[SteelerzFan101]

I was interested in the differences between the F30 335i and the 340i from an owners perspective and not the track, I wasn’t able to find a whole lot on the subject. Is it worth upgrading? Before I get razzed too much, I am a card carrying AARP member , but also had cars like a WRX just a couple years ago. Between my wife and I, we’ve been buying Bimmers since my wife’s first 325i in 2003. Also I live in Tampa Bay, the most significant fun curves we have are freeway entrance and exit ramps.

I had a beautiful Glacier Silver F30 335i with MSport, tech, premium, and drivers assist packages. I loved this car, it was definitely the best car I’ve ever owned. It was quick enough for me, was comfortable on trips, and looked pretty cool. I had Contisport non-runflats that performed good on dry and the rain, and had a nice balance of comfort and low noise. I had swapped the MSport brake pads for the base 335i pads, the MSport pads were way to dusty and I was never going to track the car. In the two years I had the car, I only had one time to push the suspension and that was on a road trip to Indy where nav took me on about 60 miles of country roads somewhere in Kentucky around midnight. I got to see what the MSport suspension was about, peaking over a hill into a sharp right hand turn while using the manual transmission mode was a blast! Other than that road trip, my fun was a couple favorite on/off ramps and cruising around in manual mode, driving it like I used to drive my stick Rex.

So I got a really good deal on a white with Coral Red CPO 340xi with staggered 397 wheels and Potenza S001 tires. This car does not have MSport, but it has tech, drivers assist, heated seats and blind spot assist. Let the jokes begin, but I drive 40 miles of freeway every day, I like the non-MSport suspension because 99% of my driving doesn’t use MSport’s capabilities. I can’t believe how smooth the 340i is on the freeway without being floaty. My 335i seemed to feel every expansion joint, the 340i is much smoother. The runflats on the other hand, definitely noisier. With the 4 wheel drive, this thing bolts away from stoplights, and on the freeway, it shocked me when I first floored it at 65 or 70, this thing is a beast! I love flooring it on the freeway, the only problem is gets to the 90s way too quick, much quicker than the 335. The sound is beefier and sounds good, not sure if it’s active sound, but even outside the car it’s got a nice sound to it that was missing from the 335i. While I’d really like a manual, real world traffic wouldn’t be fun. It feels as if the 340 ZF auto is even more intuitive than the superb 335i’s, not sure how that’s possible. The 340 headlights are now all LED, I liked the adaptive Xenon better as they seemed to have better coverage and lit the road during turns, I’m sure the adaptive lighting option resolves that shortcoming. One of my favorite spots to light up my 335 was a left turn onto an entrance ramp that has a nice sharp curve and is sloped strange, the 335i would kick out the rear a bit if I hit it just right. The 340i was incredible, it feels as if the front wheels are pulling you through the curve, I didn’t have to back off at all like I did the 335i. There is a kinda a dead spot on center steering, it may be that’s the 4wd or just the non-MSport. I miss the looks and steering wheel from my 335i, that can be fixed for anyone looking by getting the MSport (and then adding in the adaptive suspension for those of us in the minority that like extra comfort occasionally ). With my situation, I woulda liked all that, but there’s a balance in priorities and budget. I can’t speak to the suspension tweaks that I’m sure everyone is interested in as I don’t have the roads where I can push either one.

So in summary, the 340xi is my new, best car I’ve ever owned! Hopefully my first post helps some that may be on the fence in deciding whether or not to upgrade.

[eluded]

Congrats on the new ride. You'll love the B58.

Where are the pics ?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Congrats!!

Now lets see it

[Beek]

Congrats and ... yeah, PICS please!

[AudiA4]

I had a 340i Sport (not M Sport) loaner for about a week, and coming from a manual 335i, I totally agree...the 340i is a beast. Especially, as you note, at highway speed. Flooring it at 70 is more impressive than from a stop. Wow.