a shot. Any 20, 30, 40, 50 roll etc. it is getting gapped due to it's weight and power disadvantage.

Let's further consider that in any highway roll situation that M340i is getting significantly gapped to it's 1.6+ disadvantage in the 100-200. Also on the Nurburgring this supposed M340i is still slower.

This leaves us with 1 area where the M340i can have a speed advantage and that is in the stop light dig race to about 80mph. I tend to think I spend probably 95% of my driving not at a redlight as the first car lined up against an M340i.

Also to further put some exclamation in this supposed matchup where the m340i is superior is that this video shows a very garbage 4.3 second pull from a dig, i have consitently got my car in the 3.7-4.0 second. Even from a dig an equipped F8x with average wear tires would still put a gap on the M340i.

Let's just call it what it is, the M340i is in a tier below the F8x gen cars and it will be in a way diff tier than the G gen cars.

The M340i is neither quicker, nor faster, nor agile, nor special than an F8x in the right hands and rightfully so as they had different price points and belong in a different market.

Also to everyone asking why M owners need to justify anything, well if you want the smoke and you spew incorrect information, I will always be here to shut it down. Don't show up and then act all innocent.

Rant over, M RULZZ

Wow.!! This really matters to you doesn't it? I hope you realize that pretty much no one on here (including me, an M340 owner) seriously thinks the M340 is quicker or dynamically better than the F80 or F82. But it's entertaining reading your detailed explanation and imagining the steam coming from your ears as you type it!

[deeldoo]

Originally Posted by mcjohnsonsg

Wow.!! This really matters to you doesn't it? I hope you realize that pretty much no one on here (including me, an M340 owner) seriously thinks the M340 is quicker or dynamically better than the F80 or F82. But it's entertaining reading your detailed explanation and imagining the steam coming from your ears as you type it!

Ahaha I was fuming buddy, had smoke out the ears.

but can you disagree with anything I said?