[Tom53m]

Definitely go for the new technology, they will give you more reliable motoring in my opinion

[jmg]

I've owned F30 340i, 2 F80 M3's and drove a M340i on the street and on an autocross at the UDE.
Here's my take:

Used 340i - this will save you the most money. You can get a used M Sport for $25-30k. However...

You mentioned you do not plan to do extensive modifications. Then get a used F80 M3. Out of the box, it's better than even a modded 340i. Yes, FBO stage 3 with giant turbos can beat an M3 in a straight line, but that's not why you get an M car. You get one because you can drive it hard all day and not overheat your: engine, steering, transmission, diffs. M cars have much more cooling. The amount of heat exchangers, design of heat sinks, airflow, etc all play a big role in keeping the car performing even after hours of hard driving. Not to mention everything will still be covered under warranty. No warranty? The S55 M3 has proven to be the most reliable M3 to date with issues being well documented and fixed (crank hub). You cannot expect a Stg3 340i to hold up under the same conditions unless extensive and EXPENSIVE modifications are made, at which point you might as well have gotten the M3. Keep in mind I'm talking about real hard driving like on a track. Street racing need not apply, it's simply not hard enough, I don't care how fast people think they are going.

M340i - surprisingly capable on a short course even with a full car. I was able to get 2nd place in my group. The edge was easy to find and it's forgiving since its AWD. Having said that, it's big and it's heavy. AWD helps a lot in this case, 4000lbs is no joke. Still, it was more capable than my old 340i with track handling package. That power is undeniable. It will suffer, however, the same drawbacks as a 340i when you push it. It's not designed to be abused like a track car. It will not perform in the same way consistently as an M car because it wasn't equipped or designed to do so. M340i owners will tell you about 0-60 times and how it will beat an M3 blah blah blah... push it to the real limit, not just a streetlight to streetlight race, then we'll talk. As a street car, however, if you need the size, it's hard to justify a 340i unless money is an issue. Additionally, the price puts you in used M3 territory.

[Gen13 F36]

Originally Posted by jmg

I've owned F30 340i, 2 F80 M3's and drove a M340i on the street and on an autocross at the UDE.
Here's my take:

Used 340i - this will save you the most money. You can get a used M Sport for $25-30k. However...

You mentioned you do not plan to do extensive modifications. Then get a used F80 M3. Out of the box, it's better than even a modded 340i. Yes, FBO stage 3 with giant turbos can beat an M3 in a straight line, but that's not why you get an M car. You get one because you can drive it hard all day and not overheat your: engine, steering, transmission, diffs. M cars have much more cooling. The amount of heat exchangers, design of heat sinks, airflow, etc all play a big role in keeping the car performing even after hours of hard driving. Not to mention everything will still be covered under warranty. No warranty? The S55 M3 has proven to be the most reliable M3 to date with issues being well documented and fixed (crank hub). You cannot expect a Stg3 340i to hold up under the same conditions unless extensive and EXPENSIVE modifications are made, at which point you might as well have gotten the M3. Keep in mind I'm talking about real hard driving like on a track. Street racing need not apply, it's simply not hard enough, I don't care how fast people think they are going.

M340i - surprisingly capable on a short course even with a full car. I was able to get 2nd place in my group. The edge was easy to find and it's forgiving since its AWD. Having said that, it's big and it's heavy. AWD helps a lot in this case, 4000lbs is no joke. Still, it was more capable than my old 340i with track handling package. That power is undeniable. It will suffer, however, the same drawbacks as a 340i when you push it. It's not designed to be abused like a track car. It will not perform in the same way consistently as an M car because it wasn't equipped or designed to do so. M340i owners will tell you about 0-60 times and how it will beat an M3 blah blah blah... push it to the real limit, not just a streetlight to streetlight race, then we'll talk. As a street car, however, if you need the size, it's hard to justify a 340i unless money is an issue. Additionally, the price puts you in used M3 territory.

Wow... you actually wrote all that...

Anyway, I didn't hear that BMW fixed the crank hub issue. Oh you mean the $4000 dollar aftermarket fix. Just want to clear that.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Gen13 F36

Wow... you actually wrote all that...

Anyway, I didn't hear that BMW fixed the crank hub issue. Oh you mean the $4000 dollar aftermarket fix. Just want to clear that.

I didn't mean that BMW fixed it, just that there is a fix. It's not an issue for many, but some people outside of warranty or with big power mods have needed it done or have it done preemptively.

[Ifellapart]

Originally Posted by kern417

It also comes with a bigger turbo that can be tuned to over 500whp without much work.

I have never heard this before. Can you link your source. I've heard of changes between b58 variants (i.e. fuel pump, exhaust outlet to turbo) but have never heard a single thing about changing the turbos.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by kern417

Pretty much this. I'm sticking with my F3x because I want to keep my manual transmission. But without that in the picture, the G20 is better in every way. Faster, more efficient, and more creature comforts, and comes standard with performance options (Exhaust, LSD) that the F3x didn't get without an upcharge. It also comes with a bigger turbo that can be tuned to over 500whp without much work. I'd get it over the F80 M3 because the new G80 M3 will be coming out in the next 12 months and also the F80 sounds bad.

Honestly I'm not getting the G80 because it's just become too big. It will likely outperform the F80 in every single way, but I think the driving enjoyment won't be there with something that size.


Also, the F80 sounds horrible in comparison to the E92, but with an MPE it doesn't sound bad when it counts.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by Ifellapart

I have never heard this before. Can you link your source. I've heard of changes between b58 variants (i.e. fuel pump, exhaust outlet to turbo) but have never heard a single thing about changing the turbos.

I'll have to look for it but that's one of the reasons why the TU engine can make more power than us, even with the same fuel pump.

Originally Posted by jmg

Honestly I'm not getting the G80 because it's just become too big. It will likely outperform the F80 in every single way, but I think the driving enjoyment won't be there with something that size.


Also, the F80 sounds horrible in comparison to the E92, but with an MPE it doesn't sound bad when it counts.

I leased my F32 specifically because i wanted the option to easily jump into the G80. For me, it'll have everything but I can't get past the looks. The only thing i want from the F80 are the hips 🤤

And yeah, my coworker has the MPE. Driving around town it sounds really bad and metallic. Just not for me.

[dapetik]

I'm in the same boat 2 years after this post originally posted. Is the adaptive cruise and lane keep assist better in the m340 vs 340? I would imagine it was improved?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by dapetik

I'm in the same boat 2 years after this post originally posted. Is the adaptive cruise and lane keep assist better in the m340 vs 340? I would imagine it was improved?

Woah nice thread bump from the past! I've contradicted myself and got a G82 since this thread!

Anyway, I can't speak to the adaptive cruise as the only bimmer I've had it in is my 2015, 2018, and 2019 i3. I will say that the camera based ACC was excellent already. I can imagine that the LiDAR based one in the G20/G80 is much better.

My G82 has the camera based lane keep assist and it works pretty well, although I have it in the lowest setting and I have it turned off in sport mode, which I run 99% of the time.

[23109VC]

Originally Posted by jmg

Woah nice thread bump from the past! I've contradicted myself and got a G82 since this thread!

Anyway, I can't speak to the adaptive cruise as the only bimmer I've had it in is my 2015, 2018, and 2019 i3. I will say that the camera based ACC was excellent already. I can imagine that the LiDAR based one in the G20/G80 is much better.

My G82 has the camera based lane keep assist and it works pretty well, although I have it in the lowest setting and I have it turned off in sport mode, which I run 99% of the time.

Ha - this is an old
Thread resurrected? I'm the OP.

I never did get a 340 or an M340… I got an M550!

I started looking at the larger cars since I have kids - and once I test drove one loved it. I wanted an M3 but at the time the F80 interior seems dated - the G30 5 series had been refreshed and felt newer inside plus way more luxurious

I was lucky I scored a great deal on the certified preowned bottle prior to all the car prices going ballistic. Mine is massively loaded with full leather Dash Alcantara headliner heating and cooled plus massaging front seats , heated steering wheel rear heated seats…and 20"s

I haven't tuned it as I added CPO extension so the car has 4 years of warranty from date of purchase. It's a blast. Sometimes I wish it was more nimble like the M340… but then when I'm cruising to work with my adaptive cruise control and massage seats I prefer this.

[Randy Johnson]

Glad this discussion came back to life....

I drive a FBO 435i GC. Great car but I am looking ahead to 2023-2024 (once the used car market corrects) and am deciding on an M340i or M3(F80). The M340 will have newer tech but the F80 has amazing looks and performance. Decisions, decisions....EV?

[23109VC]

Originally Posted by Randy Johnson

Glad this discussion came back to life....

I drive a FBO 435i GC. Great car but I am looking ahead to 2023-2024 (once the used car market corrects) and am deciding on an M340i or M3(F80). The M340 will have newer tech but the F80 has amazing looks and performance. Decisions, decisions....EV?

I was deciding between both those cars… if you sit in an F80 now… at least to me , the interior feels *really* dated…. It's nice, but the new 3 feels much more modern. Once you get used to all that newer technology it's hard to go back to a car as a daily driver that lacks it.

I ended up driving the M550 and was sold. It lacks the handling of a 3 series but makes up for it in other ways. For a DD I think it's far better. But now I need a toy car…. 🤑