[Rubber Ducky]

Just into an M340i, mineral white/cognac, premium pkg. My 12th BMW in a row, including M3, ZHP, Z4, other 3s including 330e, 5s, and a 318ti. This is the best of the bunch, M3 included.

What shines in the M340i: handling; acceleration; interior; switchology; sounds; iDrive and its parts; nav system.

Have yet to find anything that bothers me. This is a step-jump up from the last 3.

My old 330e was interesting. Dealer convinced me it would satisfy my quota for eating kale for three years. 48.1 mpg at end of lease. Still a BMW. But had to push it to get it to go, handling was soft, vanilla looks, dated interior and technology.

[Cyberdemon]

Curious which M3 you jumped from.

I've already had 2 FXX BMW's, so I'm trying to decide if I want to put up with the reliability and market quirks of the E90 M3, try to swap into a F80 lease transfer when people start to offload them for the G8X, or just go with the M340 as a more reasonable daily.

I can currently probably make a case in my head for any generation, but the reality is it'll spend more time at a train station than the race track which makes me feel bad about sourcing a mint E90 for daily duties.

[Rubber Ducky]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Curious which M3 you jumped from.

2015 F80. Had the chance to spend a couple days at VIR in M-School driving M5s, M6s, and the M3. M3 was star of the show until you got to absolute top end.

Comparing that car with M340i ... the latter is more accessible. The M3 constantly tells you that it would go faster around a track, but you can get everything you can use in the real world from the M340i with less fuss and it doesn't constantly remind you that it would be happier on a track.

[Cyberdemon]

Thanks! I've done the M school in the E92, M track days in the F80. Maybe I just need to get an E90 for a year to get the itch out of my system. I know that high revving engine will be nearly impossible to wind out in public and Ill miss boost. It's been 6 years since driving an NA car.

The X3M is also tempting only since my wife won't know what it is besides loud.

[Rubber Ducky]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Thanks! I've done the M school in the E92, M track days in the F80. Maybe I just need to get an E90 for a year to get the itch out of my system. I know that high revving engine will be nearly impossible to wind out in public and Ill miss boost. It's been 6 years since driving an NA car.

The X3M is also tempting only since my wife won't know what it is besides loud.

Only suggest you drive the M340i. I may be prejudiced coming out of the 330e, but my butt dyno likes the new car.

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by Rubber Ducky

Only suggest you drive the M340i. I may be prejudiced coming out of the 330e, but my butt dyno likes the new car.

Probably everybody can relate to the M340i > 330e statement. But not so much about the M340i > M3 detail you added.

[Rubber Ducky]

Originally Posted by KoenG

Probably everybody can relate to the M340i > 330e statement. But not so much about the M340i > M3 detail you added.

For track, you're right. For real life, I like what I like. And would add the 8-speed auto runs around town better than the DCT.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Nice

[pmanzonfotos]

I came from a 2013 F30 328i to an 2020 G20 M340i and the difference between the two is staggering. BMW definitely upped their game in the interior department. Every now and then I hop in the 328i and I am reminded how far they have come from the f30 generation. The engine is a given since one is an inline 4 and the other an inline 6.