[Mike_89]

Hello Guys,

I recently sold my F15 X5. I was looking for something fun again, but practical at the same time. I loved my X5 but having previously owned a Nissan GT-R before becoming a Dad, the X5 just didn’t do it for a petrol head despite being an absolutely fantastic car in my 3 years of ownership.

The 340i Touring was an absolute stand-out for me, especially the price. I waited a long time for one because they’re pretty scarce cars at the moment. Unfortunately I had to return the Mineral Grey one I purchased due to the amount of faults that existed on the car and finding out it had been in an accident. I ignored some red flags due to it being the colour and spec I wanted, something I don’t normally do with cars.

When I got my refund, a car appeared on the approved used BMW website local to me, pictures weren’t even up yet and the car wasn’t fully prepared but I reserved it and went straight over for a test drive. It was night and day between the old one driving wise and I decided to buy it. The car has a very unusual spec and will not be for everybody (it certainly wasn’t for me at first) however I have grown to really like the Oyster leather against the white paint. I also didn’t really want a white one, my X5 was white and I regretted not going grey. However as I said, these cars are few and far between so I wasn’t spoiled for choice and this car had fantastic spec. The previous owner spec’d it very highly but didn’t tick the pro nav box! This is something that really bugs me especially having it in the X5 and previous 340i I had for all of 13 days. I was previously ignoring 340i Tourings that didn’t have it, but I have come round to it not having it and I might get an android screen installed with Apple play etc.

66 plate
24k miles
BMW approved with 1 year warranty
Advanced parking package
360 surround
Aluminium roof bars
M Sport Pro Pack with Harmon Kardon speakers
Extended Storage
Oyster leather with fineline anthracite wood trim
Panoramic Glass Sunroof
Folding mirrors with auto dim
Front heated seats

The aluminium roof rails were a £300 option (they are standard in black) which really does leave me bemused the owner didn’t tick the professional media box, however this car has been spec’d very individually to the single previous owner’s taste and has been impeccably looked after. I am not sure if he was a member on here or not, but I’ll certainly look after it as well.

I have fitted BMW roof bars and bought the black grill from BMW and fitted it myself. I might put a Rieger splitter on it and perhaps a diffuser too but at the moment I’m going to enjoy having some speed again and take it up to the north west of Scotland for some FUN!

[Mike_89]

Some pictures

[MY340i]

Welcome and congrats on the purchase.

Oyster leather really does brighten up the interior, makes a change from the sea of black and red interiors most choose.

Guessing you’ve already started eyeing up the MPPSK kit?

[Mike_89]

Originally Posted by Bars111

Welcome and congrats on the purchase.

Oyster leather really does brighten up the interior, makes a change from the sea of black and red interiors most choose.

Guessing you’ve already started eyeing up the MPPSK kit?

Thanks.

I am not familiar with what they go for used? I think they’re very pricey from BMW? I don’t want to void my 1 year BMW used warranty either.

[Kendo67]

Originally Posted by Mike_89

Thanks.

I am not familiar with what they go for used? I think they’re very pricey from BMW? I don’t want to void my 1 year BMW used warranty either.

Your warranty will be intact if you get it supplied + fitted by the main dealer plus they will need to fit it and do the coding for the extra horses.

Mine was done by Douglas Park in Hamilton as they undercut everyone else i had contacted.

K

[MY340i]

Originally Posted by Mike_89

Thanks.

I am not familiar with what they go for used? I think they’re very pricey from BMW? I don’t want to void my 1 year BMW used warranty either.

About £1500 from bmw fully fitted. It includes a mild map too which pushes the power up to around 370bhp. Keeps warranty intact.

Very rarely does the mppsk exhaust come up for sale used.

[Mike_89]

Originally Posted by Kendo67

Your warranty will be intact if you get it supplied + fitted by the main dealer plus they will need to fit it and do the coding for the extra horses.

Mine was done by Douglas Park in Hamilton as they undercut everyone else i had contacted.

K

Interesting, I might give them a call. I paid about £1500 more for this one over the one that I had to return so I’ll be holding off for a while yet. I’m sure I’ll get an itch in a few months time.

[Mike_89]

Originally Posted by Bars111

About £1500 from bmw fully fitted. It includes a mild map too which pushes the power up to around 370bhp. Keeps warranty intact.

Very rarely does the mppsk exhaust come up for sale used.

Noted mate thanks

[goram]

Very nice mate! I gave up waiting for a 340i Touring, and 'settled' for a 335d xDrive in the end (which I absolutely love).

I really like oyster leather - had that in my 535d. Wasn't sure at first, but coupled with a sunroof, it really brightens the interior. Also found it easier to keep clean with all the clinker that comes with little people!

[Sennen]

Originally Posted by goram

Very nice mate! I gave up waiting for a 340i Touring, and 'settled' for a 335d xDrive in the end (which I absolutely love).

I really like oyster leather - had that in my 535d. Wasn't sure at first, but coupled with a sunroof, it really brightens the interior. Also found it easier to keep clean with all the CLINKER that comes with little people!

Clinker

https://www.urbandictionary.com/defi...?term=Clinkers

[Mike_89]

Originally Posted by goram

Very nice mate! I gave up waiting for a 340i Touring, and 'settled' for a 335d xDrive in the end (which I absolutely love).

I really like oyster leather - had that in my 535d. Wasn't sure at first, but coupled with a sunroof, it really brightens the interior. Also found it easier to keep clean with all the clinker that comes with little people!

That’s a great car mate and with the X-Drive it makes it that extra bit more practical as a family wagon, I’ll miss that in the X5 especially when there’s snow around. I just had that itch to get back in a petrol and this car was substantially cheaper than an S4 Avant or a C43 estate, ticks all the boxes for me apart from AWD but I’m going to have some fun with RWD anyway.

[jenshb]

Originally Posted by Mike_89

That’s a great car mate and with the X-Drive it makes it that extra bit more practical as a family wagon, I’ll miss that in the X5 especially when there’s snow around. I just had that itch to get back in a petrol and this car was substantially cheaper than an S4 Avant or a C43 estate, ticks all the boxes for me apart from AWD but I’m going to have some fun with RWD anyway.

If you fit winter tyres, you won't need xDrive. AWD just takes you faster and further into the scene of the accident.

[Mike_89]

Small update: fitted a Rieger front splitter, I liked it because it’s fairly subtle and is a good fit. Also some gloss black mirror caps. Now looking for a gloss black diffuser that’s also fairly subtle suitable for the double exhaust on the 340i if anybody could recommend one?

[Two-tone525]

Originally Posted by Mike_89

Unfortunately I had to return the Mineral Grey one I purchased due to the amount of faults that existed on the car and finding out it had been in an accident. I ignored some red flags due to it being the colour and spec I wanted, something I don’t normally do with cars.

Lovely looking 340i. You'll have some fun in that on 18" go flat winters.

Curious about what you spotted on the one you returned. What were the signs? Over spray, badly aligned panels?

Was an accident damaged, or poorly repaired at least, BMW being sold as a BMW AUC?

Not asking you to name and shame dealers, just curious as to how low BMW dealers might stoop.

[B58_Touring]

congratulations on the new car mate, its a nice stand out spec. A break from the norm can be a welcome change. I'm sure you'll enjoy the car, they're a great all rounder

[Mike_89]

Originally Posted by Two-tone525

Lovely looking 340i. You'll have some fun in that on 18" go flat winters.

Curious about what you spotted on the one you returned. What were the signs? Over spray, badly aligned panels?

Was an accident damaged, or poorly repaired at least, BMW being sold as a BMW AUC?

Not asking you to name and shame dealers, just curious as to how low BMW dealers might stoop.

I travelled down to Chester for the grey 340i touring. Without naming names they are not a BMW dealer by any stretch, more of a car supermarket type, however I believe they are a sub of a larger company who have franchises with Audi etc.

A brief overview is that the car had pretty poor service history and then the garage I bought it from didn’t put it through the major service it required, however my intention was always going to be to take it to my local independent BMW specialist for a full service and health check anyway given its poor history. I received a video from them when it was literally just brought in and it needed touch ups on almost all the panels due to scuffs etc, another red flag I stupidly ignored. However when I turned up the car was looking good and I took it a drive. It drove ok, I wasn't expecting it to be mega fast having owned a far quicker car the year previous and it didn’t exactly feel sluggish to me at all. I bought the car and I was about 100 miles in and I realised the air con was not working. The car also had a very rough idle.

Took it straight to the specialist I’ve used for years and they did some extensive fault finding and noticed the air con pump clutch was engaging and running then stopping over and over again hence the rough idle. They narrowed it down to a faulty pressure sensor reading a high pressure (around 137 bar) causing the pump to trip out on over pressure. However they also found that the car had NO charge coolant whatsoever and following a pressure leak confirmed that the charge cooler radiator had a hole in it (they advised it was a common issue on the B58 engine and BMW now sell them with stone guards on them).They said it would have felt slow, but I didn’t notice that. They also told me the track rod ends were in shocking condition and should have been an MOT failure never mind an advisory. The garage I bought the car from MOT’d the car with no advisories. In total the cost of work would be about £1200. The garage I bought it off said they’d cover these costs.

However as I said these guys are proper BMW nuts, the owner has an M car and all the guys that work there run BMWs and they are the go to place for me, even over BMW themselves. They took me in to the ramp and told me they think I should take it back. They pointed out some poor paint work but more alarmingly that the car had a non genuine headlight, the brand was TYC. It was missing the headlight wheel arch cover, under tray bolts and a few other things. It had clearly been in an accident and fixed on the cheap by the previous owner. There was a huge gap between the bonnet and the light when you looked closely.

Not sure what came over me buying this car I’m normally very vigilant, patient and cautious in search for the right car.

The garage sent a transporter at their cost and refunded all the money I had spent at the garage including a full service plus the cost of the car. But this was only once I kicked up serious F and emailed the unhelpful manager with every director I found on the company website CC’d in. I’m glad it’s out my hair and the car I got from BMW is absolutely perfect, it’s like a brand new car. Lesson learned

[Mike_89]

Originally Posted by B58_Touring

congratulations on the new car mate, its a nice stand out spec. A break from the norm can be a welcome change. I'm sure you'll enjoy the car, they're a great all rounder

Thank you, agreed I’m loving it so far.

[ian332isport]

Originally Posted by Mike_89

Took it straight to the specialist I’ve used for years and they did some extensive fault finding and noticed the air con pump clutch was engaging and running then stopping over and over again hence the rough idle. They narrowed it down to a faulty pressure sensor reading a high pressure (around 137 bar) causing the pump to trip out on over pressure. However they also found that the car had NO charge coolant whatsoever and following a pressure leak confirmed that the charge cooler radiator had a hole in it (they advised it was a common issue on the B58 engine and BMW now sell them with stone guards on them).

I recently read an interesting post over on PistonHeads about a similar issue. Quoted below.

'The B58 is interesting in that it doesn’t use an air to refrigerant condenser/rad like most other cars. It actually uses a water/refrigerant rad (same circuit as the charge cooler).

The upshot of this is that - your refrigerant level may be fine but there is a common problem whereby the charge cooler circuit radiator gets a leak (it is at the front of the numerous air/water rads in the rad pack) as it is the front most radiator and subject to stone impacts (later BMW added stone guards to stop this). This will mean the AC circuit has no way of getting rid of excess heat so doesn’t work and will trip on high pressure (why you are seeing high pressure). You will also find your car is pulling timing and not putting out as much power as your charge air is also not being cooled.

I would put money on you having a leak in your charge cooler circuit

Edit - I believe BMW refer to the charge cooler circuit as the “low temperature coolant” so I’d check to see if that has any water in it - I believe it is the smaller of the two coolant tanks and closer to the front of the car. Unless I’m mistaken it also doesn’t have a low level warning like the main tank so no dash alerts pop up.'

[MY340i]

can these stone guards been retrofitted?

[Beancounter_74]

You can certainly retrofit some sort of stone guard, some use mesh. Damage to these is a big problem on the M140i which I have as it is behind what would have been the fog lights, but is just an open grille.

[AlwynMike]

Originally Posted by Bars111

can these stone guards been retrofitted?

They can be.....but you need a new radiator to mount them to!

You can, however, put some flexible plastic mesh behind the lower bumper grille to do the same job.

[Mike_89]

Originally Posted by ian332isport

The upshot of this is that - your refrigerant level may be fine but there is a common problem whereby the charge cooler circuit radiator gets a leak (it is at the front of the numerous air/water rads in the rad pack) as it is the front most radiator and subject to stone impacts (later BMW added stone guards to stop this). This will mean the AC circuit has no way of getting rid of excess heat so doesn’t work and will trip on high pressure (why you are seeing high pressure). You will also find your car is pulling timing and not putting out as much power as your charge air is also not being cooled.

Sounds pretty much exactly what was happening to the 340i Touring that I purchased. The garage put it down to a faulty pressure sensor because it was reading high pressure. They did say that they tried a sensor from another car and it read something sensible but I’m beginning to wonder if they actually did that and that the high pressure was genuine, however at 137 bar that would blow some pipes so perhaps the over pressure has actually damaged the pressure sensor causing mismeasurment and there are a couple of faults there now. Interesting though, that a stone getting through to the charge cooler radiator at speed can cause so much havoc. I was quoted around £400 for a new one plus the labour which was 2/3 hours I believe.