Ownership review of my BMW M340i xDrive

While in the M Sport variants the M Badges are showered on the BMWs to SELL, the M Performance line up earns the M Badges to PERFORM.

BHPian karan561 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So Good

• Engine Performance (B58D was the primary reason for my decision to buy & quite simply the M340i is a car built around this special engine)
• Gearbox (ZF8 never disappoints. This version is F-A-S-T, noticeably faster than the ZF8 on my F30 328i)
• Exclusivity (Only 40 Cars in India & the next lot will be limited too)
• Exterior looks (Handsome car, love the exteriors & interiors)
• Handling (M Performance Suspension, M LSD etc.)
• Pricing (Surprisingly well priced & VFM)
• xDrive (Rear biased weapon)

Not So Good

• Customisation Options (No option to choose interior colour schemes, M seats, upholstery, carbon fibre roof etc.)
• M340i interior needed more distinguishing M Performance touches (v/s the regular G20)
• Weight (Heavy car, thanks to the xDrive and a larger engine)
• Boot space (compromised thanks to the Space Saver)
• Harman Kardon System (Good, but not great)

The Bad

• Missing Features (keyless Entry, 360 Deg. camera etc. missing at this price point is NOT DONE)
• Turning Radius (Poor, courtesy the xDrive & aggressive negative camber on the front wheels)

Video review

The video is a pure "driving review" of the BMW M340i xDrive. It covers all the emotional driving experiences in RAW sounds as well as being CINEMATIC. The topics of discussion are ranging from B58D Engine Performance, M Sport Suspension spring rates, M LSD locking torque numbers, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, steering pull drift compensation & the X-Drives rear biased-ness demonstration.

What does that 'M' stand for in the M340i?

Lately, BMW has been accused of diluting the M brand by slapping M badges on every model under the sun.

Major culprit or the prime accused of diluting the M brand are the M Sport variants. Let's understand that a "M Sport" variant is a mere visual/cosmetic, upgraded/accessorised BMW with M badges, M Sport Bumpers, Steering wheels, trim pieces etc. in most cases/variants, which is all good & helps with sales.

In some cases, an M Sport Package adds coloured brake calipers, larger wheels, and M Sport suspension (or M Adaptive in higher models). Hence, although the M Sport package is mostly cosmetic, in some cases it can improve handling, if not exactly performance.

M Performance

While in the M Sport variants the M Badges are showered on the BMWs to SELL, the M Performance line up earns the M Badges to PERFORM.

The M Performance line up is properly 'engineered' by BMW M right from the engine, suspension, brakes, differential, sportier tubeless tyres (which had been reserved only for M Models) etc. adding genuine speed & performance from the factory. All M Performance cars have larger, more powerful engines than the cars they’re based on. Some examples of M Performance cars are M550i, X5 M50i, M850i, M760i to name a few.

What is the M340i? The answer to it is, the M340i is an M Performance BMW. This model from the line up of M Performance cars is targeting the likes of the Mercedes C43 & the Audi S4/5. Hence you may call the M Performance line up as Baby M or M Lite, whatever, but best not to miss out the M in front of the 340 (as some people on the forum unintentionally are missing out).

Not only cars like M340i, M440i etc. mentioned under BMW M on the website but also regularly featured officially on 'BMW M' social media platforms (which the 'M Sport' cars never are), but also they get goodies right from the M Models like as under:

BMW M Carbon Fibre Roof

Image Source

BMW's carbon-fiber roof has long been a hallmark of the BMW M Range, as this option reduces mass and lowers the centre of gravity. This is now available in the M Performance range and the image above is of the M340i. This establishes the overall seriousness shown by BMW for its M Performance line up & in this case the M340i i.e. the very 1st M Performance 3 Series.

BMW M Seats

These BMW M seats with integrated headrests are proper BMW M Seats & are available for the M340i.

High performance tubeless tyres

Runflats have been signature BMW tyres and BMW keeps upgrading this tyre tech but still they are no match for high performance tubeless tyres in terms of grip & other performance parameters. Hence their 'M Cars' since years have been always been equipped with non-runflat tubeless tyres like Michelin PSS, PS4S, Pirelli PZero, Continental Sport Contact Series etc. Interestingly, their M Performance line ups DO get the tubeless option from factory and that too is a step in the right direction chosen by BMW for their M Performance cars towards BMW M.

Unfortunately, in India, we did not get our variant specced with any of the above options, let alone any customisation options. Thankfully, I was able to source the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S marked with OE part nos. Requesting the new prospective owners of the next lot of M340i aspirants to question BMW India/dealers & help your cars get these goodies. Though I have information that next lot will be exactly like the first, but still, its good to protest so as to let BMW India know that the Indian consumer is aware about the global trend/options. Will help them be more generous with customisation (which is now only reserved for the CBUs) options for the future.

But what about the M3/4? Let's be honest that the upcoming M3/4 will be a faster and a much more aggressive track weapon than this M340i. But still, as an everyday driver, comfort, cabin noise or putting so much power in a RWD, it may not be as good as a M340i. Hence the M3, most of the times, might be a car which you would want to date & not own. And that's where the M Performance lineup comes in as a solution.

As you would have witnessed in my video posted above and continue reading through the other topics mentioned under in this thread, your questions about this M Performance line up & overall credibility of that letter M standing strong in front of the 340 badge will get clearer.

Continue reading karan561's thoughts on the M340i xDrive and BHPian comments for more insights and information.