[F31-340i]

Finally realised there is a way to jump down the cogs to get the fastest gear - just pull and hold the downshifter and the car will jump immediately from say 8th to 3rd/4th - even at 70mph. Feels a bit brutal, but the feature is there.

This was news to me - does anyone else use this feature?

Anything else from a driveability point of view that I should know about (or RTFM for?)

[225]

I dont like doing that tbh as it always seems to go down a cog too much for my liking, plus I dont really see the point as if you need to floor it kick down will work or just use the left paddle.

[futureal33]

Nice looking car mate!

I also picked up a 340i touring 2 weeks ago, and I'm really pleased with it... but my observations are slightly different than yours!

Firstly....performance.. I am coming from a 235i previously... but the 340i feels lifeless after 5000rpm - whereas the 235i was much happier being revved...
I'd say tghe 340i feels more diesel in the way it delivers power, loads of low down torque but might as well change gear before 5000rpm

Strange... as I had read that the *40i engines were better at high rpm's - mine definitely seems to physically slow its pulling / torque as the revs go up!

MPG - also a bit alarmed/surprised here... Despite always going for big / fast engined cars, I do not really drive them hard (all the time!).

The 235i was averaging me 37mpg over 15,000 miles which was based on very little motorway, lots of B and A roads over an 11mi commute.

The 340i is averaging (so far) just 25mpg for the same journeys, and if I am being honest, less aggresive driving. I did a 90mi round trip on the weekend with 40miles of motorway sat at 72mph, then some fast B road around 60/70 and then a little bit of 30/40mph A road stuff. It was a good journey to really test what the car can do, with a bit of everything. Average for the trip was 28. Im convinced my 235i would have been a good 10mpg better on the same journey.

I appreciate the 340i is a lot heavier (1400kg vs 1600 kg) but with the supposedly more efficient engine, I am pretty disappointed in the mpg.

[djcowlin]

You'll find it improves as it's run in. Mine has 5K miles, and mid-30s are easily achievable on a run, even with some hard driving. Others report high 30s and even low 40s on a motorway run of the kind you describe.

[futureal33]

Mine's already got 9000 on it :s

[djcowlin]

Originally Posted by futureal33

I also picked up a 340i touring 2 weeks ago

Apologies - I had assumed it was new.

[futureal33]

I've got it going back to BMW for some warranty work (the glass decided to shatter on my speedo/cockpit this weekend for no apparent reason!) so I might ask them to give it a check

From what I've read, the characteristics of the engine, and the MPG are not what everyone else is experiencing - that is what concerns me!

[Chris330]

Originally Posted by futureal33

I've got it going back to BMW for some warranty work (the glass decided to shatter on my speedo/cockpit this weekend for no apparent reason!) so I might ask them to give it a check

From what I've read, the characteristics of the engine, and the MPG are not what everyone else is experiencing - that is what concerns me!

Really surprised reading your posts. Coming from a 435i the 340i feels in a class above for torque and 5000 + revs. What fuel are you using? The difference between standard and premium felt stark to me.

I've also got the MPPK and I'm averaging 29mpg overall and seeing 34mpg on a motorway run. I have a very heavy right foot too.

[futureal33]

I hope there's nothing wrong with my car!

Using Shell / Tesco 99 - same as I did with the 235i.

That's the worrying thing... I don't really have a heavy right foot, at all. I drive fast on occasion, but my typical commute sees me changing gear at 2000rpm and not going above 60mph, and no stop-start - and no traffic lights - just a long B road all the way to work!

[Mustard3]

futureal33:
Coming from 2 years in an M235i, your observations don't align with mine either.

My 340i pulls at least as smoothly and forcefully as the 235 in the upper rev range, and the fuel consumption is at least 10% better in all situations. 340i currently on 4800 miles.

Wondering if your 340i needs to loosen up some more or if it's not making expected boost at high revs.

[Mancster]

Originally Posted by Mustard3

futureal33:
Coming from 2 years in an M235i, your observations don't align with mine either.

My 340i pulls at least as smoothly and forcefully as the 235 in the upper rev range, and the fuel consumption is at least 10% better in all situations. 340i currently on 4800 miles.

Wondering if your 340i needs to loosen up some more or if it's not making expected boost at high revs.

Hi guys, my 2p worth here. My 340i Saloon has done just under 3000 miles now. Performance is fantastic, I must admit that I've taken it very easy and seldom red lined in but when I have put my foot down the power is just absolutely effortless and only gets stronger higher up the rev range as opposed to tailing off!

In terms of MPG, this is what has surprised me the most. I run mine of the premium unleaded fuel from Costco, not sure if that has any bearing or not. I recently drove to Cheshire Oaks from Manchester, the car averaged 52 mpg. Admittedly, a lot of the motorway journey was restricted to 50mph but even still, I was mightily pleased with that.

Last week I drove it to Bournemouth from Manchester, 270 miles. It averaged 47mpg on the journey down there, hugely impressed again. I filled it up with £65 Costco fuel before departing and topped it up with £15 Tesco fuel for the journey back (I did a bit of town driving in Bournemouth, the car estimated it had 211 miles left in the tank for the return journey so I felt I best be safe rather than sorry and top it up slightly).

Once I got back I had just under a quarter of a tank. As of today, it's done 630 miles since the initial fill up at Costco and has just gonged telling me I've got 50 miles left in the tank.

I'm absolutely astounded at that economy, particularly as I didn't expect it in the slightest. Completely in love with this car, I came back from the gym last night and drove it home in sport plus mode, wow, the power delivery is instant and the exhaust produces much more noise now at 3k miles.

In love.

[futureal33]

Originally Posted by Mustard3

futureal33:
Coming from 2 years in an M235i, your observations don't align with mine either.

My 340i pulls at least as smoothly and forcefully as the 235 in the upper rev range, and the fuel consumption is at least 10% better in all situations. 340i currently on 4800 miles.

Wondering if your 340i needs to loosen up some more or if it's not making expected boost at high revs.

Hmmmm - thanks for your input. Looks like I will definitely be booking it in for a check up - something seems amiss.

Is your 340i a touring or saloon?

Mine is an ex-demo with 9000 on it, so I would have thought it should be loosened up!

[moff]

I've not got my 440i yet, but I imagine it will run much better on super unleaded? This was true when I had a 135i 7 years ago, so imagine the B58 reacts better to some better quality juice?

[Mustard3]

Originally Posted by futureal33

Hmmmm - thanks for your input. Looks like I will definitely be booking it in for a check up - something seems amiss.

Is your 340i a touring or saloon?

Mine is an ex-demo with 9000 on it, so I would have thought it should be loosened up!

It's a touring. I've taken performance figures for both vehicles using V Box and you can barely separate them.

[TouringPleb]

Originally Posted by Grant_7

Yes it does appear more red in the photos! It's not so 'in-your-face' in reality.

And 10k miles in 4 months.....wow, that's some going!

Definitely agree those pics make CR look 'redder'. I've got it and to be honest I'm slightly disappointed in it. I was expecting red like the pics but would describe it as more terracotta in reality.

[225]

Sounds odd. Mine has done 9k miles and certainly doesnt tail off above 5k rpm, there is another 2.5 rpm of oomph and noise left!

[Chompers]

Originally Posted by ajd

Thanks for the link, I'll try that.

Looks like MOT is between 0.5% and 2% for car headlamps (<850mm high)

Last time I did this I measured the beam against a stick at distances from the headlamp. Move away 1m and the beam must drop 5mm, at 5m it must drop 25mm etc. It must not drop more than 20mm and 100mm for those same distances. It will be interesting to see where mine is set.

PS it got a wash

Are your wheels 403M's, they look like they have been painted

Just looked back over your spec, they look great

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by Chompers

Are your wheels 403M's, they look like they have been painted

Just looked back over your spec, they look great

The wheels in the picture are 270M M3 (18"x8J) wheels from an E90, fitted with winter tyres.

It now has some 437M M4 wheels in ferric grey, which I think look great!

My unmarked 442M are now up for sale in the classified.

[RustyBitz]

Originally Posted by Mancster

Hi guys, my 2p worth here. My 340i Saloon has done just under 3000 miles now. Performance is fantastic, I must admit that I've taken it very easy and seldom red lined in but when I have put my foot down the power is just absolutely effortless and only gets stronger higher up the rev range as opposed to tailing off!

In terms of MPG, this is what has surprised me the most. I run mine of the premium unleaded fuel from Costco, not sure if that has any bearing or not. I recently drove to Cheshire Oaks from Manchester, the car averaged 52 mpg. Admittedly, a lot of the motorway journey was restricted to 50mph but even still, I was mightily pleased with that.

Last week I drove it to Bournemouth from Manchester, 270 miles. It averaged 47mpg on the journey down there, hugely impressed again. I filled it up with £65 Costco fuel before departing and topped it up with £15 Tesco fuel for the journey back (I did a bit of town driving in Bournemouth, the car estimated it had 211 miles left in the tank for the return journey so I felt I best be safe rather than sorry and top it up slightly).

Once I got back I had just under a quarter of a tank. As of today, it's done 630 miles since the initial fill up at Costco and has just gonged telling me I've got 50 miles left in the tank.

I'm absolutely astounded at that economy, particularly as I didn't expect it in the slightest. Completely in love with this car, I came back from the gym last night and drove it home in sport plus mode, wow, the power delivery is instant and the exhaust produces much more noise now at 3k miles.

In love.

Finally someone with a 340i and fills up at Costco

I will be using Costco premium fuel when the car arrives.

[XAlp]

Originally Posted by ajd

Just picked up a 340i Touring.

Impressed so far overall.

Engine is quite something - it is very very quick. Its quick in a way that is actually a bit disturbing - it will take some getting used to and things happen so quickly. Extreme care is needed.

Quick questions:

- what happens to the RTTI after three years (I guess this works through the 4G) - does it revert to TMC like the old days or are you stuck paying?

- how do you set an address as "home"? I'm sure its in the manual.....

My 3 years are up but RTTI seems to be still working...

[RWD-fun]

This forum is a bad influence, start looking at almost entry level cars (320D xdrive), join the forum to get a few words of wisdom, then see 340i and think that would be a better replacement for the Impreza!

This forum could be very costly

We started out with an upper budget of about £27k, now I am looking at £37k cars.

Got Monday off work, wife starts her new job on Monday....

The picture above doesn't help, an extremely good looking car, those wheels far better than the "standard" 19 inch M Double-spoke 442M

[nastynick83]

Originally Posted by ajd

OEM 437M - with 235/35 and 265/30 Conti SC6

That looks superb!!