M340i

[panholio]

Anyone know what’s going on with these? There have been no UK test drives by any car magazines or websites on the final production model, only prototype versions driven earlier in the year. Most surprisingly there hasn’t been a PH article.

It is on the UK configurator but my local dealer is none the wiser as to finance deals on them. Seems to think September for orders.

Anyone ordered one and what kind of deal did you get?

[stuart_83]

I've been thinking the same to be honest - we bought a dog a few months ago, and as he's getting bigger I've been looking at swapping the 4GC for an M340i touring.

I asked at a BMW dealer a week or so ago when a friend was looking to buy a 3 series, and they had no idea either.

Makes me wonder if they're struggling to get the engine past the European emissions regulations ... I know they stopped fitting the MPPSK to cars built after Sept 18 for this reason.

If it is going to be a September launch then they're leaving it pretty late to get demo models out etc.

[Hunky Dory]

I was in my local BMW dealer at the weekend. They want to get me into something new to replace my current 340i touring.

I’m due to change in March next year and when I said I’m only really interested in 340i (M or normal) touring, they have told me they’ve only just got visibility of builds on the std 340 saloon recently and aren’t certain either M or non-M versions of the touring will be available for delivery until end of q1 next year....

They are now trying to get me into 540i for “similar” money.....

[Wills2]

Hunky Dory said:

I was in my local BMW dealer at the weekend. They want to get me into something new to replace my current 340i touring.

I’m due to change in March next year and when I said I’m only really interested in 340i (M or normal) touring, they have told me they’ve only just got visibility of builds on the std 340 saloon recently and aren’t certain either M or non-M versions of the touring will be available for delivery until end of q1 next year....

There isn't going to be a std 340i only the M340i

[BFleming]

Wills2 said:

Hunky Dory said:

I was in my local BMW dealer at the weekend. They want to get me into something new to replace my current 340i touring.

I’m due to change in March next year and when I said I’m only really interested in 340i (M or normal) touring, they have told me they’ve only just got visibility of builds on the std 340 saloon recently and aren’t certain either M or non-M versions of the touring will be available for delivery until end of q1 next year....

There isn't going to be a std 340i only the M340i

Correct - it's going to be the M340i xDrive Touring. The first deliveries are from November this year in Germany - so their estimation of Q1 is good I'd say.
In the near future you should be able to test drive a M340i saloon, and similarly experience a 3 series Touring (launches 28.09 in Germany). It's just that you won't be able to do the 2 together until early 2020. Unless you plan a trip in to Frankfurt Motor Show next month.
One warning about the 5 series over a 3 series - size. I find my 5 series too big - specifically too long, and it's pretty wide. But the 3 series cabin was slightly too small for my needs. The C Class estate is a better shape, and the Passat more practical, but I didn't want to die of boredom.

[Wills2]

BFleming said:

One warning about the 5 series over a 3 series - size. I find my 5 series too big - specifically too long, and it's pretty wide. But the 3 series cabin was slightly too small for my needs. The C Class estate is a better shape, and the Passat more practical, but I didn't want to die of boredom.

It's all relative I have a G11 7er and recently had a G20 3er as a loaner for a week when I got in it I thought it was tiny, but as the time went on you get used to it, getting back in the 7er was a shock as it felt enormous again but only for a while.

I think you get used to whatever you drive myself.

[BFleming]

Wills2 said:

BFleming said:

One warning about the 5 series over a 3 series - size. I find my 5 series too big - specifically too long, and it's pretty wide. But the 3 series cabin was slightly too small for my needs. The C Class estate is a better shape, and the Passat more practical, but I didn't want to die of boredom.

It's all relative I have a G11 7er and recently had a G20 3er as a loaner for a week when I got in it I thought it was tiny, but as the time went on you get used to it, getting back in the 7er was a shock as it felt enormous again but only for a while.

I think you get used to whatever you drive myself.

After over a year I'm used to my F11; I just meant that things like parallel parking are a pain as it doesn't fit anywhere! When I park in a car park, it's very easy to find again as it sticks out a fair bit from anything else. I think it's 5m long or so, which is only slightly shorter than any recent SWB 7 series. In any case it's 0.4m longer than my previous E90 LCI, and 0.7m longer than my F20 1 series.

[Wills2]

BFleming said:

After over a year I'm used to my F11; I just meant that things like parallel parking are a pain as it doesn't fit anywhere! When I park in a car park, it's very easy to find again as it sticks out a fair bit from anything else. I think it's 5m long or so, which is only slightly shorter than any recent SWB 7 series. In any case it's 0.4m longer than my previous E90 LCI, and 0.7m longer than my F20 1 series.

It's about 20cms shorter 4.9m vs 5.1m and 4.5 cm narrower than the G11, although I have the surround view birds eye camera system with cross traffic alert which really helps with parking it has some really neat features otherwise I'd never park the thing.

Edited by Wills2 on Wednesday 28th August 12:17

[*Badger*]

Hunky Dory said:

I was in my local BMW dealer at the weekend. They want to get me into something new to replace my current 340i touring.

I’m due to change in March next year and when I said I’m only really interested in 340i (M or normal) touring, they have told me they’ve only just got visibility of builds on the std 340 saloon recently and aren’t certain either M or non-M versions of the touring will be available for delivery until end of q1 next year....

They are now trying to get me into 540i for “similar” money.....

I contacted my BMW dealer today based on this as I don't really mind between 540i and M340i and they have an M340i Saloon in the showroom, is it just the tourings that are not yet released?

[BFleming]

*Badger* said:

I contacted my BMW dealer today... they have an M340i Saloon in the showroom, is it just the tourings that are not yet released?

Yes. The 'ordinary' Touring gets launched at the end of next month, and the M340i follows a couple of months later. Add a little bit of float for RHD and you're into early 2020.

[panholio]

*Badger* said:

I contacted my BMW dealer today based on this as I don't really mind between 540i and M340i and they have an M340i Saloon in the showroom, is it just the tourings that are not yet released?

Ooh what dealer was this? I’d love a look at one.

If they’re in dealer showrooms I’m even more baffled why the entire motoring press has ignored them. First 3 series M Performance sub brand car. Arch rival to C43 and new daft diesel S4? You’d think they’d be all over it.

[*Badger*]

panholio said:

Ooh what dealer was this? I’d love a look at one.

If they’re in dealer showrooms I’m even more baffled why the entire motoring press has ignored them. First 3 series M Performance sub brand car. Arch rival to C43 and new daft diesel S4? You’d think they’d be all over it.

Bluebell BMW in Crewe. If no-one buys it this weekend its going to be a demo vehicle.

[Wills2]

panholio said:

If they’re in dealer showrooms I’m even more baffled why the entire motoring press has ignored them. First 3 series M Performance sub brand car. Arch rival to C43 and new daft diesel S4? You’d think they’d be all over it.

There are loads of reviews written and vid.

[panholio]

Care to link any? Only ones I can find are yank or the UK mags driving the prototype and not the finished car.

Might just be me.

[Wills2]

Google is your friend.

[panholio]

Seriously if you can find a UK review of the actual final production car you’re a better googler than me.

[Hunky Dory]

Wills2 said:

It's about 20cms shorter 4.9m vs 5.1m and 4.5 cm narrower than the G11, although I have the surround view birds eye camera system with cross traffic alert which really helps with parking it has some really neat features otherwise I'd never park the thing.

Good points. I think I may wait for the 340 touring. I’ll tell my dealer and see if she’ll let me know when tourings are available to spec.

[JNW1]

panholio said:

Seriously if you can find a UK review of the actual final production car you’re a better googler than me.

There's plenty of stuff from when the car was launched (driving round the Portimao circuit in the Algarve, etc) and there are videos of production cars being reviewed and tested in places like North America; however, I haven't seen or read any reviews of a UK-spec production M340i driven on our roads. I'd imagine the first of those reviews will be coming very soon but nothing published yet as far as I'm aware.....

[Jpinky]

Not seen one in the flesh or found any UK production ready reviews but there are some US reviews/videos. I think it looks a bit disappointing, given its an mini-M and competing with the C43 /S4 I was expecting something a little more towards a proper M car. Really not a fan of the square exhausts either.

There is a new Alpina due out soon though...

[JNW1]

Hunky Dory said:

I think I may wait for the 340 touring. I’ll tell my dealer and see if she’ll let me know when tourings are available to spec.

Don't really understand why the G21 M340i still isn't on the configurator? Deliveries of G21's start in a couple of weeks and the other derivatives have been available to spec on the configurator since late June. If you can't even configure a G21 M340i I guess it could be a struggle to get hold of one this calendar year although I suppose it's also possible dealers can spec and place orders and the online configurator just hasn't been updated (wouldn't be the first time!).