[Leeg1633]

Originally Posted by SimonO

I previously had an F31 330d and have had an F31 340i for the last 18 months. It's been absolutely marvellous. If I was to change I'd be looking at an X3 M40i next.

I switched from a f31 330d to x3 m40i earlier this year. Fantastic car and even with the size it of the b58 pushes it down the road. Would of liked a f31 340i but I wanted something in xdrive the g series m340i touring just didn't appeal to me.

[goodbyalfa]

I started my bmw journey with a 330d, 9 years ago. Great car in ebII.
Changed into a F36 440i, in mineral grey. Loved that car, and what an engine when pushed on. I do recall I had a short period when I had to readjust to the way it delivered, as low down it felt so under powered after the 3.0d.. Extend the revs, and no comparison, but it took 2 test drives, with the last of which was a whole day one to convince.
Moved next into M340i, mild hybrid. So much more of a car, top to bottom. Engine has just a little more low down and responsiveness, with the whole chassis and car a lot more tight..
It's the best of the 3 I've owned by far.
Test drive one and you will not be disappointed.

[SimonO]

Originally Posted by Leeg1633

I switched from a f31 330d to x3 m40i earlier this year. Fantastic car and even with the size it of the b58 pushes it down the road. Would of liked a f31 340i but I wanted something in xdrive the g series m340i touring just didn't appeal to me.

How does the X3 compare in terms of space inside? I find the boot space and rear leg room in the F31 to be somewhat lacking...

[Lucasuk]

Thank you all for the inputs

So the list of cars

140i ( great fast car but too small for me for what I need )

340i F31 ( from what I am hearing a very capable estate and plenty off potential, rare car so prices are at a premium and is that much of a difference to what I have ummmm) don’t think they are xdrive

440i , 440i GC ( same engine as 340i so down to looks, think both RWD correct me if I am wrong. )

M2 and M4 big jump in terms of over all performance. Looks also but that is down to opinion. With both of these of course there is the jump in running costs)

Few options were shouted out but think it’s down to the above.

Time for some test drives me thinks 😁

[Leeg1633]

Originally Posted by SimonO

How does the X3 compare in terms of space inside? I find the boot space and rear leg room in the F31 to be somewhat lacking...

At the point of buying it I had a 45 kg Alaskan Malamute, she was a big girl, not fat just big. You could see she had a lot more space, head height and space to turn and lay down. I haven't loaded it up with much as yet. As for rear space, I'm about 6'1 and I can comfortably sit behind the drivers seat with plenty of head space.

[Leeg1633]

Originally Posted by Lucasuk

Thank you all for the inputs

So the list of cars

140i ( great fast car but too small for me for what I need )

340i F31 ( from what I am hearing a very capable estate and plenty off potential, rare car so prices are at a premium and is that much of a difference to what I have ummmm) don’t think they are xdrive

440i , 440i GC ( same engine as 340i so down to looks, think both RWD correct me if I am wrong. )

M2 and M4 big jump in terms of over all performance. Looks also but that is down to opinion. With both of these of course there is the jump in running costs)

Few options were shouted out but think it’s down to the above.

Time for some test drives me thinks 😁

If you want practicality then definitely the f31, mine was probably my favourite car as an all rounder. Spirited Sunday drive Mrs, son and dog for a weekend away tip run I once got a 6ft fridge freezer in the back to take to the tip.

[Alscoob]

I had a F31 330d 'S' drive then a F31 340i the latter feels so much more 'alive' and while you don't have the low down torque if feels a much quicker, driveable & lively car.

The diesel had a Steinbauer tuning box so was, according to them, around 306bhp & 496 lb ft torque so had a relentless shove in the back. Over the 4 years I had it averaged 42mpg.

The 340i was standard but with full ACS sports suspension & 320 bhp it averaged 32mpg over the same term. Both cars were utterly reliable (80K on the diesel & 70K miles on the petrol) with very similar servicing costs, but you do have to factor in a new set of spark plugs every other service.

For me the 340i was a far better car than the 330d the only down side was the bloody awful cold start routine which, while sounding good, did wear a bit thin after a while, but that was likely my own fault as I had the exhaust valve permanently open

M140i is 340bhp but felt too small in comparison to the F31 for me, so moved up to the 540i G31, again B58 an is superb in that car too.

To add - neither had x-drive and even if the option was available I wouldn't have gone for it, as with decent set of winter tyres you wont get stuck in snow and will run circles around any 4wd on summer rubber. You also don't have the issue of the front rear tyre wear difference and sensitivity of the transfer case to worry about either.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

I had a F31 330d 'S' drive then a F31 340i the latter feels so much more 'alive' and while you don't have the low down torque if feels a much quicker, driveable & lively car.

The diesel had a Steinbauer tuning box so was, according to them, around 306bhp & 496 lb ft torque so had a relentless shove in the back. Over the 4 years I had it averaged 42mpg.

The 340i was standard but with full ACS sports suspension & 320 bhp it averaged 32mpg over the same term. Both cars were utterly reliable (80K on the diesel & 70K miles on the petrol) with very similar servicing costs, but you do have to factor in a new set of spark plugs every other service.

For me the 340i was a far better car than the 330d the only down side was the bloody awful cold start routine which, while sounding good, did wear a bit thin after a while, but that was likely my own fault as I had the exhaust valve permanently open

M140i is 340bhp but felt too small in comparison to the F31 for me, so moved up to the 540i G31, again B58 an is superb in that car too.

To add - neither had x-drive and even if the option was available I wouldn't have gone for it, as with decent set of winter tyres you wont get stuck in snow and will run circles around any 4wd on summer rubber. You also don't have the issue of the front rear tyre wear difference and sensitivity of the transfer case to worry about either.

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by Pentland

Okay, I should have said "you will have better traction than an x-drive on summer rubber" !

[Lucasuk]

Ok might be a stupid question but what is the tyre setup on a f31 340i? As in staggered etc?

Also are they all RWD?

[un1eash]

Yes they are all RWD, G series M340i were 4WD.

OEM tyres would be staggered 225/45 255/40 R18/19

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by un1eash

Yes they are all RWD, G series M340i were 4WD.

OEM tyres would be staggered 225/45 255/40 R18/19

Just to correct that, Standard tyre sizes on a 340i will be -

225x40x19 and rears 255x35x19 as most will come with either 704M alloys (later cars) or 442m alloys earlier.

Some will have an 18" or even 20" option the latter being quite rare, if on 18's
225x45x18 and rears 255x40x18 is the standard size.

[TurboWeasel]

Originally Posted by goodbyalfa

I started my bmw journey with a 330d, 9 years ago. Great car in ebII.
Changed into a F36 440i, in mineral grey. Loved that car, and what an engine when pushed on. I do recall I had a short period when I had to readjust to the way it delivered, as low down it felt so under powered after the 3.0d.. Extend the revs, and no comparison, but it took 2 test drives, with the last of which was a whole day one to convince.
Moved next into M340i, mild hybrid. So much more of a car, top to bottom. Engine has just a little more low down and responsiveness, with the whole chassis and car a lot more tight..
It's the best of the 3 I've owned by far.
Test drive one and you will not be disappointed.

You need the S58 engine if you want bottom end. The M4 Comp I drove felt just as responsive below 2500rpm as my 330d, but is obviously 10 x more bonkers than a 330d past 3000rpm. Amazing engine. The B58 is very noticeably flat under 3000rpm (imo), which definitely notice after a diesel.

I would 100% ditch the derv if mileage wasn't a factor.

[un1eash]

Originally Posted by TurboWeasel

You need the S58 engine if you want bottom end. The M4 Comp I drove felt just as responsive below 2500rpm as my 330d, but is obviously 10 x more bonkers than a 330d past 3000rpm. Amazing engine. The B58 is very noticeably flat under 3000rpm (imo), which definitely notice after a diesel.

I would 100% ditch the derv if mileage wasn't a factor.

Being flat under 3000rpm sounds more like the N55 which has more of an old school turbo kick and revs out higher. The B58 I always felt hit hard from 2k rpm and has so much torque it masks the Turbo coming on.

My experience is with the 1/2 series though which the B58 has 340hp and 500Nm compared to the 450Nm of the 3/4 series.

[TurboWeasel]

Originally Posted by un1eash

Being flat under 3000rpm sounds more like the N55 which has more of an old school turbo kick and revs out higher. The B58 I always felt hit hard from 2k rpm and has so much torque it masks the Turbo coming on.

My experience is with the 1/2 series though which the B58 has 340hp and 500Nm compared to the 450Nm of the 3/4 series.

Sorry, I meant the B58 felt noticeably 'flatter' than the S58, not that the B58 is flat as in gutless, which it isn't

My own experience is the M4 Comp felt just as responsive as a diesel low down, but the B58 wasn't quite as fruity down there. The S58's twin turbos seem to punch sooner and harder than the B58's single snail....again...just going by my seat of the pants feel. Both the M4 Comp and 340i I drove were standard.

[SimonO]

Modern petrol engines should never be put under full load at low rpm anyway...there's a very good reason why the automatic gearbox will drop a gear or two. Going flat out below 2500rpm is just asking for trouble. See the many posts about LSPI...

[RobUK]

Surprised no-one has mentioned one of the best options... F3x x40i with the MPPSK fitted, +35hp and +45lb/ft over stock and one of the best BMW soundtracks going (when you want it)

[Lucasuk]

So had a weekend of test driving. Did and M2 OG and an M4.

Both cars were great in the own right. The M2 was stock and can see it as a great driving car. M4 was a modified one and running around 540bhp so was a monster. Again great car

With the above 2 I can see why they are popular being great M cars but I kept coming back to the f31 as it’s got power (ok not M levels ) easy for 4 and Luggage.

So I have decided I am going to start looking for a F31 340i as always been pulled to an estate. If I can find one then will look to do some upgrades to the b58 engine as seeing they have loads of potential. So fingers crossed have best of both worlds.

If anyone hears of one please let me know.

[MY340i]

F31 is probably getting a bit long in the tooth, a design from 2012?

I think the 540i estates aren’t far off in terms of price and a much noticeable step up in design and quality

[Lucasuk]

Originally Posted by MY340i

F31 is probably getting a bit long in the tooth, a design from 2012?

I think the 540i estates aren’t far off in terms of price and a much noticeable step up in design and quality

That is true but think they have aged well. Have to admit I forgot to put the 440i GC is still very much in the running

[SimonO]

I can really vouch for the F31 340i. Mine is somewhere in the region of 460-470bhp (had 455 on a dyno previously) and it's so planted, even when pushed.

[bobby-six-killer]

Just had a remap done on my 2016 f31 340i, already had xhp, put the 5” catted downpipe from osprey on and omg. It’s actually a bit scary.

ETA: Oh, and the TU fuel pump.