Ahh.. Feels Good to Be Behind an I6 Again

lakeeffect · 10-19-2019, 10:56 AM

Greetings everyone, just introducing myself and happy to be back in a 3 Series. Picked up a 2016 340i xi Msport spec'd just how I like it. Great car!

Past garage: 1998 Saab 900s (last year made in Sweden); 2004 330xi (still my favorite car to date); 2016 Golf R MT (a freaking blast, but got the feeling it wasn't going to withstand the test of Colorado roads for long).

The 340i takes my favorite element of each of those cars and blends them. Spacious yet driver's oriented car like the Saab, rear-biased drivetrain, I6 and composed chassis of the 330xi, and speed of the Golf R. Yes I wish it had hydraulic steering, but it's as close to my preferred swiss army knife as I'll get for now.

Just did the Bavsound speakers, Bimmertech CarPlay, and JL ACP powered '10 in the hidden compartment. I'll be keeping it stock for awhile while the CPO is still on the clock.

Cheers!

Logicoeur · 10-19-2019, 11:54 AM

Very nice color combo.

Brown hues > Red

chhappy7 · 10-19-2019, 12:11 PM

How is bimmertrch CarPlay? I know there's a thread and all but more opinion is always better. Specifically I'm interested in audio quality and stability (crashing and whatnot).

cfm56d7b · 10-19-2019, 12:56 PM

Great car. Congratulations!

esoj37 · 10-19-2019, 08:18 PM

Nice, congrats!

lakeeffect · 10-20-2019, 10:00 AM

Agreed. I'm actually a big fan of Sensatech (dogs, snowboarding, etc.), but couldn't pass up this color combo. IMO, the brown leather looks best with this trim as well. I test drove an X4 M340i with the same leather but w/ woodgrain. It was just an overall too orange vibe for me. Also, can't go wrong with White/Tints on the exterior. Most importantly, it had all the other features on my list without the drivers' assist heads-up stuff, which I did not want.

36k, regular service, and all the prior destinations in iDrive were schools, daycares, spa's and soccer practice facilities. Hoping the prior owner drove it as the stereotype would suggest.

Bimmertech: Works pretty well! Just so we're sure to be talking about the same thing - I have the plug and play (not wireless) model. Audio quality is better than plugging into the HK system to my ears (though there's no real reason for that to be the case, not sure why that is). No crashes as of yet.

Only critiques I have aren't necessarily with the product. Bimmertech did an awesome job with the factory hardware they had to integrate with. For one, CarPlay just works better with a touch screen. Using the dial on the steering wheel to toggle through everything takes a more subtle touch than is always wise to apply while driving. If you like to scroll through your music and toggle between nav and other apps, you'll be glancing back and forth a bit. I also dislike how this version seems to automatically read text messages, whereas the Golf R's CarPlay would ask. In general, Siri seems to be lacking (calling, pulling up music, and composing texts via voice). All that said, it is the best CarPlay integration I've used. I'm pretty big into car stereo, and generally speaking, the only way to get something seamless is to upgrade the whole head unit, which I don't find worth it on our cars.

I still use iDrive, but for longer trips I enjoy having the CarPlay option. Personally, I would not pay for the wireless option if you are after sound quality, it will take a huge hit in comparison to any direct connection. That's a nonstarter for me. Though I can foresee a day if I keep the car long enough where I kick myself for that decision. My hunch is that we're two or three iPhone versions away from perhaps having no plug/input at all. Figure if I ever have to cross that bridge, things are going well. Hope that helps!

lakeeffect · 10-20-2019, 10:09 AM

Also, if you're into sound quality: For my money, the most bang for your buck (in any car, but especially these) after amp/speakers is sound deadening material.

It's often advertised as a way to keep the rattles on the exterior down. It will, but the additional clarity inside the cabin from focusing the speaker's reverberations towards the driver makes a huge difference with clarity.

10-19-2019, 10:56 AM	#1
lakeeffect Registered 5 Rep 3 Posts Drives: '16 340i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0)	Ahh.. Feels Good to Be Behind an I6 Again Greetings everyone, just introducing myself and happy to be back in a 3 Series. Picked up a 2016 340i xi Msport spec'd just how I like it. Great car! Past garage: 1998 Saab 900s (last year made in Sweden); 2004 330xi (still my favorite car to date); 2016 Golf R MT (a freaking blast, but got the feeling it wasn't going to withstand the test of Colorado roads for long). The 340i takes my favorite element of each of those cars and blends them. Spacious yet driver's oriented car like the Saab, rear-biased drivetrain, I6 and composed chassis of the 330xi, and speed of the Golf R. Yes I wish it had hydraulic steering, but it's as close to my preferred swiss army knife as I'll get for now. Just did the Bavsound speakers, Bimmertech CarPlay, and JL ACP powered '10 in the hidden compartment. I'll be keeping it stock for awhile while the CPO is still on the clock. Cheers! Attached Images
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10-19-2019, 11:54 AM	#2
Logicoeur Lieutenant Colonel 991 Rep 1,934 Posts Drives: F30 335i xDrive Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Very nice color combo. Brown hues > Red __________________ F30 335iX \| Remus Axleback \| Fabspeed Catted DP \| VRSF Comp IC \| 18X9 ET35 19lb MT1 \| 255/40/18 ECS \| Ohlins RT Millway Street \| Millway Control Arm Bushings \| Turner Endlinks \| TMH 75mm 14x1.5 Studs \| BMW MPerf LSD \| XDelete \| Pipercross Filter \| MHD Stg2 93
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10-19-2019, 12:11 PM	#3
chhappy7 Major 519 Rep 1,171 Posts Drives: TBD Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Hanover, NH iTrader: (0)	How is bimmertrch CarPlay? I know there's a thread and all but more opinion is always better. Specifically I'm interested in audio quality and stability (crashing and whatnot). __________________ 2020 X3 M40i 2015 328i - Sold @ 104,000 miles
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10-19-2019, 12:56 PM	#4
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5886 Rep 10,256 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	Great car. Congratulations!
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10-19-2019, 08:18 PM	#5
esoj37 Lieutenant 156 Rep 461 Posts Drives: M2C 6MT Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: New Orleans iTrader: (12)	Nice, congrats! __________________ HS S55 F87 MG B58 F30 - Gone MG N20 F30 - Gone
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10-20-2019, 10:00 AM	#6
lakeeffect Registered 5 Rep 3 Posts Drives: '16 340i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0)	Agreed. I'm actually a big fan of Sensatech (dogs, snowboarding, etc.), but couldn't pass up this color combo. IMO, the brown leather looks best with this trim as well. I test drove an X4 M340i with the same leather but w/ woodgrain. It was just an overall too orange vibe for me. Also, can't go wrong with White/Tints on the exterior. Most importantly, it had all the other features on my list without the drivers' assist heads-up stuff, which I did not want. 36k, regular service, and all the prior destinations in iDrive were schools, daycares, spa's and soccer practice facilities. Hoping the prior owner drove it as the stereotype would suggest. Bimmertech: Works pretty well! Just so we're sure to be talking about the same thing - I have the plug and play (not wireless) model. Audio quality is better than plugging into the HK system to my ears (though there's no real reason for that to be the case, not sure why that is). No crashes as of yet. Only critiques I have aren't necessarily with the product. Bimmertech did an awesome job with the factory hardware they had to integrate with. For one, CarPlay just works better with a touch screen. Using the dial on the steering wheel to toggle through everything takes a more subtle touch than is always wise to apply while driving. If you like to scroll through your music and toggle between nav and other apps, you'll be glancing back and forth a bit. I also dislike how this version seems to automatically read text messages, whereas the Golf R's CarPlay would ask. In general, Siri seems to be lacking (calling, pulling up music, and composing texts via voice). All that said, it is the best CarPlay integration I've used. I'm pretty big into car stereo, and generally speaking, the only way to get something seamless is to upgrade the whole head unit, which I don't find worth it on our cars. I still use iDrive, but for longer trips I enjoy having the CarPlay option. Personally, I would not pay for the wireless option if you are after sound quality, it will take a huge hit in comparison to any direct connection. That's a nonstarter for me. Though I can foresee a day if I keep the car long enough where I kick myself for that decision. My hunch is that we're two or three iPhone versions away from perhaps having no plug/input at all. Figure if I ever have to cross that bridge, things are going well. Hope that helps! Last edited by lakeeffect; 10-20-2019 at 10:20 AM.. Reason: Words are hard - haven't had my coffee yet.
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10-20-2019, 10:09 AM	#7
lakeeffect Registered 5 Rep 3 Posts Drives: '16 340i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0)	Also, if you're into sound quality: For my money, the most bang for your buck (in any car, but especially these) after amp/speakers is sound deadening material. It's often advertised as a way to keep the rattles on the exterior down. It will, but the additional clarity inside the cabin from focusing the speaker's reverberations towards the driver makes a huge difference with clarity.
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