[Aeromotive]

Hi all,

So after leasing a 2013 335i for 3 years for my wife, she went to a C450 and regretted every part of it.

Back to shopping to replace my IS350 (which I've had since 2014) and I've narrowed it down to the S5 Sportsback against the 340i M Performance Edition.
I walked in to see my salesman and I fell in love with the Sunset Orange color. He quoted me MSRP - 6%, or approx invoice + 600$ IIRC.

The interior looks dated compared to all rivals but the driving was great and that exhaust (and general looks) convinced me. I got emotional and I would have left with the car that same day... however I'm a rational person and decided to sleep a couple of nights over it

Now I'm debating about leasing the F30 right before the G20 is out...
However I need an AWD car before winter (my IS350 is RWD and it's a headache in snow now that I've changed jobs and need to drive in bad conditions sometimes).

My main issue

I wanna drive something different, that's why I prefer the M Performance Edition over any "regular" looking and driving F30. However I'm worried the G20 might come out with something similar to the current M Performance Edition ... that would make me regret my choice :/
However history says otherwise : the F30 didn't get it until 2015-16 IIRC.

My questions

Am I silly for leasing an F30 right before the G20 comes out? What would you do?
Also are there any known issues specific to the M Performance Edition that I should be aware of?

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by Aeromotive

Hi all,

So after leasing a 2013 335i for 3 years for my wife, she went to a C450 and regretted every part of it.

Back to shopping to replace my IS350 (which I've had since 2014) and I've narrowed it down to the S5 Sportsback against the 340i M Performance Edition.
I walked in to see my salesman and I fell in love with the Sunset Orange color. He quoted me MSRP - 6%, or approx invoice + 600$ IIRC.

The interior looks dated compared to all rivals but the driving was great and that exhaust (and general looks) convinced me. I got emotional and I would have left with the car that same day... however I'm a rational person and decided to sleep a couple of nights over it

Now I'm debating about leasing the F30 right before the G20 is out...
However I need an AWD car before winter (my IS350 is RWD and it's a headache in snow now that I've changed jobs and need to drive in bad conditions sometimes).

My main issue

I wanna drive something different, that's why I prefer the M Performance Edition over any "regular" looking and driving F30. However I'm worried the G20 might come out with something similar to the current M Performance Edition ... that would make me regret my choice :/
However history says otherwise : the F30 didn't get it until 2015-16 IIRC.

My questions

Am I silly for leasing an F30 right before the G20 comes out? What would you do?
Also are there any known issues specific to the M Performance Edition that I should be aware of?

On Aug 7 I dumped out of my lease on a 2016 340i xDrive and started a new lease on a 2018 340i xDrive M Performance Edition in Sunset Orange. You do know these cars are limited to 200 in Canada, and only 50 of each of four colors.
I am thrilled with the new one - I basically did exactly what you are wondering about.
My logic was that the 2018 is now at the end of its run, and is as good as it's ever going to get. It's a proven quantity. Plus you can deal on the 2018 as dealers want to move on. Discounted price and subsidized lease rate.
The G20 is a new model, there may be issues with the first ones....who knows? Pricing on the G20 will be harder than on the 2018s, and the M Performance Edition or similar may not be immediately available.
I LOVE my 2018!!! It's just a great package, and the performance exhaust makes noises to die for...smiles per mile are high. I have had lots of positive comments on the SO color.
Also, you need the xDrive before winter, I doubt the G20 will be here by the time snow flies in Montreal.
Go for the 2018 Edition, you will not regret it.

[upsidedownfunnel]

If you are getting an automatic, you'd be crazy to not wait for the G20. The G20 is supposedly a return to form for BMW. It's significantly lighter, suspension is tuned properly, and the interior quality is supposed to be better. The only downside is the elimination of the manual option.

Also, the M340i (the new official M performance version) will come with a electronically actuated LSD and a higher output B58 motor. I've also heard they come standard with adaptive suspension. I'm assuming they're going to be superior to the current F30 EDC option which is a bit behind the technology curve.

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

If you are getting an automatic, you'd be crazy to not wait for the G20. The G20 is supposedly a return to form for BMW. It's significantly lighter, suspension is tuned properly, and the interior quality is supposed to be better. The only downside is the elimination of the manual option.

Also, the M340i (the new official M performance version) will come with a electronically actuated LSD and a higher output B58 motor. I've also heard they come standard with adaptive suspension. I'm assuming they're going to be superior to the current F30 EDC option which is a bit behind the technology curve.

The key word there is "supposedly" a return to form. Whatever "return to form" means we should expect (I'm not sure I'd place too much stock in a few preliminary reviews). Regardless, the g20 will be a new platform, and odds are will have some bugs and glitches like every other new platform does in the first couple of years. I understand the allure of driving the newest chassis, with new tech etc, but there's also something to be said for leasing an f30 now, and trading it in for a g20 in a few years when the initial wrinkles have been ironed out. Car buying is as much, or more often, an emotional decision for many of us though, so if one is that excited over the g20 and all of its grandiose promises, you might regret not waiting for it.

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by Fuller

The key word there is "supposedly" a return to form. Whatever "return to form" means we should expect (I'm not sure I'd place too much stock in a few preliminary reviews). Regardless, the g20 will be a new platform, and odds are will have some bugs and glitches like every other new platform does in the first couple of years. I understand the allure of driving the newest chassis, with new tech etc, but there's also something to be said for leasing an f30 now, and trading it in for a g20 in a few years when the initial wrinkles have been ironed out. Car buying is as much, or more often, an emotional decision for many of us though, so if one is that excited over the g20 and all of its grandiose promises, you might regret not waiting for it.

CLAR looks promising and all of BMW's new models have had favorable reviews by the very same publications that excoriated them for the F30's tuning.

Also, it looks like OP is a buyer, not a lessor. While I do agree that waiting for at least the second model year is probably a good idea, if you're going to buy, then it's still better to be "stuck" with a buggy new gen than the old gen. For me, I'd much rather have some bugs and the G20 if it is what I claim it is in my first post.

[Richard52]

How long before we can expect to get good deals on the G20?

[mallorca328]

Sometimes on electronics its bad idea to buy the super new thing until they find the common issues and fix them, i guess its the same for cars.
Just my opinion

[chiefneil]

Originally Posted by Aeromotive

However I'm worried the G20 might come out with something similar to the current M Performance Edition ... that would make me regret my choice :/
However history says otherwise : the F30 didn't get it until 2015-16 IIRC

Your worry is correct, the G20 will have an m-performance edition out the gate as a standard model vs the 1-off (or 200-off, more accurately) that you’re looking at. The G20 M340i will essentially be the G20 version of the car you’re looking at. There’s not going to be a “standard” 340i, they’re all going to be the m-perf version, except with optional adjustable shocks. In theory the G20 sport versions are also tuned more toward the sport side of the equation than the F30 so there’s more daylight between them vs the non-sport versions.

Personally I’d wait, but only if I could wait 2-3 years. No way would I ever buy the first year of a new BMW model. Second year is a little iffy as well. If you can slap snows on your IS350 and make it through a couple more winters, then wait. If you need a new car now, then go for it.

BTW isn’t the car you’re looking at RWD as well? Not sure why you’d expect a RWD BMW to perform better in snow than a RWD Lexus. The LSD in the G20 might help with that, and I suppose it’s also possible/likely that there’ll be a G20 M340i xDrive as well.

[Zara]

I would go with the 2018 340i, it's going to be the cleanest and most fine tuned F30 available. Or wait for the G20 LCI.

[ynguldyn]

Manual - buy now because they are no more.
Automatic - wait because M340i will be a beast.

[IAmATeaf]

Wouldn’t it be quite a wait for the m sport versions to come out? If you are leasing then I’d lease the f30 now and swap it when the time and models come.

[paul e]

My dad told me years ago to never buy a completely new/redesigned model car. “Let somebody else find out what isn’t right”.

It’s advice I’ve never regretted taking. You have the choice of a mature F30 or an unknown G20. No contest, IMHO.

[DrifterX]

-6% is nothing IMO... I was able to get 6% off on my custom build a couple months after 340i was first available in showrooms.

You should wait for the G20 since your wife has had an F30 before.

[DrifterX]

Originally Posted by mallorca328

Sometimes on electronics its bad idea to buy the super new thing until they find the common issues and fix them, i guess its the same for cars.
Just my opinion

Originally Posted by paul e

My dad told me years ago to never buy a completely new/redesigned model car. “Let somebody else find out what isn’t right”.

It’s advice I’ve never regretted taking. You have the choice of a mature F30 or an unknown G20. No contest, IMHO.

But OP is planning on leasing, I would disagree it'd apply to OP

Also, both my car and my wife's car are first year models of their generation. No issues after 2.5 years of ownership on my F30 & 1 year of ownership of the Hyundai Hybrid... customer service experiences from dealers on the other hand, terrible lol.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by Richard52

How long before we can expect to get good deals on the G20?

Wait a couple years for cars coming off lease to get a good CPO deal at half MSRP price of new.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Wait for the G if performance is what you are looking for + a new dash board configuration. The G M340 will have a significant power boost over the current 340.

Leasing make all the it's a first year & buy a CPO logic not relevant in the OP's case. Personally on a purchase would not go for year 1 & never had any interest in a used car after the first car I bought as a teenager.

[tuco44]

What is being forgotten here is that OP is in Montreal, and wants the AWD car before winter. The G20 will not be available before winter.

The 2018 M Perf Edition in Canada has the digital dash. HP is 355, TQ is 369. I don't think the G20 M340i (even if it was available now) will have "significantly" more HP. The M Perf Edition in Canada is a pretty complete package.

[bimmer456]

Low miles CPO can save you $10k or more (like less than 10k miles)

[otay]

Originally Posted by Zara

I would go with the 2018 340i, it's going to be the cleanest and most fine tuned F30 available. Or wait for the G20 LCI.

+1

Found a perfect (for me) 2017 340i 6MT lease assumption that is up in March 2020. Hope any G20 bugs are worked out by then, and I'll be leasing a M340i.

[Digital_83]

F30 hands down - aesthetics alone ..
The next three years should iron-out [mostly] any potential major design flaws and you can perhaps get one then.

[18340i]

Shop around a bit more, you should be able to get at least 10% (ideally 12%-15%) off an F30 before incentives.

[Blubaron79]

I just want to hear why the C450 was trash.