[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by NoShirtsNoShoes

My own car is a 335d. Last week I had to make a one way trip to Bristol over a few days. I hired a car for this booked as a C-Class (not my choice). When I turned up to collect it the guys said, 'you can have the Merc or there's a 340 if you want it?' How lucky is that?!

First thing noticed is the sound in comparison to mine.... it is just lovely! Quite quiet but lovely all the same. Whenever I had to stop at lights/traffic it was always the same procedure... radio off, windows down and wait to hear the engine fire up again.... magic! Don't think I'd ever get bored of that! It had proper m-sport suspension which of course was much better than the X-drive.

The mpg it returned was 29.8 over the 500 miles and would do 35 on the motorway no problem. This car had just 300 miles on it when collected, so not run in at all.

Of course the twin exhausts just top it off nicely!

Okay so you loved the noise but what about the most obvious question - the abundance of low down (not need to shift down) torque? It drives me mad in the M235i so would be interested to hear your thoughts.

[alarustic]

Originally Posted by gtsussex

Okay so you loved the noise but what about the most obvious question - the abundance of low down (not need to shift down) torque? It drives me mad in the M235i so would be interested to hear your thoughts.

Well, my main preference for having a diesel in the first place is the low down torque. The 335d was noticeably better in that department as you'd expect. It was a clear difference when I got in the 340i but I got used to it. When I was back in my own car it felt just more lively at low revs.

Once the petrol was in the upper rev range it was amazing. I thought the auto box might have actually been even better with the 340i - the changes were just so smooth.

When cruising the 340i seemed to always be at 1k revs so if you go from cruising to moderate acceleration there was a delay whilst changing down.

[gromit2468]

whatever the fuel consumption, I'm not sure these two badges really go together.

[Sussex_G20]

Having gone to a *35i from a 'd' yes you will miss the low end torque. But now I do less 'cruising' miles I far prefer the revy nature of the petrol and the ability to keep it spinning when pressing on. If I needed mpg then the diesel is the route right now

[happycow6171]

M3 saloon deal now 6k in 600 pounds a month at these figures how does the 340i stack up?!

[RobUK]

Originally Posted by NoShirtsNoShoes

When cruising the 340i seemed to always be at 1k revs so if you go from cruising to moderate acceleration there was a delay whilst changing down.

At 70mph in Comfort, my car is doing a little under 1600rpm (in the 328i it was 1900rpm for the same road speed). Did try out the Eco Pro mode going up the A23 dual carriageway on Sunday and if you're not on the gas it's doing just 600rpm.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by RobUK

At 70mph in Comfort, my car is doing a little under 1600rpm (in the 328i it was 1900rpm for the same road speed). Did try out the Eco Pro mode going up the A23 dual carriageway on Sunday and if you're not on the gas it's doing just 600rpm.

Ah, so the 'coast' feature is now enabled on UK cars? Interesting why they delayed it for the UK spec cars.

[FSE23]

Yes, I saw it in Danish car 320d once and I was asking BMW dealer about it but obviously no one seemed to know the answer.

[jr2408]

Originally Posted by JD6

Not sure if it helps the man maths, but fuelly only has figures for one 340i, with a second just registered. Both are forum members here.

http://www.fuelly.com/car/bmw/340i

It looks pretty similar to the 335i on the limited data we have so far.

There is also one on here - he's getting 35mpg (lots of autobahn by the looks of it)!

http://www.spritmonitor.de/en/detail/717139.html

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Ah, so the 'coast' feature is now enabled on UK cars? Interesting why they delayed it for the UK spec cars.

Our 135 has the coast feature. It's really good, lifting off towards a roundabout and you can, er... 'coast' for a decent distance.

I can see how Eco pro really works well in a petrol car, very smooth.

[dangerous_al]

Originally Posted by RobUK

At 70mph in Comfort, my car is doing a little under 1600rpm (in the 328i it was 1900rpm for the same road speed). Did try out the Eco Pro mode going up the A23 dual carriageway on Sunday and if you're not on the gas it's doing just 600rpm.

My 330i is the same, 1600rpm at 70mph. In eco pro, the coast function kicks in when your off the gas so it goes into neutral and drops revs to idle. Coast doesn't work if cruise control is activated though

[HiBee]

Originally Posted by RobUK

First thoughts (bearing in mind I've had the car less that a week and have only covered 300 miles)...

Ride - On the adaptive suspension the car is very composed. Coming from a 328i on stock suspension & 18" wheels, this car is actually more comfortable and seems to handle the rubbish roads round Sussex/Surrey much better. Not at all 'crashy' even in Sport. Overall I'd say it feels very planted and pretty well refined.

Noise - Engine noise is a pleasant burble and not at all intrusive at m/way speeds. Running 19" 442Ms with Goodyear Eagles and I reckon they're quieter than the 18" 398's + Potenza's on my last car. Could be that the sound deadening is better on the LCI?

MPG - What can I say... mid 40's on a long m/way run, spirited driving (although I'm keeping it under 4500rpm) hints at mid 30's? Don't do much town driving. Didn't buy this car for its mpg figures, but am pleasantly surprised.

Really can't say much about the performance yet as it's not run in, but there's no hesitation at all when you poke the throttle at any speed it just picks up and takes off!

Plan to write a few more words when I've run it in.

Thanks for the update.

Good to know that the mpg isn't too bad.
Hope i don't get those Bridgestone RFT's, apparently the Goodyears are better.
I'll keep the original tyres on for a couple of months then change to MPSS.

Pick mine up at the end of the week.

[73henny]

Originally Posted by MarkG335

Our 135 has the coast feature. It's really good, lifting off towards a roundabout and you can, er... 'coast' for a decent distance.

Yeah, our LCI 125d has the coast function. Bit odd at first but seems to work well.
Not sure if my car has it or not. Never tried it.

[RobUK]

Originally Posted by HiBee

Thanks for the update.

Good to know that the mpg isn't too bad.
Hope i don't get those Bridgestone RFT's, apparently the Goodyears are better.
I'll keep the original tyres on for a couple of months then change to MPSS.

Pick mine up at the end of the week.

Yes, these Goodyear Eagle F1's do seem a lot quieter than my Bridgestone Potenzas were. Good luck for the weekend, hope you get the rubber you want

After my second fill-up, the car was showing 41.7mpg on the trip computer. When I put the readings into Fuelly it came out as 37.4mpg which I figured wasn't too shabby for about 60% m/way cruising and 40% having a 'play' on that tankful. After the fill-up, did a 75mile motorway trip up to Heathrow and the OBC was showing a remaining range of 505 miles!