What’s the BMW M340i?
The M340i does two key issues. It marks the triumphant return of the six-cylinder engine to the three Collection vary, harkening again to the straight-six 325i and 330i of the E90 era that launched the mannequin in India. Now, after all, the outgoing and upcoming M3s use straight sixes too, however with their hardcore chassis setups and costs effectively above Rs 1 crore, they’re out of attain of most luxurious automobile patrons who simply desire a bit extra efficiency. Secondly, the M340i presents up a long-overdue rival to the Mercedes-AMG C 43 (which is now a coupe moderately than a sedan) and the soon-to-be-relaunched Audi S5 Sportback, and in doing so, bridges the massive hole between the mainstream 3 Collection vary and the hardcore M3. So, is it merely a flagship 3 Collection, or some type of efficiency mannequin, or a bit of little bit of each?
M340i marks the return of BMW’s straight-six petrol engine to the mainstream 3 Collection line-up in India.
BMW M340i engine, efficiency and dynamics
The omnipotent alphabet that precedes ‘340i’ would recommend it is a devoted efficiency mannequin, and as per BMW’s more moderen mannequin nomenclature, it’s. These ‘M Efficiency’ fashions are to not be confused with the full-on M automobiles (just like the M3), nor with the beauty M Sport variants of normal automobiles (just like the 330i M Sport). Like Audi’s S automobiles and AMG’s 35, 43 and 53 collection, these ‘softer’ efficiency fashions purpose to provide you a style of the large leagues in a extra reasonably priced and approachable means.
3.0-litre in-line six the identical as within the 740Li, X5 and X7 however fettled by M to supply 387hp and 500Nm.
The ability it packs is definitely its greatest calling card – 387hp and 500Nm from a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six, and with a claimed 0-100kph time of 4.4sec, BMW says this would be the quickest automobile that’s assembled in India! A scan via our personal take a look at information proves they may simply be proper, and our V-box testing gear that recorded a 4.36sec dash proves they have been being a bit of modest. The C 43 did 4.95sec and the S5 5.01sec, by the way.
Sportier 8-speed ZF auto ‘field in a position to match one of the best DCTs for shift velocity.
Instrumental in attaining this type of acceleration off the road are a sportier iteration of ZF’s eight-speed torque-converter computerized gearbox, launch management and xDrive all-wheel drive. The gearbox is great, pre-empting your subsequent transfer brilliantly, particularly in relation to downshifts, all of the whereas in a position to match one of the best dual-clutch items for shift velocity and ferocity, and holding on patiently to every gear in handbook mode when you squint on the unintelligible digital tacho to see the place the redline is.
Energy supply is robust and impressively manageable although it lacks the punch of the M3.
The ability supply, even in Sport+ mode, is robust, however impressively manageable. The engine doesn’t offer you fairly the punch within the guts as an M3’s however that’s simply as effectively for what is supposed to be a extra accessible efficiency automobile. It revs freely and easily all the way in which to 7,000rpm in each gear, each time. Spec nerds can have seen the 387hp is significantly larger than the 340hp this engine makes within the 740Li, 840i, X5 and X7, and that’s as a result of, like within the Z4, this engine has been fettled by the M Division to be altogether extra aggressive. It sounds higher too, because of a sports activities exhaust, and for a lot of, this shall be a giant a part of the attraction of stretching for the six-cylinder model.
No adaptive dampers however experience high quality continues to be good. Automobile sits 10mm decrease than common 3 Collection
The M Division has labored on the suspension too, which is 10mm decrease than a 330i’s and a bit firmer too. There aren’t any adaptive dampers, which is a little bit of a disgrace for a dual-nature automobile of this kind (you get them in a C 43), however BMW says they’re saving that for the M3 and M4. That mentioned, the stability they’ve achieved with this passive setup is moderately good – a pleasant, tied-down feeling within the corners, good composure at excessive speeds, however a experience that errs a bit on the lumpy aspect. There’s additionally variable-ratio steering and upgraded brakes.
No RWD solely mode for the xDrive system however Sport and Sport+ modes are extra rear-biased.
The xDrive on this automobile, it should be famous, isn’t the specialised M model we’ve seen within the likes of the M5, so you may’t swap to RWD mode. Nevertheless, placing the automobile in Sport or Sport+ does apportion extra energy to the rear, and there’s additionally a sports activities rear differential that shuffles torque left to proper to tug you out of a nook quicker. The result’s a clearly rear-biased really feel, however one which isn’t fairly as dramatic as we’d hoped, and the M340i has fairly a little bit of protected understeer constructed into it. If you would like the rear to come back round, you actually should flooring it, and be in your toes to catch it because it snaps from understeer to oversteer instantly. This, after all, received’t possible be a difficulty for almost all of patrons, who will nonetheless get to take pleasure in an inherently well-balanced sports activities sedan with the protection internet of AWD to assist deploy the added energy higher.
BMW M340i exterior, inside, options and luxurious
Gun-metal gray end and revised grille sample one of many few giveaways that that is the M340i.
On the floor, the position of being a top-spec 3 Collection is performed rather less convincingly by the M340i. For one, there’s little or no visible differentiation, inside and outside, from the four-cylinder 330i in its M Sport variant. Solely actual afficionados will spot the gunmetal gray accents on the grille, bumpers and wing mirrors, or the truth that the grille has a barely totally different sample for its slats, and that the exhaust surrounds are actually trapezoidal. The upper-spec Laserlight headlamps have a grander DRL signature, and the 18-inch alloy wheels are simply the fitting dimension and look good, however once more, precisely the identical set you’ll discover on a 330i. You may, nevertheless, spec different-looking and even bigger 19-inch wheels on the dealership.
Laserlight headlamps get grander DRL signatures.
Inside, the variations are even fewer, with maybe the one adjustments being a neat textured trim on the dashboard and black part-Alcantara upholstery with a couple of elaborations within the signature M colors. It’s a well-appointed cabin with a pleasant, sporty really feel to make sure, however we want there was just a bit one thing further to make it really feel extra particular. It’s price noting that whereas we forgave some moderately primary inside plastics within the lesser 3 Collection, just like the outer AC vents on the sprint, they’re a bit of tougher to miss on this dearer model.
Completely different texture inserts and part-alcantara upholstery solely notable adjustments inside.
Once more, the tools checklist is basically the identical because the 330i M Sport, however that’s no unhealthy factor. There’s a beneficiant checklist of options and gizmos, together with the likes of multi-colour ambient lighting, three-zone local weather management, a digital devices display screen, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with gesture management, a sunroof and wi-fi cellphone charging. What the M340i provides is higher-spec adaptive LED headlamps with laser excessive beams, a 16-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, a heads-up show and, lastly, Android Auto along with Apple CarPlay, each of which work wirelessly.
Heads-up show a part of further package over the common 3.
BMW M340i estimated worth and verdict
The brand new M3 and M4 will not be too distant from an India launch, so die-hard followers and really severe efficiency fans received’t have to attend lengthy. However as we’ve seen with this automobile’s opponents and equally positioned SUVs in rival manufacturers’ portfolios, there’s an enormous hole available in the market for many who simply desire a bit extra with out paying an excessive amount of extra. And because it’s domestically assembled, we hear BMW goes for an exceptionally aggressive worth – round Rs 64 lakh (ex-showroom). For perspective, a BMW 530d prices Rs 69 lakh, and the CBU imported Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupé prices Rs 80.17 lakh.
The M340i suits that ‘center youngster’ invoice completely then and, frankly, ought to have been launched a very long time in the past. You get a completely loaded 3 Collection with a robust six-cylinder engine and simply sufficient efficiency enhancements to raise the expertise with out taking away consolation and value. It’s a perfect foil to the C 43 and the S5, and in case you desire a bit extra practicality, there’s an X3 M40i model coming very quickly too.
