Bimmerpost
3
/
4 Series
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
2019+ BMW 3 AND 4-SERIES FORUMS (G2x Generation) General G20 Sedan / G22 Coupe / G26 Gran Coupe Discussions I'm curious - why no "340i"?

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      04-01-2019, 10:06 AM   #1
Weiner0123
First Lieutenant
Weiner0123's Avatar
Canada
417
Rep
381
Posts

Drives: 2020 m340i. 2013 328i
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Calgary

iTrader: (0)

I'm curious - why no "340i"?

Out of curiosity, I was wondering why BMW opted not to make a regular 340i with the lower output B58 engine used in non-M Performance *40i vehicles such as the 540i, 740i, and X5 40i.
Appreciate 0
      04-01-2019, 10:25 AM   #2
RPM1123
Second Lieutenant
United_States
280
Rep
271
Posts

Drives: 2020 M340xi
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Boston

iTrader: (0)

BMW has a huge amount of data on option take rates for the F30 340i that they can sift through. I'd guess a significant percentage of the 340i's sold had the M-sport package which would rationalize their decision.

I'd also be interested in knowing the distribution of 320i/330i/340i sales in the US. I see 340i's once in a while in Boston, but 90% of the 3 series I see are 4 cylinders. I'd guess 340i production numbers are significantly less than their 4 cylinder counterparts.
Appreciate 4
      04-01-2019, 11:35 AM   #3
stein_325i
Ring Leader of G8X Haters
stein_325i's Avatar
No_Country
25051
Rep
8,761
Posts

Drives: A Car
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: All-Around

iTrader: (0)

1) Money - M sport costs more and can be built into the base price

2) Type of Buyer - Likely those going for more power are enthusiasts and would prefer M-Sport

3) Sales Distributions - Sales probably had a higher take rate of M-Sport models on the previous 340i than say lower trims (330i, 320i)

4) Other BMWs - Almost every other model has already adapted/will adapt to the top model being an M-Sport trim, so the 3 would as well.

5) Competitors/Branding - Calling something an M340i and putting an M bade is better to market/use for brand appeal than just calling it a 340i. Competitors like Mercedes and Audi already adopted to the system years ago (C43 AMG/S4)
__________________
Current Garage: 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 580 / 2023 Genesis GV70 2.5T / 2007 Mercedes-Benz E 350 / 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Retired: '95 E36 325i 5MT / '04 E46 330i 6MT / '05 E83 X3 3.0i / '11 E90 335xi / '17 G30 540i / '19 F87 M2C 6MT / '19 MB CLS 53 / '20 MB GLC 300
Appreciate 0
      04-01-2019, 11:51 AM   #4
cangenBMW
Enlisted Member
Canada
19
Rep
31
Posts

Drives: BMW 330i xDrive
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Western Canada

iTrader: (0)

The answer to this seems really obvious. People who want the big engine typically are going to want the full performance package. Audi and BMW have been marketing their 6 cylinder cars that way (S, AMG) and it only makes sense for BMW to be competitive and follow suit.

In Canada at least, M Sport was standard on all 6 cylinder F30's since 2014.
Appreciate 0
      04-01-2019, 12:08 PM   #5
MT4life
Lieutenant
MT4life's Avatar
576
Rep
584
Posts

Drives: 2018 340i: Last MT 3er in US
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Carolinas

iTrader: (0)

it is a standard 340i with M-sport package
Appreciate 1
jmg18493.00
      04-01-2019, 12:30 PM   #6
BimmerFix
Major
BimmerFix's Avatar
1358
Rep
1,083
Posts

Drives: 24' M3 Competition RWD
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: L.A.

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MT4life View Post
it is a standard 340i with M-sport package
It's not, there a difference. This comes standard with E-LSD , M sport brakes (Not all M Sport packages include the brakes) and M sport exhaust from last year's F30 M performance Exhaust, I believe. And all the cerium grey cosmetic parts , mirrors, grill, front bumper vent covers. There might be a few more things, but can't remember off the top of my head.
__________________
///M3 2024 G80 Competition - Starting Lineup
///M4 2019 F82 Competition , 2019 G30 540i , 2008 E92 335i - Retired
Appreciate 0
      04-01-2019, 12:39 PM   #7
MT4life
Lieutenant
MT4life's Avatar
576
Rep
584
Posts

Drives: 2018 340i: Last MT 3er in US
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Carolinas

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BimmerFix View Post
It's not, there a difference. This comes standard with E-LSD , M sport brakes (Not all M Sport packages include the brakes) and M sport exhaust from last year's F30 M performance Exhaust, I believe. And all the cerium grey cosmetic parts , mirrors, grill, front bumper vent covers. There might be a few more things, but can't remember off the top of my head.
Right, which all of that would have been standard with a new G20 340i with M-sport package. You still gotta pay for M-suspension.
Appreciate 0
      04-01-2019, 01:10 PM   #8
BimmerFix
Major
BimmerFix's Avatar
1358
Rep
1,083
Posts

Drives: 24' M3 Competition RWD
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: L.A.

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MT4life View Post
Right, which all of that would have been standard with a new G20 340i with M-sport package. You still gotta pay for M-suspension.
No idea what your trying to say, I'll just move on buds. E- LSD was never ever part of M sport package, M sport brakes are tho on the 3 series. All the cerium grey cosmetic components , not that I care for it, was never part of the M sport package. It's BMW new marketing crap, the M550i has it, the M760i , now the M340i. And M suspension comes standard, it's the $700 option for Adaptive , if thats what your referring to. So yeah theres differences , all Im trying to say.
__________________
///M3 2024 G80 Competition - Starting Lineup
///M4 2019 F82 Competition , 2019 G30 540i , 2008 E92 335i - Retired
Appreciate 0
      04-01-2019, 01:18 PM   #9
MT4life
Lieutenant
MT4life's Avatar
576
Rep
584
Posts

Drives: 2018 340i: Last MT 3er in US
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Carolinas

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BimmerFix View Post
No idea what your trying to say, I'll just move on buds. E- LSD was never ever part of M sport package, M sport brakes are tho on the 3 series. All the cerium grey cosmetic components , not that I care for it, was never part of the M sport package. It's BMW new marketing crap, the M550i has it, the M760i , now the M340i. And M suspension comes standard, it's the $700 option for Adaptive , if thats what your referring to. So yeah theres differences , all Im trying to say.
I hear you and agree with everything you're saying.
My point was that if they made a "standard" 340 then most likely M-sport package would have gotten you what you're getting with M340i. So they just skipped "standard" 340 because if I'm not mistaken at least post LCI, last couple of years, I haven't seen a non-Msport pkg 340 on a road anyway, even if it were technically available.
Appreciate 1
BimmerFix1358.00
      04-01-2019, 01:20 PM   #10
stvding
Major
stvding's Avatar
Canada
660
Rep
1,447
Posts

Drives: G20 M340ix
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Markham

iTrader: (0)

Why no 240i 550i 760i X3 40i?
Appreciate 0
      04-01-2019, 01:48 PM   #11
xlover
Colonel
No_Country
2191
Rep
2,554
Posts

Drives: 2023 X7 40i
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Boston

iTrader: (0)

To echo most of the above BMW obviously felt that
a. research determined that 340 buyers looking for the big engine were typically searching for the sportiest variant at that price level
b. there was demand for even sportier performance/exhaust/power even among those who did not opt for track pack or MPPSK (buyers wish they would have)
c. take rates on the track pack with msport brakes and MPPSK were higher than expected (considering dev was probably well underway this was likely a confirmation data point not driving force)

Its pretty clear these were universal observations among the german brands over the last 5-10 years as audi reconfigured its S and RS relationship to position the S cars against the 335/340. MB moved the C400 to AMG badging and bodykit as C450 then C43 along with more sport oriented setup. And at LCI the F30 340 moved the msport package to the standard configuration (someone would really have to go out of their way to get a luxury line 340)
Appreciate 0
      04-01-2019, 01:53 PM   #12
hans007
Major
605
Rep
1,077
Posts

Drives: 2020 BMW M340i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MT4life View Post
I hear you and agree with everything you're saying.
My point was that if they made a "standard" 340 then most likely M-sport package would have gotten you what you're getting with M340i. So they just skipped "standard" 340 because if I'm not mistaken at least post LCI, last couple of years, I haven't seen a non-Msport pkg 340 on a road anyway, even if it were technically available.
the "m performance" stuff on the new m340i is basically what a hypothetical 340i g20 would be + msport, track handling package (which . you can get on a 330i m sport, it adds the brakes, the diff and the non runflat tires) and what used to be called mppk (which in the F30 got you what 355hp instead of 320hp.... in in this new G20 theoretical sense, gets you 382hp instead the "normal" b58 335hp). That is hypothetically if they kept the package structure the same as the F30 generation.

BMW seems to have been trying to reduce number of combinations of options for their cars, which lowers costs/ eases assembly, and also prevents weird combinations that dont sell. Its probably why there is no red leather this time either, and an even more limited color palette (or well we aren't getting those sand colors this time it seems...)

I'm sure some analyst figured out that the number of 335i/340i sold last year without m-sport was small. That it would be simpler to just combine mppk/m-sport/trackhandling/b58 as a giant option package called "m340i" for a 330i and be done with it. And here we are.
Appreciate 2
MT4life575.50
z335is354.00
      04-01-2019, 03:55 PM   #13
stvding
Major
stvding's Avatar
Canada
660
Rep
1,447
Posts

Drives: G20 M340ix
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Markham

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by cangenBMW View Post
The answer to this seems really obvious. People who want the big engine typically are going to want the full performance package. Audi and BMW have been marketing their 6 cylinder cars that way (S, AMG) and it only makes sense for BMW to be competitive and follow suit.

In Canada at least, M Sport was standard on all 6 cylinder F30's since 2014.
But RWD is no longer an option for almost all bmw...
Appreciate 0
      04-02-2019, 10:09 AM   #14
mbanck
Captain
690
Rep
803
Posts

Drives: BMW E46 320ci, BMW F34 330dx
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Munich, Germany

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MT4life View Post
I hear you and agree with everything you're saying.
My point was that if they made a "standard" 340 then most likely M-sport package would have gotten you what you're getting with M340i. So they just skipped "standard" 340 because if I'm not mistaken at least post LCI, last couple of years, I haven't seen a non-Msport pkg 340 on a road anyway, even if it were technically available.
Maybe your part of the world isn't the only one. In europe, the M sport brakes weren't part of the F30 M-Sport package, nor were all the 340i's M sport cars I think; you could certainly order them with other lines as well. From a quick look at http://gebrauchtwagen.bmw.de/#/b/veh...22&variants=55 (german official BMW second hand market), surprisngly few were M-Sport trim.

So I don't think they called it M340i because "it'd be M-Sport anyway", but rather to upsell it to a higher base price and maybe have less options to worry about.
Appreciate 0
      04-02-2019, 10:58 AM   #15
openwheelracing
Captain
192
Rep
814
Posts

Drives: 5 different 3 Series
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Santa Barbara, CA

iTrader: (0)

because more profit.
__________________
"The people getting the best out of the F30 are the 320 Sport package people" - Jamesons Viggen
Appreciate 0
      04-02-2019, 11:56 AM   #16
chiefneil
Lieutenant Colonel
United_States
772
Rep
1,503
Posts

Drives: 2014 335i M-Sport
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Arizona

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshuastein55 View Post
1) Money - M sport costs more and can be built into the base price

2) Type of Buyer - Likely those going for more power are enthusiasts and would prefer M-Sport

3) Sales Distributions - Sales probably had a higher take rate of M-Sport models on the previous 340i than say lower trims (330i, 320i)

4) Other BMWs - Almost every other model has already adapted/will adapt to the top model being an M-Sport trim, so the 3 would as well.

5) Competitors/Branding - Calling something an M340i and putting an M bade is better to market/use for brand appeal than just calling it a 340i. Competitors like Mercedes and Audi already adopted to the system years ago (C43 AMG/S4)
There's a couple more points I'd add as the owner of an F30 335i m-sport.

With the F30, the m-sport package was almost 100% cosmetic. It added the sport suspension, but you could get the sport suspension in the sport line anyway. So "m-sport" in the F30 era was really almost a misleading poseur label, and you could see it in a lot of reviews where authors said they had "the sportiest version of the F30, the m-sport". Which could actually be something soft, squishy, and non-sporty like an m-sport 335iX. Or slow, soft, and squishy like an m-sport 328iX.

The real go-fast bits like m-sport brakes and dynamic shocks were optional. And the go-even-faster bits were almost secret options from the m-performance product line including suspension, tune, exhaust, etc.

Finally, you could get a 60k 335i m-sport with essentially the same interior as a 35k 320i base. So overall you could end up with an m-sport that was soft, slow, squishy, and with a budget interior. It didn't really make for a premium feel or help with branding.

So BMW wrapped up all the go-fast and go-even-faster bits, and I assume (hope) a nicer interior, into the M340i. So now it's actually a faster car with a more distinctive look and not just a (possible) poseur. The M340i is really what an m-sport should've been in the first place.
Appreciate 1
Fuller1216.50
      04-02-2019, 12:32 PM   #17
ScarecrowBoat
Zooombie attaaack!!
ScarecrowBoat's Avatar
United_States
136
Rep
1,179
Posts

Drives: 328
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Santa Monica

iTrader: (2)

Things have changed. Merc has their two tier AMG cars and BMW is doing the same. Instead of having an M3 and a M3 lite or whatever they have the M3 and the m340i. There's really no point for the 340i as well, the 330i motor is plenty good.
Appreciate 0
      04-02-2019, 01:16 PM   #18
upsidedownfunnel
Colonel
United_States
1996
Rep
2,499
Posts

Drives: 2014 335i
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (4)

Garage List
2014 BMW 335i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by BimmerFix View Post
No idea what your trying to say, I'll just move on buds. E- LSD was never ever part of M sport package, M sport brakes are tho on the 3 series. All the cerium grey cosmetic components , not that I care for it, was never part of the M sport package. It's BMW new marketing crap, the M550i has it, the M760i , now the M340i. And M suspension comes standard, it's the $700 option for Adaptive , if thats what your referring to. So yeah theres differences , all Im trying to say.
But the G20 330i with M Sport package comes with the active LSD. It's a factory option now. The M340i really is just a 340i with the new M Sport package, M Sport brakes, and a few other standard features. There's really nothing you can get on the M340i that you can't get on the 330i (except the engine of course).
Appreciate 0
      04-02-2019, 03:23 PM   #19
MT4life
Lieutenant
MT4life's Avatar
576
Rep
584
Posts

Drives: 2018 340i: Last MT 3er in US
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Carolinas

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel View Post
But the G20 330i with M Sport package comes with the active LSD. It's a factory option now. The M340i really is just a 340i with the new M Sport package, M Sport brakes, and a few other standard features. There's really nothing you can get on the M340i that you can't get on the 330i (except the engine of course).
That's my point that I so eloquently tried to make, lol
No need to have another "base" 340i. This is it.
Appreciate 0
      04-02-2019, 10:45 PM   #20
Fuller
Major
1217
Rep
1,290
Posts

Drives: F36 435i
Join Date: May 2017
Location: MA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ScarecrowBoat View Post
Things have changed. Merc has their two tier AMG cars and BMW is doing the same. Instead of having an M3 and a M3 lite or whatever they have the M3 and the m340i. There's really no point for the 340i as well, the 330i motor is plenty good.
Speak for yourself! If it wasn't for the 340i I wouldn't consider a 3 series.
Appreciate 0
      04-03-2019, 01:26 AM   #21
bimmer456
Major General
2940
Rep
5,983
Posts

Drives: 340i
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Pasadena, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MT4life View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by BimmerFix View Post
No idea what your trying to say, I'll just move on buds. E- LSD was never ever part of M sport package, M sport brakes are tho on the 3 series. All the cerium grey cosmetic components , not that I care for it, was never part of the M sport package. It's BMW new marketing crap, the M550i has it, the M760i , now the M340i. And M suspension comes standard, it's the $700 option for Adaptive , if thats what your referring to. So yeah theres differences , all Im trying to say.
I hear you and agree with everything you're saying.
My point was that if they made a "standard" 340 then most likely M-sport package would have gotten you what you're getting with M340i. So they just skipped "standard" 340 because if I'm not mistaken at least post LCI, last couple of years, I haven't seen a non-Msport pkg 340 on a road anyway, even if it were technically available.
I have a sport line 340i. The last year they made m sport standard but you could get a sport line but it was the same price. The F30 340i has similar output to other vehicles with this engine. Now more stuff is standard that is performance oriented but they raised the price as well. HK audio is no longer standard, however. The hifi stereo may be better than the F30 hifi stereo. The price reflects that there is likely no mppsk option so it's effectively standard as many folks had this port installed so they just include it now along with an e lsd vs the real lsd option.
Appreciate 0
      04-03-2019, 01:42 AM   #22
jmg
Lieutenant General
jmg's Avatar
18493
Rep
14,085
Posts

Drives: G82 M4C X-Drive
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Orange County, CA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2022 G82 M4C X-Drive  [9.83]
2018 F80 M3 CS  [9.83]
2019 i3 BEV  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by BimmerFix View Post
It's not, there a difference. This comes standard with E-LSD , M sport brakes (Not all M Sport packages include the brakes) and M sport exhaust from last year's F30 M performance Exhaust, I believe. And all the cerium grey cosmetic parts , mirrors, grill, front bumper vent covers. There might be a few more things, but can't remember off the top of my head.
It's still basically a 340i with a lot of M Performance options checked along with a M340i badge.
__________________

2022 G82///M4 Competition X-Drive - KW-HAS, EBC Bluestuff, Millway Race Camber Plates, Cup2 Connect*, PSI High Flow Midpipe, Lightweight Front Lip, M Perf Flow Through Wing
Previous • 2018 F80 ///M3 CS • 2016 F80 ///M3
IG: Raging_G82
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:53 PM.




g20
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST