BMW 340i (F30)

[HM-2]

After 5 years in my 2017 M140i, which I've very much enjoyed, it's time for a change. With a 3 year old and my second child on the way, I'd made the decision to upsize back at the beginning of the year but was really struggling to find what I wanted. I looked at:

• G30 M340i: Basically perfect, but I couldn't quite justify the additional spend
• C63: Mostly early and high mileage cars in budget
• F06 650i Gran Coupe: Lovely, but didn't fit on the drive and concerns about engine longevity.
• F31 340i Touring: "Second best" after the G30, but relatively poor availability of decent spec cars and those that do crop up are hugely variable in price

A high spec F30 340i cropped up for sale locally which I drove down to look at (managing to pick up a Speed Awareness Couse on the way...). Average mileage car but as mentioned, a lovely spec and extremely well cared for. It was also relatively cheap.

After mulling it over for a few days, I decided that it would probably be plenty spacious enough for now, left a holding deposit and popped down to collect it the following Friday.











2017 car with 50k on the clock. Estoril Blue II over Oyster leather with individual Piano Black and Aluminium trim, and most of the essential options (ZF8, HK audio, pro nav, adaptive LEDs, electric heated memory seats, M Performance Plus pack with the 370mm Brembo brakes, comfort pack and a few others that escape me). It's already been shifted off run-flats and onto Goodyear Eagle Asymmetrics which is nice.

I've put a bit under a thousand miles on it so far and really very impressed- it doesn't feel particularly different to my M140i in terms of performance, but seems much less phased by the terrible road surfaces around here than the F20 was, even on 19" wheels.


Plans? I'd quite like the MPPSK fitted for a bit more theatre, but I might leave that until its out of warranty and plump for something like Hack Engineering's HE485 pack instead along with an accompanying gearbox map.
A proper diff would be nice, as would some new wheels.
The front disks are pretty lipped so I'll be swapping those soon along with the pads, likely M3/4 spec (which are a straight swap) or Yellow Stuffs.

[V 02]

Very nice. Make sure you do xHP, absolutely transforms the car and makes the zf8 as best as it could be. I went for my own custom “stage 2.5”

[d_a_n1979]

HM-2 said:

After 5 years in my 2017 M140i, which I've very much enjoyed, it's time for a change. With a 3 year old and my second child on the way, I'd made the decision to upsize back at the beginning of the year but was really struggling to find what I wanted. I looked at:

• G30 M340i: Basically perfect, but I couldn't quite justify the additional spend
• C63: Mostly early and high mileage cars in budget
• F06 650i Gran Coupe: Lovely, but didn't fit on the drive and concerns about engine longevity.
• F31 340i Touring: "Second best" after the G30, but relatively poor availability of decent spec cars and those that do crop up are hugely variable in price

A high spec F30 340i cropped up for sale locally which I drove down to look at (managing to pick up a Speed Awareness Couse on the way...). Average mileage car but as mentioned, a lovely spec and extremely well cared for. It was also relatively cheap.

After mulling it over for a few days, I decided that it would probably be plenty spacious enough for now, left a holding deposit and popped down to collect it the following Friday.











2017 car with 50k on the clock. Estoril Blue II over Oyster leather with individual Piano Black and Aluminium trim, and most of the essential options (ZF8, HK audio, pro nav, adaptive LEDs, electric heated memory seats, M Performance Plus pack with the 370mm Brembo brakes, comfort pack and a few others that escape me). It's already been shifted off run-flats and onto Goodyear Eagle Asymmetrics which is nice.

I've put a bit under a thousand miles on it so far and really very impressed- it doesn't feel particularly different to my M140i in terms of performance, but seems much less phased by the terrible road surfaces around here than the F20 was, even on 19" wheels.


Plans? I'd quite like the MPPSK fitted for a bit more theatre, but I might leave that until its out of warranty and plump for something like Hack Engineering's HE485 pack instead along with an accompanying gearbox map.
A proper diff would be nice, as would some new wheels.
The front disks are pretty lipped so I'll be swapping those soon along with the pads, likely M3/4 spec (which are a straight swap) or Yellow Stuffs.

That's lovely...

Know what you mean re F31 340i tourings too; they rarely crop up with a good to decent spec at all; a lot of them I've seen are poverty spec and feel very overpriced too!

Wheels look great; brakes look great behind them too. I am biased though

They're the 19s I'd consider if I do get my brave up and go for them; however I'd have them fully powdercoated in ferric grey or a bright silver I think rather than diamond cut...

Re brakes; I'm really impressed with the OEM brake pads that are the corresponding ones to the M Performance grooved discs; they perform superbly; aren't that dusty at all and no squealing etc... Personally wouldn't touch anything from EBC any more; had too many issues with their Yellowstuff pads on a few previous E39s

The ATE Ceramic pads would be a good bet I reckon; if you can find them on Autodoc in stock

[dhibbert]

Looks similar to mine. I’ve had it 3 months now and really like it, mine is a similar spec.

(Hope the picture shows!)

[dhibbert]

I’ve just had the ZF8 serviced and the diff oil changed. I’m as bad as anyone on here for maintaining it, I change the oil every few months and only use BMW oil/parts.

It’s under BMW warranty so I won’t be tuning it etc. I need to do a thread for it, I think you have spurred me on!

[HM-2]

V 02 said:

Make sure you do xHP, absolutely transforms the car and makes the zf8 as best as it could be. I went for my own custom “stage 2.5”

I was planning on going Stage 2 for the xHP. When you say "Stage 2.5", how does your custom setup differ from the standard Stage 2?

d_a_n1979 said:

They're the 19s I'd consider if I do get my brave up and go for them; however I'd have them fully powdercoated in ferric grey or a bright silver I think rather than diamond cut...

I don't mind these wheels, but I'd much rather something like a set of Apex EC-7. Current exchange rates make them MUCH spendier than when I looked for my M140i but they do a wide range of fitments and have vehicle-specific guides for the F30 along with advice on tyre size pairings. 245 front and 275 rear tyres on 9" front and 9.5" rears seems to be the most popular staggered fitment and does a fantastic job of filling the arches and maximising contact patch without needing spacers or risking rubbing.

I do quite like the F80 M3 wheels but I think they're quite aggressive in terms of fit.

d_a_n1979 said:

Re brakes; I'm really impressed with the OEM brake pads that are the corresponding ones to the M Performance grooved discs

I'd read that these were supposed to be excellent (a step above the M4 ones), but I haven't looked in earnest to find a part number. I'm quite tempted by the M Performance grooved disks as well, some of the OEMs now seem to sell single piece disks rather than the original two-piece riveted design which aren't £260 a corner...

[V 02]

HM-2 said:

V 02 said:

Make sure you do xHP, absolutely transforms the car and makes the zf8 as best as it could be. I went for my own custom “stage 2.5”

I was planning on going Stage 2 for the xHP. When you say "Stage 2.5", how does your custom setup differ from the standard Stage 2?

You can now make shift point maps for different driving modes.


So now I have got the stage 2 settings for D mode and comfort. Smooth shifting, low rpm changes when just driving casually. Bit of throttle and it changes up very fast.

Sport mode in D - Stage 2 changes edited to be nearly as fast as Stage 3 but nice and soft changes.


Sport + /Sport mode in S - Stage 3. Strong kickdown and it revs properly.

And very lazy changes in Eco Pro with rev limiters in gears.

Start off in 1st in usual driving

Start off in 2nd in traffic.

[helix402]

HM-2 said:

I'd read that these were supposed to be excellent (a step above the M4 ones), but I haven't looked in earnest to find a part number. I'm quite tempted by the M Performance grooved disks as well, some of the OEMs now seem to sell single piece disks rather than the original two-piece riveted design which aren't £260 a corner...

You’re better off staying with two piece semi-floating discs rather than one piece. They are lighter and give the benefits of a two piece disc.

[HM-2]

helix402 said:

HM-2 said:

I'd read that these were supposed to be excellent (a step above the M4 ones), but I haven't looked in earnest to find a part number. I'm quite tempted by the M Performance grooved disks as well, some of the OEMs now seem to sell single piece disks rather than the original two-piece riveted design which aren't £260 a corner...

You’re better off staying with two piece semi-floating discs rather than one piece. They are lighter and give the benefits of a two piece disc.

Some hunting shows TRW do the two piece semi floating slotted and dimpled disks at circa £170 a corner rather than the £245 for the Brembo ones, compared to £120 odd for the Zimmerman single piece disks.

That seems like a good balance, and TRW are one of BMW's OEMs.

[d_a_n1979]

HM-2 said:

V 02 said:

Make sure you do xHP, absolutely transforms the car and makes the zf8 as best as it could be. I went for my own custom “stage 2.5”

I was planning on going Stage 2 for the xHP. When you say "Stage 2.5", how does your custom setup differ from the standard Stage 2?

d_a_n1979 said:

They're the 19s I'd consider if I do get my brave up and go for them; however I'd have them fully powdercoated in ferric grey or a bright silver I think rather than diamond cut...

I don't mind these wheels, but I'd much rather something like a set of Apex EC-7. Current exchange rates make them MUCH spendier than when I looked for my M140i but they do a wide range of fitments and have vehicle-specific guides for the F30 along with advice on tyre size pairings. 245 front and 275 rear tyres on 9" front and 9.5" rears seems to be the most popular staggered fitment and does a fantastic job of filling the arches and maximising contact patch without needing spacers or risking rubbing.

I do quite like the F80 M3 wheels but I think they're quite aggressive in terms of fit.

d_a_n1979 said:

Re brakes; I'm really impressed with the OEM brake pads that are the corresponding ones to the M Performance grooved discs

I'd read that these were supposed to be excellent (a step above the M4 ones), but I haven't looked in earnest to find a part number. I'm quite tempted by the M Performance grooved disks as well, some of the OEMs now seem to sell single piece disks rather than the original two-piece riveted design which aren't £260 a corner...

Yeah; I'd love a set of Apex alloys too. Was looking at them last night (ARC-8s and the EC7s) and as you said, they're not cheap! But as you said; correct sizes and offsets for decent tyre widths

The 18" OEM 405Ms I've fitted are really like though, just over 9kg a corner; step up to any of the OEM 19s and I'm looking at nearly a 5kg increase on each corner! That's what puts me off, a lot! I've fitted 235/45/18 tyres all round rather than the OEM 225s as they're a bit stretched. The 235s have a straighter sidewall and better rim protection; much better turn in feel too and superb handling!

I'm really impressed with my brakes (same M Performance kit you have 370/345mm) - I've got the 2 piece Brembo grooved/dimpled discs up front (got them for £200 as the seller bought them & never used them as he ended up buying an X3M) and the pads were via eBay 'bmwminiparts' - genuine set for £90 delivered!

Rears I got from Douglas Park BMW via eBay - £400 all in for 2 piece grooved & dimpled discs, relevant pads and wear sensor

They're about bedded in now & I'm really impressed





TBH I've stuck with full OEM spec as my touring has extended warranty; so didn't want to go 'too aftermarket' if that makes sense; but at the prices I've got mine for, I've done better than the likes of Autodoc etc

The 2 piece discs are best too; they weigh less and they're correct for the heat dissipation etc... single piece discs are heavy in comparison!

[helix402]

HM-2 said:

Some hunting shows TRW do the two piece semi floating slotted and dimpled disks at circa £170 a corner rather than the £245 for the Brembo ones, compared to £120 odd for the Zimmerman single piece disks.

That seems like a good balance, and TRW are one of BMW's OEMs.

TRW are good. Some non gen discs also have a steel bell and disc, as opposed to an alloy bell. I think ATE may have the alloy bell. Autodoc often have a good selection, just wait for the 41% discount days.

[d_a_n1979]

HM-2 said:

helix402 said:

HM-2 said:

I'd read that these were supposed to be excellent (a step above the M4 ones), but I haven't looked in earnest to find a part number. I'm quite tempted by the M Performance grooved disks as well, some of the OEMs now seem to sell single piece disks rather than the original two-piece riveted design which aren't £260 a corner...

You’re better off staying with two piece semi-floating discs rather than one piece. They are lighter and give the benefits of a two piece disc.

Some hunting shows TRW do the two piece semi floating slotted and dimpled disks at circa £170 a corner rather than the £245 for the Brembo ones, compared to £120 odd for the Zimmerman single piece disks.

That seems like a good balance, and TRW are one of BMW's OEMs.

Yeah the TRW ones are the ones I'd have gone for if I hadn't have found the deals I had!

The OEM front discs are £495 via Douglas Park!

Rears are still £299 via Douglas Park:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254986019742?fits=Car+M...

Rear pads still £105 too: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255998209296?hash=item3...

Autodoc is great for prices; their delivery not so good. But if you're not in a rush then it can work out well...

As for pads; if I were going aftermarket; I'd be sticking with ATE Ceramic pads

[HM-2]

d_a_n1979 said:

The 2 piece discs are best too; they weigh less and they're correct for the heat dissipation etc... single piece discs are heavy in comparison!

helix402 said:

TRW are good. Some non gen discs also have a steel bell and disc, as opposed to an alloy bell. I think ATE may have the alloy bell. Autodoc often have a good selection, just wait for the 41% discount days.

Thanks both- much appreciated.

I'm in no great rush although the brake squeal is driving me a bit nuts right now, though I might try taking it somewhere NSL and standing on the stop pedal a few times to see if that quietens things down a bit. The disks are definitely getting towards the end of their life though, a pretty big outer lip.

Guessing these would be the front pads? https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/3411687888...
Brembo seems reasonably priced (and pretty sure they're the OEM). I can see those ATE ceramics on there too...

[d_a_n1979]

HM-2 said:

d_a_n1979 said:

The 2 piece discs are best too; they weigh less and they're correct for the heat dissipation etc... single piece discs are heavy in comparison!

helix402 said:

TRW are good. Some non gen discs also have a steel bell and disc, as opposed to an alloy bell. I think ATE may have the alloy bell. Autodoc often have a good selection, just wait for the 41% discount days.

Thanks both- much appreciated.

I'm in no great rush although the brake squeal is driving me a bit nuts right now, though I might try taking it somewhere NSL and standing on the stop pedal a few times to see if that quietens things down a bit. The disks are definitely getting towards the end of their life though, a pretty big outer lip.

Guessing these would be the front pads? https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/3411687888...
Brembo seems reasonably priced (and pretty sure they're the OEM). I can see those ATE ceramics on there too...

Front M Performance pads (for 370mm grooved/dimpled discs) are No.8:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=3K72...

Rears are No.8 also:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=3K72...

ATE front ceramic pads: https://www.autodoc.co.uk/ate/13580115

However these Brembo pads seem to be well thought of (wouldn't touch normal Brambo pads though, very dusty IMO): https://www.autodoc.co.uk/brembo/13802289

Rear ATE Ceramic pads: https://www.autodoc.co.uk/ate/14920662
Bembos: https://www.autodoc.co.uk/brembo/13802287

Brembo calipers are OEM, but Jurid, Textar & TRW are OEM for the pads and discs IIRC

[HM-2]

d_a_n1979 said:

Stuff

Legend, thank you! Shopping list made...

[Aluminati]

d_a_n1979 said:

They're the 19s I'd consider if I do get my brave up and go for them; however I'd have them fully powdercoated in ferric grey

Well there’s a surprise …

[HM-2]

Not really an update...continuing to exist.



M Performance discs and pads are going on next week. Also booked in for the XHP stage 2 gearbox map. Currently bidding on a set of forged 640M wheels with square 255/40 tyres...

A few other slightly random bits underway or on order:

• OEM "hot climate" intake. This replaces the blanked off section of the inner engine bay liner with a proper intake. Probably won't bake any performance difference at all, but at £45 might asl well try it.

• Wireless charger bracket. The BMW wireless charger doesn't fit larger (6"+) phones. Some clever folk have designed a modified retention bracket that does. You can get them for £12 on Amazon but they're stty looking filament 3D printed things that I can't be arsed to sand, fill and make look decent. The CAD model is freely available so with some very minor tweaks I've sent it off to the place I use to get custom PC parts SLS printed in nylon. Ordering 6 cost me £40 including shipping so I can tap the remaining 5 and sell them for a small overall profit.

[d_a_n1979]

Aluminati said:

d_a_n1979 said:

They're the 19s I'd consider if I do get my brave up and go for them; however I'd have them fully powdercoated in ferric grey

Well there’s a surprise …

It's only because I've got a silver car; just not overly keen on silver on silver unless they're winters

Leave me alone It's an illness

[d_a_n1979]

HM-2 said:

Not really an update...continuing to exist.



M Performance discs and pads are going on next week. Also booked in for the XHP stage 2 gearbox map. Currently bidding on a set of forged 640M wheels with square 255/40 tyres...

A few other slightly random bits underway or on order:

• OEM "hot climate" intake. This replaces the blanked off section of the inner engine bay liner with a proper intake. Probably won't bake any performance difference at all, but at £45 might asl well try it.

• Wireless charger bracket. The BMW wireless charger doesn't fit larger (6"+) phones. Some clever folk have designed a modified retention bracket that does. You can get them for £12 on Amazon but they're stty looking filament 3D printed things that I can't be arsed to sand, fill and make look decent. The CAD model is freely available so with some very minor tweaks I've sent it off to the place I use to get custom PC parts SLS printed in nylon. Ordering 6 cost me £40 including shipping so I can tap the remaining 5 and sell them for a small overall profit.

Sounds good; where did you source the brakes from in the end?

Think when I start to do some mods to my F31 come early 2024 I'll be looking at the box mapping too; it's supposed to make a superb difference

[HM-2]

d_a_n1979 said:

Sounds good; where did you source the brakes from in the end?

I left it up to my friendly local garage, and the prices he gave me were basically the same as those on Autodoc so I suspect they're from there!