[BigSky702]

Originally Posted by Fuller

Well, the G20 340i is now an "M"! It looks like you can have the best of both worlds.

Originally Posted by Weiner0123

Let the war begin.. lol

Lol.. yeeeea I’m not touching that!!

[BMV///M3]

Just stay with the M340, change the terrible grills with slates and be happy for 2-3 years. When the G80 comes out, wait for a year and the LCI and pick up that one. It will not be a true M car no, but looks to have decent power. I may end up in one. I LOVE my M3 but after almost 3 years at times it does feel a bit raw and noisy. I know i know, i'm not a true M lover..but i'm just being honest. A little more creature comforts and a good amount of HP seems like it might do the trick for me.

[BigSky702]

Originally Posted by BMV///M3

Just stay with the M340, change the terrible grills with slates and be happy for 2-3 years. When the G80 comes out, wait for a year and the LCI and pick up that one. It will not be a true M car no, but looks to have decent power. I may end up in one. I LOVE my M3 but after almost 3 years at times it does feel a bit raw and noisy. I know i know, i'm not a true M lover..but i'm just being honest. A little more creature comforts and a good amount of HP seems like it might do the trick for me.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing the other day on the way to work, love my M4, but at times it can be a little too raw (is there such a thing?), I don't need my adrenaline pumping every time I get behind the wheel!

I think I'm finally coming of the ledge, I'm actually looking forward to the M340i and the gimmicky tech! Who knows maybe with a minor tune I can get it over 400HP and bump up the torque some!

[Frank_NJ]

Well put. I ordered one and figured it would be a good all around package. With a slight tune will get HP into the 400's which will possibly even make it the same speed as the F80. I think this will end up being a home run car for BMW.

Originally Posted by BMV///M3

Just stay with the M340, change the terrible grills with slates and be happy for 2-3 years. When the G80 comes out, wait for a year and the LCI and pick up that one. It will not be a true M car no, but looks to have decent power. I may end up in one. I LOVE my M3 but after almost 3 years at times it does feel a bit raw and noisy. I know i know, i'm not a true M lover..but i'm just being honest. A little more creature comforts and a good amount of HP seems like it might do the trick for me.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by BigSky702

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I think the first plan is to see if I can get it as a CPO from the dealer, if that doesn't work I'll grab the M340 for a couple of years, and then try for a G80, by that time all the kinks should be worked out!

Why don't you just lease a new M4 or M3 CS for the next 24-36 months? There are great deals on the M3 CS right now. Then the G80 will be out and you will still have an M car. IMHO even a M340i isn't going to come close to the dynamics of a true M car.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Fuller

Well, the G20 340i is now an "M"! It looks like you can have the best of both worlds.

[BigSky702]

Originally Posted by jmg

Why don't you just lease a new M4 or M3 CS for the next 24-36 months? There are great deals on the M3 CS right now. Then the G80 will be out and you will still have an M car. IMHO even a M340i isn't going to come close to the dynamics of a true M car.

Dang it! Why’d you go and say that?!!!

The dealership has a Sahkir Orange 2 M4 CS! And with the lease special is about
$60 more a month! Due to all the options and no incentives the M340 wasn’t as cheap as I expected to be. I left a $1000 deposit ... also that frees me from having to dump the winter tires!!

[alex2364]

Or take over someone else’s M3/M4 lease for 12-24 months and you’ll be ready to jump into the new M3/M4 when it’s out.

[BigSky702]

Originally Posted by alex2364

Or take over someone else’s M3/M4 lease for 12-24 months and you’ll be ready to jump into the new M3/M4 when it’s out.

Damn! That's a good idea!! I completely forgot about swapalease!!

Just when I thought I had it figured out! At this rate I'll probably wind up in a prius!

[Jagu]

Originally Posted by PureModelsOnly

Keep the M4. Get a Subaru daily driver.

Really, you think buying the M4 for $57k is a nice idea?

[Greg1556]

Yea why not swap a lease it seems like you have an "M" itch somewhere and only an "M" will be able to scratch it LOL.

[chickennuggets]

Originally Posted by jmg

Why don't you just lease a new M4 or M3 CS for the next 24-36 months? There are great deals on the M3 CS right now. Then the G80 will be out and you will still have an M car. IMHO even a M340i isn't going to come close to the dynamics of a true M car.

Originally Posted by alex2364

Or take over someone else’s M3/M4 lease for 12-24 months and you’ll be ready to jump into the new M3/M4 when it’s out.

Originally Posted by Greg1556

Yea why not swap a lease it seems like you have an "M" itch somewhere and only an "M" will be able to scratch it LOL.

Pretty damn good ideas here

[BimmerFix]

Originally Posted by jmg

Why don't you just lease a new M4 or M3 CS for the next 24-36 months? There are great deals on the M3 CS right now. Then the G80 will be out and you will still have an M car. IMHO even a M340i isn't going to come close to the dynamics of a true M car.

Ohh please bro, we drive an M car not a 911 GT3 . IMHO the M340i will give you about 3/4 the performance of an M3/4 . With alot more luxury to boot. I think alot of M owners are going to have this same dillemma this year. With alot of lease end dates approaching. My M4 lease is up in June. So it’s either lease another M4 for about $800 a month . Lease a new generation car 2020 m340i for about that range $800-850 for a well equipped one. Or I guess just get
Into a M3 CS for $900 with the special going on now. Really just comes down to what you want. For what it’s worth I pay $1,000 /mo on my current comp pack M4 back when ZCP just came in 2016. An M Is an M , you can never replace that. But do you really want to drive the same car basically for another 2-3 years ? And when the next gen M comes out. Youll be driving the old gen for another year or so , or however long whatever depending on release date, your lease contract length etc. I personally think the new M340i is a sweet ride , upgraded interior, almost 400hp ,M diff, laser lights, new tech. Havent test driven one yet, but will As soon as my local dealer gets one . But all the current reviews out rn , have nothing but positive critics on the handling, steering, and chassis feel.

[Sherweeeny]

Originally Posted by BimmerFix

Ohh please bro, we drive an M car not a 911 GT3

the way some of these people talk, its like the Ms have an extra set of wheels or only drive on rails. sigh

[jmg]

Originally Posted by BimmerFix

Ohh please bro, we drive an M car not a 911 GT3 . IMHO the M340i will give you about 3/4 the performance of an M3/4 . With alot more luxury to boot. I think alot of M owners are going to have this same dillemma this year. With alot of lease end dates approaching. My M4 lease is up in June. So it’s either lease another M4 for about $800 a month . Lease a new generation car 2020 m340i for about that range $800-850 for a well equipped one. Or I guess just get
Into a M3 CS for $900 with the special going on now. Really just comes down to what you want. For what it’s worth I pay $1,000 /mo on my current comp pack M4 back when ZCP just came in 2016. An M Is an M , you can never replace that. But do you really want to drive the same car basically for another 2-3 years ? And when the next gen M comes out. Youll be driving the old gen for another year or so , or however long whatever depending on release date, your lease contract length etc. I personally think the new M340i is a sweet ride , upgraded interior, almost 400hp ,M diff, laser lights, new tech. Havent test driven one yet, but will As soon as my local dealer gets one . But all the current reviews out rn , have nothing but positive critics on the handling, steering, and chassis feel.

3/4 is still 3/4. I personally don't think the OP could go wrong with either a G20 or F80, and I'm sure the M340i will be a fine car, but he will be "stuck" in that car for 24-36 months as well driving it for a year while the G80 has already come out.

That being said, I don't mind not having the first MY of a new generation car. The 2nd year G80 will have a bit more of the kinks worked out, maybe even some updates and a Competition model.

Yes, I'm aware that we drive a glorified sports sedan. The fact that it is more than just a power upgrade over a 340i or G20 M340i doesn't mean it has to be a 911 GT3 to be the more suitable car for me. OP is stepping down from an M car, and for what an M car is built to do, I would even hesitate to step down from a E92, let alone a F8X. Given the right circumstances, I'd rather drive an E92 than a F30 340i, so why would I choose a G20 M340i over an F80? Some of us just like what the M cars come packaged with.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Sherweeeny

the way some of these people talk, its like the Ms have an extra set of wheels or only drive on rails. sigh

As a former 340i owner, the F80 does have a significantly different driving dynamic, which is exactly what I said. The G20 will be much better in terms of performance, but the focus is still more towards a sporty sedan for the highway rather than a trackable street car. I'm merely stating what they were designed and tuned to do. If you think that's belittling, I'm sorry.

[Ilyam5]

Originally Posted by jmg

As a former 340i owner, the F80 does have a significantly different driving dynamic, which is exactly what I said. The G20 will be much better in terms of performance, but the focus is still more towards a sporty sedan for the highway rather than a trackable street car. I'm merely stating what they were designed and tuned to do. If you think that's belittling, I'm sorry.

USED TO. last 340 was different from M3 in many ways- not any more.

Current M340 is pretty close to M3. M performance is a separate category by BMW now - and to some extent it is replacing the M dual role as street/track car. (heck - it is stiffer and as fast as e39 M5)

there is more similarities vs differences now between M340 and new M3:

M340 is going to have all wheel drive - same as M3
Auto gear box - same as M3
M suspension on x drive - first time - slightly less tuned vs M3
Limited dif - same as M3 (first time on 340)
Cooling package - extra radiator - same as M3

It also uses all new platform that is superior to F platform in every way.
It uses all new tech - that is great based on new x5 and 330 experience/
Sorry to say but current M3 and M4 feel dated next to new M340

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

USED TO. last 340 was different from M3 in many ways- not any more.

Current M340 is pretty close to M3. M performance is a separate category by BMW now - and to some extent it is replacing the M dual role as street/track car. (heck - it is stiffer and as fast as e39 M5)

there is more similarities vs differences now between M340 and new M3:

M340 is going to have all wheel drive - same as M3
Auto gear box - same as M3
M suspension on x drive - first time - slightly less tuned vs M3
Limited dif - same as M3 (first time on 340)
Cooling package - extra radiator - same as M3

Certainly the G20 M340i is a going to be strong machine, and the outgoing F80 is going to be dated to an extent, but there is still a difference in functionality between the M340i and the F80 M3 simply because they were built for different purposes. The G80 M3 will have a manual, unlike the M340i. The F80 has the DCT, unlike the M340i. Also consider even the most basic of performance metrics that is know right now about the M340i:

HP
F80 M3 CS - 456
G20 M340 - 382

Torque
F80 M3 CS - 443
G20 M340i - 369

0-60
F80 M3 CS - 3.7
G20 M340 - 4.2

So the M340i is not as fast to 60 as an F80 M3 CS (currently the flagship M3) despite the grip advantages of AWD. What does that tell us about what the M340i was designed for? The M340i was not built to be faster or handle better than the F80 nor the G80. Those are different tools for different jobs and at different price points.

It also uses all new platform that is superior to F platform in every way.
It uses all new tech - that is great based on new x5 and 330 experience/
Sorry to say but current M3 and M4 feel dated next to new M340

I should hope that the newest platform will be an improvement over the older ones. But the M340i, as good as it's shaping up to be, is not as close to a streetable track car as the E92 nor the F80, and especially not the G80, which will have the new G platform plus the M DNA.

Updated styling, AWD, new tech, new interior–I'd get an M340i for those reasons. I'd stick with the F8X if I was more focused on performance... at least until the G80 is released.

[Ilyam5]

Those are all good arguments. But you are also comparing a car 3 levels above in performance vs 340 . Regular M3 would be a better comparison and the numbers are not going to be that far off.

There are many more levels of performance BMW is building into the cars now. (see pic)
My point was M340 is the first not true M car that can handle the track regularly and has tools to survive dual duty designation as comfortable street car and occasional track.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

Those are all good arguments. But you are also comparing a car 3 levels above in performance vs 340 . Regular M3 would be a better comparison and the numbers are not going to be that far off.

There are many more levels of performance BMW is building into the cars now. (see pic)
My point was M340 is the first not true M car that can handle the track regularly and has tools to survive dual duty designation as comfortable street car and occasional track.

The regular non-zcp M3 is also 5 years old and many updates have occurred since then. It would only be fair to compare the latest M3 . For the sake of the discussion, the base M3 is still more capable on the track compared to the M340i because it is still more powerful with more torque, wider track, and bunch of other little enhancements that engineers bled and sweat over that add up to more than the sum of its parts. Even then, I would be more deposed to get an M340i than a non-zcp M3/4. It would have to be at least the ZCP if I were to stick with the F8X.

I wouldn't argue that the M340i is capable as an occasional track car, but it's not the first. My 340i M Sport had the track handling package (ZRT) with additional cooling, VSS, Adaptive M Suspension, and M Sport Brakes. It was capable, but I'd argue that the M variants are more leaning towards the track than even the ZTR package. Notice the photo you posted doesn't mention "racetrack" on the M Performance Automobiles?

[Ilyam5]

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...ve-track-test/

[BigSky702]

Originally Posted by jmg

.... Notice the photo you posted doesn't mention "racetrack" on the M Performance Automobiles?

Well played!

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...ve-track-test/

Touché!