I have a pre-LCI car, a '20 that I've used well. Just rolled over 40k miles and it's been flawless. Zero issues, does everything I want and need a car to do, the B58 is phenomenal, I absolutely love it.
@@bassandtrebleclef By all accounts they've improved dramatically since then. I figure if Toyota is willing to stamp their name and risk their stellar reliability reputation on this powertrain, it's good enough for me. I work from home now and drive ~500 miles per month. I'll update, but it'll be awhile lol.
These cars are addictive. So much fun without being punishing. BMW did their homework with the G20 generation. The M340i is an engineering masterpiece.
@madpistol "amazing" is always relative...compared to what? I chose the new RS3. The 340 is a big, heavy, somewhat fast sedan. The B58 has tons of plastic parts and history of oil consumption. It's a decent value but not remarkable. The new Lotus Emira is remarkable (for true drivers)
Reviewer had "Iconic Sounds" turned on which adds artificial noise to the cabin. I have the 2023 model and it does not pop/crackle because of the mild hybrid system. Still sounds great though
@@supremeleader9872 it pops still with the mild hybrid, but once you have iconic sounds off it stops them completely (not sure why), had to put a camera outside and test it to see
@@unexpiredbleach9236 "Iconic Sounds" being turned on adds fake cabin noise which disappears when its turned off. 2020-2021 models had pops/bangs from the exhaust because its not a hybrid system.
I test drove one yesterday. I've owned an Audi S4 for the past 6 years and BMW just hasn't interested me. I test drove a few Audis(S5, SQ5, Q8) and while I enjoyed them I kept thinking of all of the mods I would want to get them the way I wanted. After I test drive the M340i I was shocked at how it performed stock. It just felt so solid and high quality. I was shocked it was the same price as some of the Audi cars I test drove. My only gripe was the shifter but I suppose I'd get used to it. The infotainment was very impressive in person. The power is good but the transmission was what really made it exciting. The whole car felt so sharp and poised. Great mpg is a nice bonus with all of that performance.
This is how you do a sports sedan! It’s pricey, but man is it incredible. Not only is the B58 ultra smooth, efficient, and sonorous, but it’s also been remarkably reliable. I would go without x-drive, but no question I’d take this over the new C class.
@@theanswer3574 Unless you live in an area with a ton of snow/ice, the RWD version will do really well on snow tires. I had a RWD manual F30 on all seasons, and it did well in Michigan snow. X-drive adds weight on the front axle, and adds a bunch of unnecessary complexity plus it deletes steering feel.
58k for this car brand new is an insane deal... I paid 75,000 USD for my m440i here in Germany last week ,, although I have ACC, and its loaded , but base price m440i in germany is 72,000 Euros
@@LimgraveKnight15 x drive is amazing. Still can give you the sense of rwd when you want but does well in bad weather conditions. Just use good snow tires if you expect heavy snow in your area. If it’s only occasionally I’d run all seasons and maybe 50lbs of salt bags in the trunk to keep the rear planted. At least that’s what I do with our m240i here in Chicago.
I owned a 2022 version of this car and have to say this review is spot on. Traded for an X3 M Comp and I actually miss the M340i quite often. The B58 is more charismatic than the S58 and brings so much joy. Chassis of the G20 is so good by modern (i.e. isolated) car standards. He's right, seats aren't the best and the ride is pretty firm but not horrible. I'm also not sure I'm a fan of iDrive 8 as it seems a bit more complicated than iDrive 7. However, this is one of the best cars on sale today and it's a shame it's overlooked by a lot of people. This is a future BMW classic. This car is a masterpiece by modern car standards.
So are there things the X3M comp does better from a driving fun perspective? I’ve driven the m340i but top end performance did not convince me, though the instant torque from idle is a blast. Is the low end in the x3m comp lci that bad compared to the m340i? Very curious to hear your thoughts after owning them both. I’m currently stuck on choosing between them. I would hope the X3M feels more special, at least when pushed, does it?
@@RoHunter Great question. The answer is yes, the X3 M (and M3) is definitely sharper feeling. The chassis stiffness on the full M models does make them feel different. Throttle response on the S58 is also quite good though can be jerky. For daily driving, I think the M340 is better. The B58 exhaust is a little more playful and sounds great. S58 sounds good but has a deeper growl to it. It’s hard to explain without driving back to back. However, the ride on the X3 M is unbelievable stiff and uncomfortable. The ride is so jarring that my driver assist cameras fell off the windshield after hitting a bump in it. I’ve recently traded the X3 M for an X5 M50 and I’m very happy with the decision.
@@car_guy_tony Thanks a lot, unfortunately seems to confirm my fears about the X3M. I think I might enjoy an M550i lci more, should have the same engine as your X5 M50i. Drove an M850i recently and loved how that felt. Felt much meatier than the M340i. Any issues with the M50i so far?
@@RoHunter oh yeah, that M550i is a beautiful thing. It’s definitely the sweet spot of the 5-Series lineup. You will not be disappointed with it. Plus, the seats and overall interior quality of the 5-er and X5 is noticeably better than the 3s. No issues at all with the M50. Fantastic engine, torque for days, and when those twin turbos kick in it’s mind blowing. Not as fast on paper as the X3 M, but it’s darn close. It’s the Goldilocks trim level for sure.
@@car_guy_tony Great to hear! I understand exactly what you mean. Numbers are just numbers, but how our cars feel to drive is what matters. Anyway, thanks for your feedback and enjoy your ride! Hope you have many happy and safe trips with her.
@@Plushking185 BMW is really in a league of their own. I still think BMW is one of the kings of the sport sedan. This just has a classic sport sedan feel that a Model 3 Performance just doesn't have.
@@Plushking185 My model 3 performance lease ends this month and I have an M340i ordered waiting for delivery. Honestly, after driving a couple M340i's, the Tesla will absolutely demolish it in a straight line but that's about it. The Tesla was fun to experience but I'm ready to get back into a car that is exciting to drive and has some soul to it. I actually went to the dealership to drive a new M3 comp and after driving that, the dealer put me in an M340i to try also and I ended up liking it better than the M3. The M3 was a good car but wasn't as comfortable in normal city driving/commute which is were 99.9% of my driving takes place and also I couldn't really justify the $30k price difference between the two cars after I had spec'd each of them out how I would want them. The M3 is good but not $93k good IMO. For that money, I'd rather have a low mileage F90.
I have the 330i with the M suspension and no xdrive. Tha thing wants to lose the rear tires so easily. I'm impressed at how well the xdrive is doing with this bigger engine.
Easily, and by a pretty huge margin. Tedward also gets an Honorary mention from me. He has a similar intelligent and polite speaking style, is disciplined and knowledgeable, and is an overall great dude. Topher is the OG pov reviewer, though. (I have followed him since the winding road magazine days)
It helps to code in the B&O sound settings with something like Bimmercode. My HK system sounds reasonably good now. Not Volvo Bowers and Wilkins good, but more acceptable.
BMW has come such a long way, it's amazing. If their reliability keeps improving as steady as it is right now, it would be a nobrainer getting a different car. No MATCH for BMW dynamics in their class.
Thestraightpipes channel mentioned that manufactures are considering making it a “downloadable” feature where once you own the car and it’s no longer in the creation phase, you can see get the ventilated seats by paying a subscription fee. Kinda like when you buy a pre owned car, you can see buy the GPS subscription. I think that absolutely ridiculous but on that channel, they had the ventilated seat functionality but it couldnt be turned on because they didn’t have the subscription.
You easily forget about that when it makes a daily commute just that much more fun. My 2023 M340i makes me smile every single time I get behind the wheel. And that alone makes it worth the price.
I bought a 2024 C43 AMG. It was pretty to look at but the transmission with the turbo 4 cylinder is very clunky, the car squeaks & rattles. Traded for a 2024 BMW M340ix. Best decision ever. BMW owns the segment.
BMW is the best luxury car maker right now. The performance for the money beats the competitors. Mercedes is running a scam at this price point, and Audi is an upgraded Volkswagen at this level.
@@VeyroneR BMW is currently listed as 3rd best automaker for reliability in Consumer Reports... behind Lexus and Toyota. M340i rated as "above average" for reliability.
@@madpistol i don't care for that reports. There are 2000 different reports and they all have totally different rankings and lists. Im one list certain brand is 3. on other 11, and on other 7.
@@VeyroneR ok, but remember that Toyota chose BMW to manufacture the new Supra. They wouldn’t do that if they thought reliability was compromised. The engine in the M340i is the same engine in the new Supra.
Such a shame we don’t have proper roads in the USA where you could drive this car at proper speeds in excess of 100 mph. Drove one on the autobahn at 135, felt amazing! It was so nice not to have left lane shit heads riding in your way. I’ve never felt like I was getting somewhere so fast on the road in my life. My current 10.5 drive home if I could drive properly would be about 6.3 hours.
They are bigger and heavier and don’t drive like a BMW any longer. I would never trade my F30 335 for this. Manual M2 is a maybe and even those are ugly.
Lane keep is so garbage. Almost got me killed the first week I had the car. An enormous dump truck started drifting into my lane so I drifted to the other side of mine and then lane keep attempted to swerve me back into the lane to be ground into dust beneath monster truck wheels. Turned that shit off and haven’t turned it back on in 2.5 years.
You need to do a follow up drive in the M240i. First time was in icy/snow conditions and need a follow up in the dry. Good excuse to drive the RWD version and compare.
I don't know about this 48V hybrid systems. I'd rather take 100lb less and an insignificant improvement in cornering ability and brakes rather than slightly smoother and faster acceleration
@@wowTasteThis an rs3 has 20 more hrsprs than the m340i and its half a tonne lighter than the m340i. i would imagine an audi rs3 would just leave the m340i in the dust. maybe the m3 not so much.
I have this car in 2023 model x drive I really like it.. definitely pushed it to the limit multiple occasions (on a regular basis) I wish it got lower into corners (feels like I am sitting high) cost me 75k pretty loaded.. car looks great but I think I need that m3
I bought a 2024 C43 AMG. It’s pretty to look at but the transmission with the turbo 4 cylinder is very clunky, the car squeaks & rattles. Traded for a 2024 BMW M340ix. Best decision ever. BMW owns the segment.
The 3 series has always been the best BMW. I'm probably going to trade my '22 WRX in next year or so for the 340i xDrive. The car is just awesome, minus the maintenance, etc. i thought the M diff is an option
Chris, great work! One note tho, and something that really annoys me about these - the gearshifts and exhaust pops / burbles are all from the speakers. A few owners have videos - it’s the “iconic sounds” that turns on speaker noise. Frustrating and you can even tell on video they sound fake.
I got a Q50 RS in dec 2021 and the only car I legit regret not test driving and considering more seriously is this. I love my car and I like the Q50s exterior better but this car is up significantly everywhere else. Hindsight is 20/20 🤷♂️ theres always next time
I use to have a brand new str8 from the factory a 2018 q50RS and a brand new 2014 q50s hybrid. When I got the 18 model, I was excited for a few then I got rid of it and jumped into a BMW, I am never going back to infiniti, BMW hands down has me in a chokehold and I love it. I currently leasing a 23 x3M40i. The q50 exterior still looks okay 🫤, but I mean u just can’t go wrong with BMW nowadays. My x3 drives just like the M340i which I’ve had for a week in testing. U just got to get you one man!
Sitting here one month after getting my IS 500 wondering if I got the wrong car. 🤣 I mean, the practical part of me says yes, the M340i is the better car. And my wife's daily is a G20 330i, so I am familiar with how good the 3er is these days. Had she not had a 3-series already, I might have more strongly considered the M340i. But I dunno. Isn't having a V-8 a little bit cooler? 😛 I don't think I'd heard as strong of praise from other journalists as you, but to be honest, I tend to agree with you more than some others. I remember your video on the 2015 IS 350 way back in the day was what got me thinking about Lexus. I have now owned 3 different ISes since then, along with a Mk7 GTI and Mk7 GLI spinkled in there - I went through a VW phase. Anyway, the M340i is darned impressive. I haven't driven one, but, having driven an X3 M40i and of course living with our 330i for over 1.5 years now, I can extrapolate. So I can imagine it is addicting in its power delivery while feeling pretty light on its feet and overall premium-feeling as it goes down the road. And that transmission - on video, it definitely looks like it's been tuned-up a bit compared to what we have in the 330i. But anyway, thanks again for the video and for giving it the beans as usual. 👍
Oh how cruel we are to ourselves. I my friend am in the other boat. I have an m340i and have been really contemplating trading it in on a is500. I want that v8! Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love the m340i. It does everything extremely well and is a terrific daily. It just feels like it’s missing something to make it truly a special car…. 2 cylinders maybe
Just enjoy what you have! I frankly love the looks of the new IS. It’s gorgeous. It was just personal preference for more tech features that kept me with BMW.
@@RCtennis3811 Just came back here again and saw these comments. Thank you guys. I do love the car as much as anything, especially the V-8 and the exterior styling. Despite me working from home, I managed to put over 9,000 miles on it in a year. I went to a lot of meetups with other Lexus owners and other car-related events as well as a couple road trips. It has been great! My wife traded her 330i for a 2023 X3, so now we've got our SUV and our sport sedan. It's a good setup. I may get wandering eyes from time to time, but it is hard to imagine giving up the IS 500.
It’s the ride quality that worries me, recently drove an M135i and was really not impressed with how firm the suspension 1. Currently driving a golf 7gti and am looking for a 3 series but the constant comments about the harsh ride are putting me off, will hopefully test drive soon especially the 340i; ride quality is extremely important to me.
for $ 68k with these options where the car has, BMW would sell 100000´s from this car in Germany, because in Germany this car would cost over $ 90k with that options on it 😂😂😂
How do the seats feel on the long run? Do you get used to them or do they feel worst as the time goes by? For me, they are quite unconfortable in the first month of ownership.
The new updated iDrive looks SO MUCH BETTER than what was in there pre-LCI. The duel-screen setup finally catches up with what Mercedes has done for the last 4+ years and gives it an even more modern look. I've driven an m340i before and I can say its definitely an amazing sports car that definitely has power in it's engine! Good stuff
This or the X3 M40i? The last time you tested one of these you said you would get the X3. Similar performance other than ride quality and more space with a higher seating position. I don't think you ever tested an X3 M40i on your channel. What are your thoughts?
I have a 2018 340i X-drive manual transmission. I love it, and am holding on to it since there are no MT AWD euro cars available. The model I have was the last one brought over by BMW and why I bought it instead of hanging on to the 328 X-drive wagon I had previously. It has 130K miles on it, so I’m shopping, and I right now I’m considering a Golf R (MT, AWD), the Volvo V60 polestar recharge, and this car. If it was MT, I’d already own it. We had a Golf R previously and loved it too. I’m frankly scared of the reliability of the Volvo, since I beat the shit out of my cars driving on gravel and snow all winter. Dang.
I drive the poor(er) man’s M340i, ‘22 Genesis G70 3.3t Sport Prestige. I have to keep reminding myself that an equivalently equipped M340i would cost $70k compared to the G70 @$54k. The G20 is superior in almost all ways.
Question is would you take this over your Civic Type R as a daily? I'm tempted to get one or the M440i gran coupe but unsure. What's everyone else's thoughts? On my short list of next cars is the Integra type s and M340i
@@V1perKiller because they are around the same price. I mean if you had almost 60k to get a fun practical new car for the next 5 years which would you go for? I know they don't directly compete but those 2 are on my short list of potential next daily
@@cpl8168 if they gave us the m340i wagon I would have been all over that. Sure the bmw is quicker and whatnot but probably twice as much to maintain in the long run. Both brands (bmw and acura) have equally terrible resale as well
Great question. I'm curious what Topher thinks. This is all weather, a lot more power and drifty. You can get the tail safely out on every right turn and ramp. Those are more precise and laser focused, more noisy inside. I personally don't like FWD in the rain and hills (hate it and thats where I live) so I'd gravitate towards this or the GR Corolla, lol. FWD sedans is right after FWD cross overs as my second worst car category. That said, the Type R is a master piece (I've drive the FK8)
Great review as always! I’ve been thinking about my next car and the M340i has been tops on my list, but I’m concerned with the interior room. I currently have an Elantra N, which is fantastic, and amazingly enough has a ton of legroom front and back, so with growing kids I wouldn’t want to go any smaller than the EN. The M340i seems like it would be an obvious upgrade quality-wise compared to the Elantra N, but keeps all the driving fun: great handling, great sounding and a sort of dual personality depending on what driving mode you’re in. I’d be targeting a 2020 model because I’d like to steer clear of the mild hybrid system if I could to help reduce any future maintenance involve with that. Anyway, just throwing my thoughts out there. Thanks for the usual killer POV!
@@2409dlewis Elantra N has 2.5 inches more legroom than the normal elantra of it's same year. The car also gets bigger with every generation so your experience may not apply to the EN. The EN is definitely a larger car in terms of legroom.
I assume you opened the back door of a G70 and immediately knew it was a no-go based on the sad leg room back there. I wasn’t sure my short stout dog would be able to hop up when I brought it home
I have a 335 and keep telling myself my ked bmw will Be a g80 m3 but wonder if it’s too high strung for a daily and this I just perfect a much improved version of my e90 335 drove which I love how sporty it drives and feels
I just can’t get excited about any of these new bmw’s. This is the one I’d pick out of the bunch, even over the G80. B58 is fast enough bone stock and at least the front end on this isn’t ugly.
Currently looking at a new buy in my budget. 2016 bmw 340i rwd 48k miles for 27k usd. No damage no recalls. Do yall think this would be a good buy? I believe its still got the b58 as well no?
I haven't driven this car, but I couldn't help but think it looked heavy while you were driving it. You did mention however that it drives light, which made me laugh since I've not driven it and wouldn't know. I did look up the weight since I was curious and I can't believe it weighs just shy 4,000 lbs! I do miss the traditional gauges as well, even a digital one would be cool. Seems like a nice car though. I would absolutely choose this over the current M3 as well.
Do we think BMW will bring back physical buttons before the B58 is sunset? Would love a M340i or X50e for a new long term, but can’t stand the displays.
Nope. They’re all in on less buttons and having and utilizing “BMW Curved Display.” Even the next two operating systems for iDrive that we’re announced, 8.5 and 9, will continue using that setup.
All M Lite car without a gear shifter is totally a loss. All M-Lite line up should had come with at least the option to add the shifter as an option. To honor the M series.
Nice review. So Start/Stop is not active in Sport/Sport+ mode by default?? I was wondering about that and great news if true. My mom has a Mercedes that you have to manually deactivate in all driving modes and don't like it. At least good to know I won't have to deal with it if I stay in Sport mode. I'd love an M340i because I'd love to have a 4 seater B58 car but I don't want to spend that much so I have an M240i on order :)
But M240i is not a 4 seater B58, is it? Those back seats are not just uncomfortable, they are genuinely useless. I was gonna order one until I tried the backseat. Can't even sit behind my 5'8" friends in that car.
@@jkliao6486 No, M240i is not 4-seater. I'd love a 4-seater with B58 but will live with 2-seater with B58. Yeah I sat in back seat and cramped and worse tough to get in but I don't really carry people in back much anyways... just liked the option.
Don, correct - it’s not active in sport or sport + mode. I will say, I’m surprised how seamless the start stop is in comfort or eco mode. The mild hybrid even adds electric boost when you hit the throttle hard.
I know the front end was controversial on the M440i, etc... because of the wild extended grill. But you stated this grill was controversial so I'm interested as to why? You’re the first reviewer who has said that about the M340i. I own a 2023 M340i xdrive and did extensive research before purchasing.
And two months later after 100s of reviews, still nothing about the front grill being controversial. I’ll chalk it up to you thinking that’s what you’re suppose to say, LOL!
@@michaellackie6274 I think the controversial part about the front fascia is comparing to the pre LCI, people prefer the look over this new one. It's mentioned in some YT videos as well as on the FB forums. Funny thing is I love everything about this car besides the front end. Wish it was a bit more aggressive and that they still offered laser lights.
@ techdefender I've had both, it comes down to what you value more. If it's pure comfort, go with the lexus...but be prepared to be at the tank often with the V8. If you care about a car that has power but is all wheel drive (can take on weather) and has the latest tech, go with the m340i. The lexus has more soul in that the V8 induction noise is intoxicating and it's duel personality can be enticing to some, however, the transmission responsiveness sucks when compared to BMW, the is500 really wakes up above 4000 RPM but the m340i is instant. BMW handling is way better, not even close. However the is500 will hold its value if you're buying...if you're leasing go with the BMW like I currently have. The BMW while little less comfortable has more space overall if you care about the family accommodations. In an ideal world, I'd keep both..ha. But if you can get your hands on a used ISF in decent condition, go with that def.
I have a pre-LCI car, a '20 that I've used well. Just rolled over 40k miles and it's been flawless. Zero issues, does everything I want and need a car to do, the B58 is phenomenal, I absolutely love it.
Can you report back when the car has 60k miles? Modern BMWs threads come undone right around then. At least the early 2010 models did.
Thank you for continuing to share your experiences with BMW reliability. I’m also curious to know what it’s like to own a M340i or Supra.
@@bassandtrebleclef By all accounts they've improved dramatically since then. I figure if Toyota is willing to stamp their name and risk their stellar reliability reputation on this powertrain, it's good enough for me. I work from home now and drive ~500 miles per month. I'll update, but it'll be awhile lol.
I think 20' model has better exhaust sound. The newer one has mild hybrid system and doesn't sound as good as the old models
@@bassandtrebleclef .... that was over 10 years ago...
These cars are addictive. So much fun without being punishing. BMW did their homework with the G20 generation. The M340i is an engineering masterpiece.
M cars are not punishing either. I drove an F83 M4 recently and it's a complete luxury apart from slightly loud tire noise. They're perfect dailies.
Tons of plastic engine parts, "masterpiece" is BMW fanboi
@@fzr1000981you obviously haven’t driven one. They are quite amazing to drive.
@madpistol "amazing" is always relative...compared to what? I chose the new RS3. The 340 is a big, heavy, somewhat fast sedan. The B58 has tons of plastic parts and history of oil consumption. It's a decent value but not remarkable. The new Lotus Emira is remarkable (for true drivers)
Plus that 3 series Beemers cover the roads like flies * yawn *
You have to admit the 3-series is the best in class luxury compact sedan and the M340i is the definition of what a sports sedan should be
i never realized how good the m340i sounds, im loving it
the new 330i next
Sounds even better in person. Gotta love the baritone wail of the B58.
Reviewer had "Iconic Sounds" turned on which adds artificial noise to the cabin. I have the 2023 model and it does not pop/crackle because of the mild hybrid system. Still sounds great though
@@supremeleader9872 it pops still with the mild hybrid, but once you have iconic sounds off it stops them completely (not sure why), had to put a camera outside and test it to see
@@unexpiredbleach9236 "Iconic Sounds" being turned on adds fake cabin noise which disappears when its turned off. 2020-2021 models had pops/bangs from the exhaust because its not a hybrid system.
I test drove one yesterday. I've owned an Audi S4 for the past 6 years and BMW just hasn't interested me. I test drove a few Audis(S5, SQ5, Q8) and while I enjoyed them I kept thinking of all of the mods I would want to get them the way I wanted. After I test drive the M340i I was shocked at how it performed stock. It just felt so solid and high quality. I was shocked it was the same price as some of the Audi cars I test drove. My only gripe was the shifter but I suppose I'd get used to it. The infotainment was very impressive in person. The power is good but the transmission was what really made it exciting. The whole car felt so sharp and poised. Great mpg is a nice bonus with all of that performance.
This is how you do a sports sedan! It’s pricey, but man is it incredible. Not only is the B58 ultra smooth, efficient, and sonorous, but it’s also been remarkably reliable. I would go without x-drive, but no question I’d take this over the new C class.
Offcourse! The c class is getting uglier by the day
Why would you go without xDrive? Isn’t it more reliable? Or is it because you can’t drift with it?
@@theanswer3574 Unless you live in an area with a ton of snow/ice, the RWD version will do really well on snow tires. I had a RWD manual F30 on all seasons, and it did well in Michigan snow. X-drive adds weight on the front axle, and adds a bunch of unnecessary complexity plus it deletes steering feel.
@@theanswer3574 rwd feels better in the corners and if anything it would be more reliable w/o the added complexity of awd
58k for this car brand new is an insane deal... I paid 75,000 USD for my m440i here in Germany last week ,, although I have ACC, and its loaded , but base price m440i in germany is 72,000 Euros
I’ve had my m340i since October last year and have been loving it! It’s the perfect Michigan car to daily all year. Thanks for another great review!
How is it in the winter
@@LimgraveKnight15 It has handled really well so far in the winter weather. I have been really happy with it!
@@bp0d613 appreciate it! I live in the northeast so I’d need xDrive haha
@@LimgraveKnight15 x drive is amazing. Still can give you the sense of rwd when you want but does well in bad weather conditions. Just use good snow tires if you expect heavy snow in your area. If it’s only occasionally I’d run all seasons and maybe 50lbs of salt bags in the trunk to keep the rear planted. At least that’s what I do with our m240i here in Chicago.
@@F80mthree Appreciate the advice bro! How has the maintenance cost/intervals been?
I owned a 2022 version of this car and have to say this review is spot on. Traded for an X3 M Comp and I actually miss the M340i quite often. The B58 is more charismatic than the S58 and brings so much joy. Chassis of the G20 is so good by modern (i.e. isolated) car standards. He's right, seats aren't the best and the ride is pretty firm but not horrible. I'm also not sure I'm a fan of iDrive 8 as it seems a bit more complicated than iDrive 7. However, this is one of the best cars on sale today and it's a shame it's overlooked by a lot of people. This is a future BMW classic. This car is a masterpiece by modern car standards.
So are there things the X3M comp does better from a driving fun perspective? I’ve driven the m340i but top end performance did not convince me, though the instant torque from idle is a blast. Is the low end in the x3m comp lci that bad compared to the m340i? Very curious to hear your thoughts after owning them both. I’m currently stuck on choosing between them. I would hope the X3M feels more special, at least when pushed, does it?
@@RoHunter Great question. The answer is yes, the X3 M (and M3) is definitely sharper feeling. The chassis stiffness on the full M models does make them feel different. Throttle response on the S58 is also quite good though can be jerky. For daily driving, I think the M340 is better. The B58 exhaust is a little more playful and sounds great. S58 sounds good but has a deeper growl to it. It’s hard to explain without driving back to back. However, the ride on the X3 M is unbelievable stiff and uncomfortable. The ride is so jarring that my driver assist cameras fell off the windshield after hitting a bump in it. I’ve recently traded the X3 M for an X5 M50 and I’m very happy with the decision.
@@car_guy_tony Thanks a lot, unfortunately seems to confirm my fears about the X3M. I think I might enjoy an M550i lci more, should have the same engine as your X5 M50i. Drove an M850i recently and loved how that felt. Felt much meatier than the M340i.
Any issues with the M50i so far?
@@RoHunter oh yeah, that M550i is a beautiful thing. It’s definitely the sweet spot of the 5-Series lineup. You will not be disappointed with it. Plus, the seats and overall interior quality of the 5-er and X5 is noticeably better than the 3s.
No issues at all with the M50. Fantastic engine, torque for days, and when those twin turbos kick in it’s mind blowing. Not as fast on paper as the X3 M, but it’s darn close. It’s the Goldilocks trim level for sure.
@@car_guy_tony Great to hear! I understand exactly what you mean. Numbers are just numbers, but how our cars feel to drive is what matters.
Anyway, thanks for your feedback and enjoy your ride! Hope you have many happy and safe trips with her.
That M340i is a monster of a sport sedan~ I would take this over a Mercedes-AMG C43 or a Tesla Model 3 any day of the week.
I did actually take this over a Model 3 perf. They flat out do not compare.
@@Plushking185 BMW is really in a league of their own. I still think BMW is one of the kings of the sport sedan. This just has a classic sport sedan feel that a Model 3 Performance just doesn't have.
faxie waxie
@@Plushking185 My model 3 performance lease ends this month and I have an M340i ordered waiting for delivery. Honestly, after driving a couple M340i's, the Tesla will absolutely demolish it in a straight line but that's about it. The Tesla was fun to experience but I'm ready to get back into a car that is exciting to drive and has some soul to it.
I actually went to the dealership to drive a new M3 comp and after driving that, the dealer put me in an M340i to try also and I ended up liking it better than the M3. The M3 was a good car but wasn't as comfortable in normal city driving/commute which is were 99.9% of my driving takes place and also I couldn't really justify the $30k price difference between the two cars after I had spec'd each of them out how I would want them. The M3 is good but not $93k good IMO. For that money, I'd rather have a low mileage F90.
@@TonyKimtheamusementparkfanmerc is clear for me
I have the 330i with the M suspension and no xdrive. Tha thing wants to lose the rear tires so easily. I'm impressed at how well the xdrive is doing with this bigger engine.
I have the pre-LCI 2020 and I love it. When I listened to this video with headphones, it felt like I was driving my car lol.
Topher is the best car review channel
Easily, and by a pretty huge margin.
Tedward also gets an Honorary mention from me. He has a similar intelligent and polite speaking style, is disciplined and knowledgeable, and is an overall great dude.
Topher is the OG pov reviewer, though. (I have followed him since the winding road magazine days)
@@siddharthsharma8940don’t forget Substitute Topher which has the mix demeanor of them both.
Love the 340i, but I think the interior refresh just isn't great. The 12 inch screen cluster was a better look, imo.
The key to the Harman/Kardon system is using the EQ. Just adjusting Treble and Bass doesn’t give you the full range of sound it’s capable of.
It helps to code in the B&O sound settings with something like Bimmercode. My HK system sounds reasonably good now. Not Volvo Bowers and Wilkins good, but more acceptable.
“This little piece down here to collect crumbs in”
He has definitely lived with a BMW at some point. That’s how you know you can take him seriously.
BMW has come such a long way, it's amazing. If their reliability keeps improving as steady as it is right now, it would be a nobrainer getting a different car. No MATCH for BMW dynamics in their class.
The Melbourne Red is hot. Pair it with the beige or cognac leather and that's a winner.
all the performance you really need, but there’s something about paying 68k and no ventilated seats is just 😭
Thestraightpipes channel mentioned that manufactures are considering making it a “downloadable” feature where once you own the car and it’s no longer in the creation phase, you can see get the ventilated seats by paying a subscription fee. Kinda like when you buy a pre owned car, you can see buy the GPS subscription. I think that absolutely ridiculous but on that channel, they had the ventilated seat functionality but it couldnt be turned on because they didn’t have the subscription.
You easily forget about that when it makes a daily commute just that much more fun. My 2023 M340i makes me smile every single time I get behind the wheel. And that alone makes it worth the price.
@@RCtennis3811 Just curious, what other cars did you consider when shopping?
@@WD.909 Its not built into the seats of the regular 3 series so you can't just download software like you can with the drive recorder.
I bought a 2024 C43 AMG. It was pretty to look at but the transmission with the turbo 4 cylinder is very clunky, the car squeaks & rattles. Traded for a 2024 BMW M340ix. Best decision ever. BMW owns the segment.
I have a 22' pre LCI 330i I Love it so far!!this car is next on my list to own!
Claps boots together. Thats a sign of a man who respects an automobile! 👊🏽💯
I needed this, but also really didn't need this...
What a car ❤️
shifts fast for a converter autom. transmission, well done ZF and BMW.
Good start to the day 😮💨
Saving up for this beast of a daily driver!
You won’t regret it. I bought mine a year ago and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.
BMW is the best luxury car maker right now. The performance for the money beats the competitors. Mercedes is running a scam at this price point, and Audi is an upgraded Volkswagen at this level.
BMW is Piece of shit that breaks all the time and u need to have ur best friend as a mechanic.
Agreed -- Audi / VW has really taken a serious step back.
@@VeyroneR BMW is currently listed as 3rd best automaker for reliability in Consumer Reports... behind Lexus and Toyota. M340i rated as "above average" for reliability.
@@madpistol i don't care for that reports. There are 2000 different reports and they all have totally different rankings and lists. Im one list certain brand is 3. on other 11, and on other 7.
@@VeyroneR ok, but remember that Toyota chose BMW to manufacture the new Supra. They wouldn’t do that if they thought reliability was compromised. The engine in the M340i is the same engine in the new Supra.
Such a shame we don’t have proper roads in the USA where you could drive this car at proper speeds in excess of 100 mph. Drove one on the autobahn at 135, felt amazing! It was so nice not to have left lane shit heads riding in your way. I’ve never felt like I was getting somewhere so fast on the road in my life. My current 10.5 drive home if I could drive properly would be about 6.3 hours.
My dad's got one of these and loves it. Says it feels bigger and heavier than his previous F30 328x but that's not surprising.
They are bigger and heavier and don’t drive like a BMW any longer. I would never trade my F30 335 for this. Manual M2 is a maybe and even those are ugly.
There is something about your pov videos, I watch other ppls and they don’t compare to the tophers. I can watch these videos all night
Lane keep is so garbage. Almost got me killed the first week I had the car. An enormous dump truck started drifting into my lane so I drifted to the other side of mine and then lane keep attempted to swerve me back into the lane to be ground into dust beneath monster truck wheels. Turned that shit off and haven’t turned it back on in 2.5 years.
You need to do a follow up drive in the M240i. First time was in icy/snow conditions and need a follow up in the dry. Good excuse to drive the RWD version and compare.
I have a X3 M40i and even that is fun to drive.
This is how cars should handle - "neutral with a hint of oversteer". No inner wheel brake nonsense.
I don't know about this 48V hybrid systems. I'd rather take 100lb less and an insignificant improvement in cornering ability and brakes rather than slightly smoother and faster acceleration
A throwback digital version of the analog gauges would be nice.
Agree. I have the 2021 model and I think it's probably the best one - analogue gauges and all.
I got my skyscraper grey m340 xdrive back in December and so far it has been a great car
A tune makes these cars absolute monsters.
I'd love to see you compare the M340i to the RS3 just to see which you would prefer between the two.
i feel like RS3 is too powerful in comparison. maybe like the s3 or the s4.
@@sehunkimm But price wise the RS3 is closest
@@vishalk7132 the new RS3’s are like 80k. More comparable to m3 and m4s imo
@@sehunkimm Sure a b58 won't put down more than an rs3?
@@wowTasteThis an rs3 has 20 more hrsprs than the m340i and its half a tonne lighter than the m340i. i would imagine an audi rs3 would just leave the m340i in the dust. maybe the m3 not so much.
I have this car in 2023 model x drive I really like it.. definitely pushed it to the limit multiple occasions (on a regular basis) I wish it got lower into corners (feels like I am sitting high) cost me 75k pretty loaded.. car looks great but I think I need that m3
I bought a 2024 C43 AMG. It’s pretty to look at but the transmission with the turbo 4 cylinder is very clunky, the car squeaks & rattles. Traded for a 2024 BMW M340ix. Best decision ever. BMW owns the segment.
The 3 series has always been the best BMW. I'm probably going to trade my '22 WRX in next year or so for the 340i xDrive. The car is just awesome, minus the maintenance, etc. i thought the M diff is an option
‘20 is the only year to get exhaust and burbles are amazing
sport individual is such a dork name for driving mode.. "i'm a sport individual eheheh"
The sedan version of the Supra haha
It's 2023, and companies still have learned from the volumes of complaints about lack of physical buttons for certain keys features...like a/c.
Chris, great work!
One note tho, and something that really annoys me about these - the gearshifts and exhaust pops / burbles are all from the speakers. A few owners have videos - it’s the “iconic sounds” that turns on speaker noise. Frustrating and you can even tell on video they sound fake.
I got a Q50 RS in dec 2021 and the only car I legit regret not test driving and considering more seriously is this. I love my car and I like the Q50s exterior better but this car is up significantly everywhere else. Hindsight is 20/20 🤷♂️ theres always next time
I use to have a brand new str8 from the factory a 2018 q50RS and a brand new 2014 q50s hybrid. When I got the 18 model, I was excited for a few then I got rid of it and jumped into a BMW, I am never going back to infiniti, BMW hands down has me in a chokehold and I love it. I currently leasing a 23 x3M40i. The q50 exterior still looks okay 🫤, but I mean u just can’t go wrong with BMW nowadays. My x3 drives just like the M340i which I’ve had for a week in testing. U just got to get you one man!
Would love to see a x3 m40i review from you. Great video as always!
Same here
He tested an x3m40i, search
Sitting here one month after getting my IS 500 wondering if I got the wrong car. 🤣
I mean, the practical part of me says yes, the M340i is the better car. And my wife's daily is a G20 330i, so I am familiar with how good the 3er is these days. Had she not had a 3-series already, I might have more strongly considered the M340i. But I dunno. Isn't having a V-8 a little bit cooler? 😛
I don't think I'd heard as strong of praise from other journalists as you, but to be honest, I tend to agree with you more than some others. I remember your video on the 2015 IS 350 way back in the day was what got me thinking about Lexus. I have now owned 3 different ISes since then, along with a Mk7 GTI and Mk7 GLI spinkled in there - I went through a VW phase. Anyway, the M340i is darned impressive. I haven't driven one, but, having driven an X3 M40i and of course living with our 330i for over 1.5 years now, I can extrapolate. So I can imagine it is addicting in its power delivery while feeling pretty light on its feet and overall premium-feeling as it goes down the road. And that transmission - on video, it definitely looks like it's been tuned-up a bit compared to what we have in the 330i.
But anyway, thanks again for the video and for giving it the beans as usual. 👍
Oh how cruel we are to ourselves. I my friend am in the other boat. I have an m340i and have been really contemplating trading it in on a is500. I want that v8! Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love the m340i. It does everything extremely well and is a terrific daily. It just feels like it’s missing something to make it truly a special car…. 2 cylinders maybe
Just enjoy what you have! I frankly love the looks of the new IS. It’s gorgeous. It was just personal preference for more tech features that kept me with BMW.
@@RCtennis3811 Just came back here again and saw these comments. Thank you guys. I do love the car as much as anything, especially the V-8 and the exterior styling. Despite me working from home, I managed to put over 9,000 miles on it in a year. I went to a lot of meetups with other Lexus owners and other car-related events as well as a couple road trips. It has been great! My wife traded her 330i for a 2023 X3, so now we've got our SUV and our sport sedan. It's a good setup. I may get wandering eyes from time to time, but it is hard to imagine giving up the IS 500.
Would you take this over the M440i if you didn't care about practicality? Some reviews mention the m340i is more engaging than the M440i.
Definitely the m440i is slightly more practical but it's heavier and so it doesn't feel as nimble the 3 sounds better
@@that-guy213how is the 440 more practical with only 2 doors? Also the 340 and 440 both have the b58 so it should sound the same
@Fishfingers it's comes as a GC...... the 340i in my experience sounds better because I think bmw have designed it to be the more sportier of the two
@@that-guy213 ahh i see what you mean now my bad I forgot that they came in gc
Jeez man. Darn near 70k and no radar cruise control. That's just insane.
optional package bmw and mercedes nickel and dime every option its annoying
It’s the ride quality that worries me, recently drove an M135i and was really not impressed with how firm the suspension 1. Currently driving a golf 7gti and am looking for a 3 series but the constant comments about the harsh ride are putting me off, will hopefully test drive soon especially the 340i; ride quality is extremely important to me.
for $ 68k with these options where the car has, BMW would sell 100000´s from this car in Germany, because in Germany this car would cost over $ 90k with that options on it 😂😂😂
BMW vid i click like
Very simple monke
I see bmw i like
JUST IN TIME!
How do the seats feel on the long run? Do you get used to them or do they feel worst as the time goes by? For me, they are quite unconfortable in the first month of ownership.
The new 2023 bmw m340i is a much batter sedan than the previous gen
I prefer the look of the touring variant as compared the sedan. Looks sharp imo.
First one I've ever seen in red! Such a nice car... I have the 2023 too in Portimau Blue.
the big black slab might be there because in Germany you're required to have a numbers plate in the front and back
It's either one of these or an integra type S for my next daily. Awesome review!
I have an Active Autowerke downpipe, tune/trans tune, and Ohlins coils on mine (pre-LCI). It's perfect. Best all around car/DD ever. For me, anyway.
The new updated iDrive looks SO MUCH BETTER than what was in there pre-LCI. The duel-screen setup finally catches up with what Mercedes has done for the last 4+ years and gives it an even more modern look. I've driven an m340i before and I can say its definitely an amazing sports car that definitely has power in it's engine! Good stuff
Although I like the looks and interior of the C-class better, there's no denying BMW is spot on with this power train.
Really love this Beamer!
Soon.
No adaptive cruise control in an almost 70k car? My 4 cylinder Tacoma work truck comes with that standard! 😂
BMW is weird like that. Even driver seat lumbar adjustment is optional. Imagine spending $60k on a sedan and having no lumbar adjustment
This or the X3 M40i? The last time you tested one of these you said you would get the X3. Similar performance other than ride quality and more space with a higher seating position. I don't think you ever tested an X3 M40i on your channel. What are your thoughts?
I have a 2018 340i X-drive manual transmission. I love it, and am holding on to it since there are no MT AWD euro cars available. The model I have was the last one brought over by BMW and why I bought it instead of hanging on to the 328 X-drive wagon I had previously. It has 130K miles on it, so I’m shopping, and I right now I’m considering a Golf R (MT, AWD), the Volvo V60 polestar recharge, and this car. If it was MT, I’d already own it. We had a Golf R previously and loved it too. I’m frankly scared of the reliability of the Volvo, since I beat the shit out of my cars driving on gravel and snow all winter. Dang.
I drive the poor(er) man’s M340i, ‘22 Genesis G70 3.3t Sport Prestige. I have to keep reminding myself that an equivalently equipped M340i would cost $70k compared to the G70 @$54k. The G20 is superior in almost all ways.
Do you prefer this car over the TLX type s ?
1:01 You can see the exterior pain from the passenger door
You can make that shifter tiny if I can switch into drive and reverse with the paddles
It’s electronic anyway
Question is would you take this over your Civic Type R as a daily? I'm tempted to get one or the M440i gran coupe but unsure. What's everyone else's thoughts?
On my short list of next cars is the Integra type s and M340i
That's like comparing apples to oranges, not sure why would anyone put Integra or CTR on the same list as M340/440 ?
@@V1perKiller because they are around the same price. I mean if you had almost 60k to get a fun practical new car for the next 5 years which would you go for? I know they don't directly compete but those 2 are on my short list of potential next daily
Over a Type R, or Integra? Anyday of the week, and twice on Sunday!
@@cpl8168 if they gave us the m340i wagon I would have been all over that.
Sure the bmw is quicker and whatnot but probably twice as much to maintain in the long run. Both brands (bmw and acura) have equally terrible resale as well
Great question. I'm curious what Topher thinks. This is all weather, a lot more power and drifty. You can get the tail safely out on every right turn and ramp. Those are more precise and laser focused, more noisy inside.
I personally don't like FWD in the rain and hills (hate it and thats where I live) so I'd gravitate towards this or the GR Corolla, lol. FWD sedans is right after FWD cross overs as my second worst car category. That said, the Type R is a master piece (I've drive the FK8)
Great review as always! I’ve been thinking about my next car and the M340i has been tops on my list, but I’m concerned with the interior room. I currently have an Elantra N, which is fantastic, and amazingly enough has a ton of legroom front and back, so with growing kids I wouldn’t want to go any smaller than the EN. The M340i seems like it would be an obvious upgrade quality-wise compared to the Elantra N, but keeps all the driving fun: great handling, great sounding and a sort of dual personality depending on what driving mode you’re in. I’d be targeting a 2020 model because I’d like to steer clear of the mild hybrid system if I could to help reduce any future maintenance involve with that. Anyway, just throwing my thoughts out there. Thanks for the usual killer POV!
i had an elantra and now have a 330i from this gen, if you fit in the elantra the bmw has more legroom, you should be fine.
@@2409dlewis what year Elantra?
@@2409dlewis Elantra N has 2.5 inches more legroom than the normal elantra of it's same year. The car also gets bigger with every generation so your experience may not apply to the EN. The EN is definitely a larger car in terms of legroom.
I assume you opened the back door of a G70 and immediately knew it was a no-go based on the sad leg room back there. I wasn’t sure my short stout dog would be able to hop up when I brought it home
@@GOd2star yeah I ruled that out right away. Even the Stinger GT has less legroom than the Elantra N unfortunately.
I have a 335 and keep telling myself my ked bmw will
Be a g80 m3 but wonder if it’s too high strung for a daily and this I just perfect a much improved version of my e90 335 drove which I love how sporty it drives and feels
What would everyone pick? The 340m or the x3 m40?
By the way . . . Love your reviews bro
I was thinking of getting this, but when I was configuring it on their website, Ventilated front and rear heated seats are not available?!
Not available. I've heard BMW vented seats suck anyways though.
The mild hybrid system has been in the vehicle since 2021 model year fyi.
This is how the G80 M3 should have looked
I just can’t get excited about any of these new bmw’s. This is the one I’d pick out of the bunch, even over the G80. B58 is fast enough bone stock and at least the front end on this isn’t ugly.
Currently looking at a new buy in my budget. 2016 bmw 340i rwd 48k miles for 27k usd. No damage no recalls. Do yall think this would be a good buy? I believe its still got the b58 as well no?
I haven't driven this car, but I couldn't help but think it looked heavy while you were driving it. You did mention however that it drives light, which made me laugh since I've not driven it and wouldn't know.
I did look up the weight since I was curious and I can't believe it weighs just shy 4,000 lbs!
I do miss the traditional gauges as well, even a digital one would be cool. Seems like a nice car though. I would absolutely choose this over the current M3 as well.
Get the 2018!
It’s light I owned a 330i and it felt light for its weight. Should be similar even tho 340i is tad heavier
How does this compare to your civic type R?
Which one is more fun?
Do we think BMW will bring back physical buttons before the B58 is sunset? Would love a M340i or X50e for a new long term, but can’t stand the displays.
Nope. They’re all in on less buttons and having and utilizing “BMW Curved Display.” Even the next two operating systems for iDrive that we’re announced, 8.5 and 9, will continue using that setup.
Can’t get enough of that engine note.
Bring the wagon to the 🇺🇸
Topher since you own type r. Which one would you say feels more exciting in terms of acceleration ?
Can’t you use the bmw voice assist to turn on the recirculating air ? That’s hands free and safer than taking eyes off road I guess
That dash is absolutely hideous. I can't stand the trend of having a massive tablet looking thing as the entertainment console. It looks like shit.
As much as I love this car, I feel like an M140i is a better pick.
All M Lite car without a gear shifter is totally a loss. All M-Lite line up should had come with at least the option to add the shifter as an option. To honor the M series.
I think I would take an older one with a manual but same engine and AWD. Cheaper and better looking!
The new Honda civic looks great
Nice review. So Start/Stop is not active in Sport/Sport+ mode by default?? I was wondering about that and great news if true. My mom has a Mercedes that you have to manually deactivate in all driving modes and don't like it. At least good to know I won't have to deal with it if I stay in Sport mode.
I'd love an M340i because I'd love to have a 4 seater B58 car but I don't want to spend that much so I have an M240i on order :)
Start/Stop is absolute horrific. Every car should have an option to disable it by default when starting the car.
But M240i is not a 4 seater B58, is it? Those back seats are not just uncomfortable, they are genuinely useless. I was gonna order one until I tried the backseat. Can't even sit behind my 5'8" friends in that car.
@@jkliao6486 No, M240i is not 4-seater. I'd love a 4-seater with B58 but will live with 2-seater with B58. Yeah I sat in back seat and cramped and worse tough to get in but I don't really carry people in back much anyways... just liked the option.
@@donm527 Sure thing, I initially also considered M240i, but that back seat is a real let down.
Don, correct - it’s not active in sport or sport + mode. I will say, I’m surprised how seamless the start stop is in comfort or eco mode. The mild hybrid even adds electric boost when you hit the throttle hard.
Would you recommend this over a G70 3.3? The G70 is 10K cheaper but I'm sure the performance is not nearly as nice.
Nice vid! Who makes the watch band?
Is it just me or do the rear seats in this looks nicer or better than the rear seats in the M3?
I know the front end was controversial on the M440i, etc... because of the wild extended grill. But you stated this grill was controversial so I'm interested as to why? You’re the first reviewer who has said that about the M340i. I own a 2023 M340i xdrive and did extensive research before purchasing.
And two months later after 100s of reviews, still nothing about the front grill being controversial. I’ll chalk it up to you thinking that’s what you’re suppose to say, LOL!
@@michaellackie6274 I think the controversial part about the front fascia is comparing to the pre LCI, people prefer the look over this new one. It's mentioned in some YT videos as well as on the FB forums. Funny thing is I love everything about this car besides the front end. Wish it was a bit more aggressive and that they still offered laser lights.
@@PhysiqueSteve it could be a bit more aggressive
Would you take this or is500 as a daily for a few years? Thoughts?
@ techdefender I've had both, it comes down to what you value more. If it's pure comfort, go with the lexus...but be prepared to be at the tank often with the V8. If you care about a car that has power but is all wheel drive (can take on weather) and has the latest tech, go with the m340i. The lexus has more soul in that the V8 induction noise is intoxicating and it's duel personality can be enticing to some, however, the transmission responsiveness sucks when compared to BMW, the is500 really wakes up above 4000 RPM but the m340i is instant. BMW handling is way better, not even close. However the is500 will hold its value if you're buying...if you're leasing go with the BMW like I currently have. The BMW while little less comfortable has more space overall if you care about the family accommodations. In an ideal world, I'd keep both..ha. But if you can get your hands on a used ISF in decent condition, go with that def.