08-10-2019, 09:43 PM | #1 |
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I think the M340i is more fun than my old M550i
I just returned my leased M550i, and I really enjoyed that car. Today I drove an M340i - a very brief dealer test drive around the block - and I loved it. I placed an order!
I was considering a 540i M Sport, but the M340i is more fun to drive. Another BMW home run! |
08-11-2019, 12:39 AM | #2 | |
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08-11-2019, 07:26 AM | #3 |
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08-11-2019, 07:32 AM | #4 |
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The M340i will handle better than the M550i just because it is lighter up front.
The lengths of the cars are within inches each other. The G20 isn't exactly small by old 3 Series standards.
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08-11-2019, 08:09 AM | #5 |
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No, hard to notice on a short test drive in the city, but the car is lighter, more agile, the steering in sport felt better than the m550.
I just got a taste but I am sure it will be more fun than the M550 Maybe on the highway I will miss the m550. |
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08-11-2019, 08:21 AM | #6 | |
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You will definitely enjoy a lower monthly fuel bill vs that N63 V8. I believe a better comparison would have been a 540i M-Sport vs M340i which is more apples to apples. I find the G20 exterior a bit blah specially the sides and rear which emulate more a certain Japanese maker of luxury automobiles. The loss of the side character line and the strange Hoffmeister kink are 2 elements that I attribute to the rather clinical look. With that said, the CLAR platform is excellent regardless of what the hate filled American car magazine publications say to the contrary.
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Before: 2011 BMW 328i E90 sedan, Platinum Bronze Metallic, Dakota Brown leather, 17 inch wheels, 6-speed auto, N52 6 Cyl inline N/A goodness.... |
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08-11-2019, 08:54 AM | #7 |
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I chose m340 over m550 simply on price , about 35k less
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08-11-2019, 09:53 AM | #8 |
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My M550 had MSRP of $80k, the M340 I am ordering aprox $64k, so is only a $16k delta. In lease payments is about $400 less for the M340.
so, yes , a lower price alternative with a higher fun factor. And if you compare to a 540, the M340 is way better, right now I can lease a 2019 540i Msport with MSRP $71.5k for less than the M340 and was seriously considering it, until I drove the M340, really no comparison. |
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08-11-2019, 01:10 PM | #9 | |
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08-11-2019, 01:58 PM | #10 |
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08-11-2019, 02:59 PM | #11 | |
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The curb weight of the M550i is 4,456 pounds per BMW USA website:
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08-11-2019, 06:46 PM | #12 |
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08-11-2019, 07:33 PM | #13 |
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No worries.
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2017 BMW 530i, Sport Line,Alpine White, Canberra Beige Sensatec, 19 inch V-Spoke wheels, basic plain Jane build with no options whatsoever..... "Less is more".
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08-11-2019, 08:23 PM | #14 |
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Smaller car, less weight....
Of course it is. The 5 series is a boat. |
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08-11-2019, 08:37 PM | #15 | |
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540i and M340i are only 100 pounds from each other in terms of curb weight: 540i is 3,942 M340i is 3849 My 530i tips the scales at 3,713 making it 136 pounds lighter than the M340i but 124 pounds heavier than the G20 330i. So yes, we all drive boats. It so happens that yours is a slightly smaller kind of boat. Only BMW series 2 owners can claim to drive the lightest BMW cars in production today, tipping the scales at 3,300 pounds for the RWD 230i. Again, who is driving boats?
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2017 BMW 530i, Sport Line,Alpine White, Canberra Beige Sensatec, 19 inch V-Spoke wheels, basic plain Jane build with no options whatsoever..... "Less is more".
Before: 2011 BMW 328i E90 sedan, Platinum Bronze Metallic, Dakota Brown leather, 17 inch wheels, 6-speed auto, N52 6 Cyl inline N/A goodness.... |
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08-11-2019, 08:59 PM | #16 | |
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You have to adjust your definition. 124 pounds is one adult. That's significant. The 5 series drives like a boat and rolls like a boat. The 3 series is tuned to be more of 'sporty' 'connected' drive. |
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08-11-2019, 09:05 PM | #17 |
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Debatable.
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2017 BMW 530i, Sport Line,Alpine White, Canberra Beige Sensatec, 19 inch V-Spoke wheels, basic plain Jane build with no options whatsoever..... "Less is more".
Before: 2011 BMW 328i E90 sedan, Platinum Bronze Metallic, Dakota Brown leather, 17 inch wheels, 6-speed auto, N52 6 Cyl inline N/A goodness.... |
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08-12-2019, 09:37 AM | #18 | |
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5er = yacht 7er = barge
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08-12-2019, 12:29 PM | #19 |
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After a 5 series, anything will seem fun!
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08-12-2019, 03:42 PM | #20 |
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08-12-2019, 04:32 PM | #21 |
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You'll be an old man one day too.
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2017 BMW 530i, Sport Line,Alpine White, Canberra Beige Sensatec, 19 inch V-Spoke wheels, basic plain Jane build with no options whatsoever..... "Less is more".
Before: 2011 BMW 328i E90 sedan, Platinum Bronze Metallic, Dakota Brown leather, 17 inch wheels, 6-speed auto, N52 6 Cyl inline N/A goodness.... |
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08-12-2019, 05:52 PM | #22 |
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Guys, the M550 is a great car, probably the best BMW I've had,
but my current financial situation requires some cost adjustments, and I find the M340 a very nice daily driver, an excellent alternative to the M550 (Like a smaller M550) My lease payment is reduced by $400 and the fun factor is very close if not higher |
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