[Crashnbrn5]

very nice!

[Racer20]

Ha, pretty similar car history to me . . .

Mini Cooper S, C6 LS3 Corvette, G35 Coupe (with a bunch more in between). Good video.

[bradleyland]

Gotta say man, this is one of the best One Takes I've seen. Lots of folks who show up either don't know their car, or they aren't particularly good speakers. You nailed both ?

[BklynNYBMW]

Saw This video a few weeks ago on another site. Great review of the 340. Hoping to drive one soon to see the difference between this and my current 335i msport. Chances are my next one will be the 340i msport. Does anyone know if the changes are significant? Right now the 335i Msport is a serious stealth missile

[dkmesa]

Loved this one take. It was included in my portfolio of research that lead to trading in my wife's e90 335i (N55) in on a 340i M-sport/track handling.

I was laughing as I watched the video, because I was thinking you're a similar kind of car nerd to myself, then you mention your 350Z and dad's Porsche...and it was kind of eery lol.

[yaymitch]

Slightly off topic but same B58 engine. I wonder if a tuned M240i would be faster than the M2 with the N55.

[m3rxn]

Nice vid and sweet ride !

[termigni]

Originally Posted by yaymitch

Slightly off topic but same B58 engine. I wonder if a tuned M240i would be faster than the M2 with the N55.

of course tuned 240 will be faster than M2 in straight line race. a stock 240 is neck and neck with M2 already, if not faster. but seriously why buy BMW if you live quarter mile at a time?

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by yaymitch

Slightly off topic but same B58 engine. I wonder if a tuned M240i would be faster than the M2 with the N55.

There were plenty of tuned E92 335i owners who could take down an E92 M3 too. That's never really been the point of an M-car. Yes, you get a power bump, but M-cars are about the chassis tuning, resulting in improved road holding and handling.

[dbperformance]

I not really agree with that. Off course chassis and handling will always be beter than a non M-car but when you buy a M-Car you also want to be the fastest one.. So as a M owner you also have to do stuff like tuning if that's what you care about.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by dannyvdberg

I not really agree with that. Off course chassis and handling will always be beter than a non M-car but when you buy a M-Car you also want to be the fastest one.. So as a M owner you also have to do stuff like tuning if that's what you care about.

It is, out of the show room. I'd clarify my statement as, it's never really been the main point of an M-car. Stock for stock, M-models are quicker in a straight line than their non-M counterparts.

Once you start tuning, it all goes out the window, because there are too many variables.

[yaymitch]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

There were plenty of tuned E92 335i owners who could take down an E92 M3 too. That's never really been the point of an M-car. Yes, you get a power bump, but M-cars are about the chassis tuning, resulting in improved road holding and handling.

Just a question. Obviously the M2 will handle much better. If I was spending money on an M car, I wouldn't want old technology for the engine which is why I have the S55. They really should put the B58 in the M2.

[yaymitch]

Originally Posted by termigni

of course tuned 240 will be faster than M2 in straight line race. a stock 240 is neck and neck with M2 already, if not faster. but seriously why buy BMW if you live quarter mile at a time?

Just a question, don't make assumptions.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by yaymitch

Just a question. Obviously the M2 will handle much better. If I was spending money on an M car, I wouldn't want old technology for the engine which is why I have the S55. They really should put the B58 in the M2.

Yeah, I think it's actually a really great question. The history of BMW M is very informative as it relates to the goals of M-models. People who come from other brands often have a difficult time relating to the subtleties of what an M-car brings to the table.

A lot of people are surprised to find that the M-model for a given line isn't that much faster in a straight line. Compare it to something like AMG, where they go bonkers compared to the base model. The C300 Coupe is a nearly 15s quarter mile car, where the C63 pulls 12s (similar to the M4). A 340i is good for mid 13s. Although Mercedes are now positioning new AMG models against BMW's #40i cars. It all gets very convoluted, but IMO, it's pretty clear that BMW M has different priorities than its competitors.

I agree with you on the M2 engine selection. BMW really needs to keep up on the technology front. I think the turning point was when everyone reacted so negatively to an I4 powered M2. I think there was a chance of the M2 being powered by an S20 derived from the N20, but the reaction was overwhelmingly negative.

From that point, it was only possible that the M2 would have an I6 turbo, and unfortunately, the decisions fell in the direction of a kind of half-measure for the engine. I have to state here that I don't think this makes the M2 a bad car. That has been re-hashed ad nauseum.

[shoei]

Originally Posted by ah3nyc

Same as my car except I have xdrive and no track package. But have navigation. I drove m2 and m3,m4. They don't feel much faster than my car. Especially m2. It's a great car but I think the 340 is more planted and pulls like a beast

Are you serious right now?? LMFAO !!! This isn't the e9x era... It's not even in the same realm this time around... Please don't start getting all crazy that a stock 340/440 is on par with speed with f8x... Just... Don't... It makes you sound ignorant...

Next you'll post up the one magazine review where they managed to get a 4.4 0-60 and then compare it to a M3 using factory released numbers and not the lowest that another magazine would've eked out...

They've done a masterful job with the 340 and the b58... They even fixed the handling from the 335 (especially from the '13) but to say stock it's on par / doesn't feel all that much slower than a f8x??

[shoei]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

There were plenty of tuned E92 335i owners who could take down an E92 M3 too. That's never really been the point of an M-car. Yes, you get a power bump, but M-cars are about the chassis tuning, resulting in improved road holding and handling.

What makes things different this generation are the tunes... Same few dollars spent to tune a f3x, can be spent to tune a f8x... There was no option like that for the e9x M cars... It was pretty much S/C for the price of a base model Prius or nothing...

[alx.]

Wow that's awesome man, congrats

[Jono2112]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

Yeah, I think it's actually a really great question. The history of BMW M is very informative as it relates to the goals of M-models. People who come from other brands often have a difficult time relating to the subtleties of what an M-car brings to the table.

A lot of people are surprised to find that the M-model for a given line isn't that much faster in a straight line. Compare it to something like AMG, where they go bonkers compared to the base model. The C300 Coupe is a nearly 15s quarter mile car, where the C63 pulls 12s (similar to the M4). A 340i is good for mid 13s. Although Mercedes are now positioning new AMG models against BMW's #40i cars. It all gets very convoluted, but IMO, it's pretty clear that BMW M has different priorities than its competitors.

I agree with you on the M2 engine selection. BMW really needs to keep up on the technology front. I think the turning point was when everyone reacted so negatively to an I4 powered M2. I think there was a chance of the M2 being powered by an S20 derived from the N20, but the reaction was overwhelmingly negative.

From that point, it was only possible that the M2 would have an I6 turbo, and unfortunately, the decisions fell in the direction of a kind of half-measure for the engine. I have to state here that I don't think this makes the M2 a bad car. That has been re-hashed ad nauseum.

Good comments by all. It seems to me AMG is making muscle cars for the strip while M is making Motorsport cars for the track. Even an M sport BMW is going to be a great driving car, the M takes it to the next level. I love my M235i, but it would need some tweaks for regular tracking or racing, but it's good for a few fun weekends as is. The M2 is fully tweaked and ready to go. Can't wait to test a M240i! I wonder what the tuners will do with that?

[shoei]

Sorry got sidetracked there... Op - looks like a fun time and also kudos for actually being knowledgeable with your cars / engines...

[dbperformance]

Tuners sadly enough can't do anything with the new B engines. It's fully protected by Bosch and it will take a while until it will be possible..

[Jono2112]

Originally Posted by dannyvdberg

Tuners sadly enough can't do anything with the new B engines. It's fully protected by Bosch and it will take a while until it will be possible..

So no easy piggybacking by Dinan or bench flashing until they crack the ECU?
It does seem that the engine itself may be stronger with its closed deck design and it might take more abuse. I have heard that the way the exhaust/turbo/intercooler/compressor/intake are designed it will be difficult to modify the intercooler and maybe the turbo too. One of the ways they improved the performance was integrating the exhaust manifold with the intercooler to shorten the plumbing and improve the responsiveness but that makes mods more difficult. It will be interesting to see what they come up with.

[JV973]

Awesome review, that 340i is moving it looks like is pushing more than 320 hp and the sound of that engine sweet.