[Adler11th]

Been in similar shoes before. Was looking for new car after I sold my 440. M4 was less rational purchase option, and after I got it, the car felt like I don’t need it in a city and potential is so high that I can’t really open it up. On comfort settings it didn’t even feel much different then 440. Sure thing it looks unique and has nice sound, but otherwise It had me going back to thinking maybe I should have gone with Mlite version instead. That was till I hit my favorite canyon road and my hands got sweaty😂. I truly enjoyed the ride and m delivered. Fast forward 6 month and I’m in that canyon every other day, instead of once pre month like I used to with 440. Always looking for excuse to drive somewhere. I’m also looking to improve my driving and get some track experience with it. My recommendation would be simple - if you have places where you can use the M car - do it and don’t look back. If you thinking about nice sporty drive around town, occasionally hitting some nice roads, and combine comfort with good performance mlite car will do, and save you some cash in the process.

[ipilcher]

I have to admit that I find many of the comments in this thread pretty bizarre.

My previous car (which I would still be driving, but for a dumb kid in his mom's Acura) was a 335i GT (F34) with the MPPK, and it was absolutely nothing like my new G80. Sure, 335 != 340, and it was the GT (although the G80 is darn near as big), but even pottering around town the power delivery of the G80 is on a completely different level.

Are the M340i's really that much better than the 335i's?

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by ipilcher

I have to admit that I find many of the comments in this thread pretty bizarre.

My previous car (which I would still be driving, but for a dumb kid in his mom's Acura) was a 335i GT (F34) with the MPPK, and it was absolutely nothing like my new G80. Sure, 335 != 340, and it was the GT (although the G80 is darn near as big), but even pottering around town the power delivery of the G80 is on a completely different level.

Are the M340i's really that much better than the 335i's?

The newer M340i's, yes....

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by ipilcher

I have to admit that I find many of the comments in this thread pretty bizarre.

My previous car (which I would still be driving, but for a dumb kid in his mom's Acura) was a 335i GT (F34) with the MPPK, and it was absolutely nothing like my new G80. Sure, 335 != 340, and it was the GT (although the G80 is darn near as big), but even pottering around town the power delivery of the G80 is on a completely different level.

Are the M340i's really that much better than the 335i's?

335GT was heavy and slow. The M340 is very quick, C&D has it at 3.7s to 60 with x drive and great gas mileage.

[Asindhidude]

I got an M3 because a manual was a must.
Had a 340 for a loaner though, and I gotta say, if you are getting an auto, the bang for buck on a lightly optioned 340 is definitely something to consider.
If I were getting auto, I think I'd probably be happy with the M lite and an extra 25k in my pocket.

[2011ninja]

Come on man…

[Limegrntaln]

I think it’s funny that this thread is steaming along, and the OP has 2 posts and hasn’t logged in since Nov 2023.

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

I think it’s funny that this thread is steaming along, and the OP has 2 posts and hasn’t logged in since Nov 2023.

I like to imagine that these drive-by (heh) questions are answered in the real world by the poster's dad refusing to cosign.

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by bri1042

I like to imagine that these drive-by (heh) questions are answered in the real world by the poster's dad refusing to cosign.

Especially since his other post is the day before this one, saying something to the tune of needing to change his infotainment screen from 6” to 8”.

[Davidbmwdd]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

I think it’s funny that this thread is steaming along, and the OP has 2 posts and hasn’t logged in since Nov 2023.

It may be usefull for some others that have same dilemma 😃

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by Davidbmwdd

It may be usefull for some others that have same dilemma 😃

I agree - super helpful thread. Just to keep it going….

One thing people may not realize is the M3 is a bigger car - approximately 3” inches longer and 3” wider than the M340i. Different engines, different interiors to some extent, different sizes…. Might as well be a different moniker than “M3 lite.”

And with the M5 being massive and now a hybrid, the M3 is still pulling in quite a bit of demand whereas the M340 should be relatively easy to find (there are 9 at dealers near me). The M3 is also holding its value relatively well.

[Burrcold]

I've only has my M3 for a few days, but it looks and feels like a completely different car from my G20 M340i (obviously going from ID7 to ID8 is a big part of the interior change, but still so much different).