[NewM3driver]

BMW has done a BEAUTIFUL job with this car.

I have had many BMW's. I think over the years they have consistently offered the best quality/performance/comfort and VALUE of all the luxury car manufacturers. Easy to live with, familiar, reliable.

We have had multiple 3 series, 5 series, X5's and three M3's.

Not since the E39 5 series (we had three) has BMW gotten a car this 'right'.

If I had to describe it in just one word, the first word that comes to mind would be SMOOTH. The three series has emerged all grow up this time around. The 2 series has replaced the old three. This M340 has the comfort of 5 series past with perfect driving dynamics.

Honestly, it is as close to perfect as they have come in many years... since that ridiculously good e39 530 sport. That car was perfect harmony.

The new M340 is perfect harmony. The adaptive suspension is perfectly damped, comfortable, unflappable. The non run flat Pilot sports are the perfect tire. Every bit as good as the old M3, no, better than the old M3 for EVERYTHING but the track. This car can dance. If feels light and planted... It steers beautifully and has very good feedback.

The engine is amazing, pulling right off idol all the way to redline. It has zero lag and is perfectly linear. It makes that beautiful straight six sound and is turbine smooth. It is matched perfectly to the 8 speed automatic transmission that rips off shifts that are so smooth and so perfectly executed that you can barely feel them. Far better than the herky jerky dual clutch found in the M cars. Put it in sport plus and it holds gears and downshifts as if it were reading my mind..... choosing gears exactly as I would had I been driving a proper manual. Telepathically good. This could quite possibly be the best drivetrain in any modern BMW.

The fact that it is being asked to haul around a relatively light, wonderfully taunt chassis is a recipe for excellence.

All this goodness is wrapped up in a fresh, contemporary package that boasts handsome good looks with a confident stance and slick lines. The interior is updated and modern, with a beautiful fit and finish and high quality materials throughout. The new design is not as immediately familiar as BMW's of the past had been, but the learning curve should be quick. The M-sport steering wheel is slightly tweaked from past models but as always is spot on perfect.

The thud the doors make when closed is more solid and pleasing than any modern car I can think of. It feel purposeful and well built.

The Tanzanite blue paint is rich and brilliant. The tech is a quantum leap forward... the new screen is crystal clear and the navigation map continues to be the very best in the business.

There is plenty of goodness baked into all BMW's. Sometimes those individual ingredients come together with a finished product that is more than the sum of it's parts.

The M340 is good. Old school BMW good. The best BMW in many, many years.

There are more expensive BMW's, faster BMW's, perhaps more prestigious BMW's..... but right now there is no better BMW than the M340.

This BMW has perfect balance, figuratively and literally.

Perhaps that single word should have been SWEET.

Can you tell I love my new car?

[hans007]

obviously i am also biased, but I agree with you, that this is the perfect street car. Especially in a place without perfect roads. An F80 or something would just be more jarring and jerky for doing normal non track things.

[wtwo3]

Congrats... let's see some pics!

[Burrcold]

Congrats! I'm sure BMW marketing is loving the high praise lol

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

BMW has done a BEAUTIFUL job with this car.

I have had many BMW's. I think over the years they have consistently offered the best quality/performance/comfort and VALUE of all the luxury car manufacturers. Easy to live with, familiar, reliable.

We have had multiple 3 series, 5 series, X5's and three M3's.

Not since the E39 5 series (we had three) has BMW gotten a car this 'right'.

If I had to describe it in just one word, the first word that comes to mind would be SMOOTH. The three series has emerged all grow up this time around. The 2 series has replaced the old three. This M340 has the comfort of 5 series past with perfect driving dynamics.

Honestly, it is as close to perfect as they have come in many years... since that ridiculously good e39 530 sport. That car was perfect harmony.

The new M340 is perfect harmony. The adaptive suspension is perfectly damped, comfortable, unflappable. The non run flat Pilot sports are the perfect tire. Every bit as good as the old M3, no, better than the old M3 for EVERYTHING but the track. This car can dance. If feels light and planted... It steers beautifully and has very good feedback.

The engine is amazing, pulling right off idol all the way to redline. It has zero lag and is perfectly linear. It makes that beautiful straight six sound and is turbine smooth. It is matched perfectly to the 8 speed automatic transmission that rips off shifts that are so smooth and so perfectly executed that you can barely feel them. Far better than the herky jerky dual clutch found in the M cars. Put it in sport plus and it holds gears and downshifts as if it were reading my mind..... choosing gears exactly as I would had I been driving a proper manual. Telepathically good. This could quite possibly be the best drivetrain in any modern BMW.

The fact that it is being asked to haul around a relatively light, wonderfully taunt chassis is a recipe for excellence.

All this goodness is wrapped up in a fresh, contemporary package that boasts handsome good looks with a confident stance and slick lines. The interior is updated and modern, with a beautiful fit and finish and high quality materials throughout. The new design is not as immediately familiar as BMW's of the past had been, but the learning curve should be quick. The M-sport steering wheel is slightly tweaked from past models but as always is spot on perfect.

The thud the doors make when closed is more solid and pleasing than any modern car I can think of. It feel purposeful and well built.

The Tanzanite blue paint is rich and brilliant. The tech is a quantum leap forward... the new screen is crystal clear and the navigation map continues to be the very best in the business.

There is plenty of goodness baked into all BMW's. Sometimes those individual ingredients come together with a finished product that is more than the sum of it's parts.

The M340 is good. Old school BMW good. The best BMW in many, many years.

There are more expensive BMW's, faster BMW's, perhaps more prestigious BMW's..... but right now there is no better BMW than the M340.

This BMW has perfect balance, figuratively and literally.

Perhaps that single word should have been SWEET.

Can you tell I love my new car?

Ahhh...the honeymoon period...
I thought the same with my F30 335i when it got offloaded the truck...

After spending past two days, 300 miles and numerous hours with the M340i, I have realized how different and how remarkable the F80 is.

I totally agree that M340i is better suited for every-day driving and ultimately for what I need. But, as it should be, it is a totally different vehicle from the F80

[themnmd]

could not have said it better

[tnsatbhs]

Many of the reasons I just ordered a M340i. Looks like it's going to be a longer wait than originally thought, though.

[BigSky702]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Congrats... let's see some pics!

[BigSky702]

Originally Posted by drF80

Ahhh...the honeymoon period...
I thought the same with my F30 335i when it got offloaded the truck...

After spending past two days, 300 miles and numerous hours with the M340i, I have realized how different and how remarkable the F80 is.

I totally agree that M340i is better suited for every-day driving and ultimately for what I need. But, as it should be, it is a totally different vehicle from the F80

Hopefully I did not misconstrue your post, but...Please do not turn this into a pissing match! What else can be said other than congrats and enjoy in good health?

Yes, BMW's are different across product lines, as they should be...

But let's be honest, there is rarely anything special about a vehicle, including F80 (former F82 driver here). They're cars, you enjoy them, then move on to the next vehicle.

[EXE46]

This review means a lot coming from someone who not only has owned the M3 but also drives an air cooled Porsche.

It is a truly impeccable machine that we all are lucky to drive. Enjoy in good health, now move over lol so I can pass 👍. Cheers!

[NewM3driver]

Originally Posted by EXE46

This review means a lot coming from someone who not only has owned the M3 but also drives an air cooled Porsche.

It is a truly impeccable machine that we all are lucky to drive. Enjoy in good health, now move over lol so I can pass 👍. Cheers!

I have had three M3’s, the last two the F series. I know the car inside and out. They handle very well and are fast as hell, but they are far from perfect. I always thought the transmission was the weak link with those cars.

For a daily the M340 all day long

The 993 is a completely different animal.

[Karl V]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

BMW has done a BEAUTIFUL job with this car.
The thud the doors make when closed is more solid and pleasing than any modern car I can think of. It feel purposeful and well built.

I was forever asking girlchild not to slam the door on the previous BMWs we owned, but for some reason it now takes her 2 or 3 attempts to shut the door properly on the M340i. She now closes the door, then looks at the LED trim to see if it is flashing red ;-)

I'm pretty sure this is NOT because she has all of a sudden become conscious of slamming doors. It hasn't stopped for the past 5 years. Maybe I need some flashing red LED lights on her bedroom door. Don't even go there...

[-EndOfAnEra-]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

BMW has done a BEAUTIFUL job with this car.

I have had many BMW's. I think over the years they have consistently offered the best quality/performance/comfort and VALUE of all the luxury car manufacturers. Easy to live with, familiar, reliable.

We have had multiple 3 series, 5 series, X5's and three M3's.

Not since the E39 5 series (we had three) has BMW gotten a car this 'right'.

If I had to describe it in just one word, the first word that comes to mind would be SMOOTH. The three series has emerged all grow up this time around. The 2 series has replaced the old three. This M340 has the comfort of 5 series past with perfect driving dynamics.

Honestly, it is as close to perfect as they have come in many years... since that ridiculously good e39 530 sport. That car was perfect harmony.

The new M340 is perfect harmony. The adaptive suspension is perfectly damped, comfortable, unflappable. The non run flat Pilot sports are the perfect tire. Every bit as good as the old M3, no, better than the old M3 for EVERYTHING but the track. This car can dance. If feels light and planted... It steers beautifully and has very good feedback.

The engine is amazing, pulling right off idol all the way to redline. It has zero lag and is perfectly linear. It makes that beautiful straight six sound and is turbine smooth. It is matched perfectly to the 8 speed automatic transmission that rips off shifts that are so smooth and so perfectly executed that you can barely feel them. Far better than the herky jerky dual clutch found in the M cars. Put it in sport plus and it holds gears and downshifts as if it were reading my mind..... choosing gears exactly as I would had I been driving a proper manual. Telepathically good. This could quite possibly be the best drivetrain in any modern BMW.

The fact that it is being asked to haul around a relatively light, wonderfully taunt chassis is a recipe for excellence.

All this goodness is wrapped up in a fresh, contemporary package that boasts handsome good looks with a confident stance and slick lines. The interior is updated and modern, with a beautiful fit and finish and high quality materials throughout. The new design is not as immediately familiar as BMW's of the past had been, but the learning curve should be quick. The M-sport steering wheel is slightly tweaked from past models but as always is spot on perfect.

The thud the doors make when closed is more solid and pleasing than any modern car I can think of. It feel purposeful and well built.

The Tanzanite blue paint is rich and brilliant. The tech is a quantum leap forward... the new screen is crystal clear and the navigation map continues to be the very best in the business.

There is plenty of goodness baked into all BMW's. Sometimes those individual ingredients come together with a finished product that is more than the sum of it's parts.

The M340 is good. Old school BMW good. The best BMW in many, many years.

There are more expensive BMW's, faster BMW's, perhaps more prestigious BMW's..... but right now there is no better BMW than the M340.

This BMW has perfect balance, figuratively and literally.

Perhaps that single word should have been SWEET.

Can you tell I love my new car?

Congratulations!! Enjoy every moment! Please write up some more thoughts after a week or a month, it's great to see how our impressions adapt over time.

Super glad to hear your thoughts on the non-runflats! I ordered mine with non-runflats but passive suspension rather than adaptive. Your thoughts on the superlative balance echo my original thinking that BMW has made (on paper) a modern E39 M5 in size, weight and performance, if not cachet. If I'm to miss one of those things, that one is acceptable to me.

Since family life decisions make it impossible to have my true dream car (said E39 M5), I always felt the M340i could be "the one". Eager to find out in a few weeks!

Did you have a chance to compare the M3 suspension to both active and passive in the M340 before ordering? I was a fan of how variable the adaptive was for all situations but always concerned it would be a problem to maintain. For me, I chose passive because I drive a BMW like a BMW

[NewM3driver]

Originally Posted by StickForLife

Congratulations!! Enjoy every moment! Please write up some more thoughts after a week or a month, it's great to see how our impressions adapt over time.

Super glad to hear your thoughts on the non-runflats! I ordered mine with non-runflats but passive suspension rather than adaptive. Your thoughts on the superlative balance echo my original thinking that BMW has made (on paper) a modern E39 M5 in size, weight and performance, if not cachet. If I'm to miss one of those things, that one is acceptable to me.

Since family life decisions make it impossible to have my true dream car (said E39 M5), I always felt the M340i could be "the one". Eager to find out in a few weeks!

Did you have a chance to compare the M3 suspension to both active and passive in the M340 before ordering? I was a fan of how variable the adaptive was for all situations but always concerned it would be a problem to maintain. For me, I chose passive because I drive a BMW like a BMW

My 2008 M3 (V8) had the adaptive suspension. My 2016 M3 had the non adaptive and it felt very stiff and honestly was a bit jarring on all but the smoothest roads. My 2017 M3 competition package was active and it was very nice to be able to select between comfort, sport and sport plus. I drove that car in sport most of the time.

I did drive M340's with both the active and passive suspension. Both cars behaved well, however I felt the active dampers were worth the relatively inexpensive cost of admission.

I feel a properly specified M340 would have the active suspension, and equally important, NON runlet tires. Now the spare donut tire BMW gives you takes up half the depth of your trunk. My spare, and the surround that held it have already been removed and relocated to the basement.

[NewM3driver]

Originally Posted by drF80

Ahhh...the honeymoon period...
I thought the same with my F30 335i when it got offloaded the truck...

After spending past two days, 300 miles and numerous hours with the M340i, I have realized how different and how remarkable the F80 is.

I totally agree that M340i is better suited for every-day driving and ultimately for what I need. But, as it should be, it is a totally different vehicle from the F80

I'm not sure it has anything to do with a honeymoon period. I knew on my way home from the dealer that I had made a huge mistake with my 535D (D is for diesel). Not sure why I decided I needed to drive an oil burner but that car lasted all of 5 months.

Likewise, I knew instantly that BMW had made some very dramatic improvements by adding the competition package on the 2017 M3. The overall refinement and smoothness of that car was worth making the change from a non comp pack car.

There is a side to the BMW M3 that is boy racer. It is fun 10% of the time, and annoying the other 90%. Hyper, loud, tail happy (OK I'll admit I always liked that). My last M car did rattle a LOT. Far more than it should have for the price.

[-EndOfAnEra-]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

My 2008 M3 (V8) had the adaptive suspension. My 2016 M3 had the non adaptive and it felt very stiff and honestly was a bit jarring on all but the smoothest roads. My 2017 M3 competition package was active and it was very nice to be able to select between comfort, sport and sport plus. I drove that car in sport most of the time.

I did drive M340's with both the active and passive suspension. Both cars behaved well, however I felt the active dampers were worth the relatively inexpensive cost of admission.

I feel a properly specified M340 would have the active suspension, and equally important, NON runlet tires. Now the spare donut tire BMW gives you takes up half the depth of your trunk. My spare, and the surround that held it have already been removed and relocated to the basement.

Thanks for that. I respect your thoughts on adaptive, it is an excellent feature and gives the car more versatility. Having never had a proper M, I'm still ok with a tauter setup. Hope I don't regret it as I age!

I heard some stories that removing the spare required buying a new trunk floor cover? Or does the surround sit on top of the existing one?

Also, did you end up with the Michelins or Pirellis at delivery?

[Transfer]

Yup it's a real winner. I have very few complaints with ours and they are trivial issues.

[WhiskyPat12]

Cheers man! I picked mine up the same day!

Originally Posted by WhiskyPat12

Just joined the Portimao Blue crew today. Also got the directive to work from home for the foreseeable future... Guess it'll keep the miles low for a while

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

I'm not sure it has anything to do with a honeymoon period. I knew on my way home from the dealer that I had made a huge mistake with my 535D (D is for diesel). Not sure why I decided I needed to drive an oil burner but that car lasted all of 5 months.

Likewise, I knew instantly that BMW had made some very dramatic improvements by adding the competition package on the 2017 M3. The overall refinement and smoothness of that car was worth making the change from a non comp pack car.

There is a side to the BMW M3 that is boy racer. It is fun 10% of the time, and annoying the other 90%. Hyper, loud, tail happy (OK I'll admit I always liked that). My last M car did rattle a LOT. Far more than it should have for the price.

I find "hyper, loud and tail happy" to be exactly what I'd expect from an M3...
Been using it for 2 years as daily driver and aside from the rattles (I'd say 10% category) the car has been totally awesome.

However, the M340i definitely feels like a better compromise for the way I am using it...

[shawntech]

My m340i has adaptive but runflat tires and i've been a car enthusiast for over 20yrs driving and owning every car imaginable. It's very hard to fault this m340i, a 12 flat 1/4 mile daily driver with great handling and fuel economy. There are no downsides.

[secretanchitman]

Congrats! If I didn't care about 6MT so much I would have bought an M340i. Enjoy the car in good health!!

[paulbazoV2]

Originally Posted by secretanchitman

Congrats! If I didn't care about 6MT so much I would have bought an M340i. Enjoy the car in good health!!

M340 is a great car, I downsized from M550 and I love the G20
My wife drives an MB C43, and the M340 is so much better