[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

Official confirmation 340i coming this Summer. No 440i, yet.

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We've been reporting since last Summer that the 335i would be replaced by the 340i to coincide with the F30 3 Series LCI facelift and a possible changeover from the N55 engine to the new inline 6 turbo B58 engine.

And now the 340i has officially appeared on BMWUSA's official model production schedule for the 2016 model year. As the schedule indicates, production of the 340i begins in July-August 2015, with the Munich plant starting production in July and Rosslyn plant in August.

Its sibling, the F32 435i coupe will maintain its badge for the 2016 model year however, perhaps waiting until its LCI facelift to take on the 440i moniker (which has appeared in BMW's systems since last Summer).

The 328i and 428i also retain their badges for the 2016 model year, but our info shows that the 328i becomes the 330i in 2016 (for the U.S. 2017 model year) when it gets the new 4 cylinder turbo B48 engine to replace its current N20 engine.

For a look at the 340i LCI prototypes, see http://www.bimmerpost.com/3-series/spyshots/

[Pauleebe]

It looks like Munich production of the 340 begins on 7/15, but Rosslyn begins on 8/15? Or does the US no longer receive any Munich allocations? I know these things vary from year to year at times.

Weird that the 335 is gone, I wonder if the 320 and 328 will get slight tunes/boosts to fill the big void in between the 328 and 340.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by dwalls90

It looks like Munich production of the 340 begins on 7/15, but Rosslyn begins on 8/15? Or does the US no longer receive any Munich allocations? I know these things vary from year to year at times.

That is normal.

Originally Posted by dwalls90

Weird that the 335 is gone, I wonder if the 320 and 328 will get slight tunes/boosts to fill the big void in between the 328 and 340.

Probably no power boost for the 320i/328i. When the 330i comes out for MY2017, I'm sure it will get a small bump.

I predict the 340i will only have 320hp/320ft lbs. The ZF 8HP45 used in the 3-series (and other cars/SAVs with the N55) is only rated to 330ft lbs of torque.

[bahasad]

Originally Posted by SamS

That is normal.



Probably no power boost for the 320i/328i. When the 330i comes out for MY2017, I'm sure it will get a small bump.

I predict the 340i will only have 320hp/320ft lbs. The ZF 8HP45 used in the 3-series (and other cars/SAVs with the N55) is only rated to 330ft lbs of torque.

Just curious, where did you get this information? EDIT: wikipedia'd it. Wow, that's not very high at all, I wonder how modded cars (like my own which I'm pretty sure is close to if not touching that number) will fare over time.

I'm going to miss the N55, I thought it (and the N54 to an extent) was a great motor.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by bahasad

Just curious, where did you get this information? EDIT: wikipedia'd it. Wow, that's not very high at all, I wonder how modded cars (like my own which I'm pretty sure is close to if not touching that number) will fare over time.

First page here: http://www.zf.com/media/media/produc..._DataSheet.pdf

450Nm = ~330lb ft.

Interesting factoid: BMW puts the ZF 8HP70 (700Nm/516lb-ft) in all of the ActiveHybrid cars, as well as the V8-powered 5/6/7 series cars/SAVs. Unlikely this tranny would go in a 340i due to added cost.

[xlover]

doesnt MPPK run at more 330 lb/ft.

I also think its going to be pretty silly to have the 3 have more power than the 4... i wonder how long it will take to get that converted over. maybe they will be announced at the same time just with different launch dates... 340 vs 440

[Manbnda]

One entire year with the 3 being more powerful than the 4.
Understandable, but not necessarily appropriate.

Still the mystery remains, what are the power figures?

[SamS]

Originally Posted by xlover

doesnt MPPK run at more 330 lb/ft.

Nope. The MPPK for the 3-series with automatic transmission is rated at 450Nm or ~332lb-ft. The top limit for the included ZF transmission.

[doublevanosrc]

Very interested in the 330, a smoother more refined 4 banger would be nice.

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by SamS

I predict the 340i will only have 320hp/320ft lbs. The ZF 8HP45 used in the 3-series (and other cars/SAVs with the N55) is only rated to 330ft lbs of torque.

This is correct. actually the exact rating is 332 lb-ft /335 HP so 330/330 is possible for 340

http://www.motor.com/newsletters/201...8HP_Tranny.pdf

[Maz335i]

Jason,

Will the F80 LCI come out the same time as the F30 LCI?

[LeMans E90]

How long till we get confirmed specs for the B58?

[Pauleebe]

Originally Posted by SamS

That is normal.



Probably no power boost for the 320i/328i. When the 330i comes out for MY2017, I'm sure it will get a small bump.

I predict the 340i will only have 320hp/320ft lbs. The ZF 8HP45 used in the 3-series (and other cars/SAVs with the N55) is only rated to 330ft lbs of torque.

Who's to say they'll use the same transmission? People also forget that chipped N54's were breaking 350HP, so that might be more of a soft rating.

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Very interested in the 330, a smoother more refined 4 banger would be nice.

Also very interested in the 330. Here's to hoping it's worth the wait.

Originally Posted by xlover

doesnt MPPK run at more 330 lb/ft.

I also think its going to be pretty silly to have the 3 have more power than the 4... i wonder how long it will take to get that converted over. maybe they will be announced at the same time just with different launch dates... 340 vs 440

That production calendar is canon. There will be no 440 through the end of the year.

[dizx]

Its too early for a 4-series LCI, right? What about the GC?

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Very interested in the 330, a smoother more refined 4 banger would be nice.

Speaking of which, any discussion of why the new 4 cylinder? The N20 seems a pretty brilliant engine. Change is *usually* good, so I expect positive attributes from it, but what are the proposed benefits?

[Pauleebe]

Originally Posted by dizx

Its too early for a 4-series LCI, right? What about the GC?

I'd expect the 4 series GC LCI to come out alongside the 4 series LCI. That'll probably happen next summer, following design cues of the F30 LCI.

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Speaking of which, any discussion of why the new 4 cylinder? The N20 seems a pretty brilliant engine. Change is *usually* good, so I expect positive attributes from it, but what are the proposed benefits?

Since the B48 is further out than the B58, it'll probably be a while before we get actual facts surrounding it, given how shrouded in mystery the B58 still seems to be.

[Diver]

Will BMW put the B58 in the 4 series and keep the 435i name? or that car get to wait for the LCI? Seems odd the coupe would be keeping a less powerful motor.

[sor]

Originally Posted by dwalls90

Who's to say they'll use the same transmission? People also forget that chipped N54's were breaking 350HP, so that might be more of a soft rating.

Yes, of course it is a soft rating. You put torque into it until it breaks. Running it out of spec will just reduce the life and perhaps make the internals slip more.

[Pauleebe]

Originally Posted by Diver

Will BMW put the B58 in the 4 series and keep the 435i name? or that car get to wait for the LCI? Seems odd the coupe would be keeping a less powerful motor.

The 435 will become the 440 when it receives it's LCI and the B58, next summer.

[RingMeister01]

Originally Posted by Maz335i

Jason,

Will the F80 LCI come out the same time as the F30 LCI?

Yup. Your car is already old.

[V1.47fan]

And the next 3 series will be a 345i, i see a pattern forming.

top 3 series non M...330i then 335i then 340i

[MikeTerp]

Originally Posted by xlover

doesnt MPPK run at more 330 lb/ft.

I also think its going to be pretty silly to have the 3 have more power than the 4... i wonder how long it will take to get that converted over. maybe they will be announced at the same time just with different launch dates... 340 vs 440

It does seem strange, as does the staggered LCI intros for the F3X series across the board. No doubt BMW has its reasons, but it seems that once some of the LCI mods are revealed, some may hold back buying other versions until their LCI models are released. Could be a great time to buy a 328/428 if you plan to keep the car a long time and don't mind the initial hit on depreciation. Seems that there would be pretty good deals available.