[Riccardog]

Saw this on Pistonheads today and thought it might be of interested to other 3 series "G" owners. Hope I'm not breaking any posting rules...

Pistonheads by Adrew Frankel on BMW M3 vs Alpina B3 vs BMW M340i

[bmnut]

Originally Posted by Riccardog

Saw this on Pistonheads today and thought it might be of interested to other 3 series "G" owners. Hope I'm not breaking any posting rules...

Pistonheads by Adrew Frankel on BMW M3 vs Alpina B3 vs BMW M340i

......more likely to break people's bank balances! (or marriages!)

[HeebieJeebies]

Originally Posted by bmnut

......more likely to break people's bank balances! (or marriages!)

[Herr Gross Byte]

Interesting read. I'm not sure about this statement though

"... M340i the plucky compromise for those who can’t quite afford the small BMW estate they really want."

Is there anyone else on here who had a choice of both and went M lite? I could have had an M3 but realised I'd be plodding around in a track tuned car that would never see the track. Also didn't want my Misses having to use a full fat M car. Not once since I made that decision have I wished I bought the other car. The think the M340i is an awesome compromise.

[V330d]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

Interesting read. I'm not sure about this statement though

"... M340i the plucky compromise for those who can’t quite afford the small BMW estate they really want."

Is there anyone else on here who had a choice of both and went M lite? I could have had an M3 but realised I'd be plodding around in a track tuned car that would never see the track. Also didn't want my Misses having to use a full fat M car. Not once since I made that decision have I wished I bought the other car. The think the M340i is an awesome compromise.

and a 330d is faster than them all!! or should that now be updated to a M340D

[HeebieJeebies]

Before I bought my M440i, which I moved to from a 500+HP Mustang GT, I wanted to get the M850i, stay in a V8 I told myself, anyway apart from the cost for a 23 plate or above, at the minute it’s out of my reach realistically. I could’ve stretched but for a few important factors, it wasn’t to be, at the moment.

I then looked long and hard at the M4, boy was I tempted, man maths made it possible, then I had this thought that my Mrs and me would find it a bit harsh on UK roads, so the M440i was a, more than capable compromise that I’m over the moon with.

I’m at the point now that I’m ready to take relatively early retirement, comfortably catered for financially and apart from a few old bits and bobs that gave the Army and this country their all, I’m in relatively good health.

When I do retire, there’ll be no real need for us to have two cars, we need an estate, grandkids, dogs and random fridges to transport , may get an old mx5 or similar for a bit of interest but, and it’s a huge but, we still want to tour Europe, I still feel the need for a bit of raw, shit your pants type rush, we still have grandkids, we still have dogs, who will go to Europe with us, so........

An M3 is the only valid car I would have when down to one car, a proper M car is iconic, an Alpina B3, doesn’t salve my itch, an M340 is a beautiful, capable car but when I’m retired, I’m closer to leaving this mortal coil, so it has to be the iconic, one off, probably never to be seen in my lifetime again M3 Touring.

The end!

[Nham68]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

Interesting read. I'm not sure about this statement though

"... M340i the plucky compromise for those who can’t quite afford the small BMW estate they really want."

Is there anyone else on here who had a choice of both and went M lite? I could have had an M3 but realised I'd be plodding around in a track tuned car that would never see the track. Also didn't want my Misses having to use a full fat M car. Not once since I made that decision have I wished I bought the other car. The think the M340i is an awesome compromise.

Yep … I had choice . I was weighing up M3 touring vs 340i touring vs RS4 avant . In the end , I didn’t want to attract attention.. the m340i is about the best petrol Q car you can get right now …

[Charlie (Wessex)]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

Interesting read. I'm not sure about this statement though

"... M340i the plucky compromise for those who can’t quite afford the small BMW estate they really want."

Is there anyone else on here who had a choice of both and went M lite? I could have had an M3 but realised I'd be plodding around in a track tuned car that would never see the track. Also didn't want my Misses having to use a full fat M car. Not once since I made that decision have I wished I bought the other car. The think the M340i is an awesome compromise.

Another that agrees with you and disagrees about the the M340i not being the estate I really want. I saw the video of this a while back, and the conclusion isn't quite what he says.

The M3 Touring holds no interest. A 510bhp car on the road is utterly pointless. TBH 374bhp is too much as well, but not much other option if you want a i6. The B3 is pretty much the same, thoigh is more appealing than the M3. I just don't see the point in spending an extra £30k for performance that you can't legally use on the road, or if you can, it gets you somewhere quicker by such a short time, it's not worth worrying about. I'm also far too parsimonious!

When I go out on the road, I want to be able to come home to my wife and kids in one piece. I don't need to turn traction control off and drift around corners. I don't feel the need to race every other car on the road, not least as there is going to be someone faster - probably in a Hyundai Ioniq 5N!!!

And image. This is obviously important to some, but not to me. I buy a car for me. I don't care what others think of what I drive and I don't drive to try and impress them. I'm happy driving a 10 year old car. I'm happy driving a "M-lite". Cheaper to live with too.

So no, I'm more than happy with a M340i. If anything I'd be happier in a M340d. Having had a Golf R, I'd also be happy in a 4 cyl (though happier in a 6). I don't think I'm so shallow to think that I have to have the M3/B3.

That's just me, and we are all different.

As an aside, a friend of a friend has the M3 Touring. With those god awful seats. He finds it quite boring to drive, much in the same way I find the M340i a bit boring (maybe boring is the wrong word). AWD, overly competent....it's too good at what it does. He finds his old M2 far more entertaining (I think the model before the current one).

[Herr Gross Byte]

I forgot to mention the B3. I think it would be the perfect car for me but for two things. There's a significant wait for your order (OK I could try being patient) but more than that was the fuel consumption. What's-his-face says it in the article. 300+ from a tank. I find filling up a chore and that range would be a problem on one of my euro road trips.

[HeebieJeebies]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

I forgot to mention the B3. I think it would be the perfect car for me but for two things. There's a significant wait for your order (OK I could try being patient) but more than that was the fuel consumption. What's-his-face says it in the article. 300+ from a tank. I find filling up a chore and that range would be a problem on one of my euro road trips.

This made me smile, had a RX8 from 2006-2010, little itsy bitsy 1.3 Rotary Wankle but drank fuel like an Apollo Moonshot spacecraft , went on loads of Euro trips in it, two biggest were @ 5kmiles.

The holy grail in one of those was to get 300 from a tank!!, 60litre tank as well. Truly a car that you could use all its 232hp

Oh and you can fail to come home to your family in a car doing 30mph, no matter its displacement, as alluded to by Charlie

[Herr Gross Byte]

Originally Posted by HeebieJeebies

This made me smile, had a RX8 from 2006-2010, little itsy bitsy 1.3 Rotary Wankle but drank fuel like an Apollo Moonshot spacecraft , went on loads of Euro trips in it, two biggest were @ 5kmiles.

The holy grail in one of those was to get 300 from a tank!!, 60litre tank as well. Truly a car that you could use all its 232hp

Oh and you can fail to come home to your family in a car doing 30mph, no matter its displacement, as alluded to by Charlie

Yes I remember those. My mate had one and took me for a spin in it. I'd just got a 330Ci (my first BMW) and I remember the RX8 left an impression that it was a bit wankle.

[HeebieJeebies]

That’s a bit harsh on the 330Ci, I’m sure it was a great car

[Charlie (Wessex)]

Well, guess I'll find out whether the M3 is better than the M340i. Got this for a few days/week, so....

First impression, as not driven yet, is that it is too difficult to get in and out of with those nut crushing seats. I do like quad tips though!

[Riccardog]

Originally Posted by Charlie (Wessex)

Well, guess I'll find out whether the M3 is better than the M340i. Got this for a few days/week, so....

First impression, as not driven yet, is that it is too difficult to get in and out of with those nut crushing seats. I do like quad tips though!

Interested in hearing your report and impressions. Out of curiosity how did you land a test M3 T for a few days?

[HeebieJeebies]

‘Normal’ sports seats for me too, the CF bucket seat things may be great for a track day or a bit of a hoon but for everyday use, definitely a no from me.

[Charlie (Wessex)]

Done about 6 miles in it & I'd have my M340i everyday of the week.

I find it uncomfortable seat wise. But that obv can be changed. But even with chassis in comfort it is too hard and jiggly. It's damn quick, but then I find the M340i quick enough as it is, and I really don't need more, esp if it is going to cost £30k+. I think that the novelty of the acceleration might get boring after a while.

But the noise! Thank God it has a button to close the valves. Not sure if it is fake music in the cabin too, but when open it does my head in. Closed the valves after a couple of miles as couldn't take it. Wonder if it is like my old R, where you could code the noise out. But if it is all natural, then it's not for me.

Basically, I'm 52. I like comfort and speed. The M3 does one very well indeed. The M340i does both. And if I did need more speed/acceleration, then a mapped B58 gets up towards a standard S58, but for £30k less.

PS - haven't been into town and met any Fiesta ST yet. Have to go, and might take it just to see if every wannabe racing driver is out and about!

[HeebieJeebies]

I get the feeling you’re not impressed from the 6 mile test as yet

[Charlie (Wessex)]

I've actually got a bit of a headache.

I've got to go to London to watch Saints/Leeds and seriously thinking of taking my lads Motability Dacia Jogger that I picked up this morning.

[HeebieJeebies]

Och, enjoy the match, whatever you take

Life’s for living, not worrying too much about what’s the best car

And you’re right, the B58, in whatever variant is way fast enough for anyone, the G21 in whatever party dress is still a well capable, practical car, love my 320d, G22 for shits and giggles but I do like a bit of ‘theatre’

[Charlie (Wessex)]

Ta... would be nice to beat Leeds, but the PL is pretty dire for most clubs.

TBH I do feel a bit too conspicuous in it as well. BMs of old used to be quite understated, but now far too bling. Of course I'm of an age where I don't really care too much, but would be nice to just tootle along under the radar.

[alFR]

Originally Posted by Charlie (Wessex)

nice to just tootle along under the radar

That was what stopped me considering a M3 Touring, even if it had been in my comfortable price range. In the end the M3 is too spendy and too conspicuous for me. I think with the torque coming in lower down the rev range the B58 is probably a better daily driver than the S58 too, albeit lacking the theatre of the S58. Arguably the front end of the 340i looks nicer as well...

At the end of the day it's great to have these three great cars, with their own mix of pros and cons, to choose from!

[DravitPlay]

Based on this video? I’ve enable the Comfort Plus on my 340i and can confirm it is quite a bit smoother than the standard Comfort mode the car came with.

M3 Vs. M340i Vs. B3