[misguided_will]

Hi all.

I am considering either a G20 330i or F30 340i. My concern isn't that the new 330i is going to be a massive drop in performance compared to the old 340i.

Anyone had experience in both to offer my some of their insight and opinions?

Thanks!

[3ismagic#]

I think it all comes down to whether you want to go faster or do you want a better handling car with a substantial upgrade in the interior? Go drive a G20 330i and see how you feel about it.

[estoril_335]

Originally Posted by misguided_will

Hi all.

I am considering either a G20 330i or F30 340i. My concern isn't that the new 330i is going to be a massive drop in performance compared to the old 340i.

Anyone had experience in both to offer my some of their insight and opinions?

Thanks!

Test drive both. 340 is faster, but 330 is quick too. The new car gonna handles better

[Pauleebe]

The chassis overhaul of the 330 makes it a no-brainer in my opinion. The 340 is faster, but is now outdated in comparison.

[nola2atx]

Originally Posted by Pauleebe

The chassis overhaul of the 330 makes it a no-brainer in my opinion. The 340 is faster, but is now outdated in comparison.

Yep. Could never go back to my F30 now that I'm used to the G20. Even if it meant a 4, rather than the 6.

[geddylee]

As an owner of an F30 340i I would go with the G20. The steering amd chassis are big improvements and the interior quality is overall better but not in every scenario.

It's also slightly larger which is nice and the power is a nice bump up from the previous 4 banger.

[cfm56d7b]

These cars are so different that only a test drive will yield raw materials for a decision.

[wknddrivr]

The F30 is the worst 3 series ever made. That should answer your question

[BlackShadowKiwi]

Given you are in Australia, why not just wait for the M340i to come out, I believe dealers are accepting orders.

[Fuller]

I echo the sentiments above - get the m340i, even if it means waiting.

If the g20 330i and f30 340i are truly the only options, then that's a hard decision, but in the end I have to go with the 340i. It's nothing against the b48, I know it's a good engine, but to me a 3 series has an I6, case closed. I won't compromise on that, I'm as bad as the "save the manuals" crowd when it comes to the I6. The car can be hot pink with orange polka dots, have no fancy tech packages, and have "I am a stupid douche" painted in block letters on the driver's side door, but if it has an I6, I'd still choose it over the 4-pot bimmer every time.

If the I6 isn't an option for whatever reason, I'd just skip the bmw and look else where. If I'm limited to a 4 cylinder, I might look at the wrx, civic type r, or even si, focus rs, GTI, etc. None of those cars are cosmetically my style, but they're all fun to drive so who cares.

[golf_234]

Disagree with the popular opinion here, and have driven both. Own the F30 340i, and driven the G20 330i loaners. Would take the 340i over the 330i any day., can't compare the two with the motor difference. Always glad to get in my car after having the loaners. Overall G20 330i is very impressive but the 340i is a much more substantial car. Also should be mentioned that while early F30's did leave a bit to be desired, they really worked out the details in the later models.

Now... introduce the new M340i in the mix and it is a landslide.

[Tuce]

G20 all day. I have bad three F30s and currently drive a 2016 340i. I stupidly kept hoping each successive one would be better. I was wrong. The F30 chassis is rubbish. And you're not giving up much power. Quarter mile is ~.5 seconds apart.

[JamRWS6]

Originally Posted by Tuce

G20 all day. I have bad three F30s and currently drive a 2016 340i. I stupidly kept hoping each successive one would be better. I was wrong. The F30 chassis is rubbish. And you're not giving up much power. Quarter mile is ~.5 seconds apart.

More like a full second and 10mph. A F30 340i will murder a G20 330i in acceleration.

[misguided_will]

thanks all for sharing

i just put a deposit down on a 2018 ex BMW fleet 340i with 12,000km on the clock located interstate. car has 2 yrs remaining new car warranty

will be flying up to see the car next weekend.

one concern i have is that if the car was driven as a demo/loan car, it would have surely had a hard life.

will 12,000km of hard driving since new be damaging or equivalent to 30,000km of normal driving and wear and tear?

[golf_234]

Originally Posted by Tuce

G20 all day. I have bad three F30s and currently drive a 2016 340i. I stupidly kept hoping each successive one would be better. I was wrong. The F30 chassis is rubbish. And you're not giving up much power. Quarter mile is ~.5 seconds apart.

Disagree, have the same car as you and absolutely love it.

[golf_234]

Originally Posted by misguided_will

thanks all for sharing

i just put a deposit down on a 2018 ex BMW fleet 340i with 12,000km on the clock located interstate. car has 2 yrs remaining new car warranty

will be flying up to see the car next weekend.

one concern i have is that if the car was driven as a demo/loan car, it would have surely had a hard life.

will 12,000km of hard driving since new be damaging or equivalent to 30,000km of normal driving and wear and tear?

Good call, love this choice, go big or go home! Definitely disagree with the sentiments that the new 330i is superior. While nice of course, not even fleetingly close in a comparison sense. This is with many, very open minded, direct
A<->B experiences with loaners. G20 platform is great but the B58 I6 motor is just pure brilliance. To put it bluntly, I own the 340i, have driven the 330i many times, and have no desire to get the 330i at all. But to each their own.

M340i is another story, will definitely go that route once I have gotten the use out of this car.
Also see that you had a 335 in the past, so I really think you will appreciate the late model 340i as it is really buttoned up from those early models, and done impeccably well.

Just my 2c, with such little mileage, I wouldn't worry much about it. These cars are meant to be driven HARD. Also, from firsthand experience, the 340i is so quick and designed for performance, that to really drive it at its limit, you have to pretty much be a reckless maniac on the road. So chances are, it hasn't seen its limits often unless someone was tracking it. Even I rarely push the car to its limits because, well, it would be absurd to do so all the time. You have to be pretty much insane to push this car to its limits often in normal driving.

[nik14]

Originally Posted by Fuller

I echo the sentiments above - get the m340i, even if it means waiting.

If the g20 330i and f30 340i are truly the only options, then that's a hard decision, but in the end I have to go with the 340i. It's nothing against the b48, I know it's a good engine, but to me a 3 series has an I6, case closed. I won't compromise on that, I'm as bad as the "save the manuals" crowd when it comes to the I6. The car can be hot pink with orange polka dots, have no fancy tech packages, and have "I am a stupid douche" painted in block letters on the driver's side door, but if it has an I6, I'd still choose it over the 4-pot bimmer every time.

If the I6 isn't an option for whatever reason, I'd just skip the bmw and look else where. If I'm limited to a 4 cylinder, I might look at the wrx, civic type r, or even si, focus rs, GTI, etc. None of those cars are cosmetically my style, but they're all fun to drive so who cares.

I suppose when BMW converts to electrical motors, you also will move to another Make, as there won't be a 6 cylinder. In spite of the electrical motor having better acceleration and no turbo lag.

There is far more to a car than straight line acceleration. Taut handling and steering feel to name a couple. And the G20 (330i MSport) far exceeds the F30 on these.

I'd also say that the 6 cylinder turbo has more in common with the 4 cylinder than the really great naturally aspirated inline 6's from earlier. Those were velvety smooth engine which, though less powerful, were significantly better than today's turbo engines which have turbo lag.

[upsidedownfunnel]

Is waiting one year and saving more money to just get an M340i an option? Or getting fewer options on the M340i? If you care about power, which I feel most Australians do, then you might be disappointed with the 330i.

I wouldn't want to make that choice.

[chenry]

I have a 340MSport and I had a G20 330 loaner for 10 days - that said I would not trade my 340 for a G20 330 - however I am looking forward to my G20 M340 next year. I will be swapping my Mission Performance tune to the new car and very much looking forward to my time with the new car

So given the options you shared I think you made 100% the right decision

[MmmmmM2]

Originally Posted by Tuce

G20 all day. I have bad three F30s and currently drive a 2016 340i. I stupidly kept hoping each successive one would be better. I was wrong. The F30 chassis is rubbish. And you're not giving up much power. Quarter mile is ~.5 seconds apart.

Just another F30 basher.

[evo2335]

I had a f30 340 for 3 years and took delivery of a G20 m340 last month. There's no comparison. Updated interior and chassis in the g20 make it a better car, depending on what's important to you (performance, sport, luxury, tech, etc.). I wanted the best of all of the above and felt like the m340 was the better option. I had the choice between a 2019 m3 and 2020 m340 (with a marginal difference in payments) but went with the G20. Just started feeling like the F series (even the M3) was old in the interior and dated. Would've felt like I was driving my 340 again from the drivers seat (besides being much faster) so I wanted something different. But I'm into newer tech, body styles, etc. if performance was all I cared about, it wouldve been m3 all the way. Body style preference and looks are completely personal opinion. Overall I'm happy with my choice. If the m340 isn't an option, I'm sure the 330 version isn't far behind performance wise (if that is even really important to you) with interior and design being the same.

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by nik14

I suppose when BMW converts to electrical motors, you also will move to another Make, as there won't be a 6 cylinder. In spite of the electrical motor having better acceleration and no turbo lag.

There is far more to a car than straight line acceleration. Taut handling and steering feel to name a couple. And the G20 (330i MSport) far exceeds the F30 on these.

I'd also say that the 6 cylinder turbo has more in common with the 4 cylinder than the really great naturally aspirated inline 6's from earlier. Those were velvety smooth engine which, though less powerful, were significantly better than today's turbo engines which have turbo lag.

Who mentioned straight line acceleration as the main reason I enjoy the I6? Straight line acceleration isn't the only benefit that a larger, more powerful engine affords.

The bmw turbo 4 engines are good. I never said that they're bad, only that the I6 is a main part of what makes the bmw 3 series and other models special in my mind. It's smooth, powerful, and refined. Also, I've heard the argument about the 4 cylinder cars being lighter and more nimble, but in my experience this isn't the case. With these cars, as heavy as they've become, it feels more ponderous with the less powerful engine. To me I feel like the car is more controllable and nimble with the I6.

If for some reason the m340i wasn't an option, I think I'd still choose the f30 340i in this case. I'm sure the g20 330i is great though, and I'd certainly test drive it.